[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON COLORADO INITIATIVE NO. 2

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute yesterday's U.S. Supreme 
Court decision prohibiting States from singling out specific classes of 
citizens for discrimination. And I rise in opposition to recent 
attempts by this body to restrict the rights of certain groups of 
citizens.
  Yesterday's decision is long overdue and cannot be ignored. We have 
heard much rhetoric about State autonomy in this Congress. Yesterday's 
ruling affirms that individual States may not deny anyone the exercise 
of rights guaranteed by the Constitution to all.
  Many in our society cite religious beliefs as validation for 
withholding full constitutional rights from gays and lesbians. This is 
not a religious issue; each religion's practitioners are free to 
conduct themselves in accordance with their beliefs. This is a civil 
matter--an issue of whether or not all American citizens are treated 
equally under civil law.
  In the last few years, we have witnessed an unprecedented campaign to 
inject fear and hatred into public discourse. It is time to stop this 
rhetoric and to withdraw the antigay and anti-lesbian initiatives 
currently proposed in the Congress. It is time to stop pitting one 
group of citizens against another. It is time to create a climate of 
acceptance for the diversity we find among our citizens. Let us focus 
on bringing people together and fostering relationships in which people 
care for each other. Let each citizen decide whom he or she loves--not 
the Federal Government.

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