[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S10712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to explain why I supported the Employment Nondiscrimination 
Act.
  In an earlier vote, I supported the Defense of Marriage Act because I 
do not believe that we should change the definition of marriage that 
has made the family--a husband, wife, and children--the cornerstone of 
our society.
  But the Employment Nondiscrimination Act is about a different issue. 
It is about whether discrimination in the workplace against homosexuals 
is permissible. I supported this bill because I do not believe we 
should tolerate discrimination of any type in the workplace.
  The people of this Nation already have decided that it is 
unacceptable to discriminate against someone in the workplace just 
because of that person's race, gender, or religious beliefs. I just 
don't believe that one's sexual orientation is relevant to whether or 
not they can do a job, and it ought not be a permissible basis for 
discrimination.
  This bill includes substantial protections and safeguards for 
employers. It includes exemptions for the Armed Forces, small 
businesses, religious institutions, and private membership clubs. Most 
important, the bill states clearly that it does not protect 
inappropriate or public sexual conduct by any employee, whether or not 
that employee is homosexual.
  Some people have said that this legislation isn't necessary, that 
there is no discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace. I 
would like to give you just one example of why I think this legislation 
is needed: Ernest Dillon was a postal employee in Detroit, MI. He 
worked hard and everyone agreed he was good at his job. But that wasn't 
enough. When Ernest's coworkers found out he was homosexual, they 
repeatedly taunted him until one day, while he was on the job, they 
beat him unconscious. Their harassment continued unabated until he was 
forced out of his job, fearing for his life. Although he went to the 
courts for relief, there was nothing there to protect him.
  It is time for our country to decide that we will not tolerate that 
kind of discrimination. This legislation does that. Nine States have 
already enacted legislation similar to this bill.
  I have heard from many of my own constituents and from mayors, 
Governors, religious leaders, corporate CEO's, and others that, 
regardless of their views about homosexuality, they support this bill 
because they oppose discrimination in all its forms. I agree, and that 
is why I voted for this bill.

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