[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 97 (Thursday, June 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7037-S7038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Struggle For Equality

  Mr. BURRIS. Mr. President, this June we celebrate our diversity as 
Americans as we mark Pride Month. In many ways, the struggle for 
equality is a singular thread that is woven through the fabric of 
American history.
  From the Declaration of Independence, to the Emancipation 
Proclamation, to women's suffrage, from school integration, to 
Stonewall, the story of this Nation is a story of a long, slow march 
toward equal rights for every citizen. It is a story of ever greater 
inclusiveness--a tribute to the enduring promise of the American dream.
  Together, we can reduce discrimination based on race, ethnicity, 
religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
  I believe we can achieve equal rights for all. I believe our next 
step in this ongoing struggle must be to secure the rights of the gay, 
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. We must start by stepping 
up our efforts to prevent hate crimes.
  It is hard to believe that it has been over a decade since Matthew 
Shepard was brutally beaten and left to die on a bitterly cold Wyoming 
road. His story rightly sparked intense national debate about the 
nature of hate. It reminded us that if Matthew was vulnerable, anyone 
could be vulnerable to such a vicious attack.
  The thing that is particularly heinous about hate crimes is that they 
are not just an assault on an individual, they are intended as an 
indiscriminate assault on an entire community.
  Our government has a moral obligation to say this is wrong, and we 
need to make sure our law enforcement officers and our courts have all 
of the resources they need to deliver justice.
  That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the bill inspired by 
Matthew's tragic story. I do not want to see another year go by without 
the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Act as the law of the land.
  But we must not stop there. Far too many gay and lesbian Americans 
face not just violence but other forms of discrimination in their daily 
lives.
  We are fortunate in Illinois to have laws on the books to protect our 
citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender 
identity. I believe those equal protections should be Federal law. I am 
also a proud cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. It is 
the fair thing to do, and it is the right thing to do, and it is far 
overdue.
  Passing ENDA will not end all forms of discrimination. One of the 
worst forms of discrimination is not only destroying people's careers 
and lives, it is undermining our national security.
  I am talking about the military's ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy.
  To all of those who have served, and to those currently serving in 
our Armed Forces, let us say: Thank you--thank you to those who have 
served. We honor your service. We honor your sacrifices. And we honor 
your courage.
  This Nation is a better, safer place because of them. They fight for 
this Nation every day. We should end this offensive and discriminatory 
policy so they can be the best soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines 
they can be, while living their lives openly and honestly.
  Especially in this time of war, when we face terrorist threats, we 
must welcome the service of every patriotic man and woman who signs up 
to defend our freedom. When we dismiss the sacrifices made by those 
with a different sexual orientation, we determine the strength--we 
undermine the strength--of our fighting forces.
  When we fail to recognize the brave contributions that gay and 
lesbian servicemembers continue to make every single day, we diminish 
ourselves as much as we diminish their service.
  Senator Ted Kennedy has long been a leader on this issue, and I know 
he wants to see legislation passed to end the ban. I support his 
important work and I will do all I can to support those efforts.
  We will see justice, and not just in the military, but also for gay 
and lesbian families.
  Last week, President Obama took a first step toward ending the 
inequality of gay and lesbian families when he extended certain 
benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. For the first time, 
same-sex partners can be included in the Federal Long Term Care 
Insurance Program. Now any employee will be able to use sick leave to 
care for a same-sex partner, just as an employee can take time off to 
care for an opposite-sex spouse.
  I applaud the President for beginning to tear down these inequities, 
but while this Executive order represents an important initial step, 
there is so much more to be done. The U.S. Government is far behind the 
private sector on this front. A large number of Fortune 500 companies 
already offer comprehensive benefits to same-sex couples. They have 
done so for many years, sometimes for over a decade. This allows them 
to compete for the best and brightest, attracting talented 
professionals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We 
need to make sure the Federal Government is able to compete for the 
same talented people.
  I am proud to support a bill that would extend additional benefits to 
the domestic partners of Federal workers. This legislation, introduced 
by my friend Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins, will extend 
the full range of benefits to these couples. This includes access to 
the same Federal health and retirement plan currently available to the 
recognized spouses of government workers. As the free market has shown, 
extending these benefits to same-sex partners is not only the right 
thing to do, it also makes good business sense.
  I know that this week, the many Pride events around the country mean 
a lot of different things for people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and 
transgender community. For some, it is a chance to reflect on the 
progress and accomplishments made by this community and to organize for 
the future. For others, it is an opportunity to reflect and to honor 
those who have been lost to AIDS. And still for others, it is a chance 
to feel safer, to feel empowered to celebrate a part of something 
bigger than themselves, and to be reminded that everyone should be 
proud of who they are. However each of us celebrates Gay and Lesbian 
Pride Month, we must remember that gender equality is far from over. 
But just as the Emancipation Proclamation set this country on the path 
to racial equality, just as women's suffrage paved the way for gender 
equality, so that singular refrain throughout our history will be taken 
up again. The struggle for equality will not be easy,

[[Page S7038]]

and it never has been, but if we keep at it, we will get there.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming is recognized.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, might I inquire what the status is?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are on the executive nomination of Harold 
Koh.
  Mr. ENZI. Are there time restrictions?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are in postcloture, which requires debate 
on the pending matter.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in 
morning business for such time as I might consume.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.