[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              EQUAL RIGHTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Quigley) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, next week, we will commemorate the life and 
accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  A revolutionary civil rights leader, Dr. King's movement combated the 
systematic discrimination against African Americans, but Dr. King 
fought hard not only for equal rights for African Americans. He fought 
equally hard for equality for all in this great Nation.
  So it is altogether fitting and appropriate that we honor him and his 
extraordinary life, but it is equally appropriate to honor him by 
ending what is still legal discrimination in this country--
discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
community--because denying civil rights to someone based on a person's 
orientation is equally inherently wrong.
  We are all Americans, regardless of whom we love. Why does someone's 
orientation affect his or her legal status in this country? Every day 
that we continue allowing discrimination against the LGBT community is 
another day that justice is delayed.
  I am reminded that when Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg, he said that 
four score and 7 years ago we formed a Nation based on the notion that 
all were created equal, and they were in a war to determine whether a 
Nation so conceived could long endure. But I think what we can take 
from that is the realization that we have to ask ourselves every so 
often, did we really mean it back then when we said that all were 
created equal?
  This is one of those times when we have to ask ourselves, is everyone 
in this country equal?
  Mr. Speaker, we can end workplace discrimination against gay men and 
women today. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act has 200 bipartisan 
cosponsors, and identical legislation has passed already in the Senate. 
Yes, our colleagues in the other Chamber have already taken this small, 
but important, step.
  When will this body step up and defend the rights of the LGBT 
community? When will the House majority join us in the fight against 
inequality? Dr. King said:

       The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward 
     justice.

  Yes, the journey may be long, but I believe we can accomplish true 
equality for all in this country. I ask my colleagues to find the 
courage to stand on the right side of history. Mr. Speaker, bring ENDA 
to the floor and allow a vote on equality for all Americans.

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