[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 28 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUALITY FOR ALL RESOLUTION

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                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2017

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as Americans, we pride ourselves 
on being the most free and open society the world has ever known. Yet, 
for far too long, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 
Americans have been forced to live in the shadows because of who they 
are. Year after year, we see attacks on the LGBT community as 
governments at all levels look to institutionalize discrimination in 
the name of religious freedom. In 2015, we witnessed my home state of 
Indiana enact the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving businesses 
the right to refuse service based on sexual orientation and gender 
identity.
  It is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of 
discrimination. After Indiana's law passed, the public and the business 
community came together to express outrage and successfully overturned 
Indiana's discriminatory law. However, we are still in need of a 
federal law to affirm the rights of all individuals to be protected 
from discrimination. That is why I am introducing the Equality for All 
Resolution to encourage Congress to take actions that ensure all 
Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, know 
they are valued members of our society. From housing to employment to 
education, they deserve to live their lives like any other American, 
free from intolerance because of who they are.

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