Kennedy, Clinton Promote Homosexual 'Rights' Bill

CNSNews.com ^ | 2/27/02 | Jeff Johnson

[kattracks]

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Should homosexuals receive the same preferences under the law as women and racial minorities? That's the question broached Wednesday by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee as they considered the Employment Non-Discrimination Act or ENDA.

The legislation would add "sexual orientation" to the list of classes protected by federal civil rights laws, along with sex, race, religion, ethnicity, and national origin.

Supporters say the change is necessary to end "widespread discrimination" against homosexuals and transsexuals.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who chairs the HELP Committee, has been a long-time supporter of the idea and is the sponsor of the current bill.

"We must continue the progress toward freeing ourselves from this form of discrimination," he said. "America will never be America until we do."

The bill would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation" by employers and prohibits related retaliation and coercion, according to a summary provided by the Congressional Research Service. It would also give homosexuals and transsexuals the right to sue when they believe they have been discriminated against.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) supports the legislation.

"It extends fair employment practices, not special rights, to lesbians, to gay men, to bisexuals," Clinton said. "This is not as dramatic or revolutionary a step as many people have advocated that it is."

Ken Connor, president of the Family Research Council, disagrees.

"Civil rights legislation was enacted to protect the rights of racial minorities," he argued. "ENDA is not a logical extension of that legislation because it is aimed at providing special protections for a particular behavior."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) questioned whether passing ENDA would achieve the desired effect, or simply make matters worse.

"If we impose a federal law, which some will view as an unwanted edict imposed from Washington, is that really going to promote acceptance and compliance," Collins asked. "Are we going advance the cause by passing federal legislation?"

Richard Womack, director of the civil rights department at the AFL-CIO, who also testified in support of the bill, believes Collins' question misses the point

"Some of our folks are still in the dark ages, and they just need to be enlightened," Womack said. "Anyone who practices, who indulges in discrimination, I say, should be sued."

But Connor says the bill is more about indoctrination than discrimination.

"The issue is not job discrimination, it's whether private businesses will be forced by law to accommodate homosexual activists' attempts to force acceptance of a certain behavior," he said. "It violates the rights of millions of Americans with different views on that behavior."

The head of Concerned Women for America's Culture and Family Institute, Robert Knight, criticized Kennedy for not scheduling witnesses to present opposition to the bill.

"Mr. Kennedy is being openly complicit with attempts by the homosexual lobby to force organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America to either hire open homosexuals, against their policies and against the wishes of parents, or face federally funded lawsuits," he warned. "That's just one of many ugly ramifications of this bill."

Knight says ENDA would also:

- Expand federal power over the workplace.
- Create new grounds for lawsuits by injecting sexual preference into civil rights law.
- Elevate multiple-sex-partner relationships into a federally protected "right."
- Put the federal government on record, and in law, in opposition to traditional marriage.
- Forbid employers from taking sexual conduct into account when hiring childcare workers.

Although the bill does contain exemptions for "religious organizations," opponents fear that exemption would be struck down by the courts, opening churches, synagogues, and mosques to the threat of lawsuits if they refuse to hire homosexuals, even for positions of "moral leadership."

Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition says the opportunities for abuse of religious institutions would be great if the bill becomes law.

"This will mean that homosexuals, bisexuals, transvestites, and even voyeurs could claim federal protection for their particular 'orientation,'" he warned. "Christians and other religious individuals will be silenced under this law."

Kennedy plans to hold another hearing on the bill in March.

"This legislation has been before Congress for 25 years," he said. "It's time that we take the steps to enact it."

E-mail a news tip to Jeff Johnson.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

 

[nothingnew]

chappy kennedy said "America will never be America until we do."

No, chappy, America will never be America until we get rid of you....you FAT, LYING, PHILANDERING, DRUNKEN MURDERER!...RIP Jo Ann Kopechne

FMCDHis that a personal attack on the fat,lying,philandering,drunken murdering POS?...i need a beer...

[NC Conservative]

THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET!!!!!! I REPEAT THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET!!!!!

[upchuck]

"It extends fair employment practices, not special rights, to lesbians, to gay men, to bisexuals," [The Hildabeaste] said. "This is not as dramatic or revolutionary a step as many people have advocated that it is."

Ahh, yes Hildabeaste. But don't you see, it is A step. And ANY step towards giving queers, faggots and preverts ANY special rights is a step in the wrong direction. Perhaps you should go read this.

Have you ever wondered WHY there is "'widespread discrimination' against homosexuals and transsexuals?" Simple: because they promote a lifestyle most Americans think is sinful, they spread incurable diseases, they wish to harm our children. Is this enough for ya? Should be!

[genefromjersey]

Correct spelling is corpophagy , and it refers to the "ingestion of feces". Those who engage in this practice are easily recognizable : by their sh*t-eating grins.

[NC Conservative]

However, as long as what you do at home has no effect on your job performance, it is none of your prospective employer's business.

I am sorry but if my children were in daycare I don't not want a limp wrist or a carpet muncher watching my children.

[genefromjersey]

Meds !! Meds !!
Quickly, Grasshopper !
As quickly as you can:
Swallow contents of beer can.
Say : " Om mani padme hum ! "- which is written as
" Oh, the jewel in the lotus ! "-in the speech of the Round-eyed ones.

Contemplate the adiposely-gifted Senator being swept out to sea by creatures which have mistaken him for an Orca.

Pop top of another can of brew.
Medicate.
Meditate.

"Oh, the Senator in the shipping lanes."
"Hum ! "

[San Jacinto]

. "America will never be America until we do."

The article got this quote wrong. Kennedy actually said,
"America will never be Amerika until we do."

[A. Pole]

"America will never be America until we do."

So it means that the true "America" did not exist yet. We will only see it the near future. Should we tighten our belts?

[A. Pole]

The legislation would add "sexual orientation" to the list of classes protected by federal civil rights laws, along with sex, race, religion, ethnicity, and national origin.

All sexual orientations? Or only some?

[concerned about politics]

GOOD SITE!

The way to benumb raw sensitivities about homosexuality is to have a lot of people talk a great deal about the subject in a neutral or supportive way. Open and frank talk makes the subject seem less furtive, alien, and sinful, more above-board. Constant talk builds the impression that the public opinion is at least divided on the subject, and that a sizable segment accepts or even practices homosexuality. Even rancorous debates between opponents and defenders serve the purpose of desensitization so long as “respectable” gays are front and center to make their own pitch. The main thing is to talk about gayness until the issue becomes thoroughly tiresome.

That's why the homosexual threads become filled with DU gay activists. They'll be here soon. One is here already.

[Ann Archy]

There goes that whacky lesbian again. I guess she's just planning ahead.

[bettina0]

I'm going to go to sleep in about an hour. Thanks a lot for scaring the sh@t out of me with this picture of our former first lady.

[concerned about politics]

Homosexual crimes not reported by the liberal press - the dark side of homosexuality. FYI

[Howlin]

How wide spread can it be when gays are less than 1 percent of the total population?

[concerned about politics]

And another of many :

"The dehumanization resulting from an unjust order is not a cause for despair but for hope, leading to the incessant pursuit of the humanity denied by injustice. Hope, however, does not consist in crossing one's arms and waiting. As long as I fight, I am moved by hope; and if I fight with hope, then I can wait." --NAMBLA

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Bill who, who cares? Next Billory will pass homosexual rights for Iguana's and trees laws.

[EdReform]

"Correct spelling is corpophagy , and it refers to the "ingestion of feces". Those who engage in this practice are easily recognizable : by their sh*t-eating grins."

Read about it here:

(BARF ALERT!!)

Exploring Coprophilia - A lot to digest

(The article was referenced in Reply #182 in the thread GLSEN Encourages Teens In Anal SEX "Don't give up.")

[Dimensio]

And ANY step towards giving queers, faggots and preverts ANY special rights is a step in the wrong direction. Perhaps you should go read this.

I'm curious, and perhaps I've not studied the proposed bill enough, but exactly what "special rights" would ENDA provide homoseuxals and bisexuals that would not apply to heterosexuals?

[Kryptonite]

"It extends fair employment practices, not special rights, to lesbians, to gay men, to bisexuals," Clinton said.

Normal people aren't on Hitlery's mind.