FYI, here are my answers to a survey today from the Northwest PA Pride Alliance... Question 1: Do you support the passage of SB/HB 300, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation? Please explain. Reply: The Libertarian Party is different from the two old parties in that we are the party of principle. Every law we support, every law we oppose, can all be traced to one central principle: that your life is yours, your property is yours, that you have the God-given, inalienable right to live your life your way, without interference, provided that you respect the rights and property of others. That said, its obvious how I stand: I believe that we should all be treated equally under the law, meaning no special favors for anyone, nor any special handicaps for anyone. Granting a special status to a particular group of people effectively lifts them up above others, giving them rights and privileges that others do not share. That creates in effect a second class citizenship for those outside the protected group. I stand against second class citizenships, so therefore I would oppose any law granting special protections or quotas for gays, women, minorities, businesses, or politicians, and I would oppose any law that denied anyone full enjoyment of all rights and privileges. All must be equal in the eyes of the law. Question 2: Do you support the PASS Act, which would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to include protecting LGBT individuals from bullying in public schools? Please explain. Reply: Bullying is currently a high profile issue in public schools, and I feel that it has been adequately addressed, and that no further legislation is currently needed. As for explicitly including LGBT individuals in such legislation, please refer to my answer to Question 1. To repeat: I would oppose any law granting special protections or quotas for any group of people, and I would oppose any law that denied anyone full enjoyment of all rights and privileges. All must be equal in the eyes of the law. Question 3: What would you like to let the Erie area LGBT community to know? Reply: I must congratulate the LGBT community in Erie and across the country for finally receiving the recognition and respect that all people deserve. As with racial minorities, the journey toward acceptance for the LGBT community has been a long one, often a one-step-back/two-steps-forward situation. But acceptance is strengthening, and the long-term prospects are excellent. However, I would caution against overconfidence, especially in the realm of legal remedies. Asking for special privileges runs the risk of creating a backlash and undoing the achievements made to date. Equality is what we all seek, not supremacy. I wish you continued good fortune in your quest for equality.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 02:40:03 +0000
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