The U.S. House has passed HR3685, or “ENDA,” a bill that ostensibly prohibits discrimination against homosexuals. In reality, it puts in place another plank to legitimize that lifestyle. “Legitimizing” ultimately makes it more difficult to keep it out of schools, churches, and other places where one might want to make reasonable exceptions.
Republican Congressmen Trent Franks, John Shadegg, and Rick Renzi voted AGAINST the bill.
Congressmen Jeff Flake joined with Democrats Harry Mitchell, Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor in voting FOR the bill. Gabrielle Giffords did not vote.
Congressman Jeff Flake can be contacted here:
CONGRESSMAN JEFF FLAKE (CD 6)
1640 S. Stapley, Suite 215, Mesa, Arizona 85204
(480) 833-0092 – Mesa
(202) 225-2635 – Washington, D.C.
Seeing Red AZ 
When are the people out here going to get the real picture on Flake? I’ve lived here for years and know him alll too well. Not only does he think he’s God’s Gift, he is NOT a conservtive. Being a fiscal watchdog, with no results, doesn’t mke him a conservative. Check out his votes on a variety of issues. He’s also a committed open borders guy.
Flake? Didn’t this blog once call hiim the most appropriately named man in congress?
You were dead on with that title.
Totally. Who does Flake think he is, giving people equal protection under the law. and all? Sheesh. What a squish.
Man, next thing you know he’ll oppose torture, or something liberal like that.
Anon, the big difference is in making certain people a protected class with enhanced status and greater penalties for not caving to their demands. No difference really, than the ill-advised Hate Crime legislation so in vogue with liberals a few years back. ANY crime of violence is a hate crime, regardless of who the victim is.
Keep it up, Jeffy. Pearce will wipe the floor with you. A lot of us are getting very tired of your liberal vioteswhile you try to sell yourself to us as a pork watcher. Did you forget the social issues you initially ran on? And your votes with the Democrats for increased illegal immigration was nothing short of obscene. Your time in Washington has turned you into a McCain, Jr.
Right on W & W!! Flake has always been a McCain clone, but it’s just much more evident now. Wait until there are two vacant AZ US Senate seats and watch what happens. All you need do is play through that list of potentials in your head to see what a ride we’re in for.
As a gay man, I’m very happy that Jeff Flake is not a bigot. The “lifestyle” thing is a myth; I don’t know what “lifestyle” means. Some of us — especially the majority of young people I have taught for the past 33 years — are more mature about this than many older people who cannot give up silly old ideas. I’m sorry for you, but on this, as on immigration, you are on the wrong side of history. There is a very good possibility that you will be disagreeing with the Republican presidential candidate on this, as both Romney and Guiliani have been, at least at some times in their careers, strong supporters of this kind of legislation — which was first introduced in Congress as far back as 1974 and is already on the books in many states without noticeably bad effects. Thompson also has a pretty good record on gay rights, and McCain is clearly not as homophobic as many in his party. Vice President Cheney, of course, has long been a voice of reason on gay-related issues. Unfortunately, you are out of step with history and also with the mainstream of the Republican party.
ENDA was modeled after Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the landmark legislation that protects individuals against employment discrimination on the bases of race and color, as well as national origin, sex, and religion. Title VII is a long-standing, respected employment statute with which employers, employees, courts and the American people are very familiar. By following this model, ENDA provides a clear roadmap to employers and employees as to their obligations and available remedies under the law and treats the issue of discrimination against gay and lesbian people in the same way as—not better or worse than—other victims of workplace bias.
One wonders if you who are against ENDA also would have opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Public support for this legislation is strong. Polls demonstrate overwhelming support for the principle of equal job opportunities for lesbian and gay Americans (89 percent in a May 2007 Gallup poll). A recent poll shows six in ten Americans specifically support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This includes majorities of white (58 percent), African-American (61 percent), and Latino (56 percent) voters, as well as self-described Democrats (70 percent), independents (55 percent), and Republican women (52 percent).
More broadly, even most Republicans agree in polls when the question is worded differently; that is, they oppose American being fired solely because of their sexual orientation.
America’s leading companies, recognizing that basic fairness and diversity are good for business, are leading the way. Nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. One hundred twenty-five of those companies also cover gender identity—up from only three in 2000. Nearly 50 companies have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness in support of ENDA, including Bausch & Lomb, Clear Channel Communications, Charles Schwab & Co., Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Corning, Gap, General Mills, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard, HSBC-North America, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Nationwide, NCR, Nike, Replacements Ltd., Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP, and Qualcomm.
And, not to monopolize your comments section — I do appreciate that you give people the opportunity to respond — as a Democrat, I give the Arizona Republican party credit for being among the most progressive GOP state parties when it comes to running openly gay candidates. Elected Arizona conservative or moderate Republicans who happen to gay have included a US House member, Jim Kolbe; a state legislator, Steve May; and the mayor of a large city, Tempe’s Neil Giuliano. And of course Barry Goldwater was well known for his support of the state’s gay and lesbian community. There is a long tradition of tolerance in the Cactus State’s Republican party.
Also, I do not believe that any crime of violence is a hate crime. Returning from an evening graduate class I was taking at ASU, I was mugged and assaulted by two teenagers one evening in front of my apartment in the Quail Creek development on Dobson Road in Mesa in January 2001.
This crime of violence was not motivated by hatred but by a desire for money. (I probably should not have tried to resist, but you never know how you will react when someone tells you to empty out your pockets — I’d just come from the ATM and had what was for me a lot of money, $100.)
Matthew Shepard’s murder in Wyoming in 1998 clearly was a crime motivated by hatred, however.
I can understand why people think “hate crimes” legislation is “ill-advised” because it does come close to criminalizing thought. Obviously, Americans have the right to hate anyone for any reason, including that person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, or political views. So I am not sure how I feel about “hate crimes” legislation, and I think many people feel the same way.
Still, no one should be afraid that violence will be inflicted upon himself or herself because of who they are. To say that a person “deserved it” because of their status or how they look is to make excuses for criminal behavior.
Richard:
You’re welcome to post here anytime. Commentors certainly don’t have to agree with the positions we take on the issues. But, having said that, you are, in fact, monopolizing the comments section with three lengthy comments in a row. As a Democrat congressional candidate in 2006, we bet you are able to show more economy with words.
Let’s engage in a dialogue rather than a diatribe.
And, we’re glad you’re reading Seeing Red AZ.
Flake is not just a McCain clone. He is salivating at that senate seat! My guess is there will be two. Kyl would have a hard time winning after his about face on illegal immigration. Janet Napolitano will go for one. If she wins,(which I hope doesn’t happen) Republicans just have to figure they are getting one liberal for another. Shadegg, Flake, and a host of others will emerge for those seats. I remember when we thought Kyl was a conservative.