I would like to commend you on your adoption of a written policy of non-discrimination in employment with regards to sexual orientation. With this, you send a clear message that you do not condone discrimination. I am rather proud to have you as a senator in this regard. However, I was disappointed to find that you have not cosponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This is the next step, if you truly think that discrimination based on a person's perceived sexual orientation is wrong. I, being gay, strongly urge you to support this bill. Looking for a job while unemployed is difficult enough, without worrying about discrimination.
I served my country for four years as a member of the Army. I am a firm supporter of the Constitution, and the right to free speech, however, when a person goes the one step beyond prejudice and kills another because of that prejudice, we should not let simply stand by. I urge you to support and cosponsor S. 1529, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This bill would not give "special rights", rather it would give me an equal chance to pursue happiness, and penalize those who would take my rights away.
I am sure that you have also heard of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student that was brutally pistol-whipped, robbed, and left to die, tied to a wooden fence, because he was gay. Though not always this extreme, violence toward gays is quite common. I recall a recent political ad in which Governor Bush claims that increased spending for education will solve all of the problems in our public schools today. I find it hard to believe that he thinks that these problems are that simple. Increased educational spending alone will not even touch on this problem. It will simply deny those students who are afraid to go to school more of an education. I think he should consider another approach. I am a supporter of the Walt Whitman School in Dallas, a small independent high school. It was founded in 1997 to do something about the dropout rate of gay students, the statistics of which are alarming. I have done all that I could to support this courageous effort since it opened, but it should not be necessary. By taking a stand on discrimination and prejudice, we can all send a clear message that "it doesn't matter who you are, you have a right to an education."
Darrel Day
San Angelo, TX 76904
Still hoping for life and liberty while I'm in the pursuit of happiness.