Issue Position: LGBT Issues

Issue Position

David believes that one of the most important provisions of our Constitution is the guarantee to all citizens of "equal protection of the law." Through nearly two and one-half centuries these words have guided our nation and made our society even more free and just. David strongly believes that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, should have full access to equal rights, and he will continue working hard in Congress to guarantee equal protection of the law for everyone, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or other criteria.

David is a lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and would guarantee all of the federal benefits of marriage to all legally married couples, including same-sex couples. David also strongly supported the Obama Administration's decision to end the Department of Justice's efforts to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act in court.

Because he believes that no American should ever be fired for who they are, David is also an original cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT individuals in the workplace.

Bullying and harassment in our nation's schools have become a serious national concern for students, educators, and parents alike. David strongly believes that an unsafe school environment, including one made more dangerous by daily bullying and harassment, is a major contributor to our national school drop-out problem. As Congress works towards reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, David believes this issue must be addressed in a meaningful way. That's why he has cosponsored a number of bills in the House of Representatives aimed at combating bullying and violence, especially for LGBT youth, who are disproportionately targeted by bullying and violence in schools.

David is cosponsor of H.Con.Res. 40, which would support the goals of the National Day of Silence to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination that LGBT youth can face in schools. He is also an original cosponsor of the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination against students on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. In addition, David has cosponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act. If passed, this legislation would require states to collect and report information on bullying in elementary and secondary schools. It also directs local educational agencies to include clear language prohibiting bullying in their discipline policy. David is also a cosponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act. This bill would allow juvenile accountability block grants to be used for bullying prevention programs. David will continue to support efforts in Congress to promote youth violence prevention programs and to ensure the safety of our schools.

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