Maurice Ferre for US Senate - Florida Democratic US Senate Candidate

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

- Thomas Jefferson

The best way to secure fundamental rights in a democratic society is through a government which reflects the values held by its citizens. In the past, civil activists have fought for racial, ethnic, age, and gender fairness under the law, a battle which continues today. Most recently activists have opened the equality window for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. Thus, it is important to guarantee that our leaders continue to push for legislation which demonstrates the ongoing quest for equality. Today’s unjust prejudices held against members of the GLBT community in Florida are not only discriminatory but regressive and they are inconsistent with the ideals held by our founding documents. Liberty and equality are American values and a right to be enjoyed by all Americans.

Marriages and Civil Unions:

Concerning civil unions, our GLBT community has been denied the basic social rights freely enjoyed by heterosexual individuals. Marriage should be a religious term. The government should therefore refrain from using the word “marriage.” Instead, the government should only be concerned with civil unions and the rights of its citizens. Gay, heterosexual, or bi-racial couples should be allowed to enter a union just like anybody else. Civil Unions are the primary direction to opening the gateway to equal treatment of all Floridians. Why should we deny individuals from visiting their loved ones in times of medical distress? Why should we dismiss one’s presence in a loved one’s funeral? As Americans, we shouldn’t be in a legal or moral position to decline an individual’s liberty to express devotion, both emotionally and legally.

Insurance benefits are another aspect of the civil union challenge. Currently, partners in same-sex relationships are excluded from basic insurance benefits that heterosexual couples have. Heterosexual couples are reliant upon the private sector and some governing bodies in terms of insurance eligibility. It is now time to create a unified national policy by expanding the civil rights laws. We need to grant the right to allow individuals eligibility of their domestic partners’ insurance plans, such as a living will and disability privileges, through the freedom of civil unions. Civil unions are not going against Florida’s DOMA stance, but they do recognize that the GLBT community needs to be able to partake in the same privileges that heterosexual couples enjoy.

Adoption and Foster Care:

In choosing to adopt a child or provide foster care, the primary concern should be the well being of the child, regardless of whether the parents are same-sex couples or heterosexual.

Providing a loving home where healthcare, education, and basic needs are met should be the main consideration when determining the suitability of the parents. Healthy growth and development is based upon good values and a nurturing home, not by biology, gender, or sexual orientation.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell:

The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, as established under the Clinton administration, infringes upon the rights of our patriotic armed forces members in expressing sexual orientation. The concept that open declarations of one’s sexuality would hinder and negatively affect one’s military performance, lacks any real affirmation. Evidence from 24 other countries permitting homosexuals to openly serve (including three of our closest allies, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom), shows that open knowledge of colleagues’ sexual preference has no effect on either their performance nor on that of their heterosexual counterparts. As leaders of the free world, America should not sit back and allow such unjust policies to continue, while so many of our allies allow their citizens freedom of expression regarding gay military service. I support repealing the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” statute as it not only regressively impedes an individual’s right to patriotic service to our great nation, but also adds a cost of unnecessary investigations in these time of severe budget deficits.

Freedom of expression is a right granted to us by the constitution of the United States. The last people who should have this right restricted are the brave men and women who defend the freedom we enjoy.

Hate Crimes:

I stand behind the constituency of the 2009 Hate Crime Bill, which advocates for stronger measurements in the investigation and prosecution of those suspected of committing malicious crimes against others based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The fact that race is still an issue behind violence and discrimination in 2010, despite the milestones achieved since the Civil Rights campaigns, highlights the fact that our citizens, in all realms, are still facing inequality.

Hate crimes are more than just a prejudice, they are a crime against humanity.

Conclusion:

Civil rights are essentially human rights. All Americans deserve equal treatment before the law. If elected, I will push for the abolition of policies that do not grant fair and equal status to the gay and lesbian community, and will promote those that do.