Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Civil Rights

Amanda Swafford: Marriage equality is an individual freedom

Brad Hutto: Equal pay for equal work is the next women's milestone

Right now in this country, women earn roughly 20% less than men doing the same job. You and I know this is wrong, plain and simple. But Lindsey Graham seems to think it's just fine. Just this Spring, Graham voted against considering the Paycheck Fairness Act--a law that would have safeguard against wage discrimination based on gender. I'll make equal work for equal pay a priority. As your next Senator, I'll not simply vote for but I will sponsor equal pay for equal work legislation.

Chad Taylor: Advocate for equality, including equal pay for equal work

I have long been an advocate for equality in our society and workplace, which is why I support measures such as equal pay for equal work. There is no excuse for a pay discrepancy based on gender. Period.

I will be an advocate for equality, supporting measures such as the Violence Against Women Act, which Senator Pat Roberts voted against. I will fight to ensure fairness under the law.

Chad Taylor: Make bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional

Dave Domina: End gender paycheck inequity & all gender favoritism

• Gender favoritism or preference is impermissible and forbidden for all positions except those few, in rare settings, where gender is a criterion for employment.
• Neither gender should be paid more or less than the other for the same work in the same or parallel positions.
• Performance is gender neutral. Compensation must be too.
• The Equal Paycheck Act passed by the United States Senate makes genuine efforts to remedy historical disparities.

Michelle Nunn: Support equal pay, and do it now

Equal pay is respect for hard work, and every minute we let go by without it hurts Georgia families.

We should be able to come together in a bipartisan way to make life better for millions of Americans--and grow our economy in the process.

But Congress isn't going to act on its own. That's why it's crucial for all of us to speak out about how important it is to support equal pay, and to do it now.

Urge Congress to support equal pay now, without delay: Families in Georgia and across the nation need our help today.

Brad Hutto: Liberty to share love and life is an inherent right

Connie Johnson: Women deserve equal pay for equal work

Connie Johnson: Job protection & housing rights for LGBT citizens

Terry Adams: Equal work deserves equal pay, period

A system that is rigged against half the work force is a system that does not work for Tennesseans. Unfair pay practices not only hurts Tennessee families in the form of lost wages but it also hurts families with reduced pensions, retirement benefits, and diminished Social Security benefits in the future.

Women working in the same jobs as men still make only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. It is unfathomable that there is a debate on this issue in 2014. This is not the 1950's.

David Alameel: Demand equal pay for equal work between men and women

As Senator, David Alameel will advocate for:
• Raising the minimum wage so families can work with dignity, put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
• Extending unemployment insurance benefits to the long-term unemployed
• Ensuring tough enforcement of equal pay laws which helps all of our families.

Joyce Dickerson: All South Carolinians should honor MLK Day

Jeff Bell: Support traditional marriage: don't let courts define it

Bruce Skarin: Don't use religious values to restrict civil right to love

John Walsh: Equal pay for equal work for women

Andy Martin: Early advocate against women's wage discrimination

Sex discrimination: Andy was one of the first advocates to fight wage discrimination against women in the workplace; in 1969 he was a party to and helped spearhead the first major attack on sex discrimination [against] AT&T, at the Federal Communications Commission.

Rob Maness: Support traditional marriage

Shane Osborn: Marriage is only between one man and one woman

In the Senate, Shane will fight to promote policies that preserve the institution of marriage and protect the life of the unborn.

Ben Sasse: Don't redefine one-man-one-woman marriage

• Marriage, the union of one man and one woman, is the fundamental building block of society and should be respected and strengthened, not redefined.
• At a time of rising out-of-wedlock births, resulting in the physical and spiritual impoverishment of the young, government should not create incentives against marriage.

Shenna Bellows: Leader in Women's Leadership Coalition & women's rights

Shenna believes that coalitions can change the world. In addition to working in coalition to advance voting rights and marriage equality, she was a leader in the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, the Maine Choice Coalition, the Women's Leadership Coalition, and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition.

Matt Silverstein: Equal pay concept: level the field for women

Women are paid less than men for the same work and that must change. Matt is a husband, father of a two-year old daughter, and grew up in a household as the older brother to two younger sisters. He is an adamant fighter for women. Matt has pledged to support forward thinking policies that help level the field for women. He is also a strong advocate for the Violence Against Women's Act, equality for women in the military, and overall women's health issues. Congress should never turn a blind eye to inequality towards women and we should all support common sense efforts to help local officials address these inequalities. The first step is admitting they exist.

Sam Clovis: Family begins with one man and one woman

Alison Grimes: Fight for pay equity for women

ACHIEVING PAY EQUITY: Women are half of the labor force in this country yet still make 77 cents for every dollar--23% less than their male counterparts. In Kentucky, women lose nearly $5 billion in wages each year--a statistic that is staggering and unacceptable. With that money a working woman in Kentucky could purchase 78 more weeks of groceries, pay 14 more months of rent, make 8 more months of mortgage and utilities payments or buy 2,477 additional gallons of gas. In contrast, Mitch McConnell has called equal pay for equal work just another "special interest vote" and voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act--not once, but twice.

Shenna Bellows: ENDA is a good start; full marriage equality is next

"I appreciate--as we all should--that Susan Collins joined all of the Democrats in voting for ENDA today, but the measure falls short of full equality. I look forward to the day when both of Maine's US senators have the courage to stand up for full equality, including the freedom to marry, for all Americans."

Bellows was a leader in the 2005 Maine Won't Discriminate campaign when Maine passed a broad anti-discrimination law that prohibits discrimination in employment, credit, housing and education. "It is high time that all Americans are able to live and work freely, without fear of being fired because of who they are. It is, of course, also high time that all Americans enjoy the freedom to marry the person they love," said Bellows.

Matt Bevin: Marriage is between a man and a woman

Jay Stamper: Backs marriage equality: it is a civil rights issue

I fundamentally believe marriage equality is not a minor issue to be minimized, ignored or treated as a political inconvenience. It is a civil rights issue affecting millions of people who are our neighbors, friends and family.

The US Constitution requires equal protection under the law: rights given to one group by law should not be denied another. In my view then, it's simple: gay couples must not be denied the right to marry.

Beyond our constitutionally guaranteed rights, I believe that we have a moral obligation to treat every human being with respect--even if he or she is different. I won't be silent or hide behind political rhetoric on the issue of marriage equality and civil rights. Stand with me if you won't either.

Mead Treadwell: I will defend traditional marriage

Milton Wolf: Marriage should be between one man and one woman

Joni Ernst: Marriage is a religious institution: one man and one woman

Terri Lynn Land: Supports MI Protection & Advocacy Services (pro-disabilty)

T.W. Shannon: Martin Luther King's dream was never about dependency

I've been asked repeatedly by folks why I am a Republican. It's because Dr. Martin Luther King's dream was never about dependency, it was about equality, opportunity and faith. Dependency robs all people, regardless of race, of their freedom and dignity. It's because I still believe in the value of life, and in the beauty of liberty. Having been raised by a Mom and a Dad in the same home in Lawton, Oklahoma, I also believe strong families will rebuild our nation. While these values should not be partisan, they are what compelled me to become a Republican.

David Perdue: Protect traditional marriage

Champ Edmunds: Marriage is a bond between a man, a woman and God

Murray Sabrin: Gay-bashing is insensitive, but free speech; not hate crime

The facts of this case are not in dispute. Ravi set up a webcam on his computer to "spy" on his roommate who was having an intimate encounter with another man. Clearly, Ravi violated Tyler's privacy. But the charge that Ravi engaged in "bias intimidation" because he made fun of his gay roommate [means it] rose to the level of a "hate crime.".

The conviction of Ravi raises a far more troubling issue, the assault on free speech. The American people's free speech rights are unequivocal, the government--federal-state and local--should not be able to prosecute us for engaging in unpopular, controversial or for that matter "insensitive" remarks.