Tom Martin on Civil Rights Former Democratic Representative (PA-5)

Marriage is up to the individuals, including gays

• Gay marriage, like any other marriage, is up to the individuals, not the state.
• Congress should stay out of questions of gay marriage.
• Gays in the army ok; irrelevant to military service.

Flag burning is protected (but stupid) speech

• Flag burning, like other stupid speech, is protected political speech.
• Remove federal government's power to fight and create victimless crimes.

Govt. should be color-blind; end affirmative action

• Racism is immoral discrimination; end affirmative action.
• Federal govt. should be color-blind, People should be judged by the content of their character.
• A just government respect the rights of all people equally and grants special favor to none.
• We are mistaken to replace old racism with new. End quota and affirmative action programs value a person for what and who they are.

For Gay rights, because they are citizens

• I am for Gay rights, not because they are gay, but because they are citizens.
• A just government makes no laws against any group because of their voluntary preferences.
• Jesus did not discriminate against some groups, He treated all people equally.

Gay and Lesbian rights like many other should not be an issue for government. There should be no laws prohibiting voluntary acts between consenting adults

Supports "Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws"

• Get the government out of the marriage business.
• Sexual preferences are not an issue for government to regulate.
• Celebrate ability

Opposes requiring companies to hire more minorities

• IF Congress actually beileved in quotas then they would limit their membership to the same percentage of lawyers that exist in the nation at large.
• Celebrate ability.
• A just government respects all people equally and grants special favor to none.