10 Ways Ron Fights for Equality for all Americans No Matter Who They Love

by Communications Office

In honor of LGBTQ Pride Month and in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on marriage equality, here are 10 ways Ron has fought for the equality of all Americans, regardless of who they love.


1. As a member of the House of Representatives, Ron voted against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 1993, with the view that Americans shouldn’t have to choose between serving in the military and the person they love.

2. When asked about marriage during a hard fought 1996 Senate election, Ron became one of the first members of Congress to endorse same-sex marriage saying - “Gays and lesbians should not be discriminated against. If you have two people who have chosen a monogamous relationship, regardless of their sexual orientation, I don’t think it ought to be the business of the government.”

3. In 1996, Ron was one of only 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

4. Ron worked for years to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, sending a letter in 2007 to Senate Majority Leader Reid urging the bill’s repeal. He co-sponsored the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

5. Ron has championed several campaigns promoting marriage equality, including the “It Gets Better” project and the No H8 campaign.

6. Ron has also shown his commitment to ending violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people around the world, urging then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2010 to revoke trade benefits to Uganda if they passed the draconian anti-homosexuality legislation being considered at the time.

7. Ron voted in favor of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act in 2013, working to ensure that everyone received equal protection regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

8. Earlier this year, Ron cosponsored the reintroduction of the Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, continuing his work to ensure that veterans’ benefits are extended to same-sex couples everywhere in the United States.

9. This year, Ron has fought for equality by cosponsoring important legislation protecting Americans from discrimination regardless of sexual orientation, including the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act and the Every Child Deserves a Family Act.

10. Ron has pledged to continue supporting marriage equality because every American should have equal access to marriage under the law.