
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 27, 1994                   TAG: 9407270077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TODAY'S TOPIC: GAY RIGHTS

COLEMAN: "Every American citizen is entitled to the Constitution's guarantee of equal rights under the law. As Ronald Reagan once said about the treatment of homosexuals, I oppose discrimination of any kind. However, I also believe that existing laws are adequate to protect gays from discrimination, and I see no compelling need for new legislation."

NORTH: "No. The homosexual community is not asking for civil rights protection, such as covered by gender and race; they are asking for special privileges in the law, which I oppose."

ROBB: "Throughout my career, I have fought against all forms of discrimination based upon the belief that people should be evaluated in the workplace on their ability to do the job; not race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or any other quality not relevant to job performance. What a person does, rather than who he or she is, should be the basis for evaluation."

WILDER: "As a victim of discrimination, I abhor it in any form. All people, regardless of their color, sex, ethnic origin, religion or way of life should be free to be treated as full citizens of this country. I also feel that if states and localities wish to provide specific rights, then they should be allowed to do so."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB