Who is Mr. Rodriguez going to replace? Well let’s just say that last nights election means a 100% turnaround in support for queer issues from the representative of TX-23. Bonilla was one of the most homophobic members of congress, scoring a 0 rating with the queer advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. Bonilla’s active opposition to equal rights is startling. HRC gives us a look at how Bonilla voted in 2005:
Military Issues
H.R. 1059 - Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2005
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass" – the current U.S. policy on gays in the military – is the only law in the country that forces people to be dishonest about their personal lives or be fired or possibly imprisoned. In addition to being fundamentally wrong, this policy actually hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk.
H.R. 1059, the bipartisan Military Readiness Enhancement Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA). This bill would repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual troops and allow them to serve openly in the military.
Bonilla Opposed this Bill. Rodriguez has indicated that he will support this bill
Faith-based Initiatives
H.R. 27 - Job Training Improvement Act
The House passed H.R. 27 and HRC opposed this bill because it did not include an important amendment which would have restored civil rights protections. Passing this bill without such amendment will result in religious organizations being able use federal money to discriminate based on religion under this Act even when engaging in purely secular job training endeavors.
As the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, we summarily oppose using federal funds to discriminate on any basis, including religion, which we have witnessed used as a proxy for sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.
Bonilla supported this bill
Hate Crimes
H.R. 2662 - 'To provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.'
Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that:
(1) constitutes a crime of violence under federal law or a felony under state or Indian tribal law; and
(2) is motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the state or tribe.
Bonilla opposed this measure
H.R. 1337 - Support Our Scouts Act of 2005
The Human Rights Campaign opposes H.R. 1337/S. 642, the so-called Support Our Scouts Act of 2005. This legislation reaffirms preferential government support for some organizations, like the Boy Scouts of America, despite the Boy Scouts’ continued policy to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. In addition, this legislation would force state and local governments to allow preferential access to some organizations even if those organization’s internal policies violated local and state nondiscrimination ordinances.
It is wrong for the federal government to give special privileges to an organization that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation and it is wrong for the federal government to force local and state governments to also give this support, especially if this support means violating state and local nondiscrimination ordinances. For these reasons, HRS opposes the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005.
Bonilla supported this measure
Workplace Discrimination
H.R. 3128 - 'To affirm that Federal employees are protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to repudiate any assertion to the contrary.'
Clarification of Federal Employment Protections Act - States that Congress, in order to dispel any public confusion, repudiates any assertion that federal employees are not protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Bonilla opposed this measure
Domestic Partners
H.R. 3267 - 'To provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.'
Entitles domestic partners of Federal employees to benefits available to spouses of Federal employees.
Bonilla opposed this bill
Family Issues
H.R. 475 - Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act
We urge Members of Congress to support legislation sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney that would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to permit leave to care for a domestic partner, same-sex married partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent if the domestic partner, same-sex married partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent has a serious health condition.
Bonilla opposed this measure, Family values eh?
Immigration
H.R. 3006 - 'To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a mechanism for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for residence in the United States, and for other purposes.'
Bonilla opposed this bill
Education
H.R. 2295 - 'To prohibit a State from receiving Federal education funds unless the State has certain policies and procedures regarding the purchase or acquisition of library and classroom-based reference, instructional, and other print materials for use in elementary schools, and for other purposes.'
Bonilla supported this bill, which would have left a gateway to restrict funding to schools based on actions taken by the school to reduce anti-gay harassment
Tired and depressed after reading all that? Well BONILLA is gone and CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ is the new represenative for TX-23! HRC gave Ciro Rodriguez a 100% rating on their latest scorecard. Go Ciro!