This may well be the first time I’ve ever watched a congressional committee “markup session.”
I got to this video through an NPR article,
According to the article, “the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro called Republicans ‘terrorists’ for moving to block funding for LGBTQ centers and other programs.”
I wanted to see exactly what Congresswoman DeLauro had said, so I went to the YouTube video of the hearing held on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The video has a catchy title: “Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill.”
I didn’t watch enough of the video to find Rep. DeLauro calling Republicans “terrorists,” but I did watch her speaking in support of funding several projects, and I transcribed the following portion of what she said (2:09:12 – 2:10:31):
“The three projects that are now being summarily dismissed are eligible projects...
- “The LGBT Center of Greater Reading, Pennsylvania provides transitional services, life skills, such as financial literacy, resumé building, and job skills. Congresswoman Houlahan. $970,000.
- “Congresswoman Pressley: Homeless seniors are one of the fastest-growing homeless populations. Representative Pressley has secured funding to actually expand housing for 74 new units for LGBTQ seniors. Again, solving a problem that we know exists, based on data. $850,000.
- “Congressman Boyle: For the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia, $1.8 million. Construction of a community center for critical services for LGBT individuals, transportation services, self-sufficiency, other services that help them to regain their independence.”
“Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill”; Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Something about the congresswoman’ words surprised me. Our federal government is being asked to allocate taxpayer dollars to fund a gay community center and housing units designated for LGBTQ seniors.
Perhaps I’m just old-fashioned, but I don’t understand why our federal government would ever see fit to fund a gays-only housing project, or, for that matter, a housing project restricted to straight people. I hope that our federal tax dollars are not used to fund Jewish or Mormon or Muslim or Wiccan housing. Shouldn’t the government stay away from discriminating for or against people based on their religion or their sexual orientation?
According to Congresswoman DeLauro, however, it’s completely appropriate for Congress to allocate funds for the housing of “LGBTQ seniors” or for a “Gay Community Center.”
Certainly gay and lesbian Americans should not be prohibited from participating in public housing projects or community centers. But should a public housing project ever be limited to renting EXCLUSIVELY to gay people – or ONLY to straight people or only to Jews or only to Christians or only to Muslims?