Letter: Nondiscrimination act would guard against prejudice (Nov. 12)

I believe that, howsoever it may be, we are all equal, and we are endowed by that equality with certain inalienable rights, and numbered among these are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As with most Americans, my belief in this is supported and informed by some religious belief and background. As a believer in this and the Constitution, I am not inclined to expect anyone to share or understand those religious beliefs. I do expect my fellow Americans to understand and share a belief in my opening statement, however, central as it is to our collective happiness, peace and prosperity, to fulfilling our founders' vision of an ever more perfect union.

I am disappointed when I discover there is resistance to such things as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. If someone were fired because they are white or Christian, we would be justly outraged. What if you were fired because you are straight or male? The community would rally around you and the law would come down on your side.

If one of your fellow Americans were fired because they are homosexual, bisexual or transgendered, this would not be the case. The law abandons these, our fellow Americans, to the prejudice of their employers. EDNA does nothing more than protect people from prejudice, to ensure to all of us the same equal opportunity which we all so treasure and to which we enjoy Constitutional guarantee.

Please, urge our congressional delegation to pass EDNA (H.R 3017).

Jeffrey Hinman II, Corvallis