The conservative movement, to which I subscribe, has as one of its basic tenets the belief that government should stay out of peopleโs private lives. Government governs best when it governs least โ and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someoneโs version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.
Barry GoldwaterHaving spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time, and never having even talked about it in all those years, I just thought, why the hell shouldn't they serve? They're American citizens. As long as they're not doing things that are harmful to anyone else... So I came out for it.
Barry GoldwaterBy maintaining the separation of church and state, the United States has avoided the intolerance which has so divided the rest of the world with religious wars.
Barry GoldwaterWe are on the Colorado โ that means something more to me than electric power or a harnessed river.
Barry Goldwater