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Answer from: U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

What specifically would that entail? What rights would that give? What’s the purpose of it? Everything that we do here potentially has very grave consequences. Usually you do something and it has good consequences and bad consequences. So- so I’d have to see the language, but on it’s face I’d be concerned and would have to review that language very, very carefully. EWJ: What would be an example of giving too many rights? Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart: Well, you know, what does that include? Does that include that they would be able to do certain things in schools that they’re not allowed to do today (that individuals are not allowed to do today)? Would it force on schools certain things that they’re not forced to do or accept right now? I don’t know. But- but those are the things that I would be concerned about. I just want to make sure that anything that we do does not impose on institutions, including possibly schools and the private sector, new requirements. And I think it’s always important to look at these issues very carefully, but I’ve always been very concerned about over government intrusion into obviously the private sector and people’s lives, and so that includes a lot of institutions. EWJ: On a philosophical level, do you regard gender identity as a condition that one is born into? Or as a function of a lifestyle choice? Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart: I’m not a scientist, so I don’t know. I really don’t. I mean, I could give an opinion which is based on absolutely no science. But what I do need to do is make sure that the decisions I make are decisions that are good for the communities and for the country. And- and obviously you try to base yourself on the best possible science. That is something that is continuously debated. So I don’t know. I don’t have that answer. Which is why I’m very careful when I look at these issues.

Answered on Sep 24th, 2009