--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really think that people's right to…" description: "\"I really think that people's right to happiness shouldn't be dictated by some policymaker in Washington, D.C. I've come to know a lot of people that - ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/jon-tester-12812_being-married_i-really-think-that-people-s-right-to-ha_1817435.jpg" --- # I really think that people's right to happiness shouldn't… ![“I really think that people's right to happiness shouldn't be dictated by some policymaker in Washington, D.C. I've come to know a lot of people that - sexual orientation is such where they're in love with people from the same sex, and I just don't think it's our role in the government to say, 'No…” quote by Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/jon-tester-12812_being-married_i-really-think-that-people-s-right-to-ha_1817435.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/jon-tester-12812_being-married_i-really-think-that-people-s-right-to-ha_1817435.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/jon-tester-12812_being-married_i-really-think-that-people-s-right-to-ha_1817435.jpg) > “I really think that people's right to happiness shouldn't be dictated by some policymaker in Washington, D.C. I've come to know a lot of people that - sexual orientation is such where they're in love with people from the same sex, and I just don't think it's our role in the government to say, 'No you can't be married.” [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People should not have their personal happiness dictated by distant policymakers; love is a private matter. **In simple terms:** Love shouldn't be controlled by government. Key Takeaway Respect personal freedom in relationships. Themes rights equality government love personal freedom Mood thoughtful concerned Type political advocacy When to use this quote - marriage equality debates - policy discussions - personal relationships Key Concepts civil rights LGBTQ rights privacy Questions to Reflect On - Should personal happiness be protected from governmental interference? - How do cultural values shape policy on marriage? A Different Perspective Legal frameworks can lag behind social attitudes, causing conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-married/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-say-564681/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-people/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Orientation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orientation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-right/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sexual Orientation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-orientation-282144/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [You shouldn't face discrimination because of your sexual orientation. That should be illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/you-shouldn-t-face-discrimination-because-of-your-sexual-orientation/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [I've never denied my sexual orientation. I just don't make a point of it. It isn't what I do. Clearly, I'm known for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kolbe/i-ve-never-denied-my-sexual-orientation-i-just-don-t-make-a-point-of/) [Jim Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kolbe/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of-2/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Given that sexual orientation is innate and that we are all, in theological terms, children of God, to deny access to some sacraments based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/given-that-sexual-orientation-is-innate-and-that-we-are-all-in/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [When you finally embrace the gift of your sexual orientation it IS the end; the end of shame, fear and oppression. You leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-venn-brown/when-you-finally-embrace-the-gift-of-your-sexual-orientation-it-is/) [Anthony Venn-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-venn-brown/) > [If you are fortunate in life, age and knowledge breed compassion. And as I have gotten older, I came to understand, that a person's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-musgrove/if-you-are-fortunate-in-life-age-and-knowledge-breed-compassion-and/) [Ronnie Musgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-musgrove/) > [When I say my brother and his wife are heterosexual, that doesn't mean I'm talking about their sex lives. Likewise, when we say someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-russo/when-i-say-my-brother-and-his-wife-are-heterosexual-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Vito Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-russo/) > [They're not trying to prevent Hollywood from making movies. They're asking that the most powerful image-building machinery in the world stop grinding out killer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/they-re-not-trying-to-prevent-hollywood-from-making-movies-they-re/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [One of the things I regret is that too often in our society a person's whole identity is shaped by their sexuality, or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-nichols/one-of-the-things-i-regret-is-that-too-often-in-our-society-a-person/) [Vincent Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-nichols/) > [I have to be honest: I don't get many, if any - I don't know that I've ever received a phone call in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-cramer/i-have-to-be-honest-i-don-t-get-many-if-any-i-don-t-know-that-i-ve/) [Kevin Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-cramer/) > [We hope we are moving toward a world where sexual orientation is not an issue, because we hate the idea of a gay ghetto.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/we-hope-we-are-moving-toward-a-world-where-sexual-orientation-is-not/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [Ultimately, the wisest course for anybody who's afflicted with same-gender attraction is to strive to extend one's horizon beyond just one's sexual orientation, one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-b-wickman/ultimately-the-wisest-course-for-anybody-who-s-afflicted-with-same/) [Lance B. Wickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-b-wickman/) > [I think everyone is bi, right? There's no such thing as sexual orientation, or race, or gender. Those are all obsolete man-made concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-think-everyone-is-bi-right-there-s-no-such-thing-as-sexual/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [We don't really know where human sexual orientations come from yet. What we do know is that the evidence we have that sexual orientation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dreger/we-don-t-really-know-where-human-sexual-orientations-come-from-yet/) [Alice Dreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dreger/) > [The players who have reached out to me and told me about their sexual orientation, it just means a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/the-players-who-have-reached-out-to-me-and-told-me-about-their-sexual/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) ## More by Jon Tester > [Im a farmer. I always will be a farmer. When I die, Ill be a farmer. Its something that Ive wanted to do since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/im-a-farmer-i-always-will-be-a-farmer-when-i-die-ill-be-a-farmer-its/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-what-democrats-need-to-do-is-they-need-to-work-for-the/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I think one thing that Montanans all agree on, whether you're Republican or Democrat, is they want money spent appropriately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-one-thing-that-montanans-all-agree-on-whether-you-re/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I take my vacation on the combine and tractor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-take-my-vacation-on-the-combine-and-tractor/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I didnt get this physique by not eating tacos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-didnt-get-this-physique-by-not-eating-tacos/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I was helping my mom grind meat at our butcher shop, and it just hypnotized me. I don't remember sticking my hand in, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-was-helping-my-mom-grind-meat-at-our-butcher-shop-and-it-just/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I go everywhere in the state and I listen to Montanans, whether it's in conservative areas or liberal areas, and take those ideas back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-go-everywhere-in-the-state-and-i-listen-to-montanans-whether-it-s/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [If I was the leader of the House of Representatives, the first thing I would do is I would put in a very clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/if-i-was-the-leader-of-the-house-of-representatives-the-first-thing-i/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I don't believe in models that say you just knock on this door, you just go to this community, and you'll get elected. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-don-t-believe-in-models-that-say-you-just-knock-on-this-door-you/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Montanans know who I am: They know I'm a lifetime Montanan. They know I understand rural America. They know I understand public lands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/montanans-know-who-i-am-they-know-i-m-a-lifetime-montanan-they-know-i/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [That's politics. Your friend one day is your enemy the next and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/that-s-politics-your-friend-one-day-is-your-enemy-the-next-and-vice/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Montanans elected me to the Senate to do away with shady backroom deals and to make government work better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/montanans-elected-me-to-the-senate-to-do-away-with-shady-backroom/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I would love to tell you this country is on the cusp of coming together, but it isn't. But I can tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-would-love-to-tell-you-this-country-is-on-the-cusp-of-coming/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Agriculture drives most people crazy. It keeps me sane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/agriculture-drives-most-people-crazy-it-keeps-me-sane/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [I think there is some real therapy in getting your hands in the dirt and working with food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-there-is-some-real-therapy-in-getting-your-hands-in-the-dirt/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) [Explore all 53 Jon Tester quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) ## More Being married quotes > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The concept of growing up is so hard to quantify. What have you learned and how have you changed and how have you stayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-byrne/the-concept-of-growing-up-is-so-hard-to-quantify-what-have-you/) [Rose Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-byrne/) > [ A lot of people \[are\] saying civil union," Faried told KDVR. "I don't like it being called that because I can get married to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-faried/a-lot-of-people-are-saying-civil-union-faried-told-kdvr-i-don-t-like/) [Kenneth Faried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-faried/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I've been with the same person for a very long time but I'm just non-conventional in that way. I don't think people need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/i-ve-been-with-the-same-person-for-a-very-long-time-but-i-m-just-non/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [No, I was never that kind of guy. I believed in true romance; one-night stands are always going to leave you feeling cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/no-i-was-never-that-kind-of-guy-i-believed-in-true-romance-one-night/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [When you put a halo on concepts - gender roles, religion, nationality or pride - or you put a halo on any topic -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/when-you-put-a-halo-on-concepts-gender-roles-religion-nationality-or/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your dispositions to be married" It is an honor that I dream not of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tell-me-daughter-juliet-how-stands-your-dispositions-to-be-married-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm very happy to make specific choices (as an actor), (but) you can't be married to them because you never know when the writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chlumsky/i-m-very-happy-to-make-specific-choices-as-an-actor-but-you-can-t-be/) [Anna Chlumsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chlumsky/) > [Valancy herself had never quite relinquished a certain pitiful, shamed, little hope that Romance would come her way yet—never, until this wet, horrible morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/valancy-herself-had-never-quite-relinquished-a-certain-pitiful-shamed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My ambition when I was four years old was to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/my-ambition-when-i-was-four-years-old-was-to-be-married/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [When I'm married I want to be single, and when I'm single I want to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-i-m-married-i-want-to-be-single-and-when-i-m-single-i-want-to-be/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [So you want to be married, oh baby, trying to put me on a chain, ain't that some shame? You must be losing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/so-you-want-to-be-married-oh-baby-trying-to-put-me-on-a-chain-ain-t/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/i-don-t-want-to-be-married-just-to-be-married-i-can-t-think-of/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) [Browse all 345 Being married quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-married/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really think that people's right to happiness shouldn't be dictated by some policymaker in Washington, D.C. 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