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ABOVE: Tammy and Judy Shepard at the 2007 Matthew Shepard Foundation Honors Awards.
Overview
I look forward to the day when gay and lesbian families are protected through the same laws and with the same obligations, responsibilities and rights as straight Americans. We still have substantive work to achieve in the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
LGBT Equality Caucus
Along with my colleague Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), and other Members of Congress who are strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world, I established the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus in June 2008. By serving as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff, and the public on LGBT issues, the Caucus will work toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
To visit the Caucus website, click HERE.
Employment Discrimination against LGBT Americans
Every year, qualified hard-working Americans are denied jobs or discriminated against while on the job because they are, or are perceived to be, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Yet, Americans have a fundamental belief that working men and women should be judged based on their job performance rather than irrational prejudice. I am very proud that, in 1982, Wisconsin became the first state to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. I strongly believe we must pass federal legislation to ensure that every American is protected from employment discrimination and I support the fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Abolishing the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy
I am strongly opposed to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays and lesbians serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This policy requires gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemen and women to keep their sexual orientation secret, and bans the military from asking questions about a service member's orientation. Under this policy, a service member can be investigated and discharged if they make a statement about their sexuality, engage in physical contact with someone of the same gender, or marry or attempt to marry someone of the same gender. I am an original cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which repeals this discriminatory policy and implements a standard of appropriate conduct to which all military personnel, regardless of sexual orientation, are held accountable.
Hate Crimes
Hate is neither a Democratic nor an American Value. Hate crimes involve the purposeful selection of victims for violence and intimidation based on bias against their perceived attributes. These crimes are distinguished from, and go far beyond, mere expression of belief. They materially and unacceptably interfere with the full participation of all Americans in the fundamental liberties enjoyed in our democratic society. As Americans, we must take a strong stand against violence committed against our neighbors for simply being themselves.
I strongly support the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would provide increased penalties for bias-related crimes that result in death or bodily injury. I also support the annual National Day of Silence, in which students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools, including students, teachers, and other school staff.
Ending LGBT Health Disparities
Although health disparities affecting the LGBT community are recognized by numerous federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), LGBT families continue to face serious barriers to adequate and appropriate health care. A major reason for health disparities in the LGBT community is that LGBT Americans are significantly more likely to be uninsured then the general population. LGBT families often do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance, and when benefits are provided, families face tax burdens that their opposite-sex married colleagues do not. In the hospital environment, domestic partners are routinely refused visitation rights or left out of medical decision-making for their partner or their partner's minor children. Additionally, the lack of data collected on the health status of LGBT individuals significantly hampers researchers and health care providers seeking federal funding for LGBT health initiatives. The health of LGBT Americans suffers dramatically as a result.
To address these inequalities, I am the lead sponsor of the Ending LGBT Health Disparities Act. This bill is the first comprehensive approach to confronting all areas of the health care system where LGBT Americans face inequality and discrimination.
Domestic Partnership Benefits
A large and growing number of America’s major corporations, as well as state and local governments and educational institutions, have extended their employee benefit programs to cover their employees’ committed domestic partners. In fact, over half of the Fortune 500 companies now offer health benefits to employees’ domestic partners, up from just 25 percent in 2000. Overall, more than 8,000 private-sector companies make such benefits available to employees’ domestic partners, as do several hundred state and local governments and colleges and universities.
I am the lead sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which would put the federal government on par with a majority of Fortune 500 companies by extending employee benefit programs to cover the domestic partners of federal employees to the same extent as those benefits cover spouses of federal employees.
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