Dear Friend:
For decades we have worked for equality. We have worked to fulfill the promise that America is a place without discrimination, and in this new political environment we will continue that fight together.
As a vice chair of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Caucus, I wanted to provide an assessment of where our human rights agenda stands as of today:
Partner benefits
( 1 ) The president extended some benefits to same-sex federal employees' families. He is actually limited in what he can do without a change in law.
( 2 ) Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is sponsoring the Domestic Partner Benefit and Obligation Act, H.R. 2517 which has 79 co-sponsors including me. The bill would expand the benefit package, making it mirror exactly the benefits afforded to heterosexual married couples in Federal employment.
( 3 ) The president gave Rep. Baldwin's bill his strong public endorsement last night.
Hate crimes
The Hate Crimes Act made crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability illegal as hate crimes. The bill passed the House once again—on April 29—but is stuck in the Senate. The White House is pushing the Senate to pass it and is the President will sign it into law upon Senate passage. The Hate Crimes Act also expands the scope of the current law, making it possible to federally prosecute the shooter at the Holocaust Museum for a hate crime.
Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA )
There is good and bad news but nothing that can't or won't be overcome in time.
The bad news: The Justice Department filed a brief supporting DOMA. I read it. First of all, it wasn't necessary to file a brief at all, especially one that asked for the entire lawsuit to be dismissed. Very disappointing. I was unaware that it was coming, as were all of the House members.
The good news: The president, in unequivocal terms, has called for the repeal of DOMA. He said, "Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it." Rep. Jerry Nadler, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, is working on a DOMA repeal bill that he plans to introduce after the July 4th recess. I'll be on it.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Legislation has been introduced by Ellen Tauscher, the chief sponsor of the bill, HR 1283, to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I'm a co-sponsor. I have good reason to believe the President will support this legislation—but it's not clear when.
You can count on me to continue to work hard on the fight for equality.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Illinois 9th Congressional District
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The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to express my profound disappointment at the tone and content of the motion filed by the Department of Justice in the matter of Smelt and Hammer versus the United States of American and the State of California. While I understand that the Department of Justice had an obligation to respond to the Court, the arguments they used in their response are profoundly disturbing to me and the people that I represent.
Our nation has become one of the greatest countries on the face of the earth because of our embrace of freedom, liberty and justice for all our citizens. Some of the proudest moments in the history of America have been when we have overturned and put aside "centuries old," "historical" and "traditional" ways of our forebears, recognizing them as discriminatory, oppressive and contrary to the founding principles of our country. The abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, interracial marriage and integration of our public schools immediately leap to mind as "centuries old", "historical" and "traditional" ways of doing things that our people are glad to see the end of and, in fact, are proud to have done away with.
The arguments put forth in the motion regarding taxpayers subsidizing a form of marriage they don't recognize is also appalling to me. To imply that the United States has a federal duty to protect those who wish to discriminate against lesbian and gay citizens is a very dangerous precedent for our nation.
I could go on through the entire text of this motion, but I will not. Suffice it to say that when your administration had an opportunity to reach out and embrace "liberty and justice for all," they chose instead to give encouragement to those who wish to hold back the evolution of liberty and freedom in our nation.
Gregory S. Harris
Representative, 13th District
Remembering Rodger
Just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to Bob Roehr for his moving and accurate description of Rodger McFarlane ( much thanks, too, to Windy City editors ) . Rodger has essentially been, for the last 30 years, my big brother.
I'm especially grateful that you quote Larry vis-a-vis Rodger's importance to the gay world. Though I happen to be straight, I'm profoundly thankful that Rodger is getting the recognition so many of us understand he deserves. For what it's worth, I believe Rodger's importance transcends his crucial, critical work for PWAs and equality for LGBT people. I believe, in doing what he did, he made an enormous contribution to us all.
Brad Miskell
