Why You Should Give A Damn!

Newsletter Archive

Newsletter #28, December, 2008

Top 10 Changes for LGBT Rights or What Obama and America can give LGBT Americans that will make us very happy in the New Year!

by Davina Kotulski, Ph.D.

Gay Agenda

1. PASS ENDA

Pass a trans-inclusive Employment Non Discrimination Act protecting the rights of LGBT Americans in the workplace. No one should be fired from their job because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender non-conforming in their appearance or choice of clothing. It’s not fair that I could get fired, or never even hired, because I wear suits sometimes.

2. REPEAL DOMA

Repeal the “Defense of Marriage Act” which actually denies marriage to LGBT Americans seeking to marry someone of the same sex and the 1,138 federal rights that heterosexual married people have access to including: health insurance benefits, social security, filing joint federal income taxes, and having their marriage recognized outside of the state they were married in. Why should the health care benefits I receive through Molly’s work be taxed as income when her brother is not taxed extra to provide his wife health care benefits? Why is it fair to deny Marvin who was with Bill for 51 years access to Bill’s social security benefits when my mother who was with my father for 15 years will still have access to my father’s social security when he dies because she never remarried? I love my parents, but Bill and Marvin were together for many more years than my parents and Bill deserves to be treated fairly!

3. REPEAL DODT

Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Seriously, most other civilized militaries, yes I know that might be a contradiction in terms for some of you, allow LGBT people to serve openly. And in fact, most Americans think this policy is antiquated, not to mention a waste of our hard earned money! According to Wikipedia, a Government Accountability Office Report released in February 2005 it cost the U.S. Government “$95.4 million in recruiting costs and $95.1 million for training replacements for the 9,488 troops discharged from 994 through 2003” under DODT. We could use that money right NOW people!

4. PASS UAFA

Pass the Uniting American Families Act, (HR 2221, S 1328) a bill that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow LGBT Americans the chance to sponser their partners for immigration and citizenship as heterosexual couples can through their marriage. Immigration is one of those 1,138 federal rights that same-sex couples are denied that I talk about in my book Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage. By passing the UAFA my friend Martha could move back to the U.S. from the Netherlands with her dog and her wife, Lin. Presently, she can only bring her dog back. Check out www.loveexiles.com to learn more about couples who are living in exile for love. Please note the UAFA was once the PPIA and has been around since 2000! Feinstein, Obama and Clinton are NOT sponsors. Anyone up for another letter writing campaign?

5. PASS DPBO

Pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. This one was near and dear to my heart while I was working for the federal government for the past 12 years. Under the DPBO LGBT federal employees would be able to give their unrecognized same-sex spouses/partners health insurance, life insurance, government pensions, and other employment related benefits that married heterosexual federal employees enjoy by being married and heterosexual. It’s time to eliminate this second-class status in the workplace. Pass the DPBO. To learn more, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_Partnership_Benefits_and_Obligations_Act

6. PASS THE HATE CRIMES BILL

Pass the Matthew Shepard Act (H.R. 1592) which would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes. Just a few weeks ago two brothers were attacked in New York because some guys thought they were “fags,” one of the brother’s was killed. “Fag-bashers” need to spend a little more time in prison thinking about why it’s okay to them to attack gay people.

7. REPEAL ALL mini-DOMAs and Constitutional Amendments

We must repeal these unconstitutional mini-Defense of Marriage Acts and these unconstitutional constitutional amendments. A majority should never have the right to vote down a minority group’s rights. Let us stay not keep repeating mistakes like segregation and second-class treatment of American citizens, let us end this hierarchy of hate and discrimination and grant LGBT Americans the same rights as heterosexual Americans.

8. Repeal laws denying LGBT people the right to adopt and foster children.

Gay parents are just as good for children as straight parents. Research repeatedly shows that kids that come from same-sex parents are just as healthy and well-adjusted as American kids from straight parents. It’s time to repeal these mean-spirited laws that hurt children and deny same-sex couples the right to care, nurture, and protect their children and family from unnecessary state intrusion.

9. Marriage Equality for couples without regard to sexual orientation or gender.

In all 50 states and with all the rights, responsibilities, and protections on a state and federal level. Marriage, anything less is less than equal. And it would also bring in a ton of money a 2004 GAO study found that it would save the U.S. Government One Billion Dollars a year to allow same-sex couples to marry. People what are we waiting for?

10. Peace and Happiness for all.