LGBT Rights
I have been a strong supporter of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community throughout my career in public service.
- I am proud to be among the growing ranks of House Members who support full marriage equality for same-sex couples.
- I have authored legislation to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide couples in domestic partnerships, civil unions and same-sex marriages with all of the benefits offered by the FMLA.
- I am a strong supporter of anti-discrimination measures against GLBT Americans, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
- I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2517, The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, which would provide the same benefits to domestic partners that spouses of federal employees currently receive.
- I strongly supported and spoke on the House floor on behalf of my colleague Tammy Baldwin’s (WI-2) effort to include legal protections for transgender persons in ENDA.
- In Congress, I have been an outspoken critic of efforts to advance a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and have voted against all such efforts as well as against the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). I was a cosponsor of Rep. Nadler’s “Respect for Marriage Act of 2009” which repeals DOMA.
- I support allowing persons to serve in the armed forces without regard to their sexual orientation and support a full repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits openly gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemen and women from serving in the military. I recently co-signed a letter to President Obama requesting an immediate suspension of DADT and am an original co-sponsor of the Military Readiness and Enhancement Act which would repeal the measure legislatively.
- I introduced the first domestic partnership legislation in New York State history in 1986 when I served as a New York City Councilwoman.
- I was proud to cast one of the decisive votes in the New York City Council to enact New York City’s historic landmark gay and lesbian rights law in 1986.
Legislation
02/03/09 - H.R. 824 Family and Medical Leave Act [111th Congress]
06/20/07 - H.R.2792, Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act [110th Congress]
02/01/05 - H.R.475, Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act [109th Congress]
03/25/03 - H.R.1430, Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act [108th Congress]
06/21/01 - H.R.2287, Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act [107th Congress]
Documents/Reports
6/18/09 – Letter to President Obama to suspend the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy
5/14/09 – Letter to OMB Director Orszag to review data collection methods for same-sex married couples in 2010 Census
5/12/09 – Letter to Secretary of State Clinton to prioritize investigation of LGBT executions in Iraq
Links
Click on the links below to see the 1997 and 2004 Government Accountability Office reports on the benefits, rights and privileges in federal law that are contingent on marital status.
