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  [Updated due to introduction of ENDA on April 6, 2011] According to their website (http://lgbt.tammybaldwin.house.gov/): “The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus was established in the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2008 by Co-Chairs Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Barney Frank (D-MA), along with 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.” The Caucus is now co-chaired by four openly gay members of Congress: Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, Jared Polis (D-CO), and David Cicilline (D-RI). In addition to the Co-Chairs, the membership is comprised of 19 Vice-Chairs and 73 Members, which totals to 96 members (Current website doesn’t reflect the resignation of Jane Harman (D-CA). It is commonly understood amongst LGBT advocacy organizations and activists, that with the recent loss of Democrats in the House of Representatives during the 2012 election, the 112th Congress might be a challenging field to secure passage of any LGBT legislation. Given the current political environment, one would expect that the Equality Caucus formed with the mission to achieve equal rights for LGBT people would immediately and unequivocally support ALL pieces of LGBT friendly legislation introduced in this Congress. However that isn’t what is happening. Act on Principles is giving the following grades to the Equality Caucus on their support of LGBT friendly legislation introduced in the House of Representatives. Currently, there are five pieces of legislation in the House that impact LGBT equality. Shockingly, the Equality Caucus receives a mediocre report card consisting of one A, two B’s and two F’s.
Before going into too much details on each of the bills, the three members of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus that are supporting ALL FIVE pieces of LGBT legislation introduced should be commended. These Members of Congress received a 100% score on their co-sponsorship efforts, unfortunately they account for only 3% of the entire Equality Caucus (3 out of 96 members):
Conversely, the three members of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus that are supporting zero pieces of legislation should be also noted. These Members of Congress receive a 0% score on their co-sponsorship efforts. (We do not want to penalize the Equality Caucus or Equality Caucus Member Gabrielle Giffords due to her circumstances and medical condition that keeps her from participating in her Congressional activities. Her co-sponsorships will not be counted in the tabulations). Those with no co-sponsorships of any pro-LGBT legislation account for 3% of the Equality Caucus (3 out 95).
With a grade of a B-, only 81% (77 of 95 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Those Equality Caucus members not co-sponsoring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act include the three 0% members above and the following fifteen members:
With a grade of a B, only 84% (80 of 95 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Respect for Marriage Act. Those Equality Caucus members not co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act include the three 0% members above and the following thirteen members:
With a grade of an A-, 91% (86 of 95 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Those Equality Caucus members not co-sponsoring the Student Non-Discrimination Act include the three 0% members above and the following six members:
With a grade of an F, 44% (42 of 95 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Equal Access to COBRA Act. Rather than list all those Equality Caucus members not cosponsoring the Equal Access to COBRA Act let’s look at some other details. All of the Equality Caucus Co-Chairs (Baldwin, Cicilline, Frank, and Polis) are cosponsors of the bill. However, only 36% (7 of 19) of the Vice-Chairs of the Caucus are cosponsors of the bill. With a grade of F-, 7% (7 of 95 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act. The bill sponsored by Democrat Rush Holt from New Jersey is the least supported piece of legislation in the Equality Caucus with only 7 co-sponsors. None of the Equality Caucus Co-Chairs (Baldwin, Cicilline, Frank or Polis) are cosponsors and only 11% (2 of 19) of the Vice-Chairs of the Caucus are cosponsors of the bill. In order to achieve full federal equality, we need an important institution such as the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to actually be efficient and turnkey in our efforts to demonstrate and increase the support for all pieces of LGBT friendly legislation. I am hopeful that the Equality Caucus leadership either: 1. Encourages all of its members to support and cosponsor ALL LGBT-friendly legislation introduced by its membership and other allies in Congress or 2. Explains to the larger LGBT community why the Equality Caucus isn’t supporting specific pieces of legislation. Act On Principles (www.actonprinciples.org) will continue publicly whip all LGBT supportive legislation in the 112th Congress, continue to evaluate the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus on their support of our equality, and work with organizations to ensure we achieve full federal equality.
According to their website (http://lgbt.tammybaldwin.house.gov/): “The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus was established in the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2008 by Co-Chairs Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Barney Frank (D-MA), along with 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.” The Caucus is now co-chaired by four openly gay members of Congress: Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, Jared Polis (D-CO), and David Cicilline (D-RI). In addition to the Co-Chairs, the membership is comprised of 19 Vice-Chairs and 74 Members, which totals to 97 members.
However that isn’t what is happening. Act on Principles is giving the following grades to the Equality Caucus on their support of LGBT friendly legislation introduced in the House of Representatives. Currently, there are four pieces of legislation in the House that impact LGBT equality, as of today, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has not been formally introduced by Equality Caucus Co-Chair Barney Frank.
Before going into too much details on each of the bills, the four members of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus that are supporting ALL FOUR pieces of LGBT legislation introduced should be commended. These Members of Congress received a 100% score on their co-sponsorship efforts, unfortunately they account for only 4% of the entire Equality Caucus (4 out of 97 members):
Conversely, the nine members of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus that are supporting zero pieces of legislation should be also noted. These Members of Congress receive a 0% score on their co-sponsorship efforts. (We do not want to penalize the Equality Caucus or Equality Caucus Member Gabrielle Giffords due to her circumstances and medical condition that keeps her from participating in her Congressional activities. Her co-sponsorships will not be counted in the tabulations). Those with no co-sponsorships of any pro-LGBT legislation account for 8% of the Equality Caucus (8 out 96).
With a grade of a B-, only 82% (79 of 96 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Respect for Marriage Act. Those Equality Caucus members not co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act include the eight 0% members above and the following nine members:
With a grade of a B, 85% (82 of 96 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Student Non-Discrimination Act. Those Equality Caucus members not co-sponsoring the Student Non-Discrimination Act include the eight 0% members above and the following six members:
With a grade of an F, 44% (42 of 96 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Equal Access to COBRA Act. Rather than list all those Equality Caucus members not cosponsoring the Equal Access to COBRA Act let’s look at some other details. All of the Equality Caucus Co-Chairs (Baldwin, Cicilline, Frank, and Polis) are cosponsors of the bill. However, only 36% (7 of 19) of the Vice-Chairs of the Caucus are cosponsors of the bill. With a grade of F-, 7% (7 of 96 members) of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is supporting the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act. The bill sponsored by Democrat Rush Holt from New Jersey is the least supported piece of legislation in the Equality Caucus with only 7 co-sponsors. None of the Equality Caucus Co-Chairs (Baldwin, Cicilline, Frank or Polis) are cosponsors and only 11% (2 of 19) of the Vice-Chairs of the Caucus are cosponsors of the bill. In order to achieve full federal equality, we need an important institution such as the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to actually be efficient and turnkey in our efforts to demonstrate and increase the support for all pieces of LGBT friendly legislation. I am hopeful that the Equality Caucus leadership either: 1. Encourages all of its members to support and cosponsor ALL LGBT-friendly legislation introduced by its membership and other allies in Congress or 2. Explains to the larger LGBT community why the Equality Caucus isn’t supporting specific pieces of legislation. Act On Principles (www.actonprinciples.org) will continue publicly whip all LGBT supportive legislation in the 112th Congress, continue to evaluate the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus on their support of our equality, and work with organizations to ensure we achieve full federal equality.
Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United, shares the narrow, delicate path to get “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal done this year. He addresses specific timelines and specific targets, and even cautions us regarding how some “advocates” will distract us by telling us to focus on Senators John McCain and Mitch McConnell. Following this path, Nicholson suggests we have a 50-60% chance to pass DADT Repeal, not following this strategy, the possibility of DADT Repeal goes down to 5-10% . According to Nicholson, if someone tells you to focus your DADT energy (i.e. make calls or protest) on Sen. McCain they are trying to distract you. Be very suspicious of such advice, as John McCain does not control anything in the DADT debate. Nicholson says he is “not going to sit on the sidelines and rely on the strategy of others.“ Welcome to the club, Mr. Nicholson.
Who are the key targets?
New York City Activists are staging a daily vigil asking for one of our heroes, Sen Gillibrand to file the American Equality Bill. They are asking you to call her campaign office at 212-481-2010. These brave activists are on the front edge of the movement, and deserve our support. Watch a Granny Peace Brigade activist show you how it is done.
(No Ratings Yet) The Politico publishes an opinion piece from Richard Socarides, former advisor to President Bill Clinton. Read the full article here.
(No Ratings Yet) Another bold and clear argument by LGBT activist and leader David Mixner on how the current White House is failing the LGBT community in its lack of leadership following the historic Prop 8 Decision on Wednesday, August 4th.
Click here to read the full article. Be inspired.
(No Ratings Yet) Just saw this on the internets from the 2008 Election…. Are we under Obama’s bus or not?
(No Ratings Yet) The following landed in my inbox from an activist friend of mine in Seattle, Stuart Wilber. I thought I would share it with you.
Many may celebrate, embrace, and laud “interim measures” that are provided by the Obama Administration such as the domestic partner benefits for federal employees, hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners, and family leave for our partner’s children. Although it is true that all of the new policies provide new rights to the LGBT community, they are not providing us truly equal treatment of our marriages, just a separate set of laws and policies needed to address fundamental inequalities for second-class citizens. We are starting down a path of creating an entirely new subset of laws and policies to address at the Federal level the inequality and discrimination we experience as families (hospital visitation, FLMA, etc.). Separate is never equal. Such progress is a path that I feel uncomfortable going too-far down, without always coming back to the main legislative barriers to our legal equality such as DOMA, anti-LGBT state laws, and the absence of a comprehensive federal non-discrimination law addressing sexual orientation and gender identity. With regards to the recent FLMA announcement, because of DOMA, we still do not have the Federal right to take off work to care for our same-sex partner. Although many corporations and states allow such leave. In addition, we are assuming that all LGBT families feel comfortable accessing such work-around FMLA benefits, when we know many fear the risk of being fired based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. ENDA is needed to allow fuller access to such benefits. Repeal of DOMA is the mother-lode that brings over 1100 federal rights and responsibilities. It should not be downplayed by advocates as we are given sentimental and significant, yet far from comprehensive, expansion of our Constitutional rights from this Administration, or any other for that matter.
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I listened today to Solicitor General Kagan’s statement this afternoon. She movingly quoted the words that are etched in marble above the entrance to the Supreme Court, ”Equal Justice Under Law”. And I said to John, my husband when we visit Canada; my partner if we don’t venture in the wrong direction from the State of Washington,- in Oregon we’re recognized, in Idaho, we’re not. I asked, “Where is our equal justice under the law?” “When do we see GLBT people treated equally under the law?”
