This latest edition of HRC's Political Equality Update details HRC's response to the Vatican's statement, and President Bush's comments, on marriage as well as information on a recent HRC marriage poll and the introduction of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act in the Senate. As always, your comments are welcomed at field@hrc.org.

HRC Expresses Disappointment at President Bush's Call to Codify Discrimination

The Human Rights Campaign expressed disappointment in the president's remarks stating he supports codifying marriage in the United States as being between one man and one woman. Bush's remarks were in contrast with Vice President Dick Cheney's statement during a vice presidential debate prior to the 2000 election.

"People should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into. It's really no one else's business, in terms of trying to regulate or--or prohibit behavior in that regard," said Cheney. "I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area ... I think we ought to do everything we can to--to tolerate and accommodate whatever kind of relationships people want to enter into."

HRC RESPONDS TO VATICAN STATEMENT, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS WILL NOT BE FORCED TO RECOGNIZE CIVIL MARRIAGES

Responding to a Vatican statement encouraging Catholic lawmakers to oppose civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, the Human Rights Campaign made clear today that religious institutions will not be forced to recognize the civil marriages of gay and lesbian couples. HRC also urged American lawmakers to be mindful of the nation's founding principle of the separation of church and state.

"Our nation was founded by those who held deeply in their hearts the principle that religious matters should be separate from state matters," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "It's important for lawmakers — and the American people — to understand that civil marriage is about receiving more than 1,000 protections and rights under federal and state law. Civil marriage strengthens families by giving them access to an important safety net provided by federal and state laws consisting of Social Security survivor benefits, hospital visitation rights and the ability to inherit a spouse's property without being taxed, among other protections. No religious institution would be forced to recognize these marriages, just as today the Catholic Church isn't forced to recognize the marriage of someone who has been divorced."

HRC RELEASES POLL DATA SHOWING PLURALITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT OR ACCEPT MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES

The Human Rights Campaign released data Aug. 1 from a new bipartisan poll conducted by the Democratic polling firm of Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Republican firm American Viewpoint, showing that 63 percent of registered voters support or would accept gays' and lesbians' receiving the same rights and protections as other Americans. The Hart/American Viewpoint Poll is in accord with another poll released Aug. 1 by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News showing that 53 percent of the country favors allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that are not marriages, but that would give them many of the same legal and financial relationships as married couples.

The Human Rights Campaign lauded the July 31 introduction by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA), a measure that would modify the federal Immigration and Nationality Act to provide same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents the same immigration benefits that legal spouses of U.S. residents currently enjoy. This marks the first time that the bill has been introduced in the Senate. Joining Leahy as original co-sponsors were Sens. Mark Dayton, D-Minn.; Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; John Kerry, D-Mass.; Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.; and Russell Feingold, D-Wis.

On July 28, the Human Rights Campaign called for a renewed national commitment to comprehensive science-based HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in light of new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating HIV infections among gay and bisexual men rose 7.1 percent from 2001 to 2002. HIV diagnoses for gay and bisexual men have increased by 17.7 percent since the lowest point in 1999.

HRC CALLS ON SENATE TO RESTORE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS IN HEAD START PROGRAMS

The U.S. House of Representatives considered the School Readiness Act on July 25. This measure, which reauthorizes the Head Start program, contained language that would have removed long-standing civil rights protections that have been in place since the Head Start program was created during the Reagan administration. Specifically, H.R. 2210 seeks to repeal current law that prohibits religious discrimination with public money in the Head Start program. In the past, religious discrimination has been used as a proxy for sexual orientation discrimination.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., offered an amendment to restore these civil rights protections, which HRC strongly supported. This amendment failed by a vote of 231-199. Four Republicans — Reps. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H.; Sue Kelly, R-N.Y.; Jim Leach, R-Iowa; and Bill Janklow, R-S.D. — supported the Woolsey amendment and HRC's position, while seven Democrats opposed her efforts and HRC's position to protect against discrimination with federal money.

Action now moves to the Senate, where a separate version will be considered by committee following the August recess. HRC will continue to monitor this situation and continue to oppose efforts to permit federally funded discrimination.

HRC sent a letter on the morning of July 25 to members of the House asking them to support an amendment to the Veterans Affairs/Housing & Urban Development Appropriations bill that would have increased funding for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) by $13 million. Later that afternoon, VA/HUD Appropriations Chair James Walsh, who serves as the committee chair, and ranking member Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., agreed to accept an increase of $5 million, bringing the total funding for HOPWA to $302 million.

As people live with AIDS longer, having safe affordable housing is important to them. The amendment was originally proposed by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who was joined by Reps. Chris Shays, R-Conn., and Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. HRC will work with the amendment sponsors to ensure that the funding remains in the final appropriations bill.

"HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS" — HRC FAMILYNET SEMINARS LAUNCHED IN DETROIT
HRC FamilyNet — the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families — launched a nationwide series of seminars titled "Home is Where the Heart Is - GLBT Families and Equal Access to the American Dream," in Detroit on July 30. Experts talked about the opportunities and impediments to relationship protection and home ownership for GLBT Americans. The Detroit session featured former NFL defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo, who is openly gay and the father of twins, joined by Liz Seaton, HRC's senior counsel, and Sally Green, HRC's associate field director. Held at Wayne State University, more than 65 people attended the event, which presented a special curriculum drawing from research and materials from HRC FamilyNet and HRC's political, field and legal teams. Supporting partners included the ACLU of Michigan's LGBT Rights Project, the Triangle Foundation, Michigan Equality, Detroit Black Gay Pride, Stonewall Bar Association, the Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality and Affirmations.

Other seminars are planned for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. Please e-mail familynet@hrc.org for more information.

CALIFORNIA: Law Passed Prohibiting Discrimination Against Transgender People in Housing and Employment; State Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay and Lesbian Parents; San Diego Protects Transgender Employees

On Aug. 2, Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, signed Assembly Bill 196 into law, making California the fourth state in the nation to prohibit discrimination against transgender people in housing and the workplace. A.B. 196, a measure introduced by Assemblymember Mark Leno, adds gender identity, appearance and behavior to the state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment and housing. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2004.

Equality California (EQCA) — the group that spearheaded efforts on the bill — held a lobby day May 19 in Sacramento on this measure and two other bills important to the state's GLBT community. HRC representatives joined a coalition of GLBT activists and allies for the lobby day. HRC worked closely with EQCA to target undecided legislators on A.B. 196 and mobilize activists throughout the state to take action through HRC's Online Action Center. HRC also awarded EQCA Equality Fund grants in 2003, 2002 and 2001, totaling $14,000 to support their work. For more information on EQCA, visit: www.eqca.org.

On Aug. 4, 2003, six of the seven members of the California Supreme Court affirmed that the state's adoption laws permit both partners in a lesbian or gay couple to establish a legal relationship with the couple's children. This decision reversed a California Court of Appeals decision from October 2001 that said that the state's adoption laws did not permit these adoptions.

California is now the ninth jurisdiction in which an appellate court has ruled in favor of second-parent adoptions. Other states in which appellate courts have approved this procedure include: the District of Columbia (1995), Illinois (1995), Indiana (2003), Massachusetts (1993), New Jersey (1995), New York (1995), Pennsylvania (2002) and Vermont (1993). In addition, state legislatures in three states — California, Connecticut and Vermont -- have enacted adoption statutes that explicitly permit same-sex partners to adopt, and second-parent adoptions have been granted by trial courts in more than 15 additional states. Altogether, second-parent adoptions are generally available in more than half the country. For more information, visit the website of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which filed an amicus brief in the case, at www.nclrights.org .

In a unanimous vote July 28, the San Diego City Council amended the city's Human Dignity Ordinance to add "gender identity" to its current language. San Diego joins six other cities and counties in California with statutes prohibiting workplace discrimination based on gender identity, characteristics or expression.

"We, as a community, have worked hard to achieve this goal," said Amanda Watson, co-chair of the Human Dignity Ordinance Coalition, a group of GLBT and straight allies that led efforts to pass the measure. "It has been an honor working with such a diverse group. I am proud to be a part of this and to live in a city where I know I have rights, too."

The Sarasota City Commission passed a non-discrimination ordinance Aug. 4 outlawing discrimination based on age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation and military veteran status. The ordinance, which goes into effect Oct. 1, brings Sarasota in line with 15 other cities and counties in Florida with non-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation, according to the HRC WorkNet database, www.hrc.org/worknet <http://www.hrc.org/worknet>; . For more information about Florida and the GLBT community, contact Bo Shuff, HRC's Southern field organizer, at Bo.Shuff@hrc.org, or visit: http://www.eqfl.org/, the website of Equality Florida — the statewide GLBT group.

ILLINOIS: Town Hall Meeting held in Springfield GLBT Families and Marriage

HRC sponsored a town hall meeting July 31 in Springfield, Ill., titled "Families and Fairness: Federal Issues Affecting GLBT Families." This was the first such event HRC has held in downstate Illinois, and more than 55 people attended the 2-hour program at the University of Illinois-Springfield. Panelists included Sally Green, HRC's associate field director, and Lara Schwartz, HRC's senior counsel; Camilla Taylor, of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund's Midwest regional office; and Julie Pryde, a local gay parent with three children. The event was moderated by Jane Feagans-King, a longtime volunteer for HRC in the Springfield area, and co -sponsored by the Advocacy Council for Human Rights, Prairie Flame, University of Springfield GLBT Alliance, the Phoenix Center, Springfield Area Lesbian Outreach, Coalition of Rainbow Alliances, Heartland Community Metropolitan Community Church and Springfield Area Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Many participants expressed a desire to get more involved with HRC and to lobby their senators and representative to oppose the proposed amendment that would outlaw civil marriage rights for gays and lesbians through the U.S. Constitution. If you live in the downstate Illinois region and would like to lobby, please contact Jane Feagans-King at janemarie1960@hotmail.com.

PENNSYLVANIA: Governor Extends Protections to Transgender Public Employees

The Human Rights Campaign applauded Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, for signing an executive order July 28 that prohibits discrimination against state employees based on "gender identity or expression."

"I am proud today to emphasize my conviction that this state will treat people fairly and with personal respect as long as I serve as the chief executive," said Rendell in a statement released by his office July 28. The new policy expands a 2002 executive order signed by then-Gov. Mark. S. Schweiker, a Republican, that added the category of sexual orientation.