Sestak Urges Speaker Pelosi to Hold a Vote on Equal Rights for Gay and Lesbian Couples
MEDIA, PA – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Congressman Joe Sestak, a member of the House Equality Caucus, sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday urging Congressional consideration of the recently introduced Respect for Marriage Act, of which he is an original co-sponsor. The Act would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which passed in 1996 and bars married same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits.
Since its passage in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act has excluded federal benefits for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans who have been legally married. As a result, married LGBT couples are not provided equal treatment under the law. By repealing DOMA, the Respect for Marriage Act would require federal recognition of marriages that are valid under the law of the state where performed.
Joe Sestak’s position on the civil rights issues of the LGBT community is born out of his 31 years of service in the U.S. Navy, where it was known– because of public surveys– that a certain percentage of service members were lesbian and gay. Having seen their dedication, their allegiance, and their sacrifices, he believes it is only fair that they receive equal rights when they return home.
In contrast, Arlen Specter voted with Rick Santorum against equal rights for gay couples:
* Specter voted with Santorum for DOMA [HR 3396, 9/10/96, Record Vote 280];
* Specter voted with Santorum against adding sexual orientation to the definition of hate crimes [2002, S. 625].
Joe Sestak has called for a repeal of DOMA since he first ran for Congress in 2006. Since then, he has co-sponsored legislation to provide federal civilian LGBT employees with the same partnership benefits that are currently provided to all spouses of federal employees; end the federal tax inequities for employer-sponsored health coverage provided to domestic partners and other non-spouse, non-dependent beneficiaries; permit an employee to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work if his or her domestic partner or same-sex spouse has a serious health condition; prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation; repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; and was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign 2008 Gala and the Equality Forum 2008.
Below, please find text of the letter Congressman Sestak sent to Speaker Pelosi:
September 21, 2009
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
H-232 U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515-6501
Dear Madam Speaker,
As a supporter of equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, I urge you to bring the Respect for Marriage Act– which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act– to the House floor for a vote.
Since its passage in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act has discriminated against LGBT Americans by excluding federal benefits from same-sex partners who have been legally married in states that recognize their marriage. As a result, married LGBT couples are not provided equal treatment under the law. Specifically, they are prevented from filing joint tax returns; receiving spousal, parental or surviving spouse benefits under social security; taking unpaid leave to care for a sick or injured partner; or receiving the same retirement benefits as heterosexual couples. Since 1996, eight states and the District of Columbia have granted same-sex couples equal access to state programs, but those couples remain excluded from the same rights under federal law.
By repealing DOMA, the Respect for Marriage Act would require federal recognition of marriages that are valid under the law of the state where performed. This will ensure a uniform national policy by guaranteeing eligibility for federal protections and obligations, no matter a couple’s current state of residence. DOMA’s repeal provides certainty to families by allowing them to plan for a future of mutual obligation and support with confidence that their access to Federal responsibilities and rights will not be taken away.
The Respect for Marriage Act does not require a state to recognize a valid marriage performed by a sister state, and nothing in the Act obligates any person, religious organization, locality or state to license a marriage between two persons of the same sex. Instead, it only creates a standard federal guideline.
As you know too well– having voted against DOMA in 1996– there is strong support for repealing the Act. President Obama and other leaders in Congress have called for DOMA’s repeal. We now have the chance to act on that belief.
While commanding men and women in harm’s way during my 31 years in the Navy, we knew, because of public surveys, that a certain percentage were lesbian and gay service members. Having seen their dedication, their allegiance, and their sacrifices, how can I – or anyone- not say that these individuals deserve equal rights when they return home? Passing the Respect for Marriage Act will restore fairness to the LGBT community and ensure equal justice under law.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. I look forward to working with you on the Respect for Marriage Act and restoring equal rights to all Americans.
Warmly,
/S/
Joe Sestak
Member of Congress
Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, and he is honored to represent the Southeastern Pennsylvania district where he was born and raised. He is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania. During his Navy career, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral, served in the White House as Director for Defense Policy on President Clinton’s National Security Council, served in the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, and 15,000 sailors/marines/ aviators/SEALs) during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In our nation’s time of crisis in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Navy turned to Joe Sestak to serve as the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy anti-terrorism unit formed in response to the attacks. Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress. He graduated second in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Joe lives in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Alex, and proudly represents the 7th District, where his parents and six of his siblings still reside.
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