issue: Lesbian Rights

Marriage Equality for All Couples

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John D. Podesta and Robert A. Levy write on the opinion pages of The Washington Post: “Loving v. Virginia ended bans on interracial marriage in the 16 states that still had such laws. Now, 43 years after Loving, the courts are once again grappling with d…

NOW Applauds President’s Expansion of Benefits to Same-Sex Partners of Federal Workers, Supports Efforts in Congress to Extend Full Range of Benefits

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On June 2, President Barack Obama issued a memorandum compelling executive departments and agencies to take action immediately to extend a number of benefits to employees with same-sex partners. This memo expanded upon a similar one signed by the president last June that began the process of making available to LGBT federal employees and their families the same benefits offered to opposite-sex couples.

“NOW applauds the president’s efforts to ensure that LGBT employees in the federal government are treated fairly when it comes to family benefits,” said NOW President Terry O’Neill. “The list of rights and benefits denied to same-sex couples is a long one, and it exists because most same-sex couples cannot legally marry in the United States. The ultimate solution, obviously, is to change that. But this incremental step represents vital progress.”

Obama Extends Benefits of Gay Federal Workers

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Ed O’Keefe writes for the Washington Post, “President Obama extended Wednesday a wider range of benefits to the same-sex partners of eligible federal workers, including access to medical treatment, relocation assistance, credit unions and fitness centers…

NOW Hails Votes to End Discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy, Says Bill Does Not Go Far Enough — Discharges Should End Immediately

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Yesterday the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to end the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that has barred lesbians and gay men from serving openly in the military.

“This has been a long time coming. More than 14,000 service members have had their careers cut short,” said NOW President Terry O’Neill. “While NOW applauds the action taken by Congress, we believe that it does not go far enough.”