Under protest from LGBT rights activists, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel apologized on Aug. 5 for donating $150,000 to a group that supports an anti-gay marriage, anti-equality candidate for governor in Minnesota. That same day, NOW had sent a letter to Steinhafel objecting not only to the company’s political donation, but also to his personal stance against an eating disorder treatment facility opening up in his community.
NOW applauds the decision of Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to strike down the ban on same-sex marriage instituted by California’s Proposition 8. Discriminatory legislation such as Proposition 8 has no place in a nation dedicated to equal rights for all people. Same-sex couples in California and all over the United States can celebrate this ruling that recognizes their civil rights and human dignity.
Today the National Organization for Women opens its 2010 National NOW Conference at a critical time for women’s rights. Hundreds of feminist leaders and activists have gathered in Boston, Mass., to share information, ideas and strategies for addressing the huge challenges before us.
Last night, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall moved closer to becoming the state’s next U.S. Senator. The National Organization for Women Political Action Committee proudly endorsed Marshall and helped organize strong grassroots support that ultimately helped her win the Democratic primary.
The June 22 runoff between Marshall and Cal Cunningham determined who would face the Republican incumbent, Senator Richard Burr, in the November election. “With this victory, Marshall has proven herself a winning candidate,” said NOW President and NOW/PAC Chair Terry O’Neill. “NOW calls upon the national Democratic Party leaders, including President Obama, Tim Kaine and the DNC, and Senator Robert Menendez and the DSCC to rally behind Marshall in order to assure her victory in the fall.”
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.”
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