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Marching toward Marriage Equality
Over the past couple of years, the number of states that have marriage equality have more than doubled, thanks largely in part to court cases. On April 28, the Supreme Court hear oral arguments on four combined cases relating to marriage equality and could potentially establish marriage equality as the law of the land in all 50 states. The joint suit is known by one of the cases, Obergefell v. Hodges.
Get Out the Vote: Marriage Equality
Election Day is under a week away and it’s time to look again at the critical marriage equality initiatives on the ballot in four different states.
Senate Committee Passes DOMA Repeal
The Defense of Marriage Act bars federal recognition of same-sex
FMLA Time Off for LGBT Couples: Why this Alphabet Soup is So Important
On March 27, legally married same-sex couples will be able to take unpaid time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Signed into law 22 years ago, FMLA allows eligible workers to take a maximum 12 weeks unpaid time off of work to care for a new child (including adopted and foster children), care for a sick child, act as a caregiver for a parent, address personal serious health concerns and care for wounded service members. The rule, published last month, revises the definition of spouse to include legally married same-sex couples, regardless of whether the state they live in recognizes their marriage or not. This is an important step forward for LGBT individuals.
Marriage Equality: Carrying the Movement Forward
As a Rabbi, I believe that we need to recognize the sanctity in same sex marriages and monogamous relationships in the strongest possible way.
A Historic Night for Equality and Fairness
Last night was a historic moment in the long struggle for LGBT rights and equality in the United States.
Supreme Court to Decide Whether to Hear DOMA Cases
Today the Supreme Court will decide whether or not to hear any of the marriage equality cases currently awaiting a grant of a writ of certiorari (cert). Nine petitions challenging the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) have been filed before the court, along with one petition challenging the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling on California’s Proposition 8. The Court could decide today to hear any one of these cases, more than one, or to pass on all of them and, therefore, pass on ruling on the subject of marriage equality. The RAC and other LGBT rights groups hope that the Court’s decision to hear any of these cases could be a major step forward in the struggle for marriage equality in America.
Discrimination Begets Poverty
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 20% of homeless youth are LGBT (even though only 10
ACA Anniversary Reminds Us of Successes and Work Left to Be Done for the LGBT Community
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and a lot has changed in the past five years. Thanks to the ACA, the 129 million non-elderly Americans with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged more because of their pre-existing condition. Also, millions of low-income individuals are now eligible for Medicaid thanks to ACA expansion of the program. And, a March 16, 2016 Department of Health and Human Services report states that 16.4 million uninsured people have gained health insurance coverage since 2010 under the Affordable Care Act. These improvements, among many others, on the five year anniversary of the ACA are a cause to celebrate and rededicate our commitment to affordable and accessible care for all.