Congressman Tom Rooney's Letter to a Constituent on Marriage Equaliy

A PBCHRC supporter sent an e-mail message to Congressman Tom Rooney, asking him to support marriage for all. Here is Rooney's e-mail response:

"Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your views on the legal status of marriage. I appreciate hearing from you and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

I firmly believe traditional marriage should be upheld and defined as a union between one man and one woman. I oppose efforts to redefine marriage, an institution that has endured thousands of years.

Again, thank you for expressing your views on this issue. Please keep me updated on the issues that are important to you. Also, I encourage you to visit my website at http://www.facebook.com/l/ef045/www.rooney.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter.


Sincerely,

Thomas J. Rooney
Member of Congress""

Do you know where your Members of Congress stand on these 15 LGBT related bills?

These are the fifteen House bills PBCHRC will be focusing on in this Congress. Not all have been introduced yet.

Please contact your Congressman or Congresswoman and ask if he or she will support -- or better yet, co-sponsor -- the following bills:

1. Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (Rep. Barney FRANK, D-MA) (Outlaws discrimination on SO+GI by govt & private employees, like Title VII of CRA and Gov’t Employees Rights Act do for other group-traits).

2. Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act (Rep. Steve ISREAL, D-NY2, Frank, Baldwin, Polis) (adds SO+GI to Equal Credit Opport. Act)

3. Fair and Inclusive Housing Rights Act (Rep. NADLER, D-NY8) (adds SO+GI to Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of CRA)

4. Student Non-Discrimination Act (Rep. Jarrod POLIS, D- CO, Frank, Baldwin, Nadler) (end discrimination/harrassment based on SO/GI via federal programs (CRA, Title VI) hook; whistle blower; enforcement provisions; private right of action.

5. Equal Rights for Healthcare Act (Rep. Laura RICHARDSON, D-CA37) (prohbits discrim in fed. health care services/research programs on basis of ‘sex, race, color, nat.origin, so, gi, or disability’)

6. Ending LGBT Health Disparities Act (Rep. Tammy BALDWIN, D-WI12) (pre-existing conditions; fed. Employee DP; Medicaid for HIV; spouse for Medicare; nondis for SO/GI in Medicaid/care, CHIP; grants for SO/GI studies and projects to improve health & mental health for so/gi minorities; ‘culturally competent’ care provisions; office of LGBT health; anti-violence programs/studies; teen pregnancy/stds grants; children of same-sex partners insurance benefits; veterans benefits and DOD programs.) (MOST probably covered by Title VI, CRA; except new programs)

7. Respect for Marriage Act (DOMA Repeal) (Rep. Jerrold NADLER, D-NY8) (repeals DOMA, recognizes valid state marriages)

8. Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (Rep. Jerrold NADLER, D-NY8;) (provides domestic partnership equivalent for spousal immigration process)

9. Family Medical Leave Inclusion Act (Rep. Carolyn MALONEY, D-NY14) (creates Domestic Partner equivalent provisions)

10. Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations (DPBO) Act (Rep. Tammy BALDWIN, D-WI2) (adds annuity/pension benefits for all gov’t employees, except armed services, but including DOD, Coast Guard) (Committee: Homeland Security)

11. Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries (Rep. James McDERMOTT, D-WA7;) (makes health insurance contributions for any ‘eligible beneficiary’ deductable)

12. Every Child Deserves a Family (ECDF) (Rep. Fortney STARK, D-CA13) (ends discrimination in federally funded adoption/foster care, based on SO+GI, marital status).

13. Safe Schools Improvement Act (Rep. Linda SANCHEZ, D-CA, Frank, Baldwin)(adds to definition of “violence”: bullying and harassment based on ‘race, color, nat. org, sex, SO/GI, disability” to the Safe & Drug Free Schools & Community Act; complaint procedures; evaluations.)

14. Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act (Rep. Barbara LEE, D-CA9) (sex education/HIV/STDs program, study, includes nondis SO+GI)

15. Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) (Rep. Eliot ENGLE, D-NY17) (committee: Energy/sub-Health) (insuring HIV antiviral treatment under Social Security).

STATE ATTORNEY EXTENDS FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFITS TO DOMESTIC PARTNERS

(West Palm Beach, Florida) At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Michael McAuliffe, State Attorney for the Fifteen Judicial Circuit of Florida, has revised his policies to allow employees to use family medical leave to care for domestic partners with serious health conditions. Previously, the policy was limited to employees’ spouses, parents and children.

The Council, a local nonprofit organization founded in 1988, is dedicated to dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

McAuliffe also updated his policies to prohibit harassment based on gender identity and expression. The prior policy included race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation and genetic information.

“As State Attorney, I am committed to creating a work place that can bring out our employees’ best abilities and potential. That means no barriers based on sexual orientation,” said McAuliffe. “By making sure my policies reflect that reality, I want to send the message gay and lesbian members of the state attorney’s office can, and must, be welcome as full members of the team.”

"State Attorney McAuliffe’s pro-family policies should serve as a model for his colleagues statewide," said Council President Rand Hoch.

McAuliffe informed the Council that he will advocate at the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association for statutory changes to extend domestic partner benefits to employees of the 20 state attorneys in Florida .

McAuliffe’s updated policy is in line with family medical leave policies in at least twelve states (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington) and the District of Columbia, all of which provide family medical leave for same-sex couples.

In 2004, at the Council’s request, then-Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore became the first public employer in Florida to allow employees to use family medical leave to care for domestic partners. Since then, only a few Florida public employers – all located in Palm Beach County – have followed LePore’s lead. They include the Office of the Palm Beach County Tax Collector, the Office of the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and the Port of Palm Beach.

The Council is currently working on family medical leave reform with the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the City of West Palm Beach.

PBCHRC Update - January 2011

Throughout 2010, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council remained vigilant in our efforts to secure equality for Palm Beach County’s unified, committed and strong gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Once again, GLBT voters throughout the county came out in record numbers to participate in local, state and national elections. The remarkable turnout was due to the tremendous work done by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance volunteers who spent countless hours screening and interviewing candidates.

While many voters opted to stay home on election day, GLBT voters - and our allies - responded overwhelmingly to the Voters Alliance voter identification, voter education, early voting, absentee ballot and get-out-the-vote campaigns. As a result, 19 of the endorsed local candidates were elected to office. These elected officials clearly understand that, as individuals and as family members, we are entitled to share in the rights, responsibilities and benefits enjoyed by all other Americans.

Our most significant electoral accomplishments in 2010 were the repeated victories for U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton). After longtime PBCHRC supporter Robert Wexler resigned from Congress, Ted faced opposition on the ballot three times in 2010 – in a special primary election in February, a special election in April and in the general election in November. In each election, Ted won by a landslide.

During his tenure in the Florida Senate, Ted was the legislature’s most effective advocate for gay rights. At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Ted sponsored legislation to amending the Florida Civil Rights and Fair Housing Acts to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. In 2008, Ted worked closely with Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) – then a state senator who co-sponsored the gay rights bill and now Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – in orchestrating bi-partisan support which resulted in the only successful vote on a gay rights bill in Florida’s history.

Ted has continued to be a leader on our issues in Washington, D.C. Following a procedural vote on overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” last April, Ted called to let us know how proud he was to be able to be a part of the historic vote. Since he has been in Congress, Ted has also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation of importance to the GLBT community, including, but not limited to, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Student Nondiscrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act.

Not only does Ted support our community with his votes, he does so with his time, his money, and his heart. He is always helping out whether it be by purchasing extra tickets to “The Laramie Project” so that members of the Compass youth program can attend, bringing friends to the Council’s Summer Soirée, participating at PrideFest or enjoying International Gay Polo League Tournament.

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance is proud to have played a part in the election of both Congressman Ted Deutch and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach)

Two other longtime PBCHRC supporters – former School Board Member/now County Commissioner Paulette Burdick and former Lake Worth Mayor/now State Representative Jeff Clemens – were elected with strong support from the Voters Alliance.

For a complete list of the candidates endorsed by the Voters Alliance who were elected in 2010, go to: www.pbchrc.org/endorsements.html.

On the subject of federal office holders, the Council has decided that since Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Tequesta) has repeatedly refused to schedule a district meeting with Palm Beach County Human Rights Council representatives and has consistently voted against gay rights legislation in Congress, the Council will most likely not expend any additional time or effort trying to convince him that he was elected to represent all of his constituents – not just the non-gay ones. And with the election of rabidly anti-gay Congressman Allen West (R-Plantation), the Council is looking forward to redistricting prior to the 2012 elections.

With municipal elections just weeks away, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance is gearing up to interview and screen candidates. Of special interest (so far) are the elections in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.

One of the Council’s priorities in 2010 was our work with the Village of Wellington (pop. 55,584). As a result of our efforts, Village amended it's Equal Employment Opportunity policy to prohibit discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in its employment practices. (See, www.wellingtonfl.gov/news-a-updates/3/7.html). The Council is currently working with the Village Manager in drafting language to secure domestic partnership benefits for Village employees.

As a result of our efforts in Wellington, the Council has been adopted by the Gay Polo League (www.gaypolo.com), the world's only polo league for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender players. Grateful for the Council’s efforts, the Gay Polo League is donating 50% profit from general admission ticket sales for the second International Gay Polo Tournament to the Council. The event will be held at the Grand Champions Polo Field in Wellington on Saturday, April 2, 2011. In addition, several of the polo players will appear in the annual gay pride parade in Lake Worth on Sunday, March 27, so save both dates!

This year, the Council will renew our efforts to have the County Commission amend its Family Medical Leave Policy to allow employees to use this leave to care for their domestic partners in the same manner as married employees can use it to care for their spouses. The proposal, initially brought before the Commission at the Council’s request in 2007 by former Commissioner Jeff Koons, was shot down by all of his six colleagues. However, since then, four new Commissioners have been elected – including longtime PBCHRC supporters Paulette Burdick, Shelley Vana and Priscilla Taylor . The Council is hopeful that a majority of the County Commission will remove this last vestige of discrimination against the County’s gay and lesbian employees.

If this effort is successful, the Council will then request the City of Delray Beach, the County’s Clerk and Comptroller and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office to follow suit. All three currently provide the full range of domestic partner benefits – with the exception of family medical leave.

After more than two years, we are still awaiting word from State Attorney Michael McAuliffe about our request for his office provide domestic partner benefits. The Council expected to hear from him during 2009 and 2010, but to date, this does not appear to be a priority with his staff.

Our work with the School Board of Palm Beach County in 2011 will focus on enforcing the GLBT inclusive anti-bullying and harassment policy the Council worked on so diligently in 2007, educating both students and School District employees on GLBT issues, encouraging the establishment of gay student alliances (GSAs), and conforming a variety of nondiscrimination policies so that all will include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Four new School Board members were elected last year: Jennifer Prior Brown, Marcia Andrews, Chuck Shaw and Karen Brill. The Voters Alliance interviewed all of the new members and was very encouraged by their knowledge of GLBT issues in the School District and their willingness to assist the Council in our efforts.

Following the municipal elections in Palm Beach Gardens in March, the Council will renew our efforts to secure domestic partnership health insurance for the city’s employees. The City already provides other domestic partnership benefits to its employees.

The Council continues to work with GLBT activists and allies at Florida Atlantic University to have the school's nondiscrimination policies specifically prohibit discrimination based sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to provide domestic partner benefits for FAU employees. We are very optimistic that the nondiscrimination policies will be updated in 2011. With regard to domestic partnership benefits, FAU currently is exploring models used by University of Florida, Florida International University and other state universities.

The Council’s expansion into the social media has been a great success. Throughout the day, local, state, national and international news of interest to the GLBT community is posted on the Council’s Facebook page (PBCHRC). Other information is posted from time to time on our blog at pbchrc.blogspot.com.

On a final note, the Council is deeply disappointed in Governor Rick Scott’s decision not to include religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy and marital status in Executive Order 11-04 on diversity in state government. The Council made this request shortly after the November elections – and it obviously fell on deaf ears. Although this was not completely unexpected. During Charlie Crist’s four year tenure as governor, the Council wrote to him on more than a dozen occasions, asking for a similar executive order. Not once did he even respond.

Our experience tells us that pro-LGBT changes in statewide matters will not be forthcoming from our Governor and legislators in Tallahassee. They will only come from the courts – such as last year’s victory striking down the ban on adoption by gay and lesbian Floridians.

Though our affiliation with Florida Together (www.outfl.org), the Council will continue to assist other local organizations across the state, so that they may secure the protections and benefits secured by the Council for Palm Beach County’s GLBT community for more than two decades.

As always, we will keep you informed of our progress.

Best wishes for 2011!



Rand Hoch
President and Founder

GOV. RICK SCOTT'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERISTY EXCLUDES LGBT WORKERS

Out in America
January 4, 2011

(Tallahassee, Florida) Shortly after he was sworn in as Florida's 45th governor, Rick Scott issued an executive order addressing diversity in state government.

A request for the order had been made last month by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. The Council, a nonprofit organization founded in 1988, is dedicated to dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

In a December 6 letter to the Scott Transition Team, Council President Rand Hoch requested that the incoming governor's first executive order address equal opportunity in state employment.

"By doing so on the day you take office, you will assure all Floridians that the State of Florida is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in state government to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status," Hoch wrote.

While the Council's request was for an inclusive order, Scott instead issued Executive Order 11-04, which narrowly limited Florida's non-discrimination policies to address only race, gender, creed, color and national origin.

"Governor Scott's limited view of diversity is very discouraging," said Hoch. "Governor Scott did not even include all of the classifications listed in the Florida Civil Rights Act -- let alone sexual orientation and gender identity."

The Florida Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on "race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status." In addition, Florida courts have also determined that pregnancy is a protected classification.

Governor Rick Scott's Executive Order on Diversity in Government

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 11-04

Reaffirming Commitment to Diversity in Government

WHEREAS, the Florida Constitution provides that all natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and that no person shall be deprived of any right because of race or national Origin; and

WHEREAS, it is vitally important to respect these principles in all aspects of state government, and it is of particular importance to respect these principles in state employment and contracting;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK SCOTT, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section (1)(a) of the Florida Constitution, and all other applicable laws, do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:

Section 1. I hereby reaffirm the policy of non-discrimination in government employment established in Executive Order 99-281. It shall be the policy of my administration to prohibit discrimination in employment based on race, gender, creed, color, or national origin, and to ensure equal opportunity for all individuals currently employed in, and individuals seeking employment in, my administration. I hereby prohibit the enforcement or adoption of any and all employment policies and practices in the Office of the Governor, and agencies under the direction of the Governor, that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, creed, color, or national origin.

It has been, and shall continue to be, the policy of my administration to seek out for hiring, retention, and promotion, the highest quality candidates for my administration regardless of race, gender, creed, color, or national origin.

Section 2. I hereby reaffirm the policy of non-discrimination in government contracting established in Executive Order 99-281. It shall be the policy of my administration to encourage competition and ensure state contracting opportunities are provided without discrimination based on race, gender, creed, color, or national origin.

PBCHRC Asks Governor-Elect Rick Scott To Issue An Executive Order Prohibiting GLBT Discrimination in State Government

December 6, 2010

Governor-elect Rick Scott
The Scott Transition Team
300 S.E. 2nd Street
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Re: Executive Order on Equal Opportunity in State Employment

Dear Governor-elect Scott:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (“the Council”), I am writing to request that your first executive order address equal opportunity in state employment.

By doing so on the day you take office, you will assure all Floridians that the State of Florida is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in state government to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status.

Over the years, similar directives have been issued by the governors at least 30 states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Enclosed please find a draft which your staff may want to utilize as a model.

If your staff has any questions or needs more information, please feel free to contact me directly.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a successful administration.

Respectfully yours,



Judge Rand Hoch (retired)
President and Founder

RH:r
enclosure
copies w/out enclosure to: Board of Directors, PBCHRC

_____________________________________________________________________________________

STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 11-1

WHEREAS, this nation and state were founded on the principle of freedom and equality;
and

WHEREAS, Congress enacted the landmark Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making equal employment opportunity without discrimination the law of the land; and

WHEREAS, the 1972 amendment to the Civil Rights Act extended these provisions to all governmental agencies; and

WHEREAS, numerous federal and state laws, regulations and executive orders prohibit discrimination in employment against any person based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status in Florida’s civil service system; and

WHEREAS, the Florida labor force is comprised of skilled and talented workers from all segments of the state's richly diverse population, enabling the state to lead the nation in innovation; and

WHEREAS, this work force diversity is of great value in building a more inclusive and qualified state civil service whose highest principle is duty to an equally diverse public; and

WHEREAS, this administration is strongly committed to ensuring equality of employment opportunity in all aspects of employment where every person can enjoy to their fullest capability the birthrights of our democracy.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK SCOTT, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws and Constitution of the State of Florida, do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order effective to January 4, 2011.

Section 1.
Equal employment opportunity for all individuals is the policy of the State of Florida in all its activities. All state officials, managers and supervisors shall vigorously enforce this policy.

Section 2.
All state agencies, departments, boards, and commissions shall recruit, appoint, train, evaluate and promote state personnel on the basis of merit and fitness, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status or other non-job-related factors.

Section 3.
All state agencies, departments, boards and commissions shall have clear, written directives to carry out this policy and to guarantee equal employment opportunity, without retaliation or reprisal, at all levels of state government.

Section 4.
All state agencies, departments, boards and commissions shall regularly review their employment practices to ensure equality of opportunity in employment. Such actions include the use of inclusive recruitment, properly validated selection procedures and the elimination of non job-related and discriminatory practices.

Section 5.
All state agencies, departments, boards and commissions shall fully comply with all constitutional and civil service statutory and regulatory requirements to administer and enforce this policy.

Section 6.
The Department of Management Services shall provide statewide leadership, coordination, technical guidance and enforcement regarding efforts to fully achieve equal employment opportunity and non-discriminatory employment practices within the state civil service.


IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 4th day of January, 2011.



_________________________________
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:



________________________________
SECRETARY OF STATE