Issue Position: LGBT Rights
Issue Position
Providing Equal Rights to Same-Sex Couples
Bill believes same sex partners should receive the same legal rights and privileges as any other married couple. These include property rights, employment benefits, tax treatment, survivor benefits, and the right to assist loved ones in times of emergency. Bill supports the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) and the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act, which extends spousal benefits to all federal civilian employees, including same-sex domestic partners, and equalizes tax treatment, specifically, for employer-provided health coverage for other non-spouse, non-dependent beneficiaries.
Workplace Discrimination
Bill supports the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and believes it is important to protect against both sexual orientation and gender identity based discrimination.
Expanding Federal Hate Crimes Legislation
Hate crimes committed against individuals, not only affect that individual, but they affect entire communities. Bill supports the Matthew Shepard Act, which would expand federal hate crime laws to include crimes motivated by the victim's perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The act would also provide federal authorities with a greater ability to assist state and local law enforcement with investigations into these crimes.
Increasing Federal Funding for HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Research
Bill believes we need to invest more federal resources into HIV research and public health programs. He supports funding for the Ryan White Care Act to provide HIV/AIDS treatment to low-income Americans, and supports its October 2009 reauthorization for another four years.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy
Bill supports The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (MREA), which repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the U.S. Military, allowing LGBT soldiers the right to serve openly in the military. Bill believes the question, are you gay? should not be an issue for an individual nor should he/she have to answer it, Bill believes it should remain as it has always been perform your sworn duty to the country and leave sexual orientation out of it.
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