Issue Position: Civil Rights

Issue Position

"Not one among us would stand and claim that the Civil Rights Act was a mistake or has created too many problems for businesses. Yet without passage of ENDA and other critical legislation, we are condoning gross violations of basic employment rights.

These aren't just employment rights - they're human rights, and as Americans, they're our civil rights. We can never give up on full equality for all Americans, no matter how hard the fight or how difficult the path."

-- Senator Patty Murray

Our Constitution provides equal protection under the law for all, and no American should be denied their rights for any reason -- including their gender identity or sexual orientation. That's why Senator Murray has fought alongside the LGBT community to stand up and protect civil rights for all Americans.

Senator Murray believes strongly that each and every one of us deserves to be treated fairly and given the chance to reach our full potential in society. It's why she gets up and fights every day to help people, solve problems and end injustice in our laws. And she knows that whether it's the loss of honorable servicemembers in the military, the violence and fear that hate crimes bring to our communities, or the talent that goes missing from our workplaces, we all suffer when discrimination prevails.

Senator Murray has fought to provide equality by cosponsoring and working for passage of a variety of legislation in Congress.

* Senator Murray is committed to ending the unjust and counterproductive policies of Don't Ask Don't Tell. She cosponsored the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010, which would end DADT by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the military.

* Senator Murray cosponsored the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 so that all partners of federal employees would be provided equal benefits. In June 2009, President Obama signed a presidential memorandum that gives same-sex domestic partners of federal employees access to important health benefits and allows civil servants to use sick leave to care for their partners and children.

* Senator Murray cosponsored the Tax Equity for Domestic Partner and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act to provide tax fairness to gays and lesbians who receive health benefits through their partner's work.

* Senator Murray remains a proud cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would provide critical protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Murray is pushing to pass ENDA in the U.S. Senate.

* Senator Murray fought for years to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, which was signed into law in October 2009. The Matthew Shepard Act works to prevent and deter hate crimes toward those who are targeted solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

* Senator Murray is a cosponsor of the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010, an anti-bullying bill that would help make classrooms safer for kids and young adults of all sexual orientations and gender expressions.

* Senator Murray worked to pass a provision in Health Care Reform that will help make AIDS medication affordable for those who are HIV-positive, by ensuring that AIDS medications are counted towards out-of-pocket limits on prescription drug plans.

Source