LGBT Equality

ABOVE: Tammy and Judy Shepard at the 2007 Matthew Shepard Foundation Honors Awards.

Topics:

• Overview
• LGBT Equality Caucus
• Abolishing the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

I look forward to the day when gay and lesbian families are protected through the same laws and with the same obligations, responsibilities and rights as straight Americans. Achieving these goals will require both substantive changes in our laws and personal outreach to educate and change public attitudes. Congress must act to extend equal rights, repeal discriminatory laws, and advance policies that lead to the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

LGBT Equality Caucus

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is comprised of Members of Congress who are committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world. Along with my colleague Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), and other Members of Congress who are strongly committed to these values, in June 2008, I established the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. By serving as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff, and the public on LGBT issues, the Caucus is working toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

To visit the Caucus website, and see a list of current members, click HERE.

Abolishing the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy

On December 22, 2010, President Obama signed into law a repeal of the military’s "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding gays and lesbians serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Since its inception, the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy has been an un-American assault on our most fundamental tenet – that ‘all men are created equal.’ Integrity is a hallmark of military service. Yet, for 17 years, we have had a statutory policy that required some in our military to conceal, deceive, and lie. The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ was long overdue, but no less welcome.

IN-DEPTH

• Blog Posts
• Links
• Press Releases

LGBT

Related Websites:

• Access current information about any bill in Congress at this site, managed by the Library of Congress
  http://thomas.loc.gov
• Anti-Defamation League
  http://www.adl.org
• Human Rights Campaign
  http://www.hrc.org
• Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
  http://www.civilrights.org
• National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
  http://www.ngltf.org
• National Center for Transgender Equality
  http://www.nctequality.org