Date: Thu, 16 Jul 98 16:55:27 -0400 From: NGLTF Subject: Action Alert: Riggs Amendment ********************************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTION ALERT Contact: Betsy Gressler, Deputy Political Director bgressler@ngltf.org 202/332-6483 x3306 http://www.ngltf.org 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 ********************************************************* NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE ACTION ALERT Action Alert: Call your Congressperson TODAY to say that you OPPOSE the RIGGS AMENDMENT to the Veterans Affairs - Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Protect the future of domestic partnership policies. What is the Riggs Amendment? Representative Riggs has proposed an amendment to prohibit funding from being distributed to any locality which requires contractors to provide health care benefits to domestic partners. San Francisco is currently the only locality which requires private companies and organizations contracting with the city to provide such benefits under its "Equal Benefits Ordinance." However this effects all of us because it will set a precedent and any locality could be subject to erasure of future domestic partnership benefits. If this is enacted, San Francisco will have to repeal its Equal Benefits law or lose $260 million in federal funding. What is "The Equal Benefits Ordinance?" The Ordinance was passed in June, 1997 and stands as a model for all localities. It requires City contractors to eliminate discrimination in the provision of benefits to their employees with spouses and those with domestic partners. Compliance with the Ordinance, which is at 90.73 percent, requires that each City contractor agree to not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity. What to do: Call your U.S. Representative immediately and tell them to help protect benefits equity by voting against the Riggs Amendment. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative. Let them know equal rights are important to you. If you are not sure who your Representative is, go to http://www.vote-smart.org/ to get your Representatives phone number. _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .