Presidential LGBT/SGL Report Card
43
of the 44 United States Presidents had the opportunity to make a difference in
LGBTQ/SGL community in the name of EQUITY.
Our 44th president Barack Obama our first Black president’s track record
far exceeds the 43 before him.
LGBT Faith of African Descent
& Harlem Pride Conference
October 20th, 2012
State Bldg 125th Street in Harlem, NYC
“Empowering Ourselves: Using
Faith as Our Anchor”
Key Note Address & Report
By: Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, ED & CEO
National Black Justice
Coalition (NBJC)
The president’s report card
across the board on LGBT/ SGL Issues averaged an “A”. Not all agree but I do.
Many including some blacks do not give our 44th president enough
credit by thinking he could fix the issues of all the messes which were created
before his presidency from A – Z
The Report On:
Family & Relationship Recognition (A)
“More needs to be done to
ensure every single American is treated equally, regardless of sexual
orientation or gender identity. Obama administration will continue its work to
advance the rights of LGBT/SGL Americans.”
· Sign memorandum Expanding federal benefits for the
same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees.
· Called for equal treatment for same-sex adoptive
parents in his presidential proclamation of national adoption month
· Endorsed the Domestic Partnership Benefits and
Obligations Act of 2009 to provide full partnership benefits to federal
employees.
FYI: When compared with white
same-sex couples, Black same-sex couples are more likely to parent children and
earn a lower income.
Marriage Equality (A+)
“Over the course of several
years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about
member of my staff who are in credibly committed monogamous relationships,
same-sex relationships, who are raising kids……at a certain point I’ve just
concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and
affirm that for me I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
· Publically expressed his support for same-sex marriage
on May 9, 2012 in an interview with Robin Roberts on ABC News.
· Permitted military chaplains to officiate same-sex
marriages where legal.
· Spoke out against North Carolina’s Amendment One which
prohibits same-sex marriage in the state.
FYI: There are almost 85,000
Black same-sex couples in the United States. African American makes up 13% of
the U.S. population, while black same-sex households are 14%, of all same-sex
households in the U.S.
(This is what was reported
but I think the numbers are much higher when you factor in Closeted & Down
Low Population in the U.S. which are hard to count because they generally keep
their sexual Identity private)
Defense of Marriage Act (A)
“As we reflect on how far we
have come and how far we have yet to go, let us recall that the progress we
have made is built on the words and deeds of ordinary Americans”
· Declared the Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional
and announced that the administration will no longer defend it in court. The
federal law, known as DOMA, defines marriage as a union of a man and a woman
when it comes to federal laws and regulations, consequently limiting over 1000 federal benefits such as
Social Security survivors benefits and the ability to file joint taxes to
opposite-sex couples
· Endorsed the respect for Marriage Act, A legislative
effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage act.
FYI: Same-sex partners are
not eligible for 1,138 federal protections & benefits available to married
couples, including Social Security survivor benefits, Medicaid spend-down
protections, and worker compensation.
Work Place Discrimination (B+)
“Pay tributes to those who have come before us, and
those who continue their work today; and let us rededicate ourselves to a task
that is unending-The pursuit of Nation where all are equal, and all have the
full and unfettered opportunity to pursue happiness and live openly and freely”
· Protected
LGBT federal Employees from work place discrimination by adopting an
equal=opportunity employment policy that includes sexual orientation &
gender identity.
· Set a
precedent in hiring LGBT employees by appointing more openly LGBT administration officials than any
other president in U.S. history
· Publicly
endorsed and continue to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
· Ordered the
federal government to extend key benefits to same-sex partners od federal
employees.
FYI: Black TG people have an extremely high
Unemployment rate at 26%, two times the rate of the overall TG sample and four
times the rate of the general population.
(I think if our 44th president is given
enough time to work on the overall needs of our country including Equality for
all this country would be in better shape, but still too much to strengthen out
and no one can even do it in only 2 terms in office.)
Transgender Equality (A)
“From generation to generation, ordinary Americans
have led a proud and inexorable march toward freedom, fairness, and full
equality under the law not just some, but for all.”
· Allowed TG
American to receive true passport without reassignment surgery.
· Ensured TG
Vets receive respectful care according to their true gender through the vets
Health admin.
· Issued
guidance to faster safer working environments for TG Federal employees
FYI: Reports of anti-LGBT hate violence increased by
13% from 2009 – 2010. Communities of color and TG women were disproportionally
impacted by anti-LGBT motivated murder.
(I have seen too many case of Hate against the LGBT
community, what is worse is very little has gone into protecting the community
against hate crimes. More needs to be done especially in the police houses
across the nation which shows very little concern)
Foreign Policy (A+)
“No country should deny people their rights because of
who they love, whjich is why we must stand up for the right of Gays and
lesbians everywhere.”
· Implemented
U.S. agency for international Development policy encouraging contractors to
implement and enforce non-discrimination policies including sexual orientation
& gender identity.
· Fought for
the rights of LGBT persona worldwide by co-sponsoring the first United Nations
resolution focused solely on lGBT rights, and preventing the removal of sexual
orientation from a United Nations resolution condemning extrajudicial killings.
· Directed the
department of State and homeland Security to ensure LGBT refugees and
asylum-seekers have equal access to protection and assistance.
· Clarified
the meaning of “Family” to include LGBT relationships, helping to protect
bi-national families threatened by deportation.
· Signed into law the FY 2010 National Defense
Authorization Act, which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr Hate
Crime Prevention Act.
· Led a United Nations measure to restore “sexual
orientation” to the definition of human right.
· Ended the
social Security Administration’s gender “no-match”letters.
· Created
first-ever U.S. government statergy dedicated to combating human rights against
LGBT persons abroad and made it clear that the United States will use the tools
of American Democracy to promote LGBT right abroad.
· Directed the
Department of States to champion a comprehensive human rights agenda-one that
includes the protection of the human rights of LGBT people and the elimination
of crimination of LGBT status, and discrimination against LGBT people
worldwide, particularly those forced to flee their homes or countries.
FYI: Since 1998, over 30 lesbians have been killed in
South Africa as a result of “Corrective rape” (Rape intended to punish a
lesbian and believed to change or “correct” her sexuality). Some estimate that
at least ten lesbians are raped or assaulted each week in Cape Town alone.
(I have seen many disturbing images on the internet of
how countries who have made homosexuality crime to the point where it is a
capital punishment punishable by life in prison or death. Jamaica encourages
people to kill Gays. As a result I will not purchase anything made in Jamaica.)
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (A+)
“Because we repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Gay,
Lesbian, Bi-sexual American can serve their country openly, honestly and
without fear of losing there jobs because of whom they love.”
· Pushed for
the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in his first state of the union address,
and followed through to sign the DADT Repeal Act into Law.
· Signed the
certification stating the statutory requirements for repeal of DADT have been
met, ending the discriminatory law that undermines our military readiness and
violates American principals of fairness and equality.
FYI: Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Racial minorities
and women were discharged at a higher rate than white males. In fact, African
American women were discharged under DADT at almost 3 times the rate at which
they serve in the military. Although Black Women made up less than 1% of
service members, they represented 3.3% of those discharged under the policy.
(DADT was a slap in the face! How you going to tell
Americans to fight for a freedom, and then tell them they can’t benefit that
freedom they put their lives on the front line to protect. The Government knew
from the beginning this was wrong and it only a matter of time this law would
be repealed, and never should have been enacted)
Elder Care (A)
“To put us on solid ground, we should also find a
bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We
must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or
people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for the future generations;
and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of
the stock market.”
· Created a
National Resource Center for the LGBT senior and awarded a grant to Sage
(Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders),
supporting the first community center for LGBT seniors.
FYI: Today, about 80% of long term care in the U.S. is
provided by the family members, and more than two-thirds of adults who receive
long-term care adults at home depend on family member as their only source of
help. By contrast, LGBT elders are more likely to be single, childless, and
estranged from biological family-relying on friends and community members as
their chosen family.
(I think it is really hard on our elder community
because of some to the reasons outlined above, but it is deeper that. The
elders need to maintain their own independence, but the way medical insurance
is provided leaves them out in the cold or cover for only a short period.)
Health (A+)
The question isn't how we can afford to focus on
health care. The question is how we can afford not to. Because in order to fix
our economic crisis and rebuild our middle class we need to fix our health care
system, too.”
· Issues a presidential
memorandum directing the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary to
ensure that hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds give Gay and
Lesbian patients and their families the compassion, dignity and respect they
deserve in difficult times.
· Included
specific data on health needs of lesbian and bisexual woman in the Health
Recourses and Services Administration’s “women Health USA 2011” report for the
first time.
· Signed the
affordable Care Act of 1021, A comprehensive overhaul of American’s health care
system that will hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care cost,
guarantee greater patient choice, and provide access to affordable coverage and
protection from insurance companies that deny coverage for pre-existing
conditions. It has since been upheld by the Supreme Court.
· Ensured
hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for Gay & Lesbian
patients.
· Clarified
Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure family leave for LGBT employees.
· Complete an
institute of Medicine study on LGBT Health, the first of its kind.
· Promoted
equal access to health care by enabling searches for health plans with same-sex
partner benefit on healthcare.gov.
FYI: When LGBT families are deemed ineligible for
health insurance benefits or COBRA, they must obtain their own insurance or go
without it, creating added costs to family security.
(It’s no secret our 44th president has
really taken a pro-active role in correcting to blunders of the previous
administrations. Partners denied access to visit hospitalized partners because
they were not biological family members. We now have a greater consideration
and compassion for those alterative family units where biological families were
not present. Great to have extended families in cases like this.)
HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention (A)
“To combat the HIV epidemic in the U.S., we are
implementing the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy in our
country’s history, which calls for strong, coordination policy initiatives,
enhanced HIV/AIDS education, and collaboration across the federal government,
and robust engagement with individuals, communities, and businesses across
America.”
· Ended the
ban that prohibits people with HIV/AIDS from entering the U.S.
· Renewed the
U.S. commitment to creating an AIDS-free generation by setting clear and
measurable targets to be achieved by 2015 on World AIDS Day.
· Signed the
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.
· Announced
that the administration will invest nearly 80 million in grants to increase
access to HIV/AIDS care across the U.S., an investment expected to eliminate
AIDS drug resistance program ADAP waiting list.
FYI: In 2009, Black men who have sex with men (MSM)
represent an estimated 73% of new infections among all black, and 37% among all
MSM. New HIV infection rate among young Black MSM (aged 13 – 29) increased by
48% from 2006 – 2009
(“Our success is our great failure” A statement I
heard at a Albany conference I attended which explained to some degree why the
rate of new infections continue to go up in this particular demographic
population. Medications that are allowing people to live long,
Education/prevention tool which are in the community but not being utilized.
Overall many think the danger is over, HIV is no longer a threat, and have a
relaxed attitude toward this disease and it’s dangers. Designer drugs are
another issue which allow people to make bad decisions but is okay because you
can take a pill that will let you live longer lives, but people still continue
to dies as a result of the decisions made off the knowledge provided)
Safe Schools (A)
“If there’s one goal of {the White House Conference on
Bullying Prevention} it’s to dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless
rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up. It’s not. Bullying can
have destructive consequences for our young people. And it’s not something we
have to accept. As parents and students teachers and communities, we can take
steps that will help prevent bullying and create a climate in our schools in
which all of our children can feel safe.”
· Directed the
Department of Education to issue a memo reaffirming the rights of students to
form Gay-Straight Alliance and other student groups under the Equal Access Act,
noting the important role they can play in promoting safer school and creating
more welcoming learning environment.
· Formed the interagency
Council on Bullying Prevention and convened the first White House Conference on
Bullying Prevention.
· Launched
Stopbullying.gov, A website with resources designed to assist bullied youth and
their advocates- including specific information regarding LGBT bullying.
· Directed the
Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to issue guidance as a “Dear
Colleague” Letter to clarify issues of bullying and violation of federal
education anti-discrimination laws. The guidance explains educators’ legal
obligation to protect students from student-on-student racial and national
origin harassment and disability harassment.
· Convened the
first-ever LGBT-focused workshop during the 2012 Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCU) Week conference in conjunction with the National Black
Justice Coalition (NBJC). Hosted by the White House initiative on Historically
Black colleges and universities, the session aimed to develop a deeper
understanding of the changes social-political climate around LGBT issues on a
board national level and how that content affects HBCUs as well as the
necessity of fostering welcoming and supportive climate for LGBT individuals.
FYI: Students of color who were severely harassed in
school because of both their sexual orientation and race/ethnicity were more
likely to miss in the past month (57%) than those who were severely harassed
based on sexual orientation only (43%).
(Although I am no student or a part of a learning
institution outside of my chosen profession I can still remember being bullied
in school years ago, and how I had to deal with it so it would stop. Back then
there were no laws in place to deter such behavior. Many years later something
is finally being done to put a stop to it. Times have changed from when the
only way to combat bullying was a strong offensive. That worked well during
those times but these days the bullied have to contend with weapons. They also
have to deal with the mental health issues which has lead too many to suicide.
Something had to be done, but was it enough? We will see)
Housing (A)
“Stable housing is the foundation upon which
everything else in a family’s or individual’s life is built-without a safe,
affordable place to live it is much tougher to maintain good health, get a good
education or reach your full potential.”
· Released
American’s first comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness, which includes
homeless LGBT youth.
· Announced
Department of Housing and Urban Development new housing rule protecting against
housing discrimination based on Sexual orientation and gender Identity.
FYI: An alarming 41% of Black transgender respondents
said they had experiences homelessness at some point in their lives, over five
times the rate of the general U.S. population. Of those who had experience
homelessness, many tried to access shelters but were either denied access
altogether (40%) or experience harassment (61%), Physical assaulted (32%), or
sexual assaulted (31%) at the Shelter.
(Homelessness has continued to be a problem for many
of LGBT community, and has never been limited to the transgender population. The
rate is high and so many factors are contributed to this rather high level.
Youth which are displaced from the family units because of sexual orientation,
HIV/AIDS before or after homelessness, abuse (Physical, sexual, or mental)
leading displacement. This continues to be a problem but organizations are
doing what can be done to combat this problem. Providing transitional housing
for the youth which are safe and helps to address the issue which will
stabilize them in life! Tools to live independently after transition houses
will no longer carry them due to age. The homeless population of the LGBT has
many challenges as a result of not having a stable environment to thrive in.
Living on the streets, and doing illegal acts to support themselves,
prostitution, and drug addiction leading to HIV/AIDS. Point is many issues to
deal with and great to see some of these issues that can be addressed are being
addressed.)
National Black Justice Coalition
Post Office Box 71395
Washington, DC 20024
Office: (202)319-1552
Info@NBJC.org
