Asks Cardin 'Do you believe in equality of discrimination?'Today, U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Zeese urged Representative Ben Cardin to co-sponsor an amendment to the Family and Medical Leave Act that would grant medical leave benefits to same sex partners.
“Rep. Cardin proudly touts his support for the original Family and Medical Leave Act, expressing the importance of families being able to take care of each other during times of health crisis, but he has failed to co-sponsor a bill that would grant the same benefits to unmarred and same sex couples,” said Zeese. “Equal rights under law is a basic American principle enshrined in our founding documents – 'all men are created equal.' Failing to support equal rights on this important issues shows a willingness to discriminate that is unacceptable.”
In a letter to Rep. Cardin, Zeese points out that the 2000 Census reports that there are nearly 600,000 same-sex households in the United States. Zeese urges Cardin to co-sponsor H.R. 475 to send a “message that you do not support discrimination against the gay and lesbian community.”
Zeese will be attending Equality Maryland's Jazz Brunch this Sunday. “We need to treat all Marylanders equally under the law. Prejudice should be challenged by political leaders not given into,” said Zeese.
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November 18, 2005
The Honorable Congressman Ben Cardin 2207 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
fax: 202-225-9219
Dear Rep. Cardin:
I am writing to express my disappointment that you have failed to co-sponsor the proposed Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, H.R.475, to permit leave to care for a domestic partner, same-sex married partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent if the domestic partner, same-sex married partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent has a serious health condition.
You highlight your support for the Family and Medical Leave Act expressing the importance of this law to protect families in times of health crisis. As you know the FMLA has helped over 35 million Americans take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for newborns and sick family members, and to recover from their own illnesses. Since you recognize the importance of this Act to families your failure to support the amendment of this Act indicates prejudice against gays and lesbians. Do you believe in equal rights or do you believe in discrimination? Anyone elected to represent the American people must support equal rights. Indeed equal rights under law is a basic American principle – as our founding documents say “All men are created equal.”
Many gay and lesbian individuals are in long-term, committed relationships and are financially interdependent with their life partners. The 2000 Census reported that there are nearly 600,000 same-sex households in the United States. Yet as written, gays and lesbians are excluded from FMLA and cannot take advantage of its benefits because their life-partners are not recognized under federal law. Gays and lesbians experience the same levels of stress, lack of productivity, distraction and fear of job loss as do others when their partners become ill and must be hospitalized or cared for by others, and yet they are not guaranteed access to leave to care for them under the FMLA. The result is that many gay and lesbian Americans are unable to take time off from work in family emergencies for fear of losing their jobs. This lack of guaranteed leave places both the employee and their partner at increased risk for stress, financial hardship and job loss.
I would hope that you would join Maryland representatives Chris Van Hollen and Elijah Cummings in co-sponsoring H.R. 475. In doing so, you will be sending the message that you do not support discrimination against the gay and lesbian community. By failing to co-sponsor the amendment you are sending a clear message that you are willing to discriminate against certain Americans – that you favor inequality under the law.
Sincerely,
Kevin Zeese Independent Candidate for U.S. Senate 301-257-3847
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