Rock for Equality on April 11th

Rock for Equality is a national event to demand economic fairness in Social Security benefits for America’s same-sex couples. Estimates suggest in the past decade alone LGBT families have been deprived of more than 2 billion dollars in Social Security benefits. The event is taking place in Los Angeles on April 11th but will also be held virtually nationwide to demonstrate support for an end to economic injustice.

Social Security Benefits which are denied to same-sex couples fall into four categories:

1) Spousal Retirement Benefits* – allow a low-income spouse to be eligible for either their own benefit, or an amount equal to one-half of their higher earning spouse’s benefit. It is common for one partner to earn more and pay more into Social Security than the other. Once both partners have retired, one, for example, may qualify for benefits of $500 a month and the other for $2,000 a month. The one who has qualified for $500 is automatically qualified for $1,000 instead which is equal to half of the larger earners benefit. When retirement comes, the lower earner gets a boost, so that the couple can retire with some security. This benefit is not available to same-sex couples.

2) Spousal /Dependents Disability Benefit under SSDI * - provides for a spouse and dependents to qualify for benefits on a disabled worker’s earnings record in the same way as with retired workers (see above). This benefit is not available to same-sex couples. Even the children of same-sex couples may be at risk. (The Department of Justice has issued an opinion on this, but this area of law is still unclear.)

3) Survivors Benefits* – allow a widow or widower to be eligible to claim their own Social Security benefit, or an amount equal to the benefit to which their deceased spouse was eligible. So, upon retirement, if a couple qualifies for $500 for one person and $2000 for the other, together their monthly benefit would be $2,500. Upon the death of the person getting $2,000, the survivor can receive $2000 per month, instead of $500. Although the household income will go down by $500, the survivor can adjust by economizing on living expenses for one person instead of two, and live with some security. This is true in all cases except when the survivor was in a same-sex partnership. In those instances, the survivor has to get by on only $500 per month.

4) Death Benefit* - Upon the death of a spouse, Social Security provides a modest benefit of $255 for burial expenses, etc. But not if the survivor was in a same-sex partnership.

Event details:

Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Starting Location: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028-6213

Sign-In and Issuing of “Social Security Cards”: 9:30 a.m.

Kick-off Rally: 10:00 a.m.

One-Mile March to Social Security Building Begins: 10:45 a.m. (time approx.)

Protest demonstration and Rock-in: 11:30 a.m. to Noon at the Social Security Building, 1122 N. Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90038

Concluding Program: Noon to 12:30 p.m. (time approx.)

People interested in participating virtually should sign up here.

The Employee Free Choice Act

LGBT advocates have not been outspoken on The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a piece of legislation that would compliment the Employment Non Discrimination Act in providing protections for all workers and much needed ones for LGBT employees.

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for employees to unite and form coalitions and unions to fight unfair labor practices, and to advocate for living wages, health benefits, and job security.

How will this legislation help the LGBT community:

• Increased union representation will lead to a higher standard of living for all Americans especially people who make significantly less income (transgender people and queer people of color).

• There are no federal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity but often unions as a collective will have such a policy in place to help remedy the situation.

• EFCA will help LGBT people bargain for more benefits including, inclusive language for LGBT families in the Family Medical Leave Act, offering domestic partner health benefits, removing transgender health exclusions, passing of pension benefits to same-sex spouse or their children.

Take action, and learn more at Shared Agenda.

Ben & Jerrys Supported Vermont Veto Override

Walt Freese the CEO of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. a large ice cream company has come on the record stating his company supports marriage equality and they supported the override of the governors veto.

Freese and other business leaders in Vermont were arguing that marriage equality will help the Vermont economy.

"We're writing to you today because your vote to override the Governor's veto of S. 115, An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Promote Equality in Civil Marriage, affects the ability of all businesses in Vermont to recruit the talented people we need to ensure the continued development of vital businesses; the kind of businesses like those we lead, which pay wages and have long futures in our state." (VtFreetoMarry)

Contact Ben & Jerry's to thank them for their support for LGBT rights and marriage equality.

E-comment box.

Give them a call at 802-846-1500 between 9:00 and 5:00 Eastern - Monday through Friday. Ask for Consumer Services.

Florida Senator Rudy Garcia: "No Time" to Fight Discrimination

Florida's LGBT non-discrimination bill (Senate bill 2012) deserves a hearing so that the thousands of families out there can be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Senator Rudy Garcia Chair of the Commerce Committee is claiming there is "no time" to bring the bill to the floor this legislative season, citing a need to focus on the economy.

Please tell Senator Garcia that while the economic downturn must be a focus of the legislature, the non-discrimination bill deserves some time to be heard as well.

Use Equality Florida's E-contact Form to correspond with the Senator.

"Buying for Equality"

Please check out the Human Rights Campaign's recently released "Buying for Equality" guide. Whether you pass Exxon-Mobile and don't get gas because they lack a domestic partnership policy, or you make sure to stop at the ATM at Citibank an HRC corporate sponsor. You can make a difference, money talks, and where there is money LGBT equality will follow. Support the companies who support you, and boycott those who seek to oppress the Queer community.

http://www.hrc.org/buyersguide/

Word of the Gay: "Pink Dollar"

"Pink Dollar" - Used to refer to the purchasing power of the LGBT community. Within the past decade many marketers have realized the wealth and loyalty of the Queer consumer.