Five minutes of browsing netted me this; I'm going to work. I'm sure you can find more if you want to spend the time.
http://www.house.gov/kucinich/issues/civilrights.htmBill cosponsored in the 105th Congress:
H.R. 2761- Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act: This bill extends basic federal benefits (health insurance, life insurance) to same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of federal employees.
Letters
February 29, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Members of Congress condemning human rights violations based on sexual orientation.
http://www.kucinich.us/pressreleases/pr_111803.phpKucinich Applauds Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2003
Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich today released the following statement:
"As a candidate for president who publicly supports federal legislation for gay marriage, I applaud the Massachusetts Supreme Court for upholding the civil rights of citizens in their state by ruling it is unconstitutional for the state to deny marriage to gay and lesbian couples. The historic Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health decision can light the way for equality for all Americans.
"The effort by members of the Massachusetts state legislature to push a Denial of Marriage Act is a divisive measure. There must be federal protection for civil rights issues. Gay and lesbian couples should have equal protection under civil law. No state has a right to abridge basic rights to privacy. Separate is not equal.
"The right to marry is a civil right that should not be denied. I support federal legislation for civil marriage between same-sex couples. Civil Unions do not provide equal rights to LGBT Americans. According to a 1997 GAO report, civil marriage provides at least 1,049 legal protections and responsibilities from the federal government, including the right to take leave from work to care for a family member, the right to sponsor a spouse for immigration purposes, and Social Security survivor benefits that can make a difference between old age in poverty and old age in security. Civil unions are a kind of limbo with regard to governmental functions performed by both state and federal governments, such as taxation, pension protections, and provision of insurance for families."http://www.kucinich.us/issues/gayrights.phpDennis Kucinich's support of equal rights and civil rights for the GLBT community is unsurpassed by any presidential candidate. Indeed, he entered Congress in the mid-'90s after defeating a Republican incumbent by confronting and overcoming GOP "appeals to anti-gay bigotry," in the words of the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review. The incumbent had sought to make an issue of Kucinich's support for gay rights and support from Barney Frank.
Today, Congressman Kucinich proudly endorses a comprehensive non-discrimination policy, including non-discrimination based on gender identity. His overriding philosophy is that same sex couples and opposite sex couples should be equal in the eyes of the law, including in marriage. All benefits and legal entitlements available to heterosexual couples should be available to homosexual couples.
Kucinich goes further than supporting civil unions for same-sex couples at the state level; he believes that, much like the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s, federal law should protect civil unions, and that no state has a right to abridge basic rights to privacy. He would support the introduction of federal civil union legislation if the courts do not recognize this intrinsic right.
He supports equal treatment of same-sex couples under Social Security survivor benefits and spousal benefits. He supports equal adoption rights regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Ultimately, he believes gays should be allowed to marry, as a matter of "equality and justice and fairness," as he told the Boston Globe (4/26/03).<snip>
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
