HRC NEWS

Joe's Weekly Message

DearMizan,

This Sunday is the centennial celebration of Father's Day in theUnited States. This year, like one century ago, America's fathers willbe treated to a special day and hear a much-deserved "thankyou" from their children and spouses. That never changes becauselove doesn't change.So much about the families we're celebrating is different now. Mostobviously for the LGBT community, Father's Day was once the exclusivedomain of different-sex headed households. It would be many decadesbefore same-sex couples could realize their dreams of parenthood andfamily, with all of the everyday joys that Father's Day celebrates.Now, same-sex couples are raising millions of children in nearly everycounty in this nation, but until recently, no laws recognized ourrelationships or protected our children in the event of unforeseentragedy. From the first civil union law in Vermont and the Goodridgemarriage case to today, governments are increasingly honoring ourfamilies' rights and recognizing the need to protect our spouse's andchildren's interests.HRC's Corporate Equality Index shows skyrocketing support for same-sexcouple headed families, with equal family benefits now the norm amongFortune 500 companies. Many states provide equal benefits to thefamilies of public employees. The federal government is starting tofollow suit thanks to the presidential memoranda on benefits, and thepresident favors complete equality for federal workers' families.And yet the work is far from over. This week the constitutionalchallenge to California's Proposition 8 was before a federal trialcourt. As these battles so often do, this challenge puts our fitnessas parents on trial. The pro-equality advocates have science and childwelfare on their side, but the fact is that even though we are equal
parents, Proposition 8 has forced us to prove it. To the millions ofchildren we are raising across this country, our fitness has beenproven already, but we alone are forced to defend it.In Hawaii, fair-minded legislators passed a civil union bill that isbefore the Governor for signature. Although nationally, the businesscommunity has led the way in treating same-sex couples equally, theHawaii Business Roundtable, without its members consent, sent a letterto the governor on June 4th urging her not to sign the bill. Thisweek, a number of HBR members, at HRC's request, disavowed the letter.The action of these companies is not only the right thing to do,experience shows that it makes good business sense.We have gotten to this centennial Father's Day thanks to the hard workof many people-pioneering families who were among the first toraise children in their communities; lawyers and their braveplaintiffs who dared to seek equal justice for our families; peoplewho campaigned for equal justice and those who fought againstdiscrimination; employers who saw us as families before our statesdid. But at its core, Father's Day is about fathers.It's about the gay, bisexual, and transgender dads who make it to theevening PTA meetings and then tuck their kids in at night. It's thestraight dads of LGBT kids who are knocking down the barriers to theirchildren's education. It's every father who models good citizenship tohis children, so that they can go out into the world and be decent andfair-minded friends, neighbors and voters. To all of you, happyFather's Day.Sincerely,Joe SolmonesePresident, Human Rights Campaign