Illinois Gay Rights Group Critiques President Obama’s State of the Union Address

February 12, 2013 • Chicago, Illinois –  President Obama delivered his State of the Union address this evening and made reference to providing equal benefits for gay and lesbian service members and their families. Although that is an important issue, there are many more issues facing LGBT Americans and we must continue working to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), advancing comprehensive immigration reform that includes same-gender couples, and striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“Many LGBT leaders and community members had hoped that the President would choose this moment to aid in advancing important policy issues affecting LGBT Americans,” said Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda, the leading and largest Illinois Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights advocacy organization in Illinois. “The President has continually been an advocate for LGBT Americans, as exemplified in his inaugural address this year. Although that is the case, he must use some of his political capital to advance issues such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and comprehensive immigration reform that includes same-gender couples. Also, as we work to pass marriage equality in Illinois, we must overturn the Defense of Marriage Act to ensure that Illinois same-gender couples in a marriage can access the over 1,300 federal benefits that come with the word marriage. These are issues that affect all LGBT Americans, but they are especially important to LGBT people of color and low-income families who have always had a harder time navigating the system and struggled to be heard. It is our hope that in his second term he will focus more resources and energy on bringing the LGBT community closer to full equality, but only time will tell.”

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About The Civil Rights Agenda

The Civil Rights Agenda is the largest LGBT civil rights advocacy organization in Illinois. The mission of the organization is to maintain and increase individual rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) citizens in Illinois through inter-generational volunteerism and community-driven project-based education, statewide coalition and network building, and leadership in supporting underserved communities. Please find us online at www.jointcra.org or email us at info@jointcra.org.

Media Contact: Anthony Martinez, Executive Director, The Civil Rights Agenda

amartinez@jointcra.org    312.863.9632 – Mobile

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