LGBT Activists Target Sean Patrick Maloney on Civil Rights

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2014
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Queer Nation: news@queernationny.org

LGBT Activists Target Sean Patrick Maloney on Civil Rights

Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation 

New York, NY (July 23, 2014) – Continuing to pressure Congressional Democrats to advance comprehensive federal civil rights legislation that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans the same legal rights and protections that all other Americans currently have, Queer Nation is targeting Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney in a social media campaign titled “Which Side of Your Mouth Should We Listen To?”

Maloney, who is gay, supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which only bars employment discrimination against LGBT people and has a sweeping religious exemption that would allow nearly 200,000 religiously affiliated employers to fire or deny jobs to LGBT Americans. In contrast, Maloney, who represents an upstate New York district, has championed “comprehensive immigration reform” and seven-point legislation to advance women’s economic opportunities.

“Sean Patrick Maloney is right to support immigration reform and women,” said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation. “So why does he want so much less for his LGBT brothers and sisters? We are equal in every way and it’s time for Maloney and federal law to recognize that.”

In a Feb. 11 statement, Maloney said “We all benefit when women are treated equally - it makes our families, communities and economy stronger. From Seneca Falls to today our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers have made great strides fighting for women’s equality, but we have a lot of work left to do if my daughters are to have full economic security and equal opportunities.”

In a November 21 statement, Maloney said "We’re sending a message that the Congress must come together right now and pass comprehensive immigration reform, which will reduce our deficit, grow our economy, secure our borders, and create an earned pathway to citizenship.”

The campaign, which first targeted House Minority Nancy Pelosi, is being distributed on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks.

Queer Nation demands a comprehensive civil rights law that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, education, credit, public accommodations, and federally funded programs.