LGBT Activists Target David Cicilline on Civil Rights
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2014
CONTACT:
Queer Nation: news@queernationny.org
LGBT Activists Target David Cicilline on Civil Rights
Queer Nation Demands Comprehensive Federal Civil Rights Legislation
New York, NY (July 30, 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. David Cicilline in a social media campaign titled “Which Side of Your Mouth Should We Listen To?”
Cicilline, 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 let nearly 200,000 religiously affiliated employers fire or deny jobs to LGBT Americans. Cicilline’s rhetoric has been expansive.
“Rep. Cicilline is an expert in lip service,” said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation. “He says he believes in equal rights, yet he supports ENDA, a bill that trades minimal protections for some LGBT Americans for legalized discrimination against many other LGBT Americans.”
Kidd continued, “ENDA gives nearly 200,000 organizations that claim a religious affiliation the right to continue to fire us or refuse to hire us. That’s not equality, Mr. Cicilline. That’s double-talk.”
Many national and state LGBT groups dumped ENDA over its religious exemption. While supporting ENDA, Cicilline has made bold comments about civil rights for LGBT people and endorsed comprehensive legislation on other issues.
In an undated position statement, Cicilline said, “As an openly gay man, I have a deep understanding of the importance of achieving equality for all citizens. Throughout my career in public service, I have consistently stood up for equal rights.”
In a January 15 speech on the House floor on comprehensive immigration reform, Cicilline said, “The American people deserve a vote on this critical legislation, and I urge my colleagues and I urge the Speaker to bring this bill to the floor so we can fix our broken immigration system and enact comprehensive reform that will make a real difference, not only in our economy, but in the lives of millions and millions of people.”
Queer Nation’s campaign earlier targeted House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who has since endorsed comprehensive federal civil rights legislation for LGBT Americans. Also targeted were Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and Rep. Jared Polis, who are gay, and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who is bisexual. The campaign has received just over 32,600 views on Facebook. It is also being distributed on 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.
