(NAME-MCE) NEA Takes Strong Stand on Equality

[Bill Howe]

http://www.tips-q.com/1113195-nea-takes-strong-stand-marriage-equality-and-non-discrimination
NEA
Takes Strong Stand on Equality

Submitted by David Hart on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 17:23

The National Education Association (NEA), is the nation's largest
professional employee organization with over 3.2 million  members. Members
work at every level of education-from pre-school to university graduate
programs. At their national conference this weekend, they adopted a strongly
worded resolution on sexual equality. Undoubtedly, this will get the
fundamentalists fired up.

Resolutions B-13 (*Racism, Sexism, Sexual Orientation, and Gender
Identification Discrimination*) and I-13 (*Civil Rights*) set forth *NEA's
opposition to the discriminatory treatment of same-sex couples and its
belief that such couples should have the same legal rights and benefits as
similarly-situated heterosexual couples.* The Legislative Program is in
accord: NEA supports "obtaining, preserving, and strengthening basic civil
and human rights under law," and specifically calls for "passage of a
federal statute prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation or gender identity and expression." Section IV ( b ). In
implementation of the foregoing policies, the Representative Assembly adopts
the following action plan with regard to same-sex couples:

   1. NEA will support its affiliates seeking to enact state legislation
   that guarantees to same-sex couples the right to enter into a legally
   recognized relationship pursuant to which they have the same rights and
   benefits as similarly-situated heterosexual couples, including, without
   limitation, rights and benefits with regard to medical decisions, taxes,
   inheritance, adoption, and immigration.
   2. NEA does not believe that a single term must be used to designate this
   legally recognized "equal treatment" relationship, and recommends that each
   state decide for itself whether "marriage," "civil union," "domestic
   partnership," or some other term is most appropriate based upon the
   cultural, social, and religious values of its citizenry.
   3. NEA will support its affiliates in opposing state constitutional
   and/or statutory provisions that could have the effect of prohibiting the
   state and its political subdivisions from providing the same rights and
   benefits to same-sex couples as are provided to similarly-situated
   heterosexual couples.
   4. NEA will take such actions as may be appropriate to support efforts to
   ( a ) repeal any federal legislation and/or regulations that discriminate
   against same-sex couples, and ( b ) enact federal legislation and/or
   regulations that treat same-sex couples and similarly-situated heterosexual
   couples equally with regard to social security, health care, taxation, and
   other federal rights and benefits.
   5. NEA recognizes that the term "marriage" has religious connotations and
   that same-sex marriages may not be compatible with the beliefs, values,
   and/or practices of certain religions. Because of its support for the
   separation of church and state and the right to religious freedom guaranteed
   by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, NEA supports the
   right of religious institutions to refuse to perform or recognize same-sex
   marriages.

The Executive Committee will monitor the implementation of this New Business
Item, and keep NEA affiliates informed of actions taken to achieve its
objectives.



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