}

Thursday, February 25, 2010

What Kind of Planet Are We On?


I’ve written many times about the inequalities that gay and lesbian Americans face, especially the way Americans can’t sponsor their same-sex partner for immigration purposes the way heterosexuals can. The gross inequality with which same-sex couples are treated by Social Security is another, one that hasn’t been discussed much in the past, despite more that $2 billion in Social Security benefits denied to same sex couples since 2000. This will likely be a subject about which we’ll hear a lot more as Baby Boomers age.

This video (and a pretty amazing one at that…) is from Rock For Equality, which is sponsoring protests at Social Security offices around tax day in the US. Part protest, part fundraiser, it’s the first step in what will be a very long campaign to equalise Social Security benefits for same-sex couples.

It would help if Congress repealed the vile “Defense of Marriage Act”, but without nationwide same-sex marriage, even that won’t be enough. Still, every small step on the road to equality is important.

Tip o’ the Hat to Joe.My.God.

2 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Ah, the Catholics in DC have figured a workaround: "That's right; so determined is Catholic Charities not to give a dime to gay spouses, they're willing to cut off straight ones while they're at it. This, by the way, is the same organization that last month dumped its foster care service rather than risk having its kids go into homes with same-sex couples."

Embarrassing.

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to let you all know that "What Kind Of Planet Are We On?" has been selected by youtube and judges at one of the sixteen best and most innovative non-profit videos on youtube. It's up to the public to select four of these video to be posted on the youtube home page. To vote with a "thumbs up" go to:


http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvideoawards