Leanne Yanabu - Personal Photographs 2009: National Equality March Letter

The first amendment on the side of the Newseum. The Gay Pride flag is going by on the sidewalk to the left

National Equality March Letter to My Representatives

Dear Representatives Abercrombie and Hirono, Senators Akaka and Inouye, and President Obama,

Thank you for supporting the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the 1993 law mandating the discharge of openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual service members.

As a participant in the October 11 National Equality March in Washington, DC, I support the passage of any civil rights legislation that would abolish economic and social disparities for gay, lesbian, queer, and transgender citizens.

I know you have other legislation and pressing business to attend to. But although I found it heartening to attend another gay rights march for the first time in about twenty years, I found it discouraging that the same simple thing we were advocating then, equal rights for gay men and women, have not changed.

For example, as a recent New York Times article found, "Benefits that routinely go to married heterosexual couples but not to gay couples", such as Social Security payments, health insurance, even tax preparation, could be the equivalent of over $41,000 to over $400,000.

Despite gestures such as Domestic Partnership provisions, for couples who want to "sanctify their relationships, obtain legal benefits, and raise children in a stable environment", economic differences remain and Domestic Partnership has proven to be a "Separate but not Equal" option for gay couples.

I urge you to continue to introduce and support any legislation regarding equal rights and protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Leanne Yanabu
Olopua Consulting