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Alert: Target + Minnesota Forward + Tom Emmer = Support for a rather dangerous and radical political philosophy that diminishes LGBT people to pests that should be murdered. And "Target" is cool with this? ...Now Target is suing the LGBT community for their peaceful demonstrations in front of their stores. ....Our answer: BOYCOTT "TARGET"
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Health - Wellness - Exercise - Reflections:Human Rights Campaign 'lauds introduction of legislation to remove unfair taxation of health benefits'
Miami Herald, Steve Rothaus, 6/9/11
News release from HRC, Human Rights Campaign:
Measure would remove discriminatory burden on LGBT families as well as fair-minded employers
WASHINGTON -- The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today lauded Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act in the United States Senate. The bill would end the unfair taxation of employer-provided health insurance for domestic partners. A companion measure was introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Nan Hayworth (R-NY).
Under current law, although employer-provided health coverage for different-sex spouses is excluded from an employee's gross income, domestic partner benefits and coverage for same-sex spouses are not. As a result, an employee who elects to cover his or her domestic partner or same-sex spouse pays more income and payroll tax than a similarly-situated employee with a different-sex spouse. Moreover, because of this inequitable treatment, employers who offer benefits to domestic partners face the administrative burden of calculating taxes separately, and they also pay additional payroll taxes.
"Many American families continue to struggle to make ends meet, put food on the table and pay for healthcare – but LGBT families face an additional barrier to securing affordable health insurance coverage," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "This legislation would remove that added tax burden, which can be as much as $2,200 per year, as well as the penalty imposed on fair-minded employers who provide equal benefits to their LGBT employees."The number of major companies providing family benefits for domestic partners increases each year. In fact, nearly 60% of Fortune 500 companies offer these benefits as a matter of fundamental fairness. That is why a coalition of top employers like Dow, Corning, Chubb, IBM, Microsoft, Nike, and dozens more support ending the taxation of health benefits, and endorse the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. To see a full listing of businesses who have publicly stated their support for this legislation, click here.
"Morgan Stanley has a long history of support for inclusive employment and benefits practices, equal treatment of all employees and diversity. It is in this spirit of basic fairness that we continue to support the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act to equalize the tax treatment of employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners. This change will also ease the administrative burdens on employers, such as Morgan Stanley, that currently provide health coverage to domestic partners. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Schumer and Collins and their colleagues in the House of Representatives in re-introducing this legislation," said James Rosenthal, Chief Operating Officer, Morgan Stanley."
"American has been at the forefront of supporting fair and equitable tax policy for all Americans and today's introduction of the Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act is another step toward achieving that goal. Eliminating the federal tax inequities for corporations like American that provide health care coverage to the domestic partners of our employees remains a priority and we encourage the Congress to enact this important legislation," said Will Ris, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at American Airlines.
Decisions about employee benefits have a significant impact on an employer's ability to compete. Those that recognize the value of equality for all employees have seen a real impact in their ability to draw top talent.
"MetLife's decision to extend benefit coverage was made nearly 10 years ago, and was centered around questions not only of equity, but the usual factors influencing benefit offerings - to attract and retain the most qualified, committed, talented and diverse workforce. As a leader in the benefits area, we know that tax treatment is not the only factor considered when employees make a benefits decision - but, it is very often an important catalyst to education and action, and certainly influences affordability," stated Margery Brittain, Senior Vice President, Global Compensation and Benefits at MetLife.
"Employers that choose to treat their LGBT workers fairly are also penalized by current policy and forced to pay additional payroll tax," added Solmonese. "Our government shouldn't burden hardworking families, nor should it punish employers for making business decisions that are both the right thing for their employees and their bottom line."
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Take Action:
- Update: DADT has been repealed. President Obama has kept his promise!
- Boycott Bill O'Reilly and FOX News and their advertisers. Bill discussed a French commercial by McDonalds that was meant to show that McDonalds is Gay Friendly. Bill said what is next? Is McDonalds going to be Al-Qaida friendly as well? Imagine - Bill O'Reilly compares Gays to Al-Qaida! In conclusion, O'Reilly expressed out-right Hatrad of the LGBT Community.
- Boycott Arizona the home of "hater" - U.S. Senator John McCain. Arizona's Hateful anti-Immigration Law - encourages racial profiling and increases hatred towards minorities. A remedy: Demand Republicans to support Immigration Reform (The Dream Act). Further, Senator McCain voted against ending DADT and Blocked Immigration reform!
- Boycott Target, Best Buy, Gold's Gym - for donating money towards anti-gay political candidates/organizations. Update: (12/26/2010): Target is continuing to donate to anti-gay groups/causes/politicians. Update 03/08/11 - Lady Gaga Ends Target Partnership, Reportedly Over Target's Poor LGBT Stance. Update 3/25/2010 - Target displays their hypocrisy and Sues California Gay Rights Group for Lobbying Outside Stores. Target is attempting to block the LGBT right of free speech! STOP SHOPPING AT TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Update 4/8/2011: Target lost it's case to stop the LGBT from canvassing in front of their stores. A huge PR Disaster for TARGET! Perhaps Target should go out of business as they betrayed their investers and customers. Target contributed massive funds to a politician who would like to exterminate gays. Now, Target can not stop us from Boycotting them, nor picketing, nor talking to customers near their stores; although, Target allows a anti-gay company such as the Salvation Army to stand outside their door and speak with customers and raise money. Isn't this a double standard? Perhaps TARGET would better understand the issue if they cared about David Kato - Uganda, who was slain because he is gay! That is because Uganda wants to kill gay people. Again, TARGET invested in a political candidate that would Kill the Gays!
- End DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Prevents Federal employees and Gays in the Military from gaining equal benefits. Prevents Gay Partners from gaining equal benefits.
- Pass ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act). ENDA would prevent employment discrimination of LGBT workforce.
- Boycott Salvation Army as they will not hire Gays! "DO NOT DONATE TO THEM."
- BOYCOTT "Chick-fil-a" for donating to anti-gay marriage groups.
- BOYCOTT KOCH INDUSTRIES PRODUCTS- to include their products: Angel Soft toilet paper / Brawny paper towels / Dixie plates, bowls, napkins & cups / Mardi Gras napkins and towels / Quilted Northern toilet paper / Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper / Sparkle napkins / Vanity fair napkins / Zee napkins / Georgia-Pacific paper products & envelopes / All Georgia-Pacific lumber & building products (INVISTA Products) / Lycra / Stainmaster Carpet. The billionaire - Koch brothers are ultra republican - tea bag founders/supporters that do not support causes of the LGBT community.
- Boycott WALMART - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, force criticized Wal-Mart for denying employee benefits to same-s-x partners and for failing to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. By comparison, the group said two other chain stores with a strong presence in New York, Costco and Walgreens, did much better.
- NEW: "Tune Out Trump", Boycott all Trump Hotel, casinos, holdings, The Apprentice and NBC Network! At CPAC, Trump said he is considering a run for president as a Republican. In a interview with the Des Moines Register, Trump added that he opposes all forms of legal recognition for gay couples, not just marriage. "They should not be able to marry," he said. So why does NBC keep the Apprentice when Donald Trump has stated he may run for president? After making racist remarks about Obama and recv'g public backlash, Trump decided not to run for president after NBC renewed his awful TV Show. How can NBC renew the clown's show after he pulled all such low-class shenanigans? Boycott NBC! Boycott advertisers of The Apprentice and Trump's other business's. Don't shop at any bullding with Donald Trump's name to include Trump Hotels, Casinos, Condo's, Offices, Shops! The Donald has expressed extreme Hatred towards gays and blacks with his birther remarks and anti-gay rhetoric. Remember how poorly Trump treated Rosie O'Donnel? Now we know why he did that! It was hate against a lesbian as we now know he is biget. Unforgiveable! Dump NBC because they re-newed Donald Trump's "The Apprentice"! NBC, Really? Update June 1, 2011: Trump now claims that Obama's long form, original birth certificate is fake. And NBC keeps this hater? NBC, You Kidding Us?
And Now, Model Wars!
This group is called "Peckers Pics." The English - slang definition of "pecker" is to pluck at the truth. Therefore, we peck at items such as Gay Men's Health, Male Fitness, Gay (LGBT) Politics & Issues. In this section you may peck at each photo in order to decide the winner of the "war of the fittest!" Whereas, who is the model that may inspire you to exercise and "get fit?" Warning: This may stoke you!Your participation in discussion of health / news articles - appearing in this message is greatly appreciated.
GRANT MELLON
VS
KEVIN L JOHNSON
You Decide!
Miami Beach, Fl, USA; Pride - Apr 16, 2011
Stoked?
Miami Beach, Fl, USA; Pride - Apr 16, 2011
What a Repeal of the Gay Marriage Ban Means
By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD - New York Times - June 9, 2011
As gay couples know all too well, there's a long list of federal benefits, both financial and legal, that are available only to straight couples. Social Security spousal survivor benefits. Less expensive health care options. The ability to file one set of tax returns. And the list goes on.
So let's imagine for a moment that the federal law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman was struck down tomorrow. Would same-sex couples then be able to get married at their local court house and gain all the same rights as their opposite-sex counterparts, at least for financial and legal purposes?
Not entirely. The law in question -- the Defense of Marriage Act, enacted in 1996 -- has two main parts: Section 3 defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman, while Section 2 allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.
Still, even if the entire law disappeared, gay couples would still need to get married in one of the five states, or the District of Columbia, that perform same-sex marriages. But if they went back home to a state that did not recognize their union, they would still be strangers in the eyes of that state's government. The couple would need to continue to file their state income tax returns separately, for instance.
But this is where it gets tricky. There could also be some confusion about what sort of federal benefits the couple is entitled to receive if they live in a state that does not recognize their union. Why? The federal government typically looks to the states to define marriage. And though states generally honor opposite-sex marriages performed elsewhere, many states specifically ban same-sex marriage.
"There is the possibility that, even without DOMA on the books at all, that a married same-sex couple might not be treated as married by the federal government as to some particular program, benefit or obligation because of simply how the particular federal program determines eligibility in looking to state law to see if a person is married or not," said Gary Buseck, legal director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
Consider a fictitious couple, Will and Henry. The couple was married and lived in Massachusetts but decided to retire to Florida, where they'll apply for Social Security. The agency will look to determine the status of their marriage under the law of the state where they live on the date of application for the benefit, Mr. Buseck said. And Florida won't deem them married.
But legislators have come up with a fix. The Respect for Marriage Act, which was introduced in both the House and Senate in March, repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and also includes a provision -- known as "certainty" -- that says marriages that are valid in the state where the couple got married will be recognized in other states for the "purposes of any federal law in which marital status is a factor."
"You don't want to end up with this perverse result where a couple leaves a marriage recognition state to retire or take another job and those federal benefits suddenly stop flowing," said Brian Moulton, chief legislative counsel for the Human Rights Campaign.
Technically speaking, he said, the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act on its own should be enough for couples to receive federal recognition. But the certainty provision would also protect couples if a less gay-friendly administration interpreted the repeal more narrowly, and only recognized same-sex marriage for couples who lived in states that recognized their marriage. Mr. Moulton said that his organization was still working with members of Congress to build support for the bill, and educating them about "the concrete harms that DOMA has done to same-sex couples."
Even if the efforts for repeal were successful, only couples living in states that recognized gay unions would achieve most of the benefits afforded to straight married couples. Indeed, there are 29 states with constitutional amendments that define marriage as between a man and a woman, while another 12 states have similar statutory provisions, he added.
The legislation, for instance, doesn't require states to grant state-level rights. Nor does it require states that haven't recognized same-sex marriages to do so.
The courts may ultimately address the issue before Congress does, since there are several federal court cases where the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act is being challenged. The Justice Department has said it would no longer defend the law in court, but House Republicans have said that they would work to do so.
What other federal benefits might rely on a state's definition of marriage?
Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."
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