Equally Speaking
The following is a transcript of HRC’s morning news webcast "Equally Speaking." To view the current videos visit the main Equally Speaking page.
Good morning, and thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking, your morning dose of GLBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Friday, April 11th. I’m John Greene.
And I’m Heidi Williams. First up, why "7 Days to a Better Financial You" matters.
All this week, HRC has been addressing the taxation, financial and estate planning issues GLBT people face with its "7 Days to a Better Financial You" campaign. The "7 Days" campaign is designed to educate the GLBT community about the financial problems same-sex couples face because they are unable to marry. For information about the "7 Days" campaign, visit hrc.org/7days.
A key component of the "7 Days" campaign is HRC’s new Family Matters legislative agenda. Family Matters’ aim is to pass laws that provide equal rights and responsibilities for same-sex couples and their families. Such bills include the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, the Domestic Partnership tax bill and the Domestic Partnership Benefit and Obligations Act. Visit hrc.org/familymatters for more information.
Opinion pieces and editorials from HRC staffers have appeared in the press throughout the week. Senior Youth Outreach Manager Candace Gingrich answered ten money questions on the financial site Queercents, and Legal Director Lara Schwartz wrote about The Cost of Being Gay in The Advocate. An op-ed by Legislative Director Allison Herwitt was featured on the Huffington Post, and Gay City News published a piece by HRC President Joe Solmonese
The "7 Days" campaign has also gotten coverage in mainstream news outlets. On Tuesday, U.S. News and World Report featured a story about the campaign. And on Wednesday, financial site The Motley Fool featured an estate-planning article that linked to the "7 Days" website. Yesterday, CNN Money ran an Associated Press story about how tax filing is more complicated for same-sex couples. The story quoted HRC Legal Director Lara Schwartz.
Tuesday HRC held a virtual town hall for employers and GLBT employees. Yesterday afternoon, HRC hosted a national web chat featuring financial and legal experts answering questions submitted by the general public. Financial advisor and Advocate contributor Joe Kapp, attorney and estate planner Brenda Jackson-Cooper, HRC Legal Director Lara Schwartz and HRC State Legislative Director Chris Edelson all participated in the chat. Visit hrc.org/Chat to read the entire transcript.
On Tax Day, April 15th, HRC will hold a demonstration at an Atlanta post office to raise awareness of GLBT tax inequalities. Clergy and members of the community will gather to speak out about the federal government’s discriminatory policies. For daily updates about this and other "7 Days" events, visit the Back Story blog at hrcbackstory.org.
That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.
Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you back here again Monday morning.