Current Action Alert ( sign up to receive AFA of PA Action Alerts
Education
Issues
Homosexual
Agenda
June
1, 2005
Mr.
John Sweeney, President
American Federation of Labor & Congress
of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
815
16th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
We
write on behalf of tens of millions of American families – including,
public opinion polls indicate, a strong majority of dues-paying union
households – who believe that the institution of marriage is and
should remain a union of one man and one woman.
A
Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll in March 2005 reported that 68 percent of
Americans “think marriages between homosexuals…should not be recognized by the law as valid, with
the same rights as traditional marriage.”
The
same Gallup Poll found that by a 57 to 37 percent margin (and growing),
Americans “favor…a constitutional amendment that would define
marriage as being between a man and a woman, thus barring marriages
between gay or lesbian couples.”
Similar polls at the
state level indicate that support for protecting one-man, one-woman
marriage among dues-paying union households – including by state
constitutional amendment – is as strong or stronger than among the
general population.
For example, in November,
nearly 60 percent of voters in heavily-unionized Michigan approved a
Marriage Protection Amendment to their state constitution.
The Detroit
News reported October 22nd that a public opinion survey
it commissioned “show(ed) two-thirds of union households support (the
Marriage Protection Amendment), identical to the level of support in
nonunion households.”
Democratic
pollster Pat Caddell commented after the election: "If you look at
Michigan and Ohio, …57 percent to 64 percent of the union members
voted for (state Marriage Protection Amendments).”
Surely,
support for state Marriage Protection Amendments among dues-paying union
members is equally as strong, or stronger, in each of the strong
“union states” where voters have approved
state Marriage Protection Amendments with large majorities: Alaska (68
percent), Hawaii (69 percent), Kentucky (74 percent), Michigan (59
percent), Missouri (71 percent), Montana (67 percent), Nevada (67
percent), Ohio (63 percent), and Oregon (57 percent).
Undoubtedly,
millions of dues-paying American union members either already have, or
soon will, vote in favor of a Marriage Protection Amendment to their
state constitutions. Just
as certainly, millions of dues-paying union members also support
ratification of a Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, to ensure that five members of the U.S. Supreme Court are
not allowed to overturn the existing state laws and voter-approved state
constitutional amendments that define marriage as only between one man
and one woman.
Specifically, on March 3rd
in Las Vegas, the AFL-CIO Executive Committee unanimously endorsed
a
resolution titled, “Support for the Full Inclusion and Equal Rights of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People in the Workplace.”
(copy enclosed)
Pride at Work – www.PrideatWork.org --
the AFL-CIO’s formally affiliated homosexual activist group with
offices at your national headquarters in Washington, credits you and
your leadership slate for the resolution, Mr. Sweeney, saying its
approval “happened because of the strong leadership of President John
Sweeney in bringing this resolution to the entire Executive Council and
the hard work of Executive Vice-President Linda Chavez-Thompson."
Mr. Sweeney, your
resolution stated:
“(T)hrough the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), some
members of the U.S. Congress want to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny
important rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families,
such as the right to hospital visitation, inheritance, and health care
rights for partners. On
November 2, 2004, eleven states passed similar marriage amendments to
their state constitutions.
…The FMA and its state counterparts threaten
the rights of working people by creating an environment across the
nation that is hostile to the rights of domestic partners, regardless of
their sexual orientation.”
…The
AFL-CIO reiterates its longstanding support for the full inclusion and
equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the
workplace and in society.”
In
addition to grossly mischaracterizing and opposing constitutional
protection for one-man, one-woman marriage, exactly what
are AFL-CIO officials endorsing in that broad closing sentence –
particularly its reference to “transgender people” -- and supposedly
on behalf of dues-paying American union members?
On that question, openly
homosexual Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., explained as follows why
he opposes including
so-called “transgender rights” language in the federal “gay
rights” legislation he perennially sponsors:
“There
are workplace situations -- communal showers, for example -- when the
demands of the transgender community fly in the face of conventional
norms and therefore would not pass in any Congress. I've talked
with transgender activists and what they want -- and what we will be
forced to defend -- is for people with penises who identify as women to
be able to shower with other women. There are no votes for that.
And if that is the price for this bill, it is wrong."
Co-ed showers on the job,
said Rep. Frank. Is that what
AFL-CIO officials are spending American working men and women’s
hard-earned dues money to promote in the workplace?
We
firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of dues-paying union
members who finance the national AFL-CIO and its organizational,
political and lobbying activities strongly oppose so-called homosexual “marriage” as well as the broader
political agenda of homosexual and “transgender” activists.
We’re
further troubled by the expectation that you will use the dues and fees
you collect as a condition of employment from employees who strongly oppose homosexual and transgender activists’ political agenda to
pay for your political and lobbying activities in support of that agenda.
On behalf of the millions
of dues-paying American union members who agree with us that marriage
between one man and one woman deserves and demands state and federal
constitutional protection, we urge the AFL-CIO Executive Committee to
respect and honor the views of your own rank-and-file membership by
voting – during your upcoming July 25-28 annual convention in Chicago
-- to rescind
your March 3rd resolution.
Between
now and your July convention, we and the pro-family organizations we
represent will:
- Do everything in our power to ensure that rank-and-file union members all across America are fully informed of the AFL-CIO’s endorsement of homosexual activists’ political agenda, particularly your formal opposition to state and federal constitutional protections for the institution of one-man, one-woman marriage
- To the best of our ability and resources, inform and educate union members all across America regarding
-
Their
“religious
objector”
rights under federal law -- if they hold a sincere conviction that
further financial support of an AFL-CIO-affiliated union would
constitute a violation of their religious conscience -- to resign their
union membership and divert the equivalent of their union dues or fees
to a charitable organization instead.
-
Their
Beck vs. Communication Workers of
America rights to resign and
demand (a) a full accounting of the use of all union funds for political
purposes and (b) a full refund of all union dues and fees used for any
purpose other than collective bargaining, contract administration, and
grievance processing.
-
Their
right in twenty-two Right to Work states to withdraw not only their
membership, but the full amount of any and all payment of dues or fees to an
AFL-CIO-affiliated union.
- In anticipation that the AFL-CIO Executive Committee may refuse to rescind its opposition to constitutional protection of marriage, communicate our commitment to ensure that legal counsel and representation are provided at no charge to any union member who wishes – in response to your resolution – to exercise any or all of the above-stated legal rights to withhold funding from the AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions.
Mr.
Sweeney, as you approach your annual national convention, it appears to
us that now is a time at which you and other national union officials
should be particularly sensitive to the possibility of gravely offending
millions of dues-paying union members who will likely be outraged to
learn that their unions are promoting so-called homosexual
“marriage” in society and “transgender” cross-dressing
“rights” on the job.
We
know that many of those who faithfully support our organizations and
ministries are also loyal union members.
On behalf of their families, specifically on behalf of their
children and future generations of America’s children, we will not
stand silently by while national AFL-CIO officials use the hard-earned
dues money of America’s working men and women – against their will,
and at odds with their own deeply-held religious and moral convictions
-- to advance a political agenda that threatens to undermine the
institutions of God-ordained marriage and the family.
We
also stand ready to provide the AFL-CIO Executive Committee any
information it may require to be persuaded that instead of opposing
constitutional protection for one-man, one-woman marriage, the AFL-CIO
should rescind its earlier resolution and instead support a
Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and to each state
constitution as being in the best interests of American working people
and their families.
We
look forward to your reply or, better yet, the AFL-CIO’s vote during
your annual convention next month in Chicago to rescind the March 3rd
resolution.
Sincerely,
Dr.
Don Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
Tupelo, Mississippi
www.AFA.net
662-844-5036
Larry
Cirignano, Executive Director
Catholic Vote
Boston, Massachusetts
www.CatholicVote.org
617-755-7668
Dr.
Richard Land, President
Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Southern Baptist Convention
Nashville, Tennessee
www.ERLC.com
615-782-8419
Rev. William Owens, Founder and
President
Coalition of African-American Pastors
Memphis, Tennessee
www.CAAPUSA.org
901-789-1173
Linda Chavez, President
Stop Union Political Abuse
Sterling, Virginia
www.StopUnionPoliticalAbuse.org
703.421.6509
Dr.
Jerry Falwell
Chancellor, Liberty University
Chairman, The Moral Majority Coalition
Lynchburg, Virginia
www.FaithandValues.us
434-582-2000
Paul
Weyrich, National Chairman
Coalitions for
America
Washington, D.C.
www.FreeCongress.org
202-546-3000
Dr.
Rick Scarborough, President
Judeo-Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration
Lufkin, Texas
www.StopActivistJudges.org
866-522-5582
Beverly
LaHaye, Founder and Chairman
Concerned
Women for America
Washington, D.C.
www.cwfa.org
202-488-7000
Stephen
M.
Crampton, Chief Counsel
American Family Association Center for Law & Policy
Tupelo, Mississippi
www.AFA.net/CLP
662-844-5036
Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel
Liberty Counsel
Orlando, Florida
www.LC.org
407-875-2100
Samuel
B. Casey, Executive Director & CEO
Christian Legal Society
Annandale, Virginia
http://www.CLSnet.org
703-642-1070
Ron
Shuping, Senior Vice President of Programming
The Inspiration Television Networks
Charlotte, North Carolina
www.insp.com/leadership/06.asp
704-525-9800
Janet
Folger, President and Founder
Faith2Action
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
www.Faith2Action.org
954-465-1500
Robert
Knight, Director
Culture & Family Institute
Washington, D.C.
www.cultureandfamily.org
202-488-7000,
Ext. 10
Phil
Burress
Chairman, Ohio Campaign to Protect Marriage
www.OhioMarriage.com
President,
Citizens for Community Values
(Focus on the Family affiliate)
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.CCV.org
513-733-5775
Jerry
Cox, President
Arkansas Family Council
(Focus on the Family affiliate)
Little Rock, Arkansas
www.FamilyCouncil.org
501-375-7000
Peter
LaBarbera, Executive Director
Illinois Family Institute
(Focus on the Family affiliate)
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
www.IllinoisFamily.org
630-790-8370
Steven
J. Kidder, Ph.D., President
New York State Family Policy Council
(Focus on the Family affiliate)
Albany, New York
www.NYFPC.org
518-694-4660
Robert
E. Regier, Executive Director
South Dakota Family Policy Council
(Focus on the Family affiliate)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
www.SDFamily.org
605-335-8100
Julaine
K. Appling, Executive Director
Family Research Institute of Wisconsin
(Focus
on the Family affiliate)
Madison, Wisconsin
www.FRI-Wi.org
608-256-3228
Bobby
L. Hester, Director
American Family Association of Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas
www.AFAAr.org
870-932-5065
Micah
Clark, Executive Director
American Family Association of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
www.AFAIn.net
317-541-9287
Gary
Glenn, President
American Family Association of Michigan
Midland, Michigan
www.AFAMichigan.org
989-835-7978
Sherron
Barlow, Co-director
David P. Smith, M.D., Co-director
American Family Association of Mississippi
Summit, Mississippi
www.AFAMs.net
601.684.7771
Robert
A. Kellow, Vice President
American Family Association of New Jersey
Jim
Hill, State Director
American Family Association of Oregon
Portland, Oregon
www.AFAOregon.org
503-643-4181
Diane
Gramley, President
American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Franklin, Pennsylvania
www.AFAofPa.org
814.271.9078
Nancy
Sutton, President
Family First
Castle Rock, Colorado
303-471-8067
Tim
Echols, President
Family Resource Network
Jefferson, Georgia
www.TeenPact.com/founder.htm
888-343-1776
Michael
N. Duff, President
United Families Idaho
Blackfoot, Idaho
www.UnitedFamiliesIdaho.org
208-684-9243
Douglas Stiegler, Executive Director
Association of Maryland Families
Pasedena, Maryland
www.MdFamilies.org
443.695.4005
Coalition for Marriage and Family
Wakefield, Massachusetts
www.PreserveMarriage.com
617-480-1719
Kris
Mineau, President
Massachusetts Family Institute
Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts
www.MaFamily.org
617-928-0800
Colin
A. Hanna, President
Let Freedom Ring
West Chester, Pennsylvania
www.LetFreedomRing.com
610-793-1800
Joe
Glover, President
Family Policy Network
Forest, Virginia
www.FamilyPolicy.net
434-846-0500
Phil
and Cindy Waugh, Executive Directors
Covenant Marriage Movement
Forest, Virginia
www.CovenantMarriage.com
800-311-1662
Debbie
Joslin, President
Eagle Forum Alaska
www.EagleForum.org/misc/states/states.html
907-895-4565
Senator
Mike Goschka,
Michigan State Senate
Member, Local 12934,
United Steel Workers of America (AFL-CIO)
Saginaw, Michigan
www.Senate.Michigan.gov/GOP/Senator/Goschka
517-373-1760
Michael
Westfall
Editor, The American Worker
Former Chairman, Local 598 25, United Auto Workers (AFL-CIO)
Presque Isle, Michigan
http://michaelwestfall.tripod.com
Marty
Angell,
Director
A Choice For Every Child Foundation
Dallas, Texas
www.scholarshiptaxcredit.com
Pastor
Randy Leskovar, National Director
Mayday for Marriage
Seattle, Washington
www.MaydayforMarriage.com
206-391-0996
Allen
Angell, CEO
Constituent Voice
Support for the Full Inclusion and Equal
Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People in the
Workplace
March 03,
2005
Las Vegas
The mission of the AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working
families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice
to our nation.
We believe that all union members are entitled to equal rights and
that all of their families should have access to benefits they need and
deserve. The AFL-CIO is
dedicated to fighting for those rights at the bargaining table, in the
voting booth, in city halls and statehouses, and on Capitol Hill.
The AFL-CIO recognizes that families come in all shapes and sizes.
As our families change, our union contracts also change.
For more than a generation, unions have negotiated domestic
partner benefits for the workers they represent, which provide crucial
access to health care, family and medical leave, and other benefits for
our heterosexual families and seniors as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender families.
Now, through the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), some members of
the U.S. Congress want to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny important
rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families, such as the
right to hospital visitation, inheritance, and health care rights for
partners. On November 2,
2004, eleven states passed similar marriage amendments to their state
constitutions.
In its 214-year history, the U.S. Constitution has been amended
only 18 times, to grant basic civil rights.
For example, we added the Bill of Rights in 1791 to guarantee
some of our most basic civil and criminal rights.
We also abolished slavery and gave the vote to women and young
people by amending the Constitution.
But we have never amended the Constitution to discriminate
against any group of people by denying them rights.
The FMA and its state counterparts threaten the rights of working
people by creating an environment across the nation that is hostile to
the rights of domestic partners, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Unions will have an increasingly difficult time making gains in
domestic partner benefits, and preserving those benefits that they have
already won at the table.
The AFL-CIO reiterates its
longstanding support for the full inclusion and equal rights of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the workplace and in society.
From the web site of Pride at
Work, the AFL-CIO’s formally affiliated homosexual
“constituency group” with offices at national union
headquarters in Washington. (See
http://www.afl-cio.org/communitypartners/constituencies)
Are
You A Proud Union Queer?
Thinking
about getting inked? Well before you take the plunge, maybe you should
take a second and try one of Pride At Work’s new temporary tattoos,
just in time for Gay Pride! The message is simple, “PROUD UNION
QUEER.”
We’re
happy to send you out a stack of tattoos for you to use in your gay
pride activities or other events. Just contact Sian at the national
office and she will send you out a stack. 100 temporary tattoos are only
ten dollars. Please email or call Sian at slewis@aflcio.org or 202-637-3988.
http://www.PrideatWork.org/sp05/art7.htm
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