McKeon commends Gov. Blagojevich for Executive Order
McKeon commends Gov. Blagojevich for Executive Order
conveying Domestic Partner Benefits to state employees
Copyright by Gay Chicago Magazine
CHICAGO - State Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) extended his appreciation and strong support of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s executive order extending partner and family benefits, including bereavement and healthcare benefits, to all state of Illinois GLBT employees. This follows the leadership of collective bargaining by major unions representing state workers.
“Many people have worked for this for many years. I am proud of Gov. Blagojevich for making this happen,” said McKeon, House sponsor of the amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act.
The Governor’s action assures economic justice for current and prospective GLBT state employees who are in committed relationships and often have dependent children. Despite myths to the contrary, discrimination based on sexual orientation is a contributing factor to the fact that gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans earn less overall than their heterosexual counterparts. In spite of legends propagated by the radical right regarding GBLT income, the high level of discrimination experienced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people affect their earning power.
“This is about fairness and equality. I want the people who work for me to have access to good benefits and good health care and that’s what this accomplishes,” said Governor Blagojevich.
The Governor’s action assures equal pay for equal work. It allows the state to recruit and retain state employees who would otherwise be lost to other government entities and the private sector who place a high value on their GLBT employees. Research studies over the last decade have repeatedly demonstrated that:
• On average, gay men who work full-time earned as much as 27 percent less than heterosexual men in terms of race, education, location, occupation, and experience.
• Lesbians and heterosexual women have little income difference; however women as a category persistently make significantly less than their male counterparts. LGBT women of color earn far less than their white heterosexual counterparts.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are found throughout the spectrum of income distribution: some are poor, a few are wealthy, and most are somewhere in the middle, as are most heterosexual people
McKeon recommended to the governor that benefits be extended to GLBT employees two years ago and was recently joined by other activists and state employees employed by the executive branch of state government.
Rep. McKeon is in his 5th term as representative of the 13th legislative district. His district includes portions of Ravenswood, North Center, Lincoln Square, Uptown, Lakeview, Andersonville, Bowmanville and the Argyle neighborhoods.
conveying Domestic Partner Benefits to state employees
Copyright by Gay Chicago Magazine
CHICAGO - State Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) extended his appreciation and strong support of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s executive order extending partner and family benefits, including bereavement and healthcare benefits, to all state of Illinois GLBT employees. This follows the leadership of collective bargaining by major unions representing state workers.
“Many people have worked for this for many years. I am proud of Gov. Blagojevich for making this happen,” said McKeon, House sponsor of the amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act.
The Governor’s action assures economic justice for current and prospective GLBT state employees who are in committed relationships and often have dependent children. Despite myths to the contrary, discrimination based on sexual orientation is a contributing factor to the fact that gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans earn less overall than their heterosexual counterparts. In spite of legends propagated by the radical right regarding GBLT income, the high level of discrimination experienced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people affect their earning power.
“This is about fairness and equality. I want the people who work for me to have access to good benefits and good health care and that’s what this accomplishes,” said Governor Blagojevich.
The Governor’s action assures equal pay for equal work. It allows the state to recruit and retain state employees who would otherwise be lost to other government entities and the private sector who place a high value on their GLBT employees. Research studies over the last decade have repeatedly demonstrated that:
• On average, gay men who work full-time earned as much as 27 percent less than heterosexual men in terms of race, education, location, occupation, and experience.
• Lesbians and heterosexual women have little income difference; however women as a category persistently make significantly less than their male counterparts. LGBT women of color earn far less than their white heterosexual counterparts.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are found throughout the spectrum of income distribution: some are poor, a few are wealthy, and most are somewhere in the middle, as are most heterosexual people
McKeon recommended to the governor that benefits be extended to GLBT employees two years ago and was recently joined by other activists and state employees employed by the executive branch of state government.
Rep. McKeon is in his 5th term as representative of the 13th legislative district. His district includes portions of Ravenswood, North Center, Lincoln Square, Uptown, Lakeview, Andersonville, Bowmanville and the Argyle neighborhoods.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 8:13 PM
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