Protecting LGBT Families

Gay or straight, Republicans are united in the belief that strong families are critical to a free society. Log Cabin Republicans are committed to advocating for legislation that will strengthen American families.

Legislative Priorities:

The Respect for Marriage Act (DOMA repeal): Working with our partners at Freedom to Marry and veteran GOP lobbyist Kathryn Lehman, Log Cabin Republicans is conducting an outreach campaign to rally Republican support for repeal of the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” and inform lawmakers of the harmful effects of DOMA on gay couples. These effects include lack of healthcare benefits, unfair taxation, unequal treatment for military service members, and disadvantages imposed on children in same-sex households. Log Cabin Republicans are uniquely qualified to make the conservative case for marriage equality.

Domestic Partner Tax Parity: Ending the "domestic partner penalty" in employer-provided health insurance will encourage more private businesses to choose to offer these important employee benefits, protecting more LGBT families. Log Cabin Republicans is leading the fight for tax parity, working with corporate allies on a comprehensive lobbying campaign to pass the Domestic Partner Tax Parity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Preventing discrimination in the workplace is not just the right thing to do – it’s good for any business’s bottom line and vital to the American economy as a whole. Working with a coalition of employers, Log Cabin Republicans will continue to tie ENDA to the need for job creation and the conservative principles of hard work, personal responsibility and individual liberty.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA): A recent string of highly publicized suicides by students who experienced anti-gay harassment in schools has brought the issue of bullying to the forefront. The Safe Schools Improvement Act uses existing federal funds to enable teachers, administrators and support staff to combat bullying in America's schools. Log Cabin Republicans is partnering with over 100 organizations to ensure that Congress acts to protect all students, including LGBT kids and the more than two million children being raised by same-sex parents today.

The Uniting American Families Act: Currently, American citizens who are gay or lesbian cannot sponsor their foreign born partners for immigration – no matter how long they have been together or how committed their relationship. With no ability to sponsor their partners, Americans are being forced abroad, taking their tax base, their talent, and enterprise to a growing list of more than 25 countries that offer residency for lesbian and gay partners. The Uniting American Families Act would allow Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for residency, benefiting both these American citizens and the companies which employ them.

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act: This legislation would prohibit discrimination at the federal level in foster and adoptive care on the basis of the potential parents’ sexual orientation and marital status, a tactic that is often used as a smokescreen to prohibit gay and lesbian couples from adopting, leaving children trapped in a broken fostercare system.

The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act will extend spousal protections to the families of federal employees, following the lead of an increasing number of private sector companies that have chosen not to discriminate against their gay and lesbian employees. No tax-payer funded government should discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans in employee treatment.

The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act: The death tax harms the American economy, hurts small businesses, and costs this country thousands of jobs every year. Because the federal government does not recognize domestic partners or same-sex marriages, this unpopular tax also discriminates against gay and lesbian couples. Log Cabin Republicans are a proud part of the coalition to end the death tax.