FAIR WISCONSIN ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2008

Contact:Christine Callsen
608-441-0143 x 301

FAIR WISCONSIN ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA

Fair Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s oldest and largest group dedicated to protecting the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, has endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States.

“Senator Obama is strongly committed to rights for LGBT Americans, recognizing that guaranteeing LGBT equality is a moral imperative,” says Glenn Carlson, Executive Director.

Senator Obama has spoken of the need to “include gay constituencies as people that should be treated with full honor and respect as part of the American family.”  He has called for an end to federal discrimination by fully repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and supports an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

Senator Obama has also expressed strong support for expanding federal hate crimes statues and supports full civil unions that give same sex couples equal rights and responsibilities under the law.  He voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples. “We are better than this. And we certainly owe the American people more than this. I know that this amendment will fail, and when it does, I hope we can start discussing issues and offering proposals that will actually improve the lives of most Americans.” (Barack Obama on the Senate floor regarding the Federal Marriage Amendment, June 5, 2006)

For more information about Barack’s positions on issues important to the LGBT community, please visit http://pride.barackobama.com, the national portal for LGBT Obama supporters.

For more information about Fair Wisconsin and our efforts to ensure equality for ALL Wisconsinites, please visit www.fairwisconsin.com.

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