Press Release: Senator Murray Meets with National LGBT Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            CONTACT: Murray Press Office

Thursday, April 11, 2013                                                                   (202) 224-2834

Senator Murray Meets with National LGBT Leaders

(Washington D.C.) – This week, U.S. Senator Patty Murray met with national LGBT leaders and advocates to discuss a variety of issues important to LGBT families in Washington state and across the country. They discussed protections for LGBT individuals in comprehensive immigration reform, the Defense of Marriage Act, the definition of spouse in veterans law and the barriers it creates for LGBT military families and veterans, homeless LGBT youth, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and health and aging needs of the LGBT community.

“From our immigration laws to our policies for veterans and military families, there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure all Americans, including members of our LGBT community, are treated equally,” said Senator Murray.  “I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with leaders of important LGBT organizations, and I look forward to working with them on legislation in the weeks and months ahead.”

Senator Murray is a leader in the Senate working for equal rights for LGBT Americans in Washington state and across the country. 

On March 1, Senator Murray joined 172 members of the House of Representatives and 39 Senators in filing an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor, arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and should be struck down.  As a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Murray led a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki calling for an expedited waiver process granting same-sex veterans and their spouses burial rights in national cemeteries. 

She is a cosponsor of the Uniting American Families Act, which would eliminate discrimination against bi-national LGBT couples in our nation’s immigration law, and led the charge to pass an inclusive Violence Against Women Act reauthorization with protections and specific services for LGBT individuals.

Representatives from the following organizations attended the meeting with Senator Murray:

Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Third Way

Equality Delaware

Human Rights Campaign

AIDS United

National Black Justice Coalition

Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLEY)

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

American Civil Liberties Union

Center for American Progress

Immigration Equality

Freedom to Marry

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Sean Coit

Press Secretary

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray

202-224-2834