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CALL TO ACTION THIS TUESDAY !
We need you this Tuesday July 14th, to show up at the Long Beach City Council Meeting at 5:00pm to show your support for this HISTORIC LGBT proposal...
Councilmember Robert Garcia Proposes Equal Benefits Ordinance
Measure Is A Progressive Step Towards Equality in Long Beach
In a historic step forward for equality, openly gay Councilmember Robert Garcia has proposed a new ordinance that would direct the City of Long Beach to enter into contracts with companies and vendors that offer equal benefit packages for both straight and gay employees.
This new ordinance would require companies and vendors that do business with the city to offer the same employee spousal benefits regardless of whether the employee is in a marriage or a domestic partnership.
Everyone deserves equal treatment in the workplace, said Councilmember Garcia, This is an important step forward for equality and civil rights in Long Beach."
Councilmember Suja Lowenthal is co-sponsoring the Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) on the July 14th Council Agenda.
Long Beach is an internationally recognized leader in equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community," said Councilmember Suja Lowenthal. "We need to show leadership when it comes to equality for all."
We are thrilled that Councilmember Garcia has proposed this historic ordinance, said Kim Woods, Executive Director of the LGBT Center in Long Beach. "The LGBT community is united in supporting this important measure."
The state of California has an EBO in place as do other large cities including Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco, Portland and Minneapolis.
The ordinance would allow for some exceptions to be made by the City Manager, such as in cases of public emergency, small contracts and other similar circumstances. The ordinance would also not apply to businesses that do not offer spousal benefits.
City staff have indicated that the ordinance can be enacted without any significant revenue or expense to the city. The process would be added to the regular Request for Proposal process that the city already has in place for contracts.
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