April, 14 2009, 11:41am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brad Luna | Phone: 202/216.1514
Trevor Thomas | Phone: 202/216.1547
Human Rights Campaign to Host National Web Chat on LGBT Financial Issues in Advance of Tax Day
Experts to field questions from the LGBT community on variety of financial, tax and estate planning issues
WASHINGTON
In
advance of April 15 - "Tax Day" - the Human Rights Campaign, the
nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights
organization, will host a national web chat on a variety of financial
issues currently facing members of the LGBT community. During the
discussion, HRC and several financial experts will highlight the unique
legal inequalities and hurdles facing the LGBT community with regard to
financial, tax and estate planning issues. Federal law treats same-sex
couples as strangers, thereby denying them the 1,138 federal rights,
benefits and protections available to different-sex married
couples. Questions may be submitted in advance by emailing: webchat@hrc.org.
advance of April 15 - "Tax Day" - the Human Rights Campaign, the
nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights
organization, will host a national web chat on a variety of financial
issues currently facing members of the LGBT community. During the
discussion, HRC and several financial experts will highlight the unique
legal inequalities and hurdles facing the LGBT community with regard to
financial, tax and estate planning issues. Federal law treats same-sex
couples as strangers, thereby denying them the 1,138 federal rights,
benefits and protections available to different-sex married
couples. Questions may be submitted in advance by emailing: webchat@hrc.org.
WHAT: National web chat hosted by Human Rights Campaign
WHO: Financial planner Joe Kapp, Family and Estate Attorney Kirstin Gulling, and HRC Legal Director Lara Schwartz
WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. EST
HOW: To participate, visit the following link: www.hrc.org/taxchat
For additional online resourcesand daily updates visit the HRC blog, www.HRCBackStory.org.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights
organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end
discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves
fundamental fairness and equality for all.
The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
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A trio of U.S. senators on Friday introduced what's being billed as first-of-its-kind legislation sponsors say will "take on the greed of the food and beverage industry and address the growing diabetes and obesity epidemics" with a federal ban on junk food ads targeting children.
The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act—introduced by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.)—would also require warning labels "on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages; foods and beverages containing non-sugar sweeteners; ultra-processed foods; and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium."
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"Nearly 30 years ago, Congress had the courage to take on the tobacco industry, whose products killed more than 400,000 Americans every year," Sanders added. "Now is the time for Congress to act with the same sense of urgency to combat these diabetes and obesity epidemics. That means banning junk food ads targeted to kids and putting strong warning labels on food and beverages with unacceptably high levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fat."
Booker said that "the future of our nation depends on a continued investment in the health and wellbeing of our children," adding that "more and more of our children are developing diabetes and obesity primarily because a handful of corporate food giants push addictive, ultra-processed foods to drive up their profits."
"By banning junk food advertising to children, implementing front-of-package warning labels, and funding research on the dangers of ultra-processed foods, we can rein in the predatory behavior of big food companies and ensure a healthier future for generations to come," he added.
As the senators noted:
Today, more than 35 million Americans are struggling with type 2 diabetes—90% of whom are overweight or obese. These crises go hand-in-hand and children are severely impacted. Today, 1 out of 5 five kids are living with obesity. A serious illness unto itself, diabetes is also a contributing factor to heart disease, stroke, amputations, blindness, and kidney failure. Unless the U.S. dramatically changes course, these numbers will continue to grow exponentially.
The impact on the economy is enormous: Last year, the total cost of diabetes exceeded $400 billion, approximately 10% of overall U.S. healthcare expenditures.
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"This is the reality that extreme Republicans call 'pro-life.'"
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"One woman miscarried in the lobby restroom of a Texas emergency room as front desk staff refused to admit her," the journalist detailed. "Another woman learned that her fetus had no heartbeat at a Florida hospital, the day after a security guard turned her away from the facility. And in North Carolina, a woman gave birth in a car after an emergency room couldn't offer an ultrasound. The baby later died."
According to Seitz:
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Responding to the reporting on social media, journalist Jane Mayer declared, "This is barbaric."
Texas Poor People's Campaign said that women in the state "are being left to die in ER waiting rooms. We cannot let this policy violence against women continue. Please join us as we mobilize voters for the '24 election."
Going into November, abortion has been a key issue at the state and federal level. Supporters of reproductive freedom are working to advance various ballot measures while Democratic President Joe Biden's campaign has highlighted his support for abortion rights and the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, has bragged about his role in reversing Roe—he appointed three of the six justices behind the majority opinion.
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Slate's Mark Joseph Stern, who covers U.S. legal battles, noted that this "devastating and timely story" from Seitz comes "just days before the Supreme Court considers whether emergency rooms can legally force patients to the brink of death before terminating a failing pregnancy."
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