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Richard Blumenthal on Civil Rights
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Support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Although the treatment of women in the workplace has improved significantly, there are still far too many cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, and pay inequity. Women earn only 76 cents on average for every dollar earned by a man. I supported the
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which improved the ability of victims of pay discrimination to challenge that discrimination in court. I will work to permanently close the wage gap, expand career opportunities for women, and prevent sexual harassment.
Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, richardblumenthal.com "Issues"
, Aug 12, 2010
CT statutes do not allow same-sex marriage licenses
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today released a legal opinion saying same-sex couples cannot marry in Connecticut, because our statutes do not allow or authorize issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Blumenthal issued his opinion in
response to written inquiries by municipal officials on how to respond to same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses in Connecticut towns and cities."Under current law, same-sex couples cannot legally marry in Connecticut," Blumenthal said. "The
legislature has provided no legal authority to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Whatever our own personal beliefs, we are bound by the laws adopted by our legislature and interpreted by our courts. Our law can be altered--and is developing
--but that is the responsibility of our General Assembly."
"We decline to answer another legal question: To what extent will Connecticut recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state? An answer would require me to make law, not interpret it."
Source: Connecticut Attorney General's Office Press Release
, May 17, 2004
Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools.
Blumenthal signed Student Non-Discrimination Act
Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2011:- Prohibits public school students from being excluded from participating in, or subject to discrimination under, any federally-assisted educational program on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their associates.
- Considers harassment to be a form of discrimination.
- Prohibits retaliation against anyone for opposing conduct they reasonably believe to be unlawful under this Act.
- Authorizes federal departments and agencies to enforce these prohibitions by cutting off the educational assistance of recipients found to be violating them.
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Allows an aggrieved individual to assert a violation of this Act in a judicial proceeding and recover reasonable attorney's fees should they prevail.
- Deems a state's receipt of federal educational assistance for a program to constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for conduct prohibited under this Act regarding such program.
Source: HR.998&S.555 11-S0555 on Mar 10, 2011
Constitutional Amendment for women's equal rights.
Blumenthal signed Equal Rights Amendment for men and women
JOINT RESOLUTION: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women. Constitutional Amendment: Prohibits denying or abridging equality of rights under the law by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of 3/4ths of the several States:- Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
- The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
- This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
[Explanatory note from Wikipedia.com and OnTheIssues.org]:
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time. In 1972, it passed both houses of Congress, but failed to gain ratification before its June 30, 1982 deadline. This new proposed amendment is identical in wording to the original 1972 proposed amendment. It was proposed in Congress in every session from 1923 through 1970 prior to passing in 1972; and has been re-introduced in Congress in every session since 1982 after its failure at ratification. The current version removes the Congressionally imposed deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, so that if the bill passes Congress, states have no deadline as they did in 1982.
Source: HJR69&SJR21 11-SJR21 on Jun 22, 2011
Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender.
Blumenthal co-sponsored Paycheck Fairness Act
Congress finds the following: - Women have entered the workforce in record numbers over the past 50 years.
- Despite the enactment of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, many women continue to earn significantly lower pay than men for equal work. These pay disparities exist in both the private and governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the lingering effects of past discrimination.
- The existence of such pay disparities depresses the wages of working families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to make ends meet; and undermines women's retirement security.
- Artificial barriers to the elimination of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex continue to exist decades after the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. These barriers have resulted because the Equal Pay Act has not worked as Congress originally intended.
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The Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have important and unique responsibilities to help ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.
- The Department of Labor is responsible for investigating and prosecuting equal pay violations, especially systemic violations, and in enforcing all of its mandates.
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the primary enforcement agency for claims made under the Equal Pay Act.
- With a stronger commitment [to enforcement], increased information on wage data and more effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and enforce their rights.
- Certain employers have already made great strides in eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their achievements should be recognized.
Source: S.84&H.R.377 13-S0084 on Jan 23, 2013
Page last updated: Apr 23, 2013
