Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression

We specifically advocate for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ*) people, as follows:

 

We support the freedom to marry, and all the rights, benefits, and responsibilities thereof, without discrimination based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

 

We support state and federal legislation (including constitutional amendments) to ban discrimination based on sex, gender, and sexual orientation. We oppose measures that restrict rights or create unequal treatment based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

 

We support the right of children to be cared for in loving homes, regardless of the sex, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status of the parents. We support the right of all persons to consideration for adoption and foster parenthood without regard to sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

 

We support the right of LGBTIQ persons to receive education and care, without discrimination, harassment, or violence based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

 

We support the right of all persons to self-determination with regard to gender identity and sex. We therefore support the right of intersex and transgender individuals to be free of coercion and involuntary assignment of gender or sex. We oppose involuntary medical or surgical treatment--including the involuntary treatment of children-- to assign gender identity or sex. We support access to medical and surgical treatment for assignment or reassignment of gender or sex, based on informed consent.

 

We oppose all forms of anti-LGBTIQ violence, and support legislation against all forms of hate crimes, including those directed against LGBTIQ people.

 

We support the rights of artists and performers to free expression. We welcome art and performance that provokes thought and discussion of sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

 

* Definitions: As used here, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual signify terms by people to define their sexual orientation or identity along a spectrum other than heterosexual. Transgender signifies people whose gender expression or gender identity is different from the gender assigned at birth; Intersex is term used by people whose physical sexual characteristics or genetic makeup is not typically male or female. Queer is a label used to denote any of the permutations of the human sexuality and gender spectrums. Gender is the social construct of sex; it signifies the identity of being male, female, or other. Sex signifies the physical or chromosomal characteristics associated with genitalia and body appearance along a spectrum which includes male and female.