Friday, June 26, 2015

Richmond City Council Statement: Regarding: United States Supreme Court decisions confirming freedom to marry

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, Virginia  23219 U.S.A.  - www.council.richmondva.gov
                                                            
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Friday, 26 June 2015

     Richmond City Council Statement

Regarding: United States Supreme Court decisions confirming freedom to marry

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – "Today we celebrate the United States Supreme Court's ruling regarding marriage freedom, which coincides with Richmond City Council’s recent Proclamation recognizing June 2015 as Richmond Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Queer Pride Month. Progress on this issue reflects Richmond City Council’s ongoing support of civil rights, equality and freedom from discrimination.

To quote Julian Bond, Former National Chairman of the NAACP, who has previously spoken on the issue of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Queer rights, “Civil rights are positive legal prerogatives — the right to equal treatment before the law. These are rights shared by everyone; there is no one in the United States who does not — or should not — share in enjoying these rights.

A portion of the Richmond City Council proclamation reads “… The Richmond community includes people of all ages and races who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Queer and each of us should have the same equal rights, benefits and responsibilities that are shared and enjoyed by all…” Today’s decision reflects this fundamental tenet.

The historic United States Supreme Court's ruling today means that same-sex couples will soon have the freedom to marry under the law in across our nation. We join with Richmond residents and families in celebrating the significance of this important decision.”

Background
A quick summary of some of Richmond City Council’s historic support of equal civil rights includes:

1.    Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
     Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and
     Queer Pride Month (June 2015)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District 
Presented June 18, 2015

2.    Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Day (September 27, 2014)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District
      Presented September 27, 2014

3.  Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL JOINT PROCLAMATION
     Richmond Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20, 2013)
Sponsored by The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Richmond East End 7th Voter District
      Presented November 20, 2013  

4.    Richmond City Council
     Ordinance Number 2013-154-205
The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District; The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District; and, The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District
      Adopted October 26, 2013
To amend Richmond City for the purposes of, to the extent now or hereafter permitted or required by law, recognizing same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states and requiring the Richmond to extend all of the benefits offered to the spouses of City employees in heterosexual marriages to the partners of City employees in same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states.

5.    Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Day (September 28, 2013)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District
      Presented September 28, 2013

6.    Richmond City Council                    
     COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
      Thursday, June 27, 2013
      A Joint Statement by
      The Honorable Charles R. Samuels
      Councilman, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District and
     The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto
      Councilman, Richmond Central 5th Voter District
                                                                                  
Regarding: United States of America Supreme Court decision on the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act and the State of California's Proposition 8

Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – "We are encouraged by yesterday's United States Supreme Court's decision in striking down a provision of U. S. federal law, known as the Defense of Marriage Act, that has denied federal health, pension and tax benefits to legally married same sex couples. We are also pleased that they chose to leave in place a trial court's declaration that California's Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage in that state, was unconstitutional.
                                                                                  
      The Supreme Court decision coincides with the Richmond City Council Proclamation that recognizes June 2013 as Richmond Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. A portion of the proclamation reads "… each of us should have the same equal rights, benefits and responsibilities that are shared and enjoyed by all…"  Yesterday's ruling echoes this sentiment.."

7.    Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
     Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (June 2013)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District and The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Central 5th Voter District
Presented May 28, 2013

8.    Richmond City Council
     Ordinance 2013-10-98
      Approved May 28, 2013
Richmond City Council approved updated Richmond Personnel Rules for city employees, which included prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

9.            Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
     Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (June 2012)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District 
      Presented June 15, 2012

10. Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
     Richmond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (June 2011)
Sponsored by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District 
      Presented June 13, 2011

11. Richmond City Council
     RICHMOND RECOGNITION AWARD
     Mr. Tracy Thorne-Begland
Sponsored by The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District
Presented February 14, 2011
To officially recognize, honor and celebrate Mr. Tracy Thorne-Begland for his personal history of advocacy and dedication on behalf of the rights of people who are gay and lesbian to serve in the United States of America Military Armed Forces.

12. Richmond City Council
     Resolution Number 2009-R73-91
Sponsored by The Honorable Chris A. Hilbert, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District, The Honorable Reva M. Trammell, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council, Richmond Southside 8th Voter District, and The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District,
      Adopted June 22, 2009
To express the support of Richmond City Council for legislation in the Virginia General Assembly codifying the basic human right of all public employees to be free from discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or other veteran covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, and sexual orientation, including gender identity.

CONTACT    For more information, please contact Steve Skinner, Council Public Information Manager, Richmond City Council Office of the Council Chief of Staff, at 804.646.6052; or steven.skinner@richmondgov.com


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Steve Skinner
Council Public Information Manager
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF
Richmond City Council Executive Offices
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia  23219 U.S.A.
804.646.6052 (tel)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
______________________________________________________________

MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council is to
represent citizens in creating and amending local laws,
 providing government policy and oversight, and
approving the city budget.

VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.