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Lesbian
Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Staff Association
President
Obama Update
Budget
Information
UCOP
Diversity Resources, Reports and Information
Discrimination
in the Workplace
Happy
Pride Month
FAQs
on Marriage
New
UC Staff Information
News
Update
It
was announced yesterday (June 9, 2009) that President
Obama is granting domestic partner benefits to all Federal
employees. Some speculate that he is doing it because
of the fire he drew supporting DOMA (the Defense of Marriage
Act) and his inactivity in getting rid of the "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" military policy. Those who support
the Dallas
Principles see this as a "separate but equal"
action and want to see equal rights for all citizens.
Others hail this as start to working for equal rights.
If you want our President to keep with his campaign promise
for equal rights, write him.
Budget
The UC LGBTIA underwent a recent reorganization and
based on that, UCOP staff decided to start their own
LGBTI group. The purposes of this group are described
below. UCOP Human Resources continues to support for
this group so we can provide advocacy, education and
communication to the UCOP community and beyond. We will
continue to enjoy working with Rene
Jackson as HR Liaison and our new president, Mark
Yudof.
Purpose
of the UCOP LGBTI Staff Association
The
LGBTISA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex
Staff Association) was born out of the UC
LGBTIA. It was formed on April 24, 2009 with Gregory
Sykes and Margaret Wu has the new co-Chairs. Although
this staff group is new in name, it has existed for
over eight years. It will continue to provide, not only
advocacy and education, but is committed to its vital
presence to the staff at Office of the President.
The
new constitution is currently being worked on in order
to be inclusive to all staff at UCOP. One of our new goals
is to realize equal pay. Currently LG UC couples are taxed
for benefits provided to their spouses through the Federal
Government. Using the Amercian Bar Association's model,
we will be urging the Regents to ensure that we pay as
much as straight married couples, no more-no less.
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Discrimination
in the Workplace
If
you feel that you've experienced any work related discrimination
based on your sexual or gender orientation or you would
like advice or support in transitioning or coming out
in your unit, please contact us and/or the Equal Employment
Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) office at 7-0606.
Happy
Pride Month
LESBIAN,
GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Forty
years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn
in New York City resisted police harassment that had become
all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance,
the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT
Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and
commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.
LGBT
Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting
contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of
American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders
in all professional fields, including the arts and business
communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation
to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have
played a vital role in broadening this country's response
to the HIV pandemic.
Due
in no small part to the determination and dedication of
the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living
their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud
to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates
to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of
an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities
we seek in public servants, and across my Administration
-- in both the White House and the Federal agencies --
openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction
and professionalism.
The
LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but
there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel
safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT
families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives
with dignity and respect.
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My
Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to
advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international
level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to
decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at
home, I continue to support measures to bring the full
spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures
include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions
and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination
in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending
the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy
in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national
security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the
HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections
and providing care and support services to people living
with HIV/AIDS across the United States.
These
issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our
entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for
all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If
we can work together to advance the principles upon which
our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During
LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the
Congress, and the American people to work together to
promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation
or gender identity.
NOW,
THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by
the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby
proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States
to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it
exists.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first
day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine,
and of the Independence of the United States of America
the two hundred and thirty-third.
BARACK
OBAMA 
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FAQs
on Marriage
Do
I need to change my domestic partner status should I decide
to marry?
No,
you do NOT need to change your registration status in
any way, at any time, if you marry. Maintaining your DP
registration will not affect your marriage, your benefits,
your taxes, or anything else. In fact, it may protect
you if you travel or move to a state that recognizes domestic
partnership, but not marriage.
Is
there an advantage to changing my benefit status to UC?
You
may change your UC status to married and provide
the benefits as a spouse, rather than a DP--but there
is no benefits advantage to this beyond the symbolic,
i.e., having UC record you as married. (The only advantage
beyond the symbolic involves state tax: if youve
been providing benefits to an UNregistered DP, and you
marry and inform UC, the benefits will no longer be taxed
by California, as explained below.) Since the Courts ruled
that the marriages that took place before the ruling are
considered valid, you will not have to take any action.
If
you are providing UC benefits to your DP now, you do not
need to marry to keep providing the benefits. Also, if
you want to start providing UC benefits to your DP, you
do not need marry to do that: you can, exactly as now,
simply tell UC that you are state-registered DPs or fill
out the UC affidavit of same-sex partnership.
Bottom
line: getting married has absolutely no effect on your
UC benefits.
Does
my marriage have any effects on my state taxes?
Marriage only changes your state tax situation if you
are NOT registered DPs before marrying. If you ARE state-registered
DPs, you already have to file your California return as
married, filing jointly or separately. If
you are NOT registered and marry, you will need to start
filing a California married return, filing
jointly or separately, just like any married couple.
Speaking
of California taxes, if you are married or a registered
DP, California does not tax the benefits you provide to
your spouse or DP (assuming UC knows that youre
married or a registered DP). If you are providing benefits
to an UNregistered DP, and you marry and inform UC, then
the benefits you provide will no longer be taxed by California.
The benefits will, however, still be subject to federal
tax, as explained below.
Does
my California marriage have any effect on my federal taxes?
Your
marriage has absolutely no effect on your federal tax
status, or anything else overseen by the federal government,
such as immigration or Social Security. Even though all
same-sex spouses and registered DPs must file their California
return as married, they cannot file their
federal return as married. (this means that
your state return must be prepared differently from your
federal one.)
Will
Propostion 8 affect my partner's benefits?
At
this time, the University has not changed any of the current
benefits offered to same-sex partners/spouses. However,
UC may revisit this after the ruling of the Court.
Information
in New Employee Orientation Package

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