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Elizabeth Esty on Civil Rights

 

 


Enforce equal pay for equal work via Lilly Ledbetter Act

Enforce Equal Pay for Equal Work: We must ensure and enforce equal pay for equal work, including the Lilly Ledbetter Act.

Domestic violence legislation: Just as I worked hard in Connecticut, I will work hard in Washington to ensure that we are protecting women from domestic violence, through the use of new technologies (such as GPS ankle bracelets) and by providing the necessary resources to law enforcement.

Source: 2012 House campaign website, elizabethesty.com, "Issues" , Nov 6, 2012

Full marriage equality and benefits for gay couples

I was proud to vote in the Connecticut legislature for full marriage equality and benefits for gay couples and have been a strong advocate of gay rights since before my brother came out in 1979. We must ensure equal rights for all Americans and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. In addition to marriage equality, we must protect people of all sexual orientations from hate crimes and employment discrimination.
Source: 2012 House campaign website, elizabethesty.com, "Issues" , Nov 6, 2012

Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Congressional Summary:
    Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in such Act, including :
  1. "culturally specific services" to mean community-based services that offer culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities;
  2. "personally identifying information" with respect to a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
  3. "underserved populations" as populations that face barriers in accessing and using victim services because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity; and
  4. "youth" to mean a person who is 11 to 24 years old.

Opponent's Argument for voting No (The Week; Huffington Post, and The Atlantic): House Republicans had objected to provisions in the Senate bill that extended VAWA's protections to lesbians, gays, immigrants, and Native Americans. For example, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) voted against the VAWA bill because it was a "politically–motivated, constitutionally-dubious Senate version bent on dividing women into categories by race, transgender politics and sexual preference." The objections can be grouped in two broadly ideological areas--that the law is an unnecessary overreach by the federal government, and that it represents a "feminist" attack on family values. The act's grants have encouraged states to implement "mandatory-arrest" policies, under which police responding to domestic-violence calls are required to make an arrest. These policies were intended to combat the too-common situation in which a victim is intimidated into recanting an abuse accusation. Critics also say VAWA has been subject to waste, fraud, and abuse because of insufficient oversight.

Reference: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act; Bill H.R.11 ; vote number 13-HV055 on Feb 28, 2013

Endorsed by The Feminist Majority indicating a pro-women's rights stance.

Esty is endorsed by by the Feminist Majority on women's rights

The Feminist Majority endorses candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In addition to the stronger "endorsement," the organization also determines "preferred" candidates in races where they do not endorse. Their mission statement:

"Our mission is to empower feminists, who are the majority, and to win equality for women at the decision-making tables of the state, nation, and the world. The Feminist Majority promotes non-discrimination on the basis of sex, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, ethnicity, age, marital status, nation of origin, size or disability. The purpose of Feminist Majority is to promote equality for women and men, non-violence, reproductive health, peace, social justice and economic development and to enhance feminist participation in public policy. Feminist Majority supports workers’ collective bargaining, pay equity, and end of sweatshops. We encourage programs directed at the preservation of the environment."

Source: FeministMajority.org website 12-FemMaj on Oct 31, 2012

Supports same-sex marriage.

Esty supports the PVS survey question on same-sex marriage

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?'

Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q3 on Aug 30, 2012

Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools.

Esty co-sponsored Student Non-Discrimination Act

Congressional Summary: