SFLDC Statement on Supervisor Dorsey’s effort to pause the City’s Equal Benefits Ordinance.
Domestic partnerships under the City’s Equal Benefits Ordinance is a civil rights issue and Supervisor Dorsey’s proposal to end it is an affront to previous efforts to fight for and win rights at home that are under now attack nationally. This isn’t just about Marriage Equality which we support, but the erosion of one of the stepping stones to achieve it and those who benefit from domestic partnerships. Since enactment of the Equal Benefits Ordinance, numerous couples now have protections under a domestic partnership, particularly for older and disabled people who may not opt to marry for a host of good reasons.
Additionally, Supervisor Dorsey’s public statements about this proposal are baffling. Rights are won to remedy unjust disparities and the ongoing costs from those disparities. Yet, the supervisor is focused on cost analyses to look at any financial impact on the City without demonstrating an understanding of the value of the rights he seeks to pause.
Public officials are elected in good faith to safeguard our protections, and to erode any protections as they are being challenged in the federal court system sends a chilling message that demonstrates exceptionally poor judgement and timing. We strongly urge Supervisor Dorsey to reconsider his proposal to pause the Equal Benefits Ordinance and renew his commitment to safeguarding the foundation he stands on.
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