Approved by the NCIL membership July, 2008
WHEREAS, NCIL believes it is the commitment of the Independent Living movement to advocate for the human and civil rights of all people with disabilities throughout the United States.
WHEREAS, to secure the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people with disabilities into society, it is necessary to defend their right to an integrated lifestyle.
WHEREAS, there are 4 million people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) in the United States that have a disability. A majority of those never seek help from a Center for Independent Living because of a fear of discrimination.
WHEREAS, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people endure pervasive discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, education, medical care and otherwise in their everyday lives because of a lack of legal protection.
WHEREAS, there is no federal law preventing workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees can be fired or otherwise discriminated against solely on the basis of their sexual orientation, real or perceived.
WHEREAS, fear drives many GLBT citizens to hide their identities from friends, families, employers, coworkers, and communities out of fear of losing their jobs, not receiving adequate care or facing daily harassment.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: that the National Council on Independent Living will encourage and support its membership to develop and adopt their own non-discrimination policy that will include sexual orientation and gender identity for their workplace and the people they serve.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the National Council on Independent Living will encourage its membership to support advocacy efforts toward equal rights of the GLBT population; explore opportunities to provide training to the membership on issues surrounding GLBT people with disabilities; will encourage membership to do outreach to the GLBT population to include people with disabilities within that population who may benefit from the IL movement and/or services.
Submitted by: Don Dew, ReachOut USA, Kansas
Supporters:
Bradley J. Rohr, Kansas
Lou Ann Kibbee, Kansas
Shari Coatney, Kansas
Shannon Jones, Kansas
Anne-Marie Hughey, Kansas
Kathy Hoell, Nebraska
Mary Margaret Moore, Massachusetts
Stanley Holbrook, Pennsylvania
Southeast Kansas Independent Living Center, Kansas
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Kansas
Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living, Kansas
Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann, Inc., Massachusetts
Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, Kansas
Nebraska Statewide Independent Living Council, Nebraska
