ACLU Supports City Of New Orleans' Domestic Partner Registry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2009
CONTACT: media@aclu.org

New Orleans – Today the ACLU Foundation of Louisiana extended its support and congratulations to the City of New Orleans for its victory in the ongoing effort to undermine the domestic partner registry, which provides benefits to the City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered employees and their families.

“After all these years in which the City has shown its leadership in the interest of all of its employees, it is both unfortunate and misguided that others continue to seek to undermine the clear health, safety, and equality of everyone on the City’s staff,” said Marjorie R. Esman, ACLU Foundation of Louisiana Executive Director in an open letter to Mayor Nagin. Esman continued: “It is clear that the Governor and his Commission on Marriage and the Family do not support equal rights for all or the protection of all of Louisiana’s families and children. This climate makes it even more important for the City of New Orleans to remain committed to the protections that it has provided for so long.”

The ACLU has offered its assistance in the event that the Alliance Defense Fund, which challenged the City’s policy, appeals or further attacks the City’s domestic partner registry.

To view a copy of the ACLU’s letter to Mayor Nagin please visit: www.laaclu.org/PDF_documents/ACLUSupportsCityofNewOrleansDomesticPartnerRegistry_012209.pdf