Fair Wisconsin strongly supported the passage of this fair-minded legislation. In addition to covering the domestic partner of employees of county contractors, it also provides the governmental registration required by many other employers who already offer domestic partner coverage ( Madison 's registry applies to Madison residents only).
It is important to note that this ordinance only requires equal treatment. It does not mandate domestic partner coverage if an employer does not offer spousal benefits. It doesn't increase benefits, it only includes in an existing plan those who have been unfairly left out in the past.
In addition to health benefits, the ordinance also covers any other plan, program or policy offered as part of the employer's total compensation package, including bereavement leave, family medical leave, sick leave, disability insurance, life insurance, membership discounts, moving expenses, pension and retirement benefits and travel benefits. An employer also has the option to provide a "cash equivalent" if it is practically unable to provide the actual benefit.
I hope you will join me in celebrating this victory for the cause of fairness, in the hopes that it is only the first step to achieving equality for ALL of Wisconsin families.
Valued Families News & Dates to Remember:
Volunteers needed to help plan a late- October event. Parent & Educator movie screening of the movies, “It’s Elementary” and “It’s STILL Elementary”.
I will be forming a planning committee in the weeks to come to address logistics, costs, promotion and possible barriers.E-mail Lee at lsnodgrass@tds.net if you are willing to help.
Movie Summary Below:
It's Elementary takes cameras into classrooms across the U.S. to look at one of today's most controversial issues - whether and how gay issues should be discussed in schools. It features elementary and middle schools where (mainly heterosexual) teachers are challenging the prevailing political climate and its attempt to censor any dialogue in schools about gay people. Rather than focusing on the debate between adults, though, the film takes the point of view of the school children, starting as young as first grade. The results are surprising and, as the LA Reader says, "funny, touching, and fascinating." Third graders' jaws drop when they find out some of their favorite celebrities are gay; second graders react to a book about a girl who gets teased because she has two moms; fourth graders say it makes them "feel weird in your stomach" when other kids yell "faggot" on the playground and teachers don't do anything about it; eighth graders fire a barrage of poignant questions to the gay guest speakers who visit their social studies class; third graders passionately debate the current events issue of the day: should gays be allowed to get married?
It's STILL Elementary. This companion film follows up with some of the original students and teachers from It's Elementary and asks them how lessons about LGBT issues affected their lives - and the results are profound. The film also tells the fascinating history of why the original film was made, the infamous response it provoked from the conservative right, and the questions it raises for the national safe schools movement today. It's STILL Elementary is a call to action for parents and educators to continue working for safe, inclusive schools.
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Parent’s Night Out- Thursday July 24th 6:30 PM at Cy’s Asian Bisto in Neenah. Please let me know by July 22 if you plan on attending so I can let Cy’s know how large of a crowd to expect!
Valued Families Pool Day at Erb Park Pool in Appleton planned for Saturday, August 23rd. Very casual, no specific time. Come anytime between 1:30 and 4:00 if the weather is nice. Look for fellow VF families. Erb has a baby pool a middle pool and a large pool. Pool toys and inner tubes are welcome at Erb.
