State initiatives on November 4 ballot seek to limit basic rights of LGBTQ people

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 31, 2014 — On November 4th, 158 measures will appear on state ballots, and many of them seek to limit the basic rights and protections of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ advocacy organization, is closely monitoring the election results and providing on-the-ground organizing support in Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee.

“We have achieved significant gains in the work to secure LGBTQ equality, but unfortunately we are still under attack by those who don’t support full freedom and justice for all,” said Darlene Nipper, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Deputy Executive Director. “That is why we are on the ground working with local advocacy groups to defeat anti-equality ballot initiatives. We remain resolute in our mission to create a world that protects and celebrates the diversity in human experience and expression.”

A list of state ballot measures that would roll back advances in the work to secure freedom, justice, and equality for all, is provided below.

Anti-Equality Ballot Initiatives:

Colorado: Amendment 67, Abortion ban
Amendment 67 is a constitutional amendment that would ban all abortions, including in the cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s health is at risk.

Missouri: Amendment 6, Limit on Voting Rights
Amendment 6 is not a true early voting measure. The amendment would create a very limited opportunity for early voting and leaves a backdoor open that would allow the legislature to defund the program in the future, thus potentially eliminating early voting altogether.

Montana: LR-126, Eliminating same-day voter registration
LR-126 would eliminate same-day voter registration in a state where the last Governor’s race was decided by 7,571 votes on a day when 8,061 people same-day registered.

North Dakota: Measure 1, Abortion ban
Measure 1 is a permanent constitutional amendment that would outlaw all abortion including cases where a survivor of rape or incest becomes pregnant or when a woman’s health is at risk.

Oregon: Measure 88, Driver cards referendum
Measure 88 is a referendum of a law allowing anyone in the state to get a driver card, regardless of their immigration status.

Tennessee: Amendment 1, Privacy rights repeal and abortion ban
Amendment 1 is a legislative referral that would insert constitutional language empowering the legislature to enact, amend or repeal state statues regarding abortion, including from pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to protect a woman’s mortality.

Pro-Equality Ballot Initiatives (ballot measures that seek to ensure basic rights and justice for LGBTQ people) include:

Alaska: Measure 3, Minimum wage increase
Measure 3 would increase the state’s minimum wage to $9.75 by 2016.

Arkansas: Issue 5, Minimum wage increase
Issue 5 would raise the state’s minimum wage to $8.50 per hour by 2017.

California: Proposition 47, The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act
Prop. 47 would reclassify six non-violent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, allowing many formerly incarcerated individuals to be re-sentenced. The state would save an estimated $150M, which would be used for neighborhood and school advocacy programs to help crime victims.

Connecticut: Question 1, Early Voting Amendment
Question 1 would expand early voting in the state by allowing the state legislature to eliminate restrictions on early voting and grant residents greater access to absentee ballots.

Illinois: Non-binding Question, Minimum wage increase
Non-binding minimum wage question asking voters if they support raising the state’s minimum wage to $10 per hour.

Illinois: Voting Rights Amendment
The voting rights amendment would add language to the state constitution preventing voter discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or income.

Massachusetts: Question 4, Earned Sick Leave
Question 4 would allow employees to earn and use paid sick days.

Nebraska: Initiative 425, Minimum wage increase
Initiative 425 would raise the state’s minimum wage to $9 per hour by 2016.

South Dakota: Measure 18, Minimum wage increase
Measure 18 would raise the state’s minimum wage to $7.25 per hour by 2015.

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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org


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