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The Religious Action Center

pursues social justice Reform Jewish Movement Calls for Greater Steps
and religious liberty
Toward Equality
by mobilizing the American
Jewish community and
serving as its advocate Saperstein: “Discrimination against any person because of
in the nation’s capital. his or her sexual orientation is deplorable and we remain
Rabbi David Saperstein
disappointed that our government continues to condone such
Director and Counsel unequal treatment.”
Mark J. Pelavin
Associate Director
Contact: Kate Bigam or Jason Fenster
Cheryl Gutmann 202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Chair
Commission on Social
Action of Reform Judaism
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2009 – In response to President
Rabbi Marla J. Feldman
Director Obama’s memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-
Commission on Social
Action of Reform Judaism
Discrimination, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious
The Religious Action
Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
Center operates under
the auspices of the
Commission on Social We welcome today’s action by the Obama Administration to remove
Action of Reform
Judaism, a joint discrimination from the federal workplace. Gay federal employees
instrumentality of the
Central Conference of are no less worthy of domestic partnership benefits than their
American Rabbis and
the Union for Reform
heterosexual counterparts, and it is past time that progress is made
Judaism with its
affiliates:
toward equality.
American Conference of
Cantors Yet, despite today’s steps forward, today’s memorandum does not
Association of Reform include coverage of health care benefits for the partners of federal
employees and we find the policy wanting. We are also in want of a
Zionists of America

clear indication from the Administration that earnest efforts are


Canadian Association of
Reform Zionists

Early Childhood Educators of being made toward a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. And we
Reform Judaism
continue to wait for gay and lesbian members of our armed services
National Association of Temple
Administrators to be permitted to serve openly.
National Association of Temple
Educators
Discrimination against any person because of his or her sexual
Men of Reform Judaism
orientation is deplorable, and we remain disappointed that our
North American Federation
of Temple Youth government continues to condone such unequal treatment.
Program Directors of President Obama’s memorandum is the first in a long series of
Reform Judaism
needed reforms and we hope this Administration will strive to make
Women of Reform Judaism
true the American promise of liberty and justice for all.
Arthur and Sara Jo Kobacker Building
2027 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
at Kivie Kaplan Way
Washington, DC 20036 ###
Ph.: 202.387.2800
Fax: 202.667.9070 The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for
Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5
E-mail: rac@urj.org million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership
Visit our website at www.rac.org includes more than 1,800 Reform rabbis.

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