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Thank you, Paul Levota
Minority House Leader Paul Levota recommended Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford for the Special Standing Committee on Children and Families. Rep. Oxford, Missouri's first out lesbian in the House, is the senior ranking committee member and has a long history of work with children and families in poverty. So why did Speaker Ron Richard deny her the position? One staffer was heard saying that "some of our members find her highly offensive."
There is only one thing in this story that is offensive, and it is not Rep. Oxford.
In response to this obvious discrimination, Minority Leader Paul Levota named Rep. Oxford the party's ranking member of the committee and stated, "I understand that Representative Oxford does not sit on this committee, yet I believe she is the most qualified individual in the Minority Caucus for this position." Even though Rep. Oxford does not have a vote on the committee, Paul Levota's action was a brave stand against discrimination and should be applauded.
Thank House Minority Leader Paul Levota and take action against discrimination.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Thank you, Minority House Leader Paul Levota
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Thank you for recognizing Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford's years of service and outstanding social justice work for children and families.
Every day people are fired from their jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Your actions taken to appoint Rep. Oxford to the party's Ranking Member of the Special Standing Committee on Children and Families, even with her dismissal from the original committee, shows your commitment to equality and civil rights.
Thank you for standing with us in the face of discrimination. Together we can fight these institutionalized forms of oppression in order for highly qualified and dedicated individuals, like Rep. Oxford, to do the jobs to which they are committed, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Thank you again for your continued support.
Signed by:
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Campaign Launched:
February 13, 2009
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Minority House Leader Paul Levota recommended Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford for the Special Standing Committee on Children and Families. Rep. Oxford, Missouri's first out lesbian in the House, is the senior ranking committee member and has a long history of work with children and families in poverty. So why did Speaker Ron Richard deny her the position? One staffer was heard saying that "some of our members find her highly offensive."
There is only one thing in this story that is offensive, and it is not Rep. Oxford.
In response to this obvious discrimination, Minority Leader Paul Levota named Rep. Oxford the party's ranking member of the committee and stated, "I understand that Representative Oxford does not sit on this committee, yet I believe she is the most qualified individual in the Minority Caucus for this position." Even though Rep. Oxford does not have a vote on the committee, Paul Levota's action was a brave stand against discrimination and should be applauded.
Thank House Minority Leader Paul Levota and take action against discrimination.
In addition to directing a statewide grassroots anti-poverty organization from 1991-2000, serving on the governor's task force on welfare reform, and being consulted by the Clinton White House on poverty issues in 1996, Rep. Oxford has served on the House committee that focuses on children and family issues for the past four years.
That made her number one pick for a committee assignment again this year after her re-election to a third term in November. Democratic leadership put her name forward and intended to designate her Ranking Member since no other veteran member from the Democratic side of the aisle chose to return this year. However, in mid-January when Jeff Brooks, Speaker Ron Richard's chief of staff, announced which assignments had come through, he told Democratic Caucus staff that Rep. Oxford was being bumped from Children and Families because "some of our members find her highly offensive."
Ironically, Speaker Richard and Rep. Davis have made an irrefutable case for why the protections called for under MONA are absolutely necessary because no one's job is safe in the state of Missouri if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, even if you are a member of the Missouri legislature.
PROMO's priority proactive legislation, the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, would change this reality. MONA would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, and access to public accommodations.
SAVE THE DATE: LGBT Equality Day 2009 is Wednesday, March 25th!
Help PROMO build political power! Become a PROMO member today. Already a member? Make a tax-deductible gift to PROMO in honor of Paul Levota and Jeanette Mott Oxford as they speak out against discrimination. Click here to join or to renew today!
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