Carolyn Maloney: a day of recognition for women leaders

As I write, I am on a live teleconference with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Business Initiative (WBI).  This is a group I’ve had a relationship with since it’s inception.

The WBI has launched a series of teleseminars for the women’s business community.  In fact, last fall I was honored to have been invited to moderate one of these events: a panel discussion with high achieving professional women on the issue of work/family balance.  You can read more about this event by clicking here.

In honor of March being Women’s History Month, today’s guest on the WBI teleconference is Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.  Wow – I can’t believe I came right before such an accomplished, American servant!  

Maloney was just introduced by the executive director of the NGLCC Justin Nelson.  He mentioned many of her past votes on issues of concern to the women’s and GLBT communities (such as hate crimes legislation).

Maloney began talking by sharing with us that she was just coming back from an awards ceremony recognizing those female aviators from World War II who didn’t receive any service benefits like the men in the military. For example, if one of these aviators died, ‘in the line of duty’ their families had to pay for their funerals.

Maloney spoke of her support of legislation such as repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passing ENDA, etc.  And, she’s fighting for federal paid sick leave laws for domestic partners.

She’s very concerned about the very anti-gay Ugandan law being proposed that would make being gay a crime punishable by death. She recently went to Uganda to testify against the law and says it’s the ‘most offensive piece of legislation’ she’s ever seen.

On health care reform Maloney reports the importance of covering those who are uninsured right now.  Why is health care reform essential to women?  Women are more likely to go without care because of cost.  For example, over 55% of women over age 50 haven’t received a recommended mammogram.

She reminded us that it’s the ‘working poor’ who are most likely to be uninsured. I would add that most of these folks probably work harder than many in higher economic classes do and they aren’t slackers, even though many people still judge them in this way. Be sure to read Barbara Ehrenreich’s books on the working poor and the struggling middle class if you need more information on this issue.

So much is being discussed on the call, it is hard to take it all in!  Suffice it to say that Maloney is involved on multiple fronts to help small business, the unemployed, etc.  She reminded us that yes, we are still losing jobs, but at only about one fifth of the rate we were during the end of George Bush’s presidency.

Maloney also talked about her book entitled ‘Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated’. She says she wrote the book to show how there is still ‘deep discrimination’ against women, even as we are moving forward.

She summed it up by saying that we must do what we can to elect the leaders who ‘best reflect our values’ and that we must band together to get ‘what’s right’ done. Thank you to Congressman Maloney for being such a strong, yet gentle and caring person. The next time I’m tempted to ‘trash all politicians’ I’ll remember Ms. Maloney!