Liberal activists prepare wish list

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 9, 2008

NEW YORK — Gays serving openly in the military. Voting rights for more ex-convicts. Paid sick days and family leave for most American workers.

Those are part of a long wish list that liberal advocacy groups hope will become reality as Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats take full control in Washington. Activists concede that political pragmatism — and the economic crisis — may force them to be patient, but they also don’t want to let this opportunity pass without pressing hard for their agenda.

"We’ve been waiting a long time, and we’ve got a long list,” said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "Since 1994, we’ve been losing over and over on legislation related to equality and fair treatment for women.”

Feminist leaders now want Obama and the new Congress to address pay inequity for women and require most employers to offer paid sick days and paid family leave.

The gay-rights movement also campaigned for Obama. It hopes for swift action on two bills previously debated in Congress — a measure that would outlaw workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a hate-crimes bill that would cover offenses motivated by anti-gay bias.

Gay activists also hope for some sort of federal recognition of same-sex partnerships and for repeal of the "don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prohibits active-duty service members from openly acknowledging they are gay.

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