On Sunday, a number of California State and local officials joined hundreds of people outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood to kick off a national grass-roots campaign demanding equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples.  The demonstration is a kick off to a national grassroots campaign fighting for same-sex partners to receive federal Social Security benefits, the same benefits afforded to heterosexual married couples if a spouse becomes disabled or dies.

Currently, people in same-sex relationships are denied Social Security survivor benefits from their deceased partners because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages recognized by a handful of states  or domestic partnerships as valid relationships.  One rally member was quoted on the issue of same-sex Social Security benefits saying:

“Same-sex couples should get Social Security benefits,” Tran said. “It’s different from the marriage argument — this is more about a need for economic equality.”

Two U.S. Representatives who were present at the rally announced their intent to introduce and support legislation to provide equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples.

For more on this article, visit the Los Angeles Times