Today we celebrate Jackie Biskupski, an American Democratic politician and champion of diversity and LGBT rights.
Jackie Biskupski's first battle for LGBT rights occurred in 1995 when she opposed the Board of the Salt Lake City School District at the Utah State Legislature in their attempt to eliminate a gay/straight student alliance club. This experience prompted her to pursue a career in politics. Only a few years later she won a seat in the Utah House of Representatives. She was the first openly gay elected official in Utah. In 2015 Biskupski became the first openly gay mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah - only the second female to hold this position.
For more than 13 years, Biskupski fought for LGBT rights. She fought for anti-gay bullying legislation, fought against Amendment 3 (which declared marriage a legal union exclusive to heterosexual couples), and supported LGBT couples right to adopt. As Mayor, she introduced a new policy providing six weeks of paid maternity leave for Salt Lake City government employees, regardless of gender and including adoptive parents. Mayor Biskupski also signed into effect the Gender Pay Equity policy. This policy demands regular audits of pay equity among genders.
In 2016, Biskupski married her long time partner, Betty Iverson. The two live in Salt Lake City with their adopted sons, Archie and Jack.
#adoption #samesexparents #adoptivemoms #twomoms #LGBTQrights #LGBTrights #adoptivemoms #adoptiveparents #genderequity #paidmaternityleave #adoptiveparentrights #LGBTadoption #samesexmarriage #genderpayequity
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