The Human Rights Campaign, the leading civil rights advocate for the members of the gay community, has picked Gephardt Government Affairs to push for support of the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.
That measure would grant partnership benefits (retirement, health and life insurance) for all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits.
Rob Epplin, who joined GGA in October, is responsible for the HRC effort. He is a former legislative director for Maine Senator Sue Collins (R) and Bob Packwood of Oregon.
The HRC expects 2013 to be a milestone year as the Supreme Court as agreed to hear challenges to California’s Proposition 8, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which recognizes marriage only as a bond between a man and woman.
GGA is headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt. His lesbian daughter, Chrissy, campaigned for him during the presidential run in 2004.