SS Families for Retirement Equality
Donation protected
UPDATE: March is our last big chance at fundraising before we go back to court. Anything helps.
How being gay cost us $170,000.
Same-sex families for Retirement Equality
Visit our website Like us on Facebook
Wilton Manors, FL - Carol Wartenberg committed to Laura Hohnecker over 30 years ago. Their love was recognized many times in ceremonies both public and private, even while America and the State of Florida didn't affirm it by law.
In the meantime, they played by the rules.
While employed by the Broward County School Board as school psychologist, Carol signed on to the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan to cover her and Laura's retirement.
Four years later, Carol discovered that the pension plan only covered married heterosexual couples. And that in the event of her passing, Laura would be disqualified from receiving her retirement benefits and the savings would be lost.
Despite knowing that she would experience a substantial loss of retirement income and increased financial risk, Carol switched her FRS Pension Plan to the FRS Investment Plan because it allowed her family to receive equal benefits.
She played by the rules.
Nine years later, the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state's Defense of Marriage act and recognized same-sex marriage. Carol requested that her account be transferred back to the original FRS Pension Plan, and was denied.
Laura and Carol's 2011 marriage in Iowa became lawful in Florida two years later.
As a result, Carol and Laura are facing more than $170,000 in lost retirement income over the course of their golden years.
They played by the rules and everyone benefited except for them.
So, we're not going to play by the rules anymore.
We're hoping to raise $75,000 for our case against the Broward County School Board and the State of Florida for retirement discrimination.
We hope a decision in our favor will set a precedent for other same-sex families to seek compensation if they've been discriminated against under similar circumstances.
Note: 100% of all donations will go toward legal fees, Facebook advertising, and web costs. In the event of leftover funds, everything will be donated to Equality Florida.
How being gay cost us $170,000.
Same-sex families for Retirement Equality
Visit our website Like us on Facebook
Wilton Manors, FL - Carol Wartenberg committed to Laura Hohnecker over 30 years ago. Their love was recognized many times in ceremonies both public and private, even while America and the State of Florida didn't affirm it by law.
In the meantime, they played by the rules.
While employed by the Broward County School Board as school psychologist, Carol signed on to the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan to cover her and Laura's retirement.
Four years later, Carol discovered that the pension plan only covered married heterosexual couples. And that in the event of her passing, Laura would be disqualified from receiving her retirement benefits and the savings would be lost.
Despite knowing that she would experience a substantial loss of retirement income and increased financial risk, Carol switched her FRS Pension Plan to the FRS Investment Plan because it allowed her family to receive equal benefits.
She played by the rules.
Nine years later, the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state's Defense of Marriage act and recognized same-sex marriage. Carol requested that her account be transferred back to the original FRS Pension Plan, and was denied.
Laura and Carol's 2011 marriage in Iowa became lawful in Florida two years later.
As a result, Carol and Laura are facing more than $170,000 in lost retirement income over the course of their golden years.
They played by the rules and everyone benefited except for them.
So, we're not going to play by the rules anymore.
We're hoping to raise $75,000 for our case against the Broward County School Board and the State of Florida for retirement discrimination.
We hope a decision in our favor will set a precedent for other same-sex families to seek compensation if they've been discriminated against under similar circumstances.
Note: 100% of all donations will go toward legal fees, Facebook advertising, and web costs. In the event of leftover funds, everything will be donated to Equality Florida.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ryan Walker
Organizer
Madison, WI
Carol Wartenberg
Beneficiary
