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  The long-stalled Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is going to roll out shortly. Exactly when, and with what changes are uncertain. But it’s coming, and Representative Frank has promised a vote by the end of March. On Tuesday, March 16, there will be a lobby day specifically for ENDA in Washington, D.C.. LGBT people and allies from around the country who support ENDA will be there. I will be there. Will you? It is particularly important to ENDA that people attend from the eight states in which Senators are on the fence. If you live in one of these states, you hold the fate of ENDA in your hands.
This is too important to be limited to only middle or upper class people who can afford a ticket. If you are from one of these eight states, and you are a currently-unemployed LGBT person who is unemployed because of job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, I would like to help you get there. More info by clicking here.
From Out4Immigration: http://out4immigration.blogspot.com/2010/02/call-to-action-march-21-stand-up-around.html A grassroots action is forming on the back of a major Reform Immigration in America (RIFA) taking place in Washington DC on March 21. Many Out4Immigration members expressed interest in trying to get to DC for this march, but for many of us this is logistically and financially impossible. That’s why we are asking for volunteers around the world to stand up and form local coalitions of people who support equal immigration rights for same-sex binational couples, and on March 21, take your group to a local landmark, local LGBT center or local RIFA event — and ask your local press to meet you there. Wear your O4I t-shirt, make signs, bring friends, family and coworkers. Bring a camera and take a picture. (We know some of you cannot be open about your situations — but that’s no reason to sit this out. Disguises and masks or turning your back to the camera are okay — in fact, this often underscores the need to fix our broken immigration system!) See all of the details by clicking on the link below http://out4immigration.blogspot.com/2010/02/call-to-action-march-21-stand-up-around.html
Many of you might not have seen the following video. I know Act On Principles tweeted about it, but the video of President Barack Obama in Tampa town hall the day after the State of the Union Address (Jan. 28, 2010), is so shocking that we wanted to you to see first hand how this Administration runs from embracing full equality when asked by a powerful young person from the University of Tampa. Unfortunately the President only feels comfortable talking about domestic partner benefits for Federal employees and hospital visitation rights. Is that enough?
We shared with you that this was going to happen in our Actions section, and here is the video to prove it. Thanks to Alan, Gabrielle, Justin, Jake and others of QueerRising for taking their activism, and that of the LGBT movement to the next level. I was honestly moved to tears, and I hope you are also touched by the bravery of these activists for full equality. Chant with them: “I am somebody who deserves full equality. Right here. Right now.” Thanks for the update from JoeMyGod regarding the court hearing on Friday that charges were dismissed for the four that were arrested for chaining themselves to the front door.
David Mixner provides three steps to DADT repeal.
I’m down with #1, #2, and #3. Tick-Tock. Now it’s time to get busy.
Thanks to Activist Jim Lassiter from Garden State Equality for putting together this great video. We love it when our straight allies Act on Principles, and expect their elected representatives to do the same!
The Florida 2010 Legislative Session will begin in just six weeks and an Appeals Court ruling is expected any day on a Miami judge’s ruling that Florida’s anti-gay adoption ban is unconstitutional. Our opponents know that decisions made in the legislature and in the courts are not made in a vacuum, but are influenced by public opinion. This is why we must educate Florida voters about the harm this adoption ban does to thousands of children being denied the love and stability of a “forever home.” Unless we educate Florida voters on this issue, this discriminatory ban could be permanently enshrined in our laws or even the Florida Constitution. You can make calls right from your home, as long as you have an Internet connection and a phone. Sign up for our Adoption Phone Bank program and we’ll send you information about our next volunteer training. Sign-up to Dial for Equality: http://eqfl.org/adoptequality/
The 2010 legislative session is right around the corner and Equality Florida has been working hard to introduce legislation that will ensure equality for Florida’s LGBT community. To support the passage of these vital bills, Equality Florida will be hosting our annual Lobby Week in Tallahassee so that LGBT and allied Floridians can meet with their legislators and ask them to support pro-equality legislation. If you have a story about not being able to adopt or have an experience with job or housing discrimination, come to Tallahassee March 15-17 and share it with legislators. Issues for lobbying include: For more information, please see: http://eqfl.org/lobbyweek/
The most effective way to promote equality is to show legislators that their constituents care about what bills get passed or defeated. Nothing speaks to them louder than an in person meeting. Below are face-to-face lobby days scheduled by national and state LGBT organizations to make it easy for you to do that. In almost every case, you should register in advance with the organization and attend their training sessions. They will walk you through what to expect, how to effectively tell your own personal story, and provide a supportive environment. Afterwords, they may de-brief you to try to understand how much progress was achieved. If you are speaking members of the US Senate and House, Act On Principles provides you with a mechanism to report back what they told you about how they intend to vote. We provide handy forms for both the House and the Senate (http://www.actonprinciples.org/?s=form) that they can help you fill out at the end of the meeting, so that their opinions on all the relevant LGBT bills are recorded accurately. Then report back to the world via our Public Whip Count, so that those who come after you will know which legislators to push harder to solidify their support for LGBT equality. Check Out the following website for the lobbying grid. http://www.actonprinciples.org/lobbydays/ If you know of additional lobby days, please Submit an Action (http://www.actonprinciples.org/add-actions/) so that everyone can know that it has been scheduled. If you find errors in this post, please email editors at actonprinciples dot org .
Putting principles into action, I am joining a New York road trip for immigration equality organized by the New York Immigration Coalition and Reform Immigration for America. The invitation to me and reception to our cause and participation has already been a huge indication of the openness of the mainstream immigration community to a big tent approach. Let’s roll. Todd (Tif) Fernandez http://www.nyimmigrationreform.org/blog/meet-more-riders-
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