The LGBT community is often told that there is not the support needed to pass, or even introduce, certain pieces of legislation. Rarely are we told who needs to be persuaded to gain the needed support. When we are it is usually within days of the vote. And, because of technological constraints, this information is not up to date.
The Public Whip Count fundamentally changes the way advocacy on legislation works. It empowers the grassroots, and any citizen, to possess the knowledge necessary to organize and pressure our elected officials until enough votes are secured to introduce or pass legislation. It replaces secrecy with transparency and accountability and allows anyone who cares about LGBT equality to become an activist for full legal equality.
The most revolutionary aspect of our Public Whip Count tool is that it shares power with national organizations, the grassroots, elected officials and party leaders and allows real-time updates.
Click here to visit American Equality Bill Facebook Page
THE AMERICAN EQUALITY BILL
Sponsorship Hunt – Senate Page
Together we set out to protect our common dignity by telling the truth. The truth is LGBT people deserve to be included in America’s civil rights laws – period. The American Equality Bill (AEB) will do just that.
The American Equality Bill will put “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in all federal civil rights/non-discrimination laws. Sexual orientation and gender identity will be included equally in the list of human traits already protected by these laws of: race, color, sex, national origin and religion.
These laws already prevent discrimination against other people in: employment, housing, access to credit, all public places (restaurants, hotels), all government buildings (schools), and all federally funded programs (adoption, health care, and many more).
On this page we are each scouting for Sponsors for the American Equality Bill. A Sponsor is an elected Congress person f or a Senator who might agree to support the bill. The filing target set by activists for the American Equality Bill is November 2010. You can read the draft language here.
PUBLIC WHIP COUNT
Leaning Yes
1
Unknown
99
TOTAL
100
Once you have word for your Congressperson or Senator’s office, please report who you spoke with there, and their position on supporting the American Equality Bill on this page. If someone’s already marked it and you agree, just add your comment. If you disagree, let us know and provide a reason. Add any general insights or comments on the bottom of the page.
You can join the American Equality Bill Sponsorship Hunt listserve by clicking here.
After login, you will see on the right of each row a button to edit the information.
Ask your Members or Congress or staff their position on this legislation. Indicate that you are conducting a Public Whip Count and that you know to mark their position specifically as: Sponsor, Cosponsor, Yes, Leaning Yes, Undecided, Leaning No, or No. Then indicate in the notes with whom you spoke, and if not voting Yes, the reasons. When you click save, the system will record publicly the date and your name. The contact information provided is the Washington DC office; if you click on it, it will show the website for the Member of Congress–including location of local offices and phone numbers. You can look up your Member by zip code here.
Click on any heading to sort the information.
Click on any item highlighted to see more information.
Gillibrand LGBT Liaison, Jon Reinish has suggested they are interested in the AEB. But she is NOT willing to say "yes" at this time. KEEP PUSHING THEM! email:
[email protected]
Called his office today & urged him to go down in civil rights history by filing the American Equality Bill. Told the staff memeber what the AEB was all about and where to find the draft language on the web. Sent request to file AEB by letter 10/18/2010
IT IS SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO EVEN GET A MEANINGFUL MOVEMENT TO MAKE THIS THE LAW OF THE LAND, THAT GAY’S AND LESBIANS HAVE JUST AS MUCH A RIGHT TO THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS AS EVERY OTHER PERSON DOES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION…
IT IS SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO EVEN GET A MEANINGFUL MOVEMENT TO MAKE THIS THE LAW OF THE LAND, THAT GAY’S AND LESBIANS HAVE JUST AS MUCH A RIGHT TO THE SAME CIVIL RIGHTS AS EVERY OTHER PERSON DOES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION…
THIS IS OVERDUE… LET’S MAKE THIS THE LAW….
Reach out to Sanders and Feinstein