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 Creating Change, the nation’s premier LGBT grassrooots training and networking event, takes place in Dallas February 3-7, 2010. However, TODAY is the deadline for early bird registration, so save yourself $50 and claim your seat at the table.
Here is some information but for the full scoop & to actually register, head over to the Task Force’s site:
Registration Rates are as follows:
http://www.thetaskforce.org/events/creating_change/10_registration
 (No Ratings Yet) Submitted by Tommy News I am angry. I am mad. I am sad. I am deeply ashamed of all those who -Tommy News From Equality California: Take Action Loss in Maine – Tell Obama to Act Now! The failure of President Obama and other elected leaders to actively Sign our petition to President Obama and his administration. Urge him http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4026385
The environment following the passage of Prop 8 in California, coupled with the incredible opportunity provided by the election of a Democratic President and overwhelmingly Democratic Congress, gave birth to two ambitious ideas to advance LGBT equality: the National Equality March and the Dallas Principles. This site is directly inspired by the latter effort. Today, sad news came from the former: The co-chairs of the March have both resigned, and the parent organization is in disarray, as was reported widely ( http://www.bilerico.com/2009/11/equality_march_co-directors_resign_group_reorganiz.php ). Some of us who have championed the Principles feel a certain kinship with our young cousins, so today’s news hits hard. While in DC, I was impressed with how many of our community turned out for a march that most people probably thought could not be pulled off at all. Instead, the speeches soared, the weather cooperated, and maybe for the first time it felt as though the anger of the California defeat dissipated and was replaced with a sea of Hope. But today is a sad if not completely unexpected day. I would offer simply that co-chairs Kip Williams and Robin McGehee (and the entire team) took personal ownership of the struggle for equality and we are in a different world today as a result. And, they performed far better than any of us had a right to expect, under very intense pressure. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude, whether they were paid $9,000 or $90,000. There will be many decisions to make and lessons to learn from this effort, but one stands out for me: Whether or not Equality Across America survives, let’s not wait around for someone to form an organization to capitalize on the energy of the Marchers!! We have plenty of old organizations and plenty of newly minted ones already that could be energized by those who were inspired by NEM. This is especially important for thousands of new activists who reacted to Prop 8 by getting behind the March. If 200,000 of us can show up in DC at one time, why can’t we show up at one time at HRC, at the Task Force, at our state and local organizations, and in the offices of legislators like Barney Frank — and demand to be a part of the strategy to achieve full equality? Didn’t we learn that if we don’t show up we have no right to expect change? We need to come out and get the vote out. We need to lobby and whip. We have bills and referenda and coalitions on our plate. And, we need to pass the plate so that leaders aren’t forced into poverty to serve our community. So then, let’s honor Robin and Kip’s service by doing what they did: By taking personal ownership of the struggle for equality.
(No Ratings Yet) Can a former Republican and a U.S. Senator evolve? In a piece in today’s Huffington Post, Senator Arlen Specter, wrote: The time has come to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Enacted 13 years ago when the idea of same sex marriage was struggling for acceptance, the Act is a relic of a more tradition-bound time and culture. Curious, since Specter – then a Republican – voted with his even more conservative Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum to help enact DOMA in the first place. I’m all for evolution, so this is welcome news. Will a newly minted Democrat put some muscle behind the easy breezy words of a HuffPo piece by INTRODUCING a DOMA repeal into the US Senate? I called the Senator’s office today, and asked if he will be doing just that. I’ll report back on what I learn. I LOVE that we are whipping HR 3567, Nadler’s Respect for Marriage Act. I think the AOP webmaster can make some room for Senate companion legislation, but he can’t until it is introduced. If you want to call Senator Specter to urge that he introduce a DOMA repeal, his number is 202-224-4254 .
 Please tell me I’m in the middle of a nightmare! After months of waiting for President Obama to act on his campaign promises to work for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, Rep. Barney Frank, the longest serving LGBT member of Congress, has told the Washington Blade he will NOT co-sponsor legislation being introduced next week to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He cites “strategic differences” with the bill’s supporters, which include the man who represents the most gay Congressional district in the country, Jerry Nadler. It is Nadler who plans to introduce the bill Tuesday. LGBT Reps Baldwin and Polis will co-sponsor. Frank apparently feels that ENDA, DADT, and federal benefits for same-sex couples is more than he and Congress can stomach. Never mind the fact that Congress is only now getting around to starting hearings on the Employment Non Discrimination Act. Apparently Frank can restructure the entire American economy in a matter of weeks, but give him two years with an overwhelming Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, as well as a supportive President, and he cowers with political impotence. 9/15/09 Update: As expected, this morning, Congressman Nadler, flanked by Baldwin, Polis other members of Congress, as well as representatives of several LGBT organizations, introduced the “Respect for Marriage Act”. The bill will have 91 original co-sponsors. Congressman Frank is not one of them. (For news coverage of the press conference see, for example, http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27207 ). http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27153
Great video about what folks are saying about the Dallas Principles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSvFZxOIJNo
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