Unite and Fight: Strategizing for LGBTQ Civil Rights and Equality
Equality Across America Midwest Regional Conference
March 12-14, 2010
Columbia College, Chicago

*** REGISTRATION CLOSES THIS FRIDAY AT NOON ***
$15 for the entire weekend.

Schedule Available Online (subject to change)
http://eaamidwestconference.wordpress.com/

Please visit our website at:
http://eaamidwestconference.wordpress.com/

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On October 11, 2009, more than 200,000 activists marched on Washington to demand full equality for all LGBTQ people in all matters of civil law in all 50 states. Today, many of us who mobilized for the march are organizing to build Equality Across America (EAA), a national network of grassroots activists, starting with a series of regional educational and strategizing conferences.

On the weekend of March 12–14 activists from across the Midwest will gather to discuss and debate many of the issues we currently face as a movement today. Check out the blog listed above for the full program (subject to change).

In addition there will be artists performing and showing their work, music, dancing and lots of time to hang out and socialize with other LGBTQ activists and allies in the region. Don’t miss the opportunity to build unity and meet new activist friends in Chicago, March 12–14, 2010.

Featuring:
* Lt. Dan Choi, prominent activist against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
* Staceyann Chin, Jamaican-born lesbian performance artist and poet
* Adam Bouska, photographer and creator of the “NO H8″ campaign

If you’re not in Chicago but in the Midwest, join us via conference call on Sunday, March 7th from 6-7:30 pm CST. Click the link below for call in information.

http://eaamidwestconference.wordpress.com/

Massachusetts became the 1st state to sue the U.S. government on July 8, 2009 over the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies married same-sex couples all 1,138 federal marriage benefits. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley contends in the lawsuit that DOMA “constitutes an overreaching and discriminatory federal law.” You can view the full complaint here: http://www.mass.gov/Cago/docs/press/2009_07_08_doma_complaint.pdf

Marriage Equality has also been the law of the land in Connecticut since November 12, 2008. We ran a campaign in August of 2009 urging then Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to defend state law — marriage equality. AG Blumenthal promptly responded to our campaign, “We are monitoring Massachusetts’ action and listening to views and opinions expressed by advocates on all sides of the issue.” However, before AG Blumenthal could make a final decision he has decided to not run for reelection and is instead running for Senate.

Thus far, there are 3 Democrats and 3 Republican who have announced their candidacies for Attorney General. Since marriage equality is indeed the law in Connecticut, we are asking those 6 Attorney General candidates if they will follow Massachusetts’ lead and stand up for the citizens and laws of their state by filing a lawsuit against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

FYI, in addition to the Attorney General having a duty to defend state law, defending marriage equality just so happens to be the politically expedient action to take. The majority of Connecticut citizens support marriage equality and those numbers continue to grow. http://www.columbia.edu/~jrl2124/Lax_Phillips_Gay_Policy_Responsiveness_2009.pdf

So let’s ask all 6 Attorney General candidates if elected, they would defend state law, marriage equality, and file a lawsuit against DOMA!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=355072194694

GENDA would amend the state’s human rights law to ban discrimination in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations. It also expands the state’s hate crimes law to explicitly include crimes against transgender people.

We need you to get on the phone and call your Senator and the lead Senate sponsor Tom Duane at their Albany offices to tell them that you want them to bring GENDA to the Senate floor and pass it. We’re at a crucial moment and it is vital that they hear from you.

Here’s how to make your calls:

1. You can find your State Senator’s Albany phone number here and you can reach Senator Tom Duane at (518) 455-2451.

2. Remember to tell your Senator the number of the GENDA bill (S.2406) and ask them to support GENDA and bring it to the floor for a vote.

3. You can use these talking points about the urgent need for GENDA and the broad support it has:

Due to difficulty with job discrimination, one-fifth of transgender New Yorkers have incomes below $10,000 a year
28% of transgender New Yorkers have experienced a serious physical or sexual assault motivated by hate
78% of New York voters support GENDA
Unions representing 2.1 million working New Yorkers support GENDA
30 Fortune 500 companies based in cities like Rochester, Corning, New York City and White Plains already have non-discrimination policies that include gender identity and expression
547 clergy and lay leaders representing over 20 different denominations support GENDA
4. After your call, please report your results to the Pride Agenda. E-mail us at prideagenda@prideagenda.org and tell us which Senators you called, who you spoke to in their office, and what their response was. Your feedback will help us in our campaign to win GENDA in 2010!

Working together, we can win! Start making those phone calls now!

http://eqfed.org/espany/all-msgs.html

This time for LGBT Immigration Domestic Partnership Rights and Immigration Reform!!!

Please join the Parade in D.C. (see below) or by bus from NYC:

BY BUS FROM NEW YORK CITY (3 options):
Reservation Deadline for each: Friday, March 12, 5 p.m.

1. $20 r/t! – Manhattan: LGBT Center, 208 W. 13th Street, 10011. 6:30 a.m. return 10:30 p.m. $20 r/t. EMAIL FIRM reservations to: tif509@gmail.com. Subject: LGBT Bus to DC – Center. Ticket purchase details to follow.

2. FREE! – Queens: Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372. FREE. Leave 6:30 a.m. Return 10:30 p.m. Email FIRM reservations to: karina.claudio@maketheroadny.org – or call: (718) 418-7690 ext 1278. Put Subject: LGBT Bus to D.C. – Queens.

3. FREE! – Brooklyn: Make the Road, 301 Grove Street, Brooklyn, 11237. FREE. Leave 6:30 a.m. Return 10:30 p.m. Email FIRM reservations to: karina.claudio@maketheroadny.org – or call: (718) 418-7690 ext 1278. Put Subject: LGBT Bus to D.C. – Brooklyn.

ALREADY IN WASHINGTON? GATHER AT:
1. World War II Memorial, 11:30 a.m. (see: http://immigrationequality.org/blog/?p=1683);
OR RUNNING LATE?
2. Lincoln Memorial, 1 p.m. (March kick-off).

BRING LGBT FLAGS, POSTERS, LOVE.

This March is organized by Reform Immigration for America (RIFA) which is subsidizing ALL buses!!! And, NY Immigration Coalition.
http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/march-index/.

LGBT INVOLVEMENT:

Immigration Equality – register for free T-shirt at: http://immigrationequality.org/blog/?p=1683

Out4Immigration.org

NYC Bus by: C=IIR (Comprehensive = Inclusive Immigration Reform) (http://tinyurl.com/CIIRonFB)

WAY Over 36,000 LGBT Bi-national couples, and 600,000 LGBT minority, youth and singles NEED THIS REFORM and YOUR VOICE & BODY to get it!

Please come support this important cause!

P.S. For a broader movement reason why this is important check out this Bilierco.com piece (skip down to: “It’s USCCB Response Time): http://www.bilerico.com/2010/03/immigration_closet_a_perfect_storm_for_us_catholic_bishops.php

http://tinyurl.com/MARCHonMarch21-WashingtonDC

What Is Project 1138?: Project 1138 is designed to increase public awareness of the 1,138 federal marital benefits and protections denied to same-sex couples as the result of marriage inequality.

How Did It Originate?: On September 5, 1996, Congressman Henry Hyde sent a request to the General Accounting Office of the United States. In it, he asked how many federal benefits were contingent on marital status. In response, the GAO identified 1,049 federal laws in which martial status applied. January 31, 1997 letter to Henry Hyde

In January 1997, Senator Bill Frist asked the GAO to update this number. Due to changes in laws over the previous seven years, the number of federal benefits had increased to 1,138. January 23, 2004 letter to Bill Frist

Share Your Story!
For more than a thousand reasons, YOUR relationship deserves equal treatment under the law. Take a stand against marriage inequality and share your story. Participate in Equality Forum’s Project 1138 blog by sharing your comments on our stories. Please e-mail Chip Alfred to share your story!

Here is the latest story shared on the site:

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Michael & Tony
Tony and I have been together for almost 20 years.
We met on July 20, 1984, in Long Beach, CA. We started dating, and pretty much moved in with each other after 6 months. Tony and I had a ceremony on July 26, 1986, to bless our relationship. A Catholic priest officiated over a full Catholic Mass in front of more than 200 of our friends and family.
When we first met, Tony was an undergraduate student and I was a “non-working” actor. He is now a physician and a partner in a large family medicine practice, and I’m an Ivy League-schooled attorney. We’re both involved with civic, cultural and political activities, in and out of the LGBT community.
Tony and I are just as married as any heterosexual couple we know. I take that back; we’re MORE married because of all the hardships we’ve both had to face for being openly gay. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health, we have stayed together because we love each other. I am still crazy about him; only the Goddess knows why he puts up with me! It’s gotta be love…

http://www.1138project.blogspot.com/

From: jsolmonsohn
Date: Mar 4, 2010 11:03 AM
NYS Assembly passes GENDA; Senate Call-In Day next week!

The New York State Assembly has passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) for the third time. The Empire State Pride Agenda thanks the Assembly for once again taking a stand in support of transgender rights. The final vote tally is posted on “The Agenda” blog.

Now, it’s time for the Senate to act! The Pride Agenda will be launching a GENDA Call-In Day to Senators statewide next week. Click here to tell your friends to sign up for our Action Alerts today so that they will hear from us next week when it’s time to take action!

The Pride Agenda just released the following statement regarding the Assembly’s passage of GENDA:

New York State Assembly passes bill banning transgender discrimination; Pride Agenda calls on State Senate to act

Today the New York State Assembly voted by an overwhelming bipartisan margin to amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based upon gender identity and expression. The bill (A.5710), known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), bans discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations. It also expands the state’s hate crimes law to explicitly include crimes against transgender people. The Assembly has now passed the bill by large bipartisan margins the past three years; Governor Paterson has also said he will sign GENDA into law should the Legislature send it to him.

“Transgender New Yorkers shouldn’t have to live in fear that they lack basic protections and could lose their job or be denied a lease on an apartment or service in a restaurant just because of who they are,” said Interim Executive Director Joe Tarver. “In passing this bill, the Assembly continues to demonstrate its leadership on civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers. We thank Assemblymember Richard Gottfried for his sponsorship and support of this bill, as well as the Assemblymembers who voted to pass it.”

“The State Senate remains the only obstacle to passing GENDA. It is now time for the Senate to follow the Assembly’s lead and end discrimination against transgender New Yorkers once and for all by passing GENDA,” said Tarver. “Transgender New Yorkers can’t—and shouldn’t have to—wait any longer.”

Transgender people face severe discrimination in New York. A 2009 needs assessment of New York State’s LGBT community conducted for the Pride Agenda found that 20.7% of transgender New Yorkers have incomes of under $10,000 a year, and one-third are or have been homeless at one time; 28.4% have experienced a physical or sexual assault motivated by transphobic or homophobic violence that was serious enough to require medical care.

Twelve states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive laws banning discrimination based upon gender identity and expression, covering public and private sector employment as well as other areas of everyday life. Eight additional states including New York have executive orders covering public employees only.

According to a March 2008 Global Strategy poll, 78 percent of registered New York voters support passing a bill to protect transgender people. This support is strong across the state, including upstate (74%), New York City (79%) and the downstate suburbs (82%); and among Democrats (86%), Republicans (67%) and Independent voters (78%) alike.

For more information and to get involved, contact Joanna Solmonsohn, LI Program Organizer at 212.627.0305 x103 or jsolmonsohn@prideagenda.org.

http://eqfed.org/espany/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=38057040

From: jsolmonsohn
Date: Mar 4, 2010 11:03 AM
NYS Assembly passes GENDA; Senate Call-In Day next week!

The New York State Assembly has passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) for the third time. The Empire State Pride Agenda thanks the Assembly for once again taking a stand in support of transgender rights. The final vote tally is posted on “The Agenda” blog.

Now, it’s time for the Senate to act! The Pride Agenda will be launching a GENDA Call-In Day to Senators statewide next week. Click here to tell your friends to sign up for our Action Alerts today so that they will hear from us next week when it’s time to take action!

The Pride Agenda just released the following statement regarding the Assembly’s passage of GENDA:

New York State Assembly passes bill banning transgender discrimination; Pride Agenda calls on State Senate to act

Today the New York State Assembly voted by an overwhelming bipartisan margin to amend the state’s human rights law to include anti-discrimination protections based upon gender identity and expression. The bill (A.5710), known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), bans discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations. It also expands the state’s hate crimes law to explicitly include crimes against transgender people. The Assembly has now passed the bill by large bipartisan margins the past three years; Governor Paterson has also said he will sign GENDA into law should the Legislature send it to him.

“Transgender New Yorkers shouldn’t have to live in fear that they lack basic protections and could lose their job or be denied a lease on an apartment or service in a restaurant just because of who they are,” said Interim Executive Director Joe Tarver. “In passing this bill, the Assembly continues to demonstrate its leadership on civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers. We thank Assemblymember Richard Gottfried for his sponsorship and support of this bill, as well as the Assemblymembers who voted to pass it.”

“The State Senate remains the only obstacle to passing GENDA. It is now time for the Senate to follow the Assembly’s lead and end discrimination against transgender New Yorkers once and for all by passing GENDA,” said Tarver. “Transgender New Yorkers can’t—and shouldn’t have to—wait any longer.”

Transgender people face severe discrimination in New York. A 2009 needs assessment of New York State’s LGBT community conducted for the Pride Agenda found that 20.7% of transgender New Yorkers have incomes of under $10,000 a year, and one-third are or have been homeless at one time; 28.4% have experienced a physical or sexual assault motivated by transphobic or homophobic violence that was serious enough to require medical care.

Twelve states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive laws banning discrimination based upon gender identity and expression, covering public and private sector employment as well as other areas of everyday life. Eight additional states including New York have executive orders covering public employees only.

According to a March 2008 Global Strategy poll, 78 percent of registered New York voters support passing a bill to protect transgender people. This support is strong across the state, including upstate (74%), New York City (79%) and the downstate suburbs (82%); and among Democrats (86%), Republicans (67%) and Independent voters (78%) alike.

For more information and to get involved, contact Joanna Solmonsohn, LI Program Organizer at 212.627.0305 x103 or jsolmonsohn@prideagenda.org.

http://eqfed.org/espany/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=38057040

On October 11, 2009, more than 200,000 people marched on Washington D.C. in the National Equality March with one single demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

On May 22, 2010—the anniversary of Harvey Milk’s birthday—we will take action again to demand full equality for all LGBT people. The International Day Against Homophobia, May 17, kicks off a week of local actions and on Harvey Milk’s birthday, May 22, Equality Across America (EAA) calls on activists to converge in each of the 50 states for the Harvey Milk Day Action.

Join EAA and others on May 22, 2010, and take action for full federal equality.

We won’t wait, Federal Equality Now!

http://www.equalityacrossamerica.org/

When he does it is imperative you relentlessly and respectfully flood with phone calls the offices of your Senators.

This week, please continue to help spread the word and help us mobilize networks on Facebook and other new media to take part in this important effort to end discrimination in our U.S. Armed forces!

This event ONLY asks you to make two 2 quick phone calls next week!

Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Senate Contact List: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Facebook activists Phil Attey, Meghan Stabler, David da Silva Cornell, Lisa Equality Talmadge, Aaron E. Baldwin, Ian Jopson, Justin Elzie, and Bo Dixon ask for your help in harnessing the power of Facebook and other new media unleashing it on the Senate.

Our organizations and our lobbyists aren’t strong enough to make this happen without constituent pressure, and there is no greater way to build that pressure than through each of our individual social networks on Facebook and other new media.

Tips on Calling Your Senators:

1. Only call YOUR Senators! (Members of Congress don’t count “outside callers”)
2. Residents of the District of Columbia please make your calls to Senators Reid & Levin
3. Get them to answer: Does the Senator support the repeal?
4. Ask to be put on a special email list to be informed on the Senator’s efforts to repeal DADT.
5. Ask to meet with the Senator the next time they’re back in your district.
6. Be RESPECTFUL and RELENTLESS

Help Spread The Word:

1. Invite your friends to this Facebook event.
2. Use the “share” feature to post the event on your profile.
3. Use your status update to urge friends to call their Senators
Sample status update:
“urges my friends on Thurs – Feb. 11 to call your Senators (202) 224-3121 and demand they repeal DADT now!
4. On Twitter, tweet the following:
Join the call to repeal #DADT on #Facebook | http://bit.ly/9SC0LQ | #cc10 #lgbt #gay #equality #p2 #topprog

In addition to calling your senators, we encourage you to plug into these organized efforts to pressure Congress to repeal DADT:

Act On Principles Citizen Whip Count Effort
http://actonprinciples.org
Register and report the outcome of your calls on the ActOnPrinciples website so that we can keep a citizen whip count in the House and Senate.

Voices of Honor Campaign
http://www.hrc.org/sites/voicesofhonor
HRC and Servicemembers United have teamed up to channel email into Congress and organize lobby visits, both in your home district and on Capitol Hill.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
http://www.sldn.org/action
SLDN is mobilizing people to lobby your Members of Congress and write letters to the editor in your local newspapers.

The Courage Campaign’s Don’t Wait Campaign
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/DontWait
The Courage Campaign is mobilizing messages directly to Senator Levin, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee

(if there are any other organized efforts to pressure Congress, please let one of us know and we’ll add it to the list.)

To all our beautiful International Allies:
Yes, we need you, you can email Harry Reid, our Senate leader at reid.senate.gov/contact/

While you will not “count” in the staffers tallies , your voice will be heard as we build a global community of pressure on all of our leaders to move toward GLBTQI equality.

The form on the email site will ask you for a US state and zip code, you may use Vermont as the state and 05055 as the zip, so the form will accept you.

Then in yr note, just say “I am not a US citizen but as a GLBTQI ally I hope you will lift the ban on gays in the military and show the world you are moving towards equality for all” or something like that in yr own words.
The second thing you can do is invite all your fb friends to spread awareness and to highlight an effective way to stage an event to move toward GLBTQI equality globally.

Thank you for your doing your part to end discrimination in the military and for showing Congress the power of Facebook!

Yours in the united stand for equality,

Phil, Meghan, David, Justin, Lisa, Aaron, Ian and Bo

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=304676615784&ref=nf

Three Days.

Thousands of People.

Millions of Possibilities.

If you had an opportunity to change the world, what would you do?

The organizers of the March have some ideas…http://www.civilrightsmarch2010.org/

You can read the plan, sign up to receive updates, link to Twitter, Facebook at the link below.

http://www.civilrightsmarch2010.org/