You can hear this panel live today Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT (3:00 pm to 4:00 pm PDT)

Click to get the dialing information for this eQualityThinking panel.

In the last two months, we have held 16 panels, with 82 top panelists and 27 question moderators. We covered the topic of LGBT legal equality in depth and breadth.

In our final panel today, we bring you three people who are Thinking Bigger and Acting Differently to advance LGBT equality in three very different ways.

Please allow us to keep you in suspense about who the three great panelists actually are. Can you guess?

PANELISTS

- First Panelist: A fearless Member of Congress who will use a DIFFERENT approach to BIG legislation for LGBT equality.

- Second Panelist: A person, whom you may have not heard of yet, who is creating a BIG organization with a DIFFERENT approach to LGBT issues like never seen before.

- Third Panelist: A person who came out two years ago and went BIG time in a DIFFERENT way to help change the law.

QUESTIONS MODERATOR
The political reporter of the oldest LGBT newspaper in the nation

Take Action: NYC Saint Patricks Day Parade sends Message of Hatred and
Intolerance

Take action and pass this message on.

-by Tommy News Thomas

Last year, Irish President Mary McAleese turned down an invitation to
be the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade. Irish
Central, the Irish Voice’s website, says it was because of the
parade’s explicit anti-gay stance. The parade now represents the same
intolerance and bigotry that the Irish immigrants have fought for over
two centuries.

A 1995 conservative U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed the private
sponsor of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade to exclude a group of
gays and lesbians.
The 9-0 SCOTUS decision said that parades are a “form of expression”
protected by the First Amendment and that organizers could not be
compelled to include groups whose messages they did not favor. This
year, a second, inclusive parade will take place in Boston, following
a mile behind the first parade.

In New York, gays have again been banned from marching on the 17th.
For over 20 years the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which organizes the
parade, has barred LGBT and Irish gay groups from marching. The
Hibernians claim the parade is a private, religious procession in
order to to justify keeping LGBT groups out.
New York Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who has compared
homosexuality to alcoholism, has expressed his disapproval of marriage
equality and “homosexuals”.

However, public employees such as on duty uniformed police and
firefighters, public school employees and students, etc. and many
secular groups participate in the parade. Public funds are used for
setup, cleanup, security, etc. A private parade, can’t take public
money or allow public employees to participate.

Therefore, we must protest not only the discriminatory exclusion of
LGBT groups from the parade, but also the use of public funds and
employees. Any event that discriminates against people because of who
they are should not be publicly supported.

The inclusive St. Patrick’s Parade in Queens, held the weekend before
St. Patrick’s Day is the only one in the city that allows gay groups
to march openly. The other parades should be boycotted and protested.
Staten Island Pride was banned from the Staten Island St. Pat’s parade
last week, and gays are again banned from the big Hibernian parade on
Fifth Avenue this week.

We must protest as long as these homophobic and discriminatory
policies continue.
Openly lesbian New York City Speaker Christine Quinn said: “‘Don’t
Ask Don’t Tell’ has been repealed. The military is no longer
discriminating against LGBT people but yet parades in New York City
are. It baffles the mind.”

We insist the NYPD, NYFD, public schools, public agencies and
accomodation, sanitation, and all New Yorkers immediately stop
participation in the NYC St. Patrick’s Parade and any other such
explicitly anti-gay event. We protest.

From Irish Queers http://irishqueers.blogspot.com/

Irish Queers sent a letter to NY’s Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ,
calling for a withdrawal of uniformed NYPD contingents from the
homophobic NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Joining IQ in the letter were ACT UP-NY, the Jim Owles Liberal
Democratic Club, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn,
Metropolitan Community Church of NY, the NY Association for Gender
Rights Advocacy, OUTlaw (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law),
Queerocracy and SALGA-NYC, Serving the Desi Queer Community and the
LGBT Advisory Committee to the New York City Police Department.

Please join Irish Queers at our annual protest on March 17th on Fifth
Avenue between 56th and 57th street (on the west side) from 11am -
1pm.We’ll be there with signs and banners all we need is you!

For more information, send us an e-mail.

http://irishqueers.blogspot.com/

Take action and pass this message on.

GLBT Irish have again been forbidden to participate in a parade which
is supposed to celebrate their heritage and culture.
The Irish are a proud people, but they should be ashamed of this
parade and the hate it represents. The Supreme Court has ruled that
this parade is a private affair, but it is funded by public city and
government funds!

The parade now represents the same intolerance and bigotry that the
Irish immigrants have fought for over two centuries. We urge you all
to boycott the New York City parade, speak out, take action, and
Protest against this government and AOH funded bigotry, homophobia,
and intolerance and exclusion of GLBT people.
Urge the Irish not to participate until changes are made to include all people.

Contact any media outlets who broadcast the parade, including NBC.
Write to your newspapers and call your local radio and television stations.

Since GLBT Irish have been banned from the New York City St Patricks
Day Parade, all are urged to protest and boycott the parade, why not
look to the Emerald Isle, where everyone is welcome to march in the
parades!
I urge you to echo the fire and fight of the Irish spirit and get
involved in this struggle for tolerance and equality for all people
regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Lets echo the Irish motto of “Gentle When Stroked, but Fierce when Provoked”!
I urge you to take action today.

An alternative inclusive parade takes place in Queens, New York on an
earlier date, but we need to confront the sanctioned hatred at the big
parade on 5th Avenue.

Write, call, fax, and email government officials to voice your dismay
at this AOH and government sanctioned hatred and intolerance.
Demand that New York City deny next year’s parade permit unless all
groups who register to march are allowed.
Get contact information at www.congress.org

Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here:

www.MikeBloomberg.com

Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460

City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200

Contact New York Governor Andrew Cuomo here:

http://www.congress.org/

Albany Office:

State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170

Contact NBC and other Media here:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=559

Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112

Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:

Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068

http://www.aoh.com/officers.html

AOH President John Meehan Jr
AOHpresident@aoh.com

New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.

ST PATRICK’S DAY

To the Editor:
The New York St. Patrick’s Day still excludes queers – and in fact,
the organizers say that the message of their parade is explicitly
anti-gay, and religious (”Luck’s Forever Dublin,” by Winnie McCroy,
Mar. 6-12). In spite of the city’s anti-discrimination laws, uniformed
police, firefighters, and other city officials march under this
message. By contrast, the St. Pat’s for All parade March 2 in Queens
was a safe space for celebration of LGBT people’s important place in
Irish communities.

There, just about everyone who was asked signed pledge cards affirming
their boycott of the Fifth Avenue parade. Signers included Irish and
Irish-American community activists, labor leaders, and some elected
officials, as well as LGBT people of every stripe.

But we were disturbed to find some marchers at St. Pat’s for All,
including some elected officials, who planned to march in the
homophobic parade too. Electeds like Mayor Bloomberg have frequently
joined in both – claiming to support queers in Queens, and then
marching in the anti-gay – and much more public – Manhattan parade
alongside conservative, religious-right homophobes. It’s a shameful
trick, but it works for them as long as queers only notice what
happens in Queens, and homophobes focus on Fifth Avenue.

That’s why it’s so important for us to confront homophobia where it
still marches, at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan. The
parade is a major political and cultural event, broadcast nationally.
The message of hate it carries matters very much. At least three queer
youth have already been killed this year by other kids who were taught
to fear them, and religious vitriol is gaining acceptance around the
country. To challenge the systemic homophobia that’s still wreaking
violence on our communities, we have to leave our safe spaces and
confront homophobes in the spaces they control.

All are welcome to join Irish Queers in protest at the NYC St.
Patrick’s Day parade – March 17th, 11a.m. at 57th Street and Fifth
Avenue.
Emmaia Gelman
JF Mulligan
For Irish Queers

http://www.irishqueers.org/

Advocates for same-sex marriage marked this year’s Valentine’s Day
with rallies and protests across the nation, many responding to a call
from GetEQUAL and Marriage Equality USA to raise awareness about
federal marriage equality.

“As we cheer on our heterosexual fellow citizens who are able to marry
on this wonderful day of love, we will remind the world that falling
in love and the desire to marry the person you love is a universal
sentiment and that all citizens should have the freedom to marry the
one they love.” said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality U.S.A. media
director, in a press statement.

In at least 25 cities nationwide, same-sex marriage couples requested
marriage licenses Monday to highlight the fact that they are denied
full marriage equality in 45 U.S. states, and also denied federal
recognition in the five states and District of Columbia where same-sex
marriage is legal.

More:
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/02/valentines-day-marked-with-rallies-protests-to-call-attention-to-marriage-equality/

From Freedom To Marry:

Just the Facts

Why do gay and lesbian couples want to get married?For similar reasons
as anyone who wants to marry. To stand in front of friends and family
to make a lifetime commitment to the person they love. To share the
joys and the sorrows that life brings. To be a family, and to be able
to protect that family.

As more Americans consider what it means to allow same-sex couples to
join in civil marriage, you may have questions about what it means and
how it works. Here are answers to some common questions:

Does this change the definition of marriage?No. Allowing same-sex
couples to marry does not change the meaning of marriage. It simply
allows same-sex couples to marry the person they love, to establish
and protect a family and to make a lifetime commitment in the same way
that other couples are able to.

How would gay and lesbian couples marry?All couples who marry get a
civil marriage through a license, usually obtained at a courthouse or
City Hall. States could make civil marriage available to same-sex
couples. Some couples also choose to marry in a religious setting.
This would not change.

Does civil marriage for gay couples affect churches or other religious
institutions?No. It does not affect religious marriages, religious
institutions or clergy in any way. No religion would be forced to
marry same-sex couples, or recognize same-sex marriage within the
context of their religious beliefs.

Aren’t there other alternatives to marriage for gay and lesbian
couples?There have been attempts to create marriage-like
relationships, but they don’t work. For example, Domestic Partnership
and Civil Union laws still don’t qualify a spouse or children for
health care coverage that employers only extend through marriage. If a
loved one is sick and needs to take time off from work, same-sex
couples are not eligible for family leave.

More questions? Check out our full Q and A page.

http://www.whymarriagematters.org/pages/just-the-facts

Take Action, Join The Freedom To Marry Campaign:

Sign the Pledge

Help build a Majority for Marriage: Sign your name to the Freedom to
Marry pledge supporting marriage rights for all Americans.
Sign the Pledge!
Ask Your Elected Officials to Stand Up for Marriage

Your elected officials need to know that their constituents insist on
Marriage Equality for all Americans. Use this simple tool to send a
letter to your elected officials urging them to co-sponsor the Respect
for Marriage Act.
Ask Your Elected Officials Now!
Donate

Make a secure contribution to Freedom to Marry. Your donation will be
used to fund the research and fieldwork we do all over the country to
help make marriage equality a reality.
Make a Donation Now!

Sign Up and Help Here:
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/take-action

Happy Valentines day. Please get out and demonstrate for Marriage Equality to celebrate. Wear white ribbons, make signs, get to your local marriage bureau, and bring your friends.

If you are not in New York, you can take similar action at your local
Marriage Bureau, City or Town Hall.

Same-Sex Marriage Laws in the U.S.

http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/same_sex_marriage/laws.shtml

Time Monday, February 14 · 8:00am – 10:00am

Location Marriage Bureau of Lower Manhattan
141 Worth Street

More Info You are cordially invited to witness the marriage of Rob
Lassegue and Jose Manuel Reyes this Valentine’s Day, Monday February
14th.

Members of Marriage Equality New York, GetEQUAL NY, MCCNY, Queer
Rising and fellow New Yorkers will stand beside this devoted couple as
they attempt to join in marriage at the Marriage Bureau of Lower
Manhattan. We invite you to join our rally of supporters who will
receive the couple outside the bur…eau if they are turned away.
Reverend Pat of the Metropolitan Community Church of New York will be
present to perform a spiritual ceremony honoring the love shared by
these two men.

Our opponent’s opposition to marriage equality is largely based on
religion. But we can already get married in our faith communities.
What is missing is the civic component, the license that ensures equal
rights and protection under the law – something our nation promises
us. This year we are taking to the streets to point out this irony and
to say that civil marriage is an ethical issue not a religious one.

Please show your support for marriage equality in New York by joining
our rally. We ask that you bring friends, family and signs! Some
suggestions for signs are listed below:

I do ≠1338
2 spouses, 2 rings, no rights
1 Marriage NO Rights
Church – Yes. State – No.
Groom: I do! Groom: I do! State: I don’t.
God – Yes. State – No.
God approves. State Denies.

We look forward to sharing this moment with you and to standing up for
the full equality of all New Yorkers

Further Marriage Equality Actions Nationwide Can Be Found Here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=valentines+day+marriage+equality+&hl=en

Marriage License laws by State:

http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/index.shtml

From Passport Magazine:

Last year, we tried to find the gay in St. Valentine’s Day, and this
year on Valentine’s Day, February 14, same-sex couples aren’t going to
let this hetero-centric holiday go by without a little
good-ole’-fashion activism. This year, same-sex couples all over the
country will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s
offices in an effort to draw attention to the number of same-sex
couples that demand equal rights.

“Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have engaged in annual
marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is
enforced every day and to highlight the need to overturn
discriminatory laws. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow
human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage
counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show
that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our
families like everyone else,” said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA
Media Director.

Source and more:

http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/2331-Gay-and-Lesbian-Valentines-Day-Call-to-Action.html

Grand Central Die-In – Oct. 8, 2010

In August 2010, the first Die-In took place in front of the White House in response to the NOM visit, causing much consternation to local organizers who wanted a traditional rally.

The idea was simple: 2 LGBT youth die every day because of homophobia & transphobia – and many of us suffer in countless ways because of this social sickness that has been ignored and glossed over for too long in our movement’s legislative agenda and messaging.

Since then, there have been Die-Ins all over, the largest being the Grand Central Die-In on October 8, 2010, where hundreds of strangers conducted a flash-mob civil disobedience at rush hour, announcing our dead, then rising with voices ringing to demand “CIVIL RIGHTS NOW, CIVIL RIGHTS NOW, CIVIL RIGHTS NOW”.

Here’s a list of others around the Country, and more are to come. It proves action spurs action. Take ACTION.

HOMOPHOBIA KILLS DIE-Ins – 2010

August 15, 2010: WASHINGTON, D.C., WHITE HOUSE
The First Die-In in D.C.

September 27 to November 2 (every day!!) NEW YORK, GILLIBRAND’S OFFICE.
One of 37 Daily Die-Ins in NYC (Queer SOS)

October 8, 2010: NEW YORK, NYC: GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
Grand Central Die-In – Oct. 8, 2010 Here the Call \”CIVIL RIGHTS NOW\”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz0KNUEzUiU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqi6OCHDCXg

October 19, 2010: NORTH CAROLINA: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV

Appalachian State Univ. Die-In

November 5, 2010: MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON: SOUTH STATION
Boson South Station Die-In
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uwdZOOGl7Q

November 12, 2010: CONNECTICUT: CAPITAL BUILDING
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158789714154048

November 12, 2010: CALIFORNIA, SAN FRAN: UNION SQUARE
(video coming)

November 25, 2010: FLORIDA: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Univ. of Central Florida Die-In

December 3, 2010: CALIFORNIA, SAN FRAN: EMBARCADERO PLAZA
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178907338791553

December 4, 2010: MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON: PRUDENTIAL CENTER MALL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVHvr7CGIRs

December 18, 2010: CONNETTICUT, HARTFORD. West Farms Mall, Farmington Ct Die-In

2011

January 11, 2011: TEXAS, AUSTIN.   Austin Die-In. (video coming)

The Die-Ins were encouraged by The American Equality Bill (AEB) Project in order to move our movement strategy beyond piecemeal legislative goals that inherently concede inequality and hide the underlying cause, and toward a proud agenda around which we can raise our voices in a unified demand for Equal Civil Rights Now and reverse the tide on the underlying wrong.

Back in September, we put this call out on AOP never imagining what might happen – what has happened. Looking back it’s quite remarkable: Initial Call For Die-Ins

This proves that we can never foresee the impacts of taking action, and that only by taking action will we put the unimaginable in motion.

In this spirit, for 2011, please join the movement for DIGNITY and FULL EQUALITY and join The American Equality Bill (AEB) Project (AEB Project on Facebook) in demanding that Congress OUTLAW homo/trans discrimination in society. Only then will we begin to end the suffering.

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA KILLS! DIE-IN!

-By Tommy News

Th House of Representatives has again voted to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by a vote of 250-175. It is now urgent that we increase the
pressure on the Senate to vote for repeal. Many of the House debate arguments from House Republicans against repeal were extremely offensive, false, hateful,
and homophobic, and we face similar opposition from obstructionist Senate Republicans like John McCain and John Boehner.

On Thursday evening, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader, said that the Senate would begin voting on the
Lieberman/Collins stand-alone bill for DADT repeal as early as Saturday.

House passage and constituent pressure could increase pressure on the Senate to vote for repeal and send the bill to the President’s desk. We all need to increase our pressure on the Senate now and whip these important votes for DADT repeal now.

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators Today and again tomorrow. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

The failed and discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell military policy must be repealed. More than 14,000 service members have been fired under the law since 1994. This repeal must be done during the lame duck session, while Democrats still control the House and Senate, or the Republican Grand Obstructionist Party of No will likely block repeal for years to come.

In addition to DADT Repeal, also ask your Senators for a repeal of DOMA, and passage of ENDA and UAFA, the DREAM Act, and introduction of The American Equality Bill AEB for Civil Rights equality during the lame duck session. Then pass this on.

This is a list of key Senators. Please call them if you are one of their constituents. Please feel free to share this event with others who are willing to step up and do their part. Call your senator and thank them if they support repeal.

We’re still not 100% sure that the 60 pro-repeal Senators will support the stand-alone Lieberman/Collins bill, so let’s keep those calls flowing in. Target list is below.

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): 202-224-6665 (supports repeal, but mixed signals on the stand-alone bill)

George Voinovich (R-OH): 202-224-3353 (no position)

Olympia Snowe (R-ME): 202-224-5344 (no position)

Richard Lugar (R-IN): 202-224-4814 (no position)

Judd Gregg (R-NH): 202-224-3324 (no position)

Scott Brown (R-MA): 202-224-4543 (now likely supports repeal)

Kit Bond (R-MO): 202-224-5721 (no position)

Mark Kirk (R-IL): 202-224-2854 (no position)

Joe Manchin (D-WV): 202-224-3954 (no position, but mixed signals on repeal)

–Harry Reid (D-NV); (202) 224-3542

–Carl Levin (D-MI); (202) 224-6221…

–Susan Collins (R-ME); (202) 224-2523

–Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); (202) 224-2353

–Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark); (202) 224-4843

–Judd Gregg (R-NH); (202) 224-3324

–Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); (202) 224-6665

–The Senate Switch Board (202) 224-3121

It is absolutely essential that we contact Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the White House to let them know how important this is. Senator Reid’s number is 202-224-3542. The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414. The White House also has a comment line at 202-456-1111.

Think of the service members who are required to serve in silence. Think of their families and loved ones who have to live in the shadows simply because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Does it make any sense to you that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still a law in the USA – the land of the free and home of the brave?

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators today and again tomorrow. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

Take further action here:

http://www.sldn.org/action

-By Tommy News

Th House of Representatives has again voted to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by a vote of 250-175. It is now urgent that we increase the
pressure on the Senate to vote for repeal. Many of the House debate arguments from House Republicans against repeal were extremely offensive, false, hateful,
and homophobic, and we face similar opposition from obstructionist Senate Republicans like John McCain and John Boehner.

On Thursday evening, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate majority leader, said that the Senate would begin voting on the
Lieberman/Collins stand-alone bill for DADT repeal as early as Saturday.

House passage and constituent pressure could increase pressure on the Senate to vote for repeal and send the bill to the President’s desk. We all need to increase our pressure on the Senate now and whip these important votes for DADT repeal now.

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators Today and again tomorrow. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

The failed and discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell military policy must be repealed. More than 14,000 service members have been fired under the law since 1994. This repeal must be done during the lame duck session, while Democrats still control the House and Senate, or the Republican Grand Obstructionist Party of No will likely block repeal for years to come.

In addition to DADT Repeal, also ask your Senators for a repeal of DOMA, and passage of ENDA and UAFA, the DREAM Act, and introduction of The American Equality Bill AEB for Civil Rights equality during the lame duck session. Then pass this on.

This is a list of key Senators. Please call them if you are one of their constituents. Please feel free to share this event with others who are willing to step up and do their part. Call your senator and thank them if they support repeal.

We’re still not 100% sure that the 60 pro-repeal Senators will support the stand-alone Lieberman/Collins bill, so let’s keep those calls flowing in. Target list is below.

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): 202-224-6665 (supports repeal, but mixed signals on the stand-alone bill)

George Voinovich (R-OH): 202-224-3353 (no position)

Olympia Snowe (R-ME): 202-224-5344 (no position)

Richard Lugar (R-IN): 202-224-4814 (no position)

Judd Gregg (R-NH): 202-224-3324 (no position)

Scott Brown (R-MA): 202-224-4543 (now likely supports repeal)

Kit Bond (R-MO): 202-224-5721 (no position)

Mark Kirk (R-IL): 202-224-2854 (no position)

Joe Manchin (D-WV): 202-224-3954 (no position, but mixed signals on repeal)

–Harry Reid (D-NV); (202) 224-3542

–Carl Levin (D-MI); (202) 224-6221…

–Susan Collins (R-ME); (202) 224-2523

–Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); (202) 224-2353

–Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark); (202) 224-4843

–Judd Gregg (R-NH); (202) 224-3324

–Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); (202) 224-6665

–The Senate Switch Board (202) 224-3121

It is absolutely essential that we contact Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the White House to let them know how important this is. Senator Reid’s number is 202-224-3542. The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414. The White House also has a comment line at 202-456-1111.

Think of the service members who are required to serve in silence. Think of their families and loved ones who have to live in the shadows simply because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Does it make any sense to you that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still a law in the USA – the land of the free and home of the brave?

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators today and again tomorrow. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

Take further action here:

http://www.sldn.org/action

-By Tommy News

Reps. Hoyer and Patrick Murphy have announced they will introduce a free-standing companion bill to the Lieberman/Collins stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the Senate. House passage could increase pressure on the Senate to move on repeal to send the bill to the President’s desk. We all need to increase our pressure on both houses now and whip these important votes for DADT repeal now.

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your Congress member and your two Senators All this week and next. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

The failed and discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell military policy must be repealed. More than 14,000 service members have been fired under the law since 1994. This repeal must be done during the lame duck session, while Democrats still control the House and Senate, or the Republican Grand Obstructionist Party of No will likely block repeal for years to come.

In addition to DADT Repeal, also ask for a repeal of DOMA, and passage of ENDA and UAFA, and introduction of The American Equality Bill AEB for Civil Rights equality during the lame duck session. Then pass this on.

This is a list of key Senators. Please call them if you are one of their constituents. Please feel free to share this event with others who are willing to step up and do their part. Call your senator and thank them if they support repeal.

We’re still not 100% sure that the 60 pro-repeal Senators will support the stand-alone Lieberman/Collins bill, so let’s keep those calls flowing in. Target list is below.

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): 202-224-6665 (supports repeal, but mixed signals on the stand-alone bill)

George Voinovich (R-OH): 202-224-3353 (no position)

Olympia Snowe (R-ME): 202-224-5344 (no position)

Richard Lugar (R-IN): 202-224-4814 (no position)

Judd Gregg (R-NH): 202-224-3324 (no position)

Scott Brown (R-MA): 202-224-4543 (supports repeal, but has not made a position clear yet on the stand-alone bill)

Kit Bond (R-MO): 202-224-5721 (no position)

Mark Kirk (R-IL): 202-224-2854 (no position)

Joe Manchin (D-WV): 202-224-3954 (no position, but mixed signals on repeal)

–Harry Reid (D-NV); (202) 224-3542

–Carl Levin (D-MI); (202) 224-6221…

–Susan Collins (R-ME); (202) 224-2523

–Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); (202) 224-2353

–Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark); (202) 224-4843

–Judd Gregg (R-NH); (202) 224-3324

–Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); (202) 224-6665

–The Senate Switch Board (202) 224-3121

THE MESSAGE FROM REPEAL ADVOCATES TO REID, LEVIN, GATES, OBAMA:

–“Call the defense bill up in a bipartisan way to bring on a handful of Republicans who we will need to pass the bill.

It is absolutely essential that we contact Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the White House to let them know how important this is. Senator Reid’s number is 202-224-3542. The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414. The White House also has a comment line at 202-456-1111.

Think of the service members who are required to serve in silence. Think of their families and loved ones who have to live in the shadows simply because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Does it make any sense to you that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still a law in the USA – the land of the free and home of the brave?

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators and your Congress member All this week and next. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

Take further action here:

http://www.sldn.org/action

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators and your Congress member All this week and next. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

The failed and discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell military policy must be repealed. More than 14,000 service members have been fired under the law since 1994. This repeal must be done during the lame duck session, while Democrats still control the House and Senate, or the Republican Grand Obstructionist Party of No will likely block repeal for years to come.

Call, Fax, Email, and send postal mail to your US Representative and two Senators all this week and next week.

In addition to DADT Repeal, also ask for a repeal of DOMA, and passage of ENDA and UAFA, and introduction of The American Equality Bill AEB for Civil Rights equality during the lame duck session. Then pass this on.

This is a list of key Senators. Please call them if you are one of their constituents. Please feel free to share this event with others who are willing to step up and do their part. Call your senator and thank them if they support repeal.

–Harry Reid (D-NV); (202) 224-3542

–Carl Levin (D-MI); (202) 224-6221…

–Susan Collins (R-ME); (202) 224-2523

–Olympia Snowe (R-ME); (202) 224-5344

–Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); (202) 224-2353

–Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark); (202) 224-4843

–Richard Lugar (R-IN); (202) 224-4814

–Judd Gregg (R-NH); (202) 224-3324

–Scott Brown (R-MA) (202) 224-4543

–George Voinovich (R-OH); (202) 224-3353

–Kit Bond (R-MO); (202) 224-5721

–Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); (202) 224-6665

–The Senate Switch Board (202) 224-3121

THE MESSAGE FROM REPEAL ADVOCATES TO REID, LEVIN, GATES, OBAMA:

–“Call the defense bill up in a bipartisan way to bring on a handful of Republicans who we will need to pass the bill.

–“Every day that goes by with silence from the President and Majority Leader Harry Reid makes repeal tougher.

–“The senate must call up the defense bill as reported out of committee and pass it before it goes home for the year.

–“If the President, Majority Leader Reid, Secretary Gates, and a handful of Republican senators are committed to passing the comprehensive defense bill, there is ample time to do so.

It is absolutely essential that we contact Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the White House to let them know how important this is. Senator Reid’s number is 202-224-3542. The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414. The White House also has a comment line at 202-456-1111.

Think of the service members who are required to serve in silence. Think of their families and loved ones who have to live in the shadows simply because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Does it make any sense to you that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still a law in the USA – the land of the free and home of the brave?

Call, Fax, Webform, and Send Postal Mail to your two Senators and your Congress member All this week and next. Get Contact info at www.congress.org Congress Main Switchboard 202-224-3121

Take further action here:

http://www.sldn.org/action