Act On Principles has created new tools to make sure you can find out where your Senators and Representatives stand on ALL of the LGBT legislation as designated by the Equality Caucus.  We are currently in the process to ensure all 535 voting members of Congress receive a survey directly from Act On Principles.  However, we need your help to ensure that the various offices in the House and Senate complete the survey, and provide the information that we need.

Public Whip Count Tools:

• Survey for US House of Representatives
• Survey for US Senate
• Online Survey for Congressional Offices

Instructions for Contacting Congress

1.  Contact the Congressional offices that you want to get information from.   Call the District or Washington office using information from www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.   Let them know that you are sending them a survey on LGBT legislation.

2.  Provide the appropriate survey for the office that you are contacting.  Use the US House of Representatives survey for Representatives.  Use the US Senate Survey for Senators.

4.  Ask the staffer or Member “Hi, I would like to know if you can fill out a survey on where you stand on all pieces of LGBT specific legislation as designated by the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.  I am asking that you provide the position based on the accepted whip count terminology.”

5. Collect survey(s) from the Congressional office(s) you have contacted.  You might have to do follow-up calls and emails.

6.  Share the information that you collected with Act On Principles in one of the following three ways:  a.) Enter information into appropriate Public Whip Count for Act on Principles at www.actonprinciples.org.  B.) Email or scan responses to whipcount@actonprinciples.com.  c.) Fax to 305-723-0299.

Your encouragement and persistence to get your Representatives to fill out the survey will be helpful in gathering information for our Public Whip Count.  Act On Principles will be creating special webpage to list all of the members who have completed the survey as requested.  If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thanks to TruthWinsOut for the transcript.

Text onscreen: Thanksgiving.

[Calen, a little boy, is standing in a bathroom next to a sink, looking up into the camera.]

Calen: A husband’s a boy.

Adult male voice from behind camera: Right.

Calen: A wife is a girl and a husband’s a boy. Then you two are husbands! [He hold up two fingers on both hands.] Wifes are girls; husbands are boys.

Voice from behind camera: Right.

Second adult male voice, from next to camera: That’s right. So, if you’re a boy—

Calen: You’ll be a husband.

Second Voice: Right.

First Voice: Yeah, we’re both husbands.

Calen: [puts his head in his hand] You’re both husbands?

Second Voice: Is that confusing—

Calen: You married each other?! That’s funny! [slaps hand to head]

Second Voice: That’s funny, right?

Calen: Yeah. [looks thoughtful] I usually see husbands and wives, but this is the VERY FIRST TIME I saw husbands and husbands! [grins excitedly]

[The two men laugh; Second Voice peers around and grins into camera.]

Calen: So funny. [edit] So that means you LOVE EACH OTHER!

First Voice: Yeah.

Calen: Yeah. Yeah, they’re much alike. You’re much alike. Hey, I’m going to play ping-pong now.

First Voice: Okay.

[Camera follows Calen out into the hallway; he turns back and looks at the two men.]

Calen: You can play if you want to.

Text onscreen: You’re much alike.

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/

***********************************
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

The first song comes from an artist named Sean Chapin from California who I first discovered from around the Prop 8 challenge. Sean Chapin is a talent that is adding the music to our movement. You can visit his website at http://www.moreequalunion.com/.

Not only is following catchy and motivational, it clearly articulates our LGBT struggle . Enjoy the cameo from heroes Dan Choi and Cleve Jones. And you might see some other faces that you recognize.

Here are the lyrics of Equality Now by Sean Chapin.

Wake up America. It’s time we make a change. this is the land of the free and we got to be brave.
We the people, all together in life and liberty. And we will not wait until we are treated equally.

Can you see who we really are? Can you hear what we have to say? Do you know why all of us are here? We are coming out because we want equality now.

Wake up United States. It’s time that we evolve. Denying us our civil rights will only hurt us all. We pursue our happiness and the great American Dream. And we do not deserve to face all the pain and suffering.

Can you see who we really are? Can you hear what we have to say? Do you know why all of us are here? We are coming out because we want equality now.

Let’s demand equality now! Hey, we want equality now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykglh7bapWk

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/