ACTION
Dear IUSB Equality,
It's a simple statement, but after so many years of being made invisible in our culture and by our government, it is a profound one: I am here, I exist and I won't be erased.
That's the message we will deliver to the Census Bureau on Thursday, June 25, when we demand that our families be counted — and make no mistake, that message is starting to get through thanks to people like you signing our petition and spreading the word about this discriminatory policy. Just today, the Wall Street Journal released an article shedding light on efforts to end the Census Bureau practice of rendering same-sex couples invisible by literally un-counting valid marriages.
We need your help to keep up the momentum — click here to urge your friends and family to join you in signing our petition before Wednesday at midnight.
This is not just about marriage or getting our relationships counted. That's just the beginning, and our fight is bigger than that — much, much bigger. The invisibility of LGBT people in the U.S. census is just another way that our own government denies our very existence. And when — according to our own government — we don't exist, it becomes nearly impossible to demonstrate and quantify our community's needs — from our community's aging seniors, to LGBT parents and their children, to our LGBT youth being harassed and bullied in schools.
It's time for the census to count every person and every family. Please help us spread the word by asking your friends and family to sign our petition. Married or not, LGBT or an ally, we need every voice. Click here.
The Task Force has been meeting with government officials for months now pushing for this change, and this is our best chance yet to convince the government to count our marriages. If 5,000 of you tell just 5 friends each, I will have 25,000 more signatures and stories to hand-deliver — and that's something that can't be ignored. Click here to spread the word.
It's taken a long time and a lot of work to get to this point, and victory is not yet certain. But I know this: If enough of us speak out, we can get this changed. If enough of us stand up, we will be counted.
Thank you for speaking out, and thank you for standing with us. Now, spread the word.
Stay tuned for more.
Sincerely,
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Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
ACTION
Dear IUSB Equality,
I want to give you the two most compelling reasons I know to help fuel our fight to finally pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):
1) In 38 states you can be fired from your job if you are transgender.
2) In 30 states you can be fired from your job if you are lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Do I really need to say more? It's time to get involved: Click here to contact Congress and demand that LGBT people are protected from workplace discrimination.
This morning, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced ENDA, and this time it's a bill that we can really get behind. The current bill would protect all workers from discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Just think about it: Right now employers in MOST states can take away the livelihood of you, or your friends, or your family members, simply because of who you are. This blatant denial of the rights of LGBT people is an affront to the United States' potential as the standard bearer for equality and a disgrace to every American. Congress needs to hear from all of us, and they need to hear from us now.
Every single person in the LGBT community has the right to protection from workplace discrimination.
Don't you agree?
Please take action right now, and then urge your friends, family and co-workers to act as well.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
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Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
ACTION
Dear IUSB Equality,
As of this week, an estimated 265 service members will have lost their jobs under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since January 20.
That's when President Obama and the new Congress came to town promising change -- change they've failed to deliver, certainly with respect to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Every day they wait to act, another service member is fired simply because of his or her sexual orientation.
We're marching to the White House this Saturday to call on President Obama to show leadership on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Even though you're not near Washington, you can join this effort by telling your friends why 265 is disgraceful -- and why we've got to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":
Like those who drew a line in the sand 40 years ago at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, we're standing up to demand action. It's past time for these discriminatory discharges to end.
After 16 years of this nonsensical law, it's critical that President Obama and Congress act to kill "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Together, marching, we have a real opportunity to deliver a powerful message to the White House, to Congress, and to the American people -- and to let our service members know they have not been forgotten.
Tell a friend now why 265 is disgraceful!
Thank you so much for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Ben Mishkin
Grassroots Organizer
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
P.S. On Facebook? Spread the word about Saturday's event to friends who are in the Washington area:
As of this week, an estimated 265 service members will have lost their jobs under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" since January 20.
That's when President Obama and the new Congress came to town promising change -- change they've failed to deliver, certainly with respect to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Every day they wait to act, another service member is fired simply because of his or her sexual orientation.
We're marching to the White House this Saturday to call on President Obama to show leadership on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Even though you're not near Washington, you can join this effort by telling your friends why 265 is disgraceful -- and why we've got to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":
Like those who drew a line in the sand 40 years ago at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, we're standing up to demand action. It's past time for these discriminatory discharges to end.
After 16 years of this nonsensical law, it's critical that President Obama and Congress act to kill "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Together, marching, we have a real opportunity to deliver a powerful message to the White House, to Congress, and to the American people -- and to let our service members know they have not been forgotten.
Tell a friend now why 265 is disgraceful!
Thank you so much for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Ben Mishkin
Grassroots Organizer
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
P.S. On Facebook? Spread the word about Saturday's event to friends who are in the Washington area:
ACTION
Tell Congress to Follow President Obama’s Lead:
No More Money for Failed Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs;
Invest in Comprehensive Sex Education Instead
We applaud the Obama administration’s leadership and its efforts to end abstinence-only-until marriage programs. He has taken an important first step. Now it’s time for Congress to implement that recommendation.
We need you to contact your Representative and ask them to ensure that No More Money is spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
The House is in the midst of writing its Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education) spending bills. This is the spending bill that decides funding levels for, among other things, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. We need your Representatives to weigh in with Appropriations Chairman David Obey to ensure that Congress follows the President’s lead and that No More Money is spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
Tell Congress to Follow President Obama’s Lead:
No More Money for Failed Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs;
Invest in Comprehensive Sex Education Instead
TAKE ACTION NOW…Click here to email your Representative.
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