Take Action for Equality

In 1996, Bob Barr wrote the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). When the bill became law, the federal government and all federal agencies were prohibited from extending any federal marriage-based benefits, privileges and rights to same-sex couples.

Thirteen years later, Bob Barr came to admit that he made a mistake with DOMA.

Ask President Obama and Congress to overturn DOMA. »

Right now, same-sex couples are denied tax, pension, visitation, inheritance and legal standing rights granted to opposite-sex couples. Overturning DOMA would end these discriminatory practices and mitigate the damage caused by anti-gay ballot measures.

If the author of DOMA says he made a mistake, shouldn't Congress at least take a second look and consider repealing DOMA? Please act today to bring hope to LGBT couples and ask for DOMA's repeal. »

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFnDo/zJdj/YwmS

Help Secure Marriage Equality in the Northeast!

 Please email and/ or phone legislators in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island TODAY! Urge them to vote YES for marriage equality. Separate email addresses with commas in order to send a message out to multiple legislators.

Maine House

http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/e_mail.htm

Maine Senate

http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/senators/email/maillst.htm

http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp



New Hampshire House

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/housemembersemail.aspx

New Hampshire Senate

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/senatemembers.asp



New York Senate

http://www.senate.state.ny.us/Senatorbio.nsf/Public_MemberEmail?openform

New York Assembly

http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?sh=email



Rhode Island Senate

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Email/SenEmailListDistrict.asp

Rhode Island House

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Email/RepEmailListDistrict.asp 

Protect Marriage Equality - Answer the Lies

From Equality for All - Facebook Group:

The National Organization for Marriage, an anti-LGBT rights group opposed to marriage equality, has launched a nationwide campaign featuring misleading and false claims related to the religious implications of same-sex marriage legislation. The group has created anti-marriage equality radio ads and hopes to raise money to begin airing television ads. Described as the “Religious Liberty Ad Campaign,” the ads falsely and outlandishly warns that “religious groups may be denied the use of parks and other public facilities, unless they endorse gay marriage.”

One of the advertisements features an individual who says, “I’m a California doctor who must choose between my faith and my job.” Here is the misleading and irresponsible ad:



This same group is currently targeting key members of the Iowa House of Representatives – activating its members nationwide – encouraging them to introduce legislation to put a constitutional amendment banning marriage by same-sex couples on the ballot to be voted on by Iowans.

We are asking you to contact these same individuals and counter these messages. As health professionals, you can counter the distorted facts and misinformation with evidence firmly rooted in science.

You can include the following message:

I am writing to urge you to oppose HJR 6, also know as the Iowa Marriage Amendment.

This measure seeks to place a constitutional amendment that would seek to restrict marriage rights for same-sex couples. I believe in public policy driven by science, not ideology. As a health professional, I can tell you that the science is unambiguous in this regard -- denial of marriage rights to gay men and lesbians can negatively impact their health as well as the well-being of their children.

I encourage you to review the scientific research on this matter. You can go to www.glma.org/marriageequality to download a report, Same-Sex Marriage and Health, which includes detailed citations to published research on the issue.

Sincerely,

Please send this information to the following members of the Iowa House of Representatives:

Quirk, Brian (D) - Assistant Minority Leader

Bukta, Polly (D) - Speaker Pro Tempore of the House

Murphy, Patrick (D) - Speaker of the House

Abdul-Samad, Ako (D) - House Assistant Majority Leader

McCarthy, Kevin (D) - House Majority Leader

Mascher, Mary (D) - Minority Whip

Gayman, Elesha (D) - House Assistant Majority Leader

Whitaker, John (D) - House Assistant Majority Leader

Reasoner, Michael (D) - House Assistant Majority Leader

Dump DoMA

from People for the American Way

Part of President-elect Obama's ambitious pro-equality platform is that he supports the repeal of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act). But already, the anti-gay Right has launched a campaign to "protect DOMA."

At this moment of change, which we've fought so hard to reach, it's time for the federal government to stop punishing loving same-sex couples. It's time to repeal DOMA.

Please take action right now to make sure Congress sends President-elect the legislation to sign.

While states across the country have different laws regarding marriage equality and civil unions, and far too many states currently have bans on same-sex marriage, repealing DOMA would be a huge step in the direction of equality.

• It would be a repudiation of the forces of hate and division who have long pushed to enshrine discrimination further in federal law.


• It would mean federal recognition of all marriages in states like Massachusetts and Connecticut which have full marriage equality for same-sex couples.


• Repealing DOMA would stop the government from selectively withholding the 1,300 or so legal protections that only legal civil marriage affords.


• It would remove a discriminatory blemish from federal law, sending a powerful moral message.

People For the American Way's campaign to Dump DOMA is a comprehensive effort to get repeal legislation on the President-elect Obama's desk for signature. This is a long-tem strategy that we know will be an uphill battle -- but, we must start now. Anti-equality groups are already pushing to keep DOMA in place, and we anticipate challenges with some red-state Democrats and the need to "flip" some representatives and senators who voted to pass DOMA in 1996. But we've seen just what effective national organizing can do in this last election cycle, and we're hopeful that this major step for LGBT equality can be part of the big change for our country in the next few years.

Sign the petition to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi now. We want to gather as many signatures as we can to deliver to congressional leadership to begin this battle when the 111th Congress convenes. We need to build up bi-partisan support to repeal DOMA and create an atmosphere of change on this issue in the halls of Congress.

Help get the ball rolling with your signature right now and then please ask your friends to sign it.Forward this e-mail or simply send them to DumpDOMA.com.

The Obama platform on LGBT rights is laid out on his Change.gov transition web site. While unfortunately falling short on full marriage equality, it shows a commitment to many of the values People For the American Way has been advocating for years and continues to fight for: protections against employment discrimination, the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes laws and allowing gays and lesbians to serve equally and openly in the military by eliminating "don't ask, don't tell." But perhaps the most aggressive part of the platform is Obama's support for repealing DOMA and ending federal discrimination against same-sex couples.

Now we need to gin up the grassroots pressure on House and Senate leaders to let them know it's time for the U.S. government to stop punishing families.

Please be among the first to get on board. We need your support now if the campaign is going to be successful.

Light Up the Night for Equality - Dec. 20

On December 20th, we ask that you join us again for a nation-wide demonstration that will make an impact on the private sector.

Peaceful candlelight vigils will be held at commercial centers in cities across the country in remembrance of the rights that once were for 18,000 marriages, and in honor of the rights that one day will be again - for EVERYONE.

Find out what’s happening in your city.

WE NEED ORGANIZERS!

Interested in putting together a Light Up the Night event or Food Drive in your town?

Add your contact info to our form and add info about the event to your city’s page.

Day Without a Gay

Gay people and our allies are compassionate, sensitive, caring, mobilized, and programmed for success. A day without gays would be tragic because it would be a day without love.


On December 10, 2008 the gay community will take a historic stance against hatred by donating love to a variety of different causes.


On December 10, you are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in "gay"--and donate your time to service!

http://www.daywithoutagay.org/

Fight for CA Equality, Wherever You Are!

Think of it this way, if bigots succeed in taking away thousands of legal marriages through the Nov. 4 vote, it puts a target on every legally married gay couple in the nation... and ensures that the rest of us will continue to be second-class citizens in America. This is not a California issue -- this directly involves ALL interested in justice for all under civil law.

From Mass Equality, but pay attention and help even if you are from outside of Massachusetts:

In just three weeks, voters in California will make a historic decision -- whether or not to take away gay marriage. And the polls are not looking good: if the vote were held today, we'd lose 47 percent to 42 percent.

I am asking you today to join me in helping our friends in California with your money and with your volunteer time.

Make no mistake: California is ground zero in the struggle for marriage equality. Losing this vote would be a monumental setback.

Why are we losing? Because the anti-gay right has raised $25.4 million - that's 10 million dollars more than our side. They are using this advantage to broadcast lies 24/7 up and down the state of California.

When I saw their newest ad, I was outraged. They point directly at Massachusetts, saying that schools will be forced to teach second-graders that "boys can marry boys." It's the worst kind of fear-mongering...and it works.

With less than a month before the election, our side must get on the air now to respond and swing votes back to our side.

When we were in the heart of our battles here, donors from California contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now it is our turn. Give here, and our friends in California will know that it came from us in Massachusetts. I just stretched and gave more than I thought I ever would. Can you join me and do the same?

We also need your time.You can make a difference in California without leaving Massachusetts or even your own home. We can train you to make phone calls to California voters from home, using call sheets or computer enabled dialing programs. Even an hour or two can make a difference.

Why phonebank? Because voters are more influenced by personal, unique conversations than by any other form of voter contact. From your own home, you can have the conversations with California voters that will make the difference on November 4th. It's that simple.

For more information or to sign up to make calls from home to defeat Prop 8, contact Ryan Brown or call 617-878-2309.

Without help combating our opponents lies, California will lose. But together, we can make the difference. There's only three weeks left. Please take action today.