Tag Archives: dont ask dont tell

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OFA …


This movement was founded on a simple but game-changing idea:

That grassroots, on-the-ground organizing is the most powerful force in politics.

Powerful enough to win a historic presidential election and bring the country together after eight years of division — powerful enough to achieve health reform 100 years in the making.

But we got here because millions of people committed to this idea in the years and months that came before these victories — and President Obama will be the first to tell you that our work is not done.

Right now, Organizing for America is reinvesting in key states and districts, rebuilding our grassroots infrastructure, and preparing for the fights ahead.

Over the next few days, we’ll be deciding where and exactly how much we can invest — and with your help, we can be in the strongest position possible.

Will you donate $25 or more today to support Organizing for America?

When the President was elected on November 4th, 2008, it felt like the world had changed almost overnight.

After eight years of out-of-touch policies that drove our economy into a ditch, we had elected a leader with a new vision for government, a mandate for reforming Washington, and a personal story possible only in America.

But the truth is that nothing happened overnight.

That victory — and every victory that followed — is a credit to the power of this grassroots movement.

From the very first days of the presidential campaign in 2007 through the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in December — the relationships you developed on the ground took root in unprecedented ways, and together, we made history.

We have to do it again.

President Obama has laid out an ambitious agenda for winning the future, calling on Congress to come together to make key investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure. To reform government, confront the deficit, and make sure the economy works for all Americans.

He can’t do it alone. The challenges we’ll face over the next months will call on each of us to remember why we are a part of this movement: because we believe in something bigger than politics. Because we now know what is possible when we invest not just in a campaign, but in one another.

Your support will help us make key decisions about where we can place staff and resources as we rebuild and plan the next phase of this movement.

Please donate $25 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Reinvesting

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart

Director

Organizing for America

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President Obama: Support marriage equality for all


Human Rights Campaign

Mr. President, it’s time for you to support marriage equality for all Americans

The President has said that his thinking on the issue is “evolving.”

Help get him over the finish line.

President Obama has done more for the nation’s LGBT community than any other president in history, from hate crimes protections to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to hospital visitation rules. This president has proven himself to be an advocate for the LGBT community.

He’s a fair and just man. That’s why we’re calling on him today to publicly and vocally support marriage equality for all Americans.

Earlier today, the Department of Justice filed a brief appealing two federal court rulings that found the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. The Administration claims that it has a duty to defend the laws that are on the books. We simply do not agree. At the very least, the Justice Department can and should acknowledge that the law is unconstitutional.

All families deserve the recognition and respect of their government. It’s time for President Obama to state his support for full, equal marriage. And we want your help in telling him that it’s time.

Because of DOMA, gay and lesbian families with marriage licenses from Iowa, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia don’t get basic protections like Social Security, pension benefits, and family medical leave – benefits of marriage available to all other married couples. The law is discriminatory and unjust.

The President’s clear and unequivocal support for marriage equality will be a very powerful message that all Americans should be treated fairly and with respect and dignity. It will also send a direct message to LGBT Americans, young and old, that their nation values them.

President Obama has already stated his position on marriage is “evolving.” And he’s already seen the outpouring of support for his successful call to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Let’s help him get over the finish line.

Together, we can move this president to speak out for the right to marry freely. I hope you’ll take a moment to send your message today.

It’s time,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President

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Hateful leaders take over


Human Rights Campaign


It’s the first full day of the new Congress. Anti-equality leaders now control the U.S. House. Our next challenge begins.

You can power this fight in 2011.

Join

As a thank you, we’ll send you this handy USB car charger for your phone or iPod.

USB car charger

Remember all those anti-gay candidates who ran for office this year? As of yesterday, dozens of them are now members of Congress and the House of Representatives is under their control.

And starting now, the voices of people like you are more important than ever – because if right-wing leaders know how many Americans support equality, they’ll understand the political consequences of their hate.

To ensure they get the message, we’re launching a huge effort in Congress and across the country to stop discriminatory federal legislation and local anti-marriage efforts – through grassroots pressure, rapid-response media, and public education – and to make sure our kids don’t think it’s wrong or evil to be who they are, just because a bigoted member of Congress might say so.

To do it, we need 2,011 people like you to join HRC for 2011 in the next three weeks. That’s just 41 from Washington. Join today and we won’t send you any more notices for the remainder of our membership drive.

We closed last year with a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal victory 17 years in the making. 2011 opens with a new, more conservative, more deeply anti-gay House leadership – helmed by right-wingers John Boehner and Eric Cantor. Together, they tried to stop us from repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” They’ve opposed legislation on hate crimes, employment non-discrimination, responsible HIV/AIDS policy, and relationship recognition. And they just became very powerful.

But we don’t intend to just play defense.

We can’t – and won’t – stop fighting to make sure all people get to marry the person they love, raise kids together, and have a family that’s protected by the same laws as everyone else. That’s why we’re working to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, fight for marriage equality in the states, and ensure the freedom to marry for ALL Americans, gay or straight. Help now »

We can’t stop working to reduce bullying in schools or in communities of faith. We can’t stop getting corporations to improve their policies for LGBT employees. And we can’t stop exposing hateful groups like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). This week, we forced NOM to release its tax returns and found that 75 percent of its funding comes from just five big donors. You can help »

And we cannot give up fighting for a fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In 29 states, you can still be fired for your sexual orientation. In 38 states, you can be fired for your gender identity. Fired – just for being who you are. That has to end. Help get there »

Political pundits may say it’s an uphill battle. But those same pundits said we couldn’t repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Winning new battles for equality will take all the creativity and tenacity we brought to bear in that effort. It will also take significant resources – especially given the massive funding right-wing groups have at their disposal.

That’s why we need you. Over 85 percent of our funding comes from people like you, NOT from foundations or grants – so stand with us in 2011 and make a real difference in the civil rights battle of our time.

There’s one thing that won’t change in 2011: We’ll still rely on you, and you’ll still make amazing things possible.

Let’s fight together,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President

P.S. If you’ve already put a check in the mail or given to HRC through some other method, please accept my deepest gratitude. If you haven’t yet contributed, I hope you’ll consider making a gift now. Your gift is critical to maintaining our fight against hate and bigotry in all its forms.

Join

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N.C. Commissioner James says, “Homosexuals are sexual predators”


Censure Commissioner Bill James for his anti-gay hate speech

Sign the Petition

 

While most Americans celebrated the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Bill James, a County Commissioner in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, used it as an opportunity to bash LGBT people.

“Homosexuals are sexual predators,” James wrote. “Allowing homosexuals to serve in the U.S. military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining U.S. military readiness and effectiveness, not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.”

It’s not the first time Commissioner James has used his spot on the County Board to promote anti-gay bigotry. During debate over a domestic partnership bill, Commissioner James called homosexuality a “crime against nature” that should be prosecuted by police.

And last year, Commissioner James turned to a colleague whose son died from complications from AIDS, and called the son “a homo.” He then compared homosexuality to alcoholism, and argued that all gay people bring AIDS on themselves.

We can’t let this kind of hate speech by public officials go unanswered – and we have a chance in the next few days to do something about it.

Right now, the rest of the county commission is publicly debating whether to censure James. Condemnation by the commission would send a strong signal that bigotry by elected officers holds no place in our society.

Thousands of people from Mecklenburg and around the country already speaking out. Join them by signing the petition to the Mecklenburg County Board and tell them to censure James for his anti-gay attacks:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/tell_mecklenburg_county_board_censure_anti-gay_politician_who_called_lgbt_people_sexual_predators?alert_id=uezSJFIOjS_SFHrCnDSbP&me=aa

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org team

 

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Crunch time: Four weeks only


Human Rights Campaign


Help touch hearts, change minds, fight the right wing, and defend marriage equality.

Join

As a thank you, we’ll send you a handy USB car charger for your phone or iPod.

USB charger

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may no longer be the law of the land, but the bigotry behind it is alive and well – in our schools, in our workplaces, and, perhaps most unfortunately, in the halls of Congress.

January will bring anti-gay leadership to the helm of the House of Representatives. The right-wing political machine – committed to destroying marriage equality everywhere – will be emboldened and aggressive.

We need your help to keep fighting back in 2011 and to protect our gains. The resources and political muscle we’ll need in 2011 can only come from HRC members. That’s why we’re launching a major campaign to get 2,011 supporters like you to become first-time HRC members this month – that’s just 62 from Washington.

85 percent of our funding comes from people like you – not from grants and foundations.

So it’s no exaggeration to say that people like you won the debate on DADT. But the battle over this law revealed some shocking truths about the kinds of people who will be our next leaders in Congress.

On the day of the vote, John McCain launched into a ridiculous tirade against “liberal bastions” who supported repeal and declared, “Today is a very sad day.” He was so angry that he stormed out of the Senate.

And after we won, Sen. Jon Kyl said that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would literally “cost lives.”

Rep. Louie Gohmert suggested during the House debate that repealing DADT would move us “toward the end of [our] existence as a great nation.”

Carmen – we’ve got only four weeks to prepare for the next twelve months of attacks from right-wing groups and lawmakers alike. Extremists are emboldened across the country – and now there will be even more of them in Washington. They’re likely to go after marriage equality in multiple states, to introduce new bans on adoption rights, and to fight tooth and nail to roll back the anti-discrimination laws we’ve already passed.

Your membership gift will serve as a clear response to the urgent threats we face. With your support, we’ll go right to work in Congress and around the country, defending our progress and fighting for marriage equality. We’ll be keeping our foot on the gas as we take on opponents of equality like the National Organization for Marriage. Our NOM Exposed campaign has upended the marriage debate by uncovering the dirty secrets of this radical anti-LGBT group.

We’ve got a lot of work to do and very little time to do it. We can make 2011 a year of even more progress for the LGBT rights movement. Carmen, we need 62 members from Washington in 2011. Be one of them.

Everything we’ve achieved and everything we will achieve is because of you.

On to 2011,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President

P.S. Please accept my deepest gratitude if you’ve already put a check in the mail or given to HRC by some other means. If you haven’t yet contributed, I hope you’ll consider making a gift now so that we can keep making progress toward a more equal nation.