Support the TEXAS "Freedom from Workplace Discrimination Act"

Sign this petition End Workplace Discrimination!
Equality Texas is joining with State Representative Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) in his efforts to secure a public hearing for his bill, HB 538 - "The Freedom from Workplace Discrimination Act". This bill would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Please sign this petition in support of the bill and calling for a public hearing in the House Committee on State Affairs.
All the petitions will be delivered by Rep. Villarreal to the Honorable Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton), Chair of the House Committee on State Affairs. Our goal is to obtain 2,000 signed petitions in order to persuade Chairman Solomons to schedule a public hearing on this bill.
Please take action. YOU make equality happen.

Sign this petition

Gainesville Florida VOTES to KEEP Human Rights : WE WIN, WE WIN, WE WIN!!!

EQUALITY IS GAINESVILLE BUSINESS WINS!!!

Despite fear mongering and misinformation from opponents of transgender and gay rights the people of Gainesville Florida stood shoulder to shoulder and have spoken LOUD and CLEAR by voting 58% against amendment 1.

This landmark victory in the historically progressive city of Gainesville serves as a beacon of hope for all who will stand firm in the face of bigotry and discrimination.
People of Florida and the country rejoice in Victory!!!!

On the web

Gainesville, Fla., anti-discrimination laws kept

"GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Voters have turned down a measure that would have stripped Gainesville, Fla.'s anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents."

"With all precincts reporting Tuesday, the vote was 58 percent against changing the law."

"A group, Citizens for Good Public Policy, had sought to replace the city's protections with the Florida Civil Rights Act."

"The act does not include anti-discrimination laws to sexual preference or gender identity."

"The winning group, Equality is Gainesville's Business, says the allegations played on the public's fears and the changes were merely an attempt to remove protections from Gainesville citizens."


Equality Is Gainesville's Business

Equality is Gainesville’s Business VOTE TODAY!

Gainesville’s March 24th election is here! Today is your final opportunity to say NO to Discrimination in Gainesville!!!

March 24, 2009
Polls are open from 7 AM – 7 PM.

Click here to find out where you should vote

Call if you need a ride to the polls: 352-433-4183

If you have problems voting, call us: 352-327-3359

Please urge your friends, family and neighbors to vote NO on Charter Amendment 1 and bring them to the polls today! Tell them why you think Charter Amendment 1 is bad for Gainesville.

Thank you to everyone who helped us reach this historic day. With your support today we will defeat Charter Amendment 1 and keep Gainesville an inclusive community, free of discrimination.

The Equality is Gainesville’s Business Team

P.S. Join us Tonight as the results come in! Equality is Gainesville’s Business will be hosting a watch party at Brophy’s Irish Pub (60 SW Second Street) in Downtown Gainesville. Please arrive at 8:00pm and join us for the big news!

Pd. Pol. Adv. Paid for by Equality Is Gainesville's Business, PO Box 40, Gainesville FL 32602

Take Action : New Hampshire House to Vote on Transgender protective Law and Marriage Equality

New Hampshire USA. HB436 (marriage equality) and HB415 (anti-discrimination act for gender identity and expression) will go to a full house vote Thursday March 26. Both measures were deadlocked in a 10-10 judiciary committee vote Tuesday, indicating Democrats unwillingness to fully support the bills. Both bills move out of committee without either majority or minority report support making the prognosis for passage dismal.

HB415 gencourt.state.nh.us This bill defines gender identity and expression and adds it to the list of classes of people protected from discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation or religion.

HB436 gencourt.state.nh.us This bill eliminates the exclusion of same gender couples from marriage, affirms religious freedom protections of clergy with regard to the solemnization of marriage, and provides a mechanism by which same gender couples who have entered into a civil union prior to the enactment of this bill may obtain the legal status of marriage.

Take Action whether you live in NH or not! Click Here to send a email!

By kelli Busey
March 23, 2009
planetransgender

On the web.

Joe.My.God NH Stalls On Marriage Equality

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (Glad) HB 415 An Act Adding Certain Terms Regarding Non-Discrimination To The Laws

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders NH Transgender Non-Discrimination Legislation Resources

Transgender Law.org Transgender Law

WCAX 3 NH House to vote on anti-discrimination bill


Southern Voice N.H. gay marriage bill deadlocks in committee

Obama endorses UN declaration for gay rights

Cross posted from Integrity FT Worth

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Wednesday formally endorsed a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W. Bush had refused to sign.

The move was the administration's latest in reversing Bush-era decisions that have been heavily criticized by human rights and other groups. The United States was the only western nation not to sign onto the declaration when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.

"The United States supports the U.N.'s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

Read more here onUSA Today

Everyone Matters: Dignity and Safety for Transgender and Transsexual People

Alishia is a firefighter. Enoch is a university professor. Dana is a software engineer. Jesse is an HIV prevention educator. Each makes invaluable contributions in the work place and in the community. And each faces the threat of losing a job, being denied housing or health care, and suffering violence and harassment simply for being transgender.

In Everyone Matters: Dignity and Safety for Transgender People - a new video produced by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders(GLAD) Transgender Rights Proejct, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coaltion (MTPC), and MassEquality - Alishia, Enoch, Dana, and Jesse talk about their jobs, their family, their hopes, and their worries. Framed by hope and optimism, their stories nevertheless show how vulnerable transgender people still are, and highlight the need for comprehensive laws to ensure that people can obtain and retain employment, remain safe on the streets, and have access to health care and housing.

Everyone Matters allows the viewer to hear from transgender people first-hand about their lives, and makes a powerful case for the passage of transgender-inclusive anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws in Massachusetts and beyond.

Please support the passage of transgender-inclusive non-discrimination and hate crimes legislation. For more information visit Glad.org