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MD: Marriage Equality Lobby Day Planned for February 13th

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Maryland’s annual pro-LGBT Lobby Day, which many believe will be critical for proponents of marriage equality and gender identity nondiscrimination legislation in Maryland, will take place on Feb. 13 in Annapolis. The event kicks off with a rally at Lawyers Mall at 6 p.m. that typically draws hundreds of supporters.

Following the rally, and in some cases prior to its end, groups form to visit their respective delegates and senators to persuade them to support the pertinent bills. Through the years, personal stories presented by LGBT residents and allies have proven to be a successful method to win over these legislators.

A complete list of speakers for the rally had not been set at press time. However, Candace and Rebecca Jones-Gingrich as well as Sen. Kittleman are confirmed to participate. Kittleman broke ranks with the Republican caucus last year to become a public supporter of marriage equality.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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Tags: Gay Marriage, lobby day, marriage equality, maryland

Live in Maryland? Equality MD Needs Your Help!

Saturday, October 15th, 2011

This Monday, October 17, the Maryland General Assembly returns to Annapolis for a 3-day Special Session. It’s their last meeting this year, so your participation is absolutely critical.

Equality Maryland and the statewide coalition, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, are launching a call-in campaign beginning Monday. We strongly urge you to call your State Delegates to make sure they know that you, their constituent, support all loving and committed couples’ right to share their love and commitment through civil marriage. Tell them it is about loving couples being able to go to the courthouse to get a government-issued marriage license.

It’s quick, it’s easy, and it works. So Monday, please:

1. Go to http://mdelect.net.

2. Enter your full home address.

3. Click the name under “State Delegates.” (If you have two or three delegates, please call each separately.)

4. Say, “My name is _________. I live at (address, city, state, zip) and I’m a voter in your district who strongly supports civil marriage equality because all loving and committed couples should be able to marry, including gay and lesbian couples.”
Please add anything personal to the conversation or message. For instance, do you know a gay or lesbian couple who wants to marry? Are you gay or lesbian? Do you have a gay or lesbian son, daughter, sister, brother, mother, father, coworker, neighbor? If so, please add that personal detail.

5. Finally, please thank the Delegate or staff person for their time and/or relaying your message to the Delegate.

6. Then, please email us back to let us know whom you called and their response.

That’s it!

If you know of other Marylanders who support marriage equality, please ask them to join you Monday in calling for equality.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Polyak, Acting Chair
Board of Directors, Equality Maryland

—————————————————–

P.S. – Please also join us in Annapolis for Marriage Equality Lobby Day, Monday at 10:00 AM on Lawyers’ Mall.

Equality Maryland is a proud member of Marylanders for Marriage Equality Coalition, the coalition organizing this Lobby Day. Other members of the coalition include the NAACP-Baltimore Chapter, SEIU, ACLU-Maryland, Progressive Maryland, Maryland Faith for Equality, Maryland NOW, PFLAG, Human Rights Campaign, National Black Justice Coalitio, Catholics for Equality, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the Family Equality Council.

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Tags: equality maryland, lobby day, marriage equality, phonebanks

Australia: Lobby Day Planned for Marriage Equality in Canberra

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

Community groups from across the country will coordinate efforts in an attempt to send the largest ever number of marriage equality supporters to Canberra, to meet with Federal MPs and senators.

Australian Coalition for Equality’s Corey Irlam said it was an important exercise in reminding MPs why marriage equality matters and that civil unions are unacceptable.

“From Brisbane to Broome, Dennison to Darwin, we need to demonstrate to our elected officials why marriage equality matters to all Australians,” he said.

Full Story from the Star Observer

Click here for gay wedding resources in Australia.

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Tags: australia, canberra, Gay Marriage, lobby day

NY: Action Alert: Call Your Senators Today

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Just got this action alert from the Empire State Pride Agenda:

Today over 1,200 pro-LGBT New Yorkers from all walks of life will join together at the Capitol for the Empire State Pride Agenda’s LGBT Equality & Justice Day. We will rally, build strong coalitions and make the case to legislators for marriage, transgender civil rights and government support for LGBT health.

Whether you’re joining us in Albany or reading this from your hometown, please take a moment to magnify our impact and email your legislator for marriage and transgender equality right now.

Contact your representatives so that transgender New Yorkers can live their lives treated as fairly as anyone else, and so that all loving, committed couples can finally get married in their home state. I often meet with senators and assemblymembers to make the case for our community, and they always tell me they want to hear from you. And let me assure you, they’re hearing from the other side.

Over the weekend, as part of their cruel campaign to marginalize LGBT people, the anti-LGBT extremist organization, so-called “New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms,” warned their members that “1,000 homosexual and transgender activists are expected to be lobbying in Albany.” Friday they also launched an anti-marriage bus tour from Rochester to spread their mean-spirited message across the state. One of their followers boasted, “Don’t dismiss the power of a graphically painted RV roving the state. One just like it persuaded the voters of Iowa to remove three of their sitting Supreme Court justices.”

This is my 11th Equality & Justice Day, and my first as executive director. I couldn’t be prouder to be here for what will be our most historic advocacy day in Albany yet. Whether you’re here with us today, or cheering us on from your corner of the Empire State, I know you will all do your part to make the impact of our collective call louder than ever.

Onward to equality,

Ross D. Levi
Executive Director
Empire State Pride Agenda

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Tags: lobby day, marriage equality, new york

NY: Big Rally/Lobby Day for Marriage Equality

Monday, May 9th, 2011

The Empire State Pride Agenda is holding its annual Equality & Justice Day today in the state’s capitol, where “New Yorkers from all walks of life will advocate for allowing loving, same-sex couples to marry, combating transgender discrimination and urge the government to do all that it can to address LGBT heath disparities.”

Today’s Equality & Justice Day will include a ‘Morning Welcome’ at Empire State Plaza Convention Center featuring remarks from Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy, Senator Thomas Duane, Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, Assemblymember Matt Titone, and Ross D. Levi, Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

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Tags: lobby day, marriage equality, new york

CO: Gay/Lesbian Couples Lobbying for Civil Unions

Monday, February 21st, 2011

Gay and lesbian couples from around Colorado are gathering at the State Capitol today. They are asking for lawmakers to give them the same rights provided to other committed couples. Those rights are found in the Colorado Civil Union Act, recently introduced by Sen. Pat Steadman. It would allow legal partnerships between same-sex couples, similar to those currently enjoyed by spouses.

Shawna Kemppainen hopes the law will pass. Her longtime partner has muscular dystrophy, and she worries she won’t be able to make important decisions in a medical emergency.

“There are a lot of responsibilities and protections that we think are just fair for gay and lesbian couples to be able to have, but it’s about much more than that. It’s really the way that our love can be fairly recognized, as well.”

Full Story from Public News Service

Click here for gay marriage resources in Colorado.

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Tags: civil unions, colorado, lobby day

NY: Gay Advocates Lobby Legislature in Albany

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Same-sex marriage activists are hoping 2011 is their year. More than 300 New Yorkers headed to Albany today to lobby for gay marriage on Marriage Equality Day.

Dean Dafis, city chapter leader for Marriage Equality New York, said this year feels different — Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s promised to tackle the issue in 2011, and a state senator pledged to introduce a bill.

“We feel like we’re going up there with really good momentum,” he told Metro. “We’ve never had that kind of unequivocal, explicit commitment before.”

Full Story from Metro.us

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

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Tags: albany, Gay Marriage, lobby day, new york

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–USA, CA, Davis: 05/14-05/17, Capitol T 2010 Transgender Leadership Summit, UC Davis.
–USA, CA, Sacramento: 05/17, Trans Advocacy Day, Capitol Building, 8 AM-1 PM.
–USA, CA, Santa Monica: 05/17, Matthew’s Legacy: The Struggle for Equality and Acceptance, Broad Stage, 7-8:30 PM.
–USA, CT, New Haven: 05/17, Rally to repeal DON’T ASK DON’T TELL, 55 Church St., 4-7 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/17, Here Lies Homophobia: An Action for Awareness, Dupont Circle, 6:30-8 PM.
–USA, GA, Atlanta: 05/17, Int’l Day Against Homophobia, VA Highlands Church, 6-11 PM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 05/17, Protest Anti Gay Hate in Africa, Millenium Park, 5:30 PM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 05/17, Movie: Fish Out of Water, All Saints’ Episcopal, 7-9 PM.
–USA, MO, St. Louis: 05/16, St. Louis Queer History Tour, Central West End, 1-3 PM.
–USA, MO, St. Louis: 05/16, Great Global Kiss-In, City Garden, 3 PM.
–Worldwide: 05/16-05/17, Great Global Kiss-In, See Link.

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Tags: conferences, events, Gay Marriage, idaho, kiss-in, lobby day, marriage equality, rallies, rally, same sex marriage

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Monday, May 10th, 2010

(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–USA, CA, Beverly Hills: 05/10, LA Equal Roots Meeting, 360 South Canon, 7:30-9:30 PM.
–USA, CA, Sacramento: 05/11, Harvey Milk Day Org Meeting, Hamburger Patties, 6 PM.
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 05/11, Love Honor Cherish Meeting, Crescent Hts UMC, 7:30 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/10-05/11, Veteran’s Lobby Day on DADT Repeal, Congress.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/11, Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance Meeting, Sumner School Museum, 7 PM.
–USA, IA, Des Moines: 05/10, LGBT Business Symposium, Embassy Suites on the River, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM.
–USA, NJ, Union Township: 05/10, What’s Love Got to Do With It? Gay Marriage Book Premier, Kean Univ Human Rts Inst, 6:30-8:30 PM.
–USA, NY, Rochester: 05/11, Civil Rights Front Rochester, Equal Grounds, 7 PM.
–USA, Nationwide, : 05/10, ENDA Community Call, Phone, 8:30 PM ET.

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Tags: book premier, dadt, don't ask don't tell, ENDA, events, Gay Marriage, lobby day, marriage equality, meetings, same sex marriage, symposium

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–USA, CA, Beverly Hills: 05/10, LA Equal Roots Meeting, 360 South Canon, 7:30-9:30 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/10-05/11, Veteran’s Lobby Day on DADT Repeal, Congress.
–USA, IA, Des Moines: 05/10, LGBT Business Symposium, Embassy Suites on the River, 8:30 AM-5:30 PM.
–USA, NJ, Union Township: 05/10, What’s Love Got to Do With It? Gay Marriage Book Premier, Kean Univ Human Rts Inst, 6:30-8:30 PM.
–USA, Nationwide: 05/10, ENDA Community Call, Phone, 8:30 PM ET.

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Tags: dadt, don't ask don't tell, ENDA, events, Gay Marriage, lobby day, marriage equality, meetings, same sex marriage