#Obama.

Image via Wikipedia

In 2008, then-Senator Obama told the Houston GLBT Political Caucus that, if elected President, he would sign an Executive Order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by companies that do business with the federal government. [1]

And right now, that exact Executive Order is sitting on President Obama’s desk, but he hasn’t yet signed it. White House insiders tell us he’s waiting until Pride Month or after the election for “strategic timing.”

We’re sick of our jobs and relationships being played for politics, and we know you are too. We’re making an issue of this today.

Will you join us in demanding that Obama immediately sign the Executive Order to protect LGBT workers?

Establishment organizations have been telling us for months that it’s “crazy to demand change in an election year” — that we should wait our turn and ask nicely for our equality in 2013. But we’ve been waiting for Congress to pass employment protections for LGBT workers since 1974, when the “Equality Act” was introduced! Since then, Congress has failed us every session. Even when Democrats had a majority in the House and the Senate back in 2010, they couldn’t get the job done — despite the support of 73% of voters! [2]

Momentum is building for the President to sign this Executive Order — immediately protecting 22% of the American workforce, from Georgia to Ohio to Texas to Wyoming. [3] Over 105,000 people have already expressed their support through a Change.org petition by our friends at Freedom to Work — and the blogosphere is buzzing, as well.

We can’t wait. There are too many people across the country who can be fired simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. President Obama must honor his campaign promise of adding protections for these workers, and must stop playing a political game with our jobs.

We’ll deliver your signature — and the 105,000 others collected by Freedom to Work — to the White House. In the meantime, we’ll be working to push this issue in the media, and get President Obama’s attention.

Will you join us on this petition today? It only takes a moment to sign.

– Heather, Robin, and the GetEQUAL team

—

[1] MetroWeekly: “Then and Now” — http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7139

[2] Freedom to Work: “Polling Shows Strong Support for ENDA” — http://www.freedomtowork.org/?page_id=39

[3] Washington Post: “An order that would ensure a level field for gays in federal contracting” — http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-president-should-extend-workplace-protections-for-sexual-orientation/2012/02/03/gIQACNK7uQ_story.html

---

Find us on:

Click here to donate.

Click here to unsubscribe.

 

Two lesbians raised a baby…

This video is the most viral thing that we’ve ever seen—it got over 600,000 Facebook shares, Likes, and comments in less than 24 hours. That’s off the charts.

Plus, it’s incredibly moving. If everyone in the country saw it, it could open countless hearts and maybe even change the national conversation on marriage equality. It’s that good.

Can you take a look and share it with your friends and family right now?

VIDEO: Two Lesbians Raised A Baby And This Is What They Got

Watch the video

Countless research studies have shown that seeing people speak like Zach Wahls in this video is one of the best ways to change people’s opinions about LGBT equality. That’s why it’s so important that we help this video reach as many people as possible today.

Click here to watch and then share it with your friends and family.

Already seen the video? Great! Click here to share it directly on Facebook to make sure others do too.

Thanks for all you do.

–Julia, Milan, Elena, Eli, and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members–no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Urgent – Russia about to silence millions

In 48 hours, political leaders in Russia will vote on a law that makes speaking out as a gay, lesbian or trans person ILLEGAL. Because Russia is a large and powerful nation, the international community has stayed silent.  If thousands of us raise our voices, they will be forced to speak out and stop this horrific law: We’ve been talking all weekend with our friend Sasha – a teacher and mom in Russia – and what we’re hearing is horrifying. On Wednesday, political leaders in St. Petersburg are voting on a new law that will make it illegal to speak in public about being gay, lesbian or transgender. Sasha and a broad coalition in Russia are doing everything they can to stop the bill. Yesterday, they organized one of the biggest demonstrations ever in support of equality – but still the international community is not paying attention. They need support from around the world – and they need it fast.   www.allout.org/russia_silenced Because Russia is powerful, most world leaders have stayed silent. But if we raise our voices now, we’ll shine an international spotlight on the issue that will be impossible to ignore. Will you take 2 minutes to add your voice to our urgent call? We’ll deliver the petition to Russian embassies around the world and push the issue to the top of the international agenda:   www.allout.org/russia_silenced If the law passes this week in St. Petersburg, it could quickly lead to a crushing of freedoms throughout all of Russia. Moscow, the largest city in the country, already said they were looking into passing the same law – paving the way for officials to make it national. Our friends in Russia believe that stopping the bill in St. Petersburg can derail the plan to take this law nationwide.  Many around the world have been reluctant to criticize the ruling party led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin, but their party appointed both the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg and they’ve gone on record in support of the proposed laws.   Russia is already a dangerous place to be out and open as an lesbian, gay, bi or trans (LGBT) person. Courageous pride marchers were brutally attacked and detained by Moscow police last summer – for the simple act of holding their heads up high in public. If this bill passes, even the small victories that the LGBT movement in Russia has won will be wiped out – and pride marches, cultural festivals, and even the distribution of leaflets in the streets will be considered illegal. Moments like this highlight exactly why we launched All Out just under a year ago: to stand with our friends around the world when they’re under attack, and to keep opportunistic governments from playing politics with fundamental rights. Please sign this urgent call, share it with your friends, and stand in solidarity with our brave friends in Russia – Coming Out, Side by Side LGBT Film Festival, and the Russian LGBT-Network – who are refusing to be silenced: www.allout.org/russia_silenced All the best and All Out, Andre, Emmy, Erika, Flavia, Guillaume, Jeremy, Joseph, Nita, Oli, Tile, Wesley and the rest of the team at All Out SOURCES: Russian lawmakers back fines for gay ‘propaganda’ www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iN30TwwunCPBtqr3Pnt0fxHgrRaQ?docId=CNG.4a103f4c12c31f010418ccb1595560e0.371  Russian’s protest: detained by police www.thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/11/17/371135/russians-protest-st-petersburgs-anti-gay-propaganda-law-with-lunch-plates-are-detained-by-police/ Tolerance, not gay bans www.themoscownews.com/editorial/20111117/189213196.html Russia’s war against rainbows www.latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/russias-war-against-rainbows/ Russia’s gays under attack as MPs back fines for ‘gay promotion’ en.ria.ru/analysis/20111118/168818571.html All Out is bringing people together in every corner of the planet and of every identity – lesbian, gay, straight, transgender and all that’s between and beyond – to build a world in which everyone can live freely and be embraced for who they are.

“I’d rather have a dead son than a gay son”

Eleonora lost her son a year ago, part of an escalating wave of hate crimes in Brazil. Stand with Eleonora and a new movement of “Equality Moms” who are challenging the hate “I’d rather have a dead son than a gay son.” My name is Eleonora Peireira, and I still can’t get those words out of my head. Spoken recently by a member of Congress in Brazil, where I live, they made me think of my son, Jose Ricardo, who was gay and killed a year ago because of who he was. Those spiteful words, defended as an appeal to Brazil’s “family values” have made me feel so angry and so alone – until now. In recent months, something incredible has happened. With the help of All Out, mothers from all over Brazil are coming together and speaking out against the violence that has made Brazil one of the most dangerous places in the world to be gay or transgender. We are calling ourselves: the Equality Moms.   Tomorrow—September 29—I’m joining over a dozen other moms in the capital, to demand that our Congress support a proposed Anti-Homophobia bill that would finally protect ALL Brazilians from violence and discrimination.  We’ll be telling the government, and our society: equality is the true family value. We’ll be delivering a letter asking leaders all over Brazil to take action – starting at Congress this Thursday. Will you stand by our side and sign on in support? www.allout.org/maespelaigualdade Our movement of “Equality Moms” is spreading all over Brazil—and not just Moms of LGBT people. Homophobia and hate speech are getting so out of control that it’s now impacting all Brazilians. In the last few months a father and son were brutally attacked after being confused for a gay couple, a straight man was killed when defending a gay man from a brutal assault, and just last week a young woman was chased, and shot at, by men who confused her for a trans woman. We moms know a thing or two about taking care of our families! That’s why next week we’re going to congress to tell our leaders to stop delaying action, and start working together NOW to stop the violence, and to take care of ALL of Brazil’s families. I am so honored to be joining my voice with so many incredible Moms in telling our leaders, and fellow Brazilians, that equality is the true family value.     To meet other members of our “Equality Moms” campaign, and to show your support as we prepare to speak out in Congress, please click here, and share with your friends, and of course—your Moms: www.allout.org/maespelaigualdade Our visit to Congress is only the beginning. In the months to come we’ll be on the streets and the airwaves, in classrooms and around kitchen tables, sharing our stories and working together as “Equality Moms” in this campaign to end violence, prejudice and discrimination. I’m doing this for my son Jose Ricardo, and in the hopes that together, we can keep pushing Brazil to be a country that celebrates diversity AND full equality. Eleonora Pereira, Equality Moms from all corners of Brazil, and our friends at All Out.   MORE INFORMATION:   Bolsonaro: “I prefer a dead son than a gay son” (Portuguese). GP1. June 9, 2011   Religion Strikes Back at Brazil’s Gay Culture The Guardian, July 2, 2011   Homophobic Hate Crimes Spreading Throughout Brazil Amnesty International, 2010 Homophobia the motive for another attack on Avenida Paulista (Portuguese) Veja, August 29, 2011 Murdered in Cold Blood(VIDEO about Priscila Brandão, a young trans woman killed earlier this year)   Copyright © 2011 AllOut.org, All rights reserved.

Our meeting at Michele Bachmann’s office

Dear Friend, On Thursday, I delivered more than 145,000 CREDO Action signatures — including yours — to Rep. Michele Bachmann‘s Minnesota office, calling on the congresswoman to denounce anti-gay bullying. And together, we are already making change! Several newspapers and television stations covered our story, putting additional pressure on Rep. Bachmann to respond. Then we found out that Michele Bachmann’s press secretary told reporters that the congresswoman would review the petition signatures and issue a formal response. Here’s what happened. After delivering the petitions, I met with Michele Bachmann’s district director and told her Justin’s story. I told her about my son, a kind and talented 15-year-old, who faced malicious bullying on a daily basis. And I told her about that horrible day, a day I’ll never forget, when I discovered that my son had taken his own life. It wasn’t until after Justin’s death that I first heard about the torment he endured each day at school. And because Anoka-Hennepin School District enforces a dangerous “neutrality policy,” Justin’s teachers were barred from adequately addressing the fact that he was being bullied because he was gay. This is simply unacceptable. No student, gay or straight, should feel threatened or unsafe in school, or hopeless enough to take their own life. That’s why I felt compelled to answer CREDO’s call to action, and ask Rep. Bachmann to denounce the anti-gay bullying that’s devastating her district. In fact, as a congresswoman, former Anoka-Hennepin student and a mother, it seems as though this is the very least that Michele Bachmann could do. By remaining silent, she’s condoning this violence. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was a bit nervous walking into that meeting on Thursday. But having the support of more than 145,000 people — activists like you — made all the difference. You can check out some of the news coverage here:   KSTP: VIDEO: Mother of Anoka-Hennepin Bully Victim Delivers Petition to Bachmann Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Bachmann is urged to condemn bullying The Advocate: Anti-LGBT Bullying Advocates Meet With Bachmann’s Staff   Together, we are making real progress! And your petition signatures helped make it happen. Can you help share the good news right now? Click here to share this message with your friends and family. Thank you for standing with me and helping me share Justin’s story. I really appreciate it. Tammy Aaberg Mother and anti-bullying advocate

© 2011 CREDO. All rights reserved.