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CONNECTICUT BECOMES SECOND STATE TO PROVIDE FULL LEGAL LGBT EQUALITY

Connecticut joins Vermont as the two states that provide full legal equality to LGBT people. See the scorecard of where your state ranks here. Also, take the LGBT equality test to see if you guess correctly the score for your state!

CONNECTICUT ADDS GENDER IDENTITY TO NON-DISCRIMINATION LAW

Today, the Governor of Connecticut signed into law an expansion of the non-discrimination statues to include gender identity. The statue covers employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations.

WIth this change, Connecticut reaches a 5.5 out of 6 in our State Scorecard.

Currently, Vermont is the only state that provides full legal equality to its citizens (score of 6).

Six states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, and New York) and the District of Columbia achieve a rating of 5.5 out of 6. California, Illinois, and New Jersey can achieve the perfect score of 6 by converting civil unions (Illinois and New Jersey) or domestic partnerships (California) to civil marriage. Iowa can reach a score of 6 by ensuring full parenting rights in all cases. The District of Columbia needs to update its transgender protections for birth certificates. New York can reach a score of 6 by passing GENDA (adding gender identity to employment non-discrimination). Connecticut can achieve it by adding gender identity to the anti-bullying legislation.

DELAWARE ADDS CIVIL UNIONS

The Governor of Delaware has signed into law a Civil Unions legislation that takes effect on January 1, 2012.

Delaware now scores 3.5 out of 6 in our State Scorecard.

PANEL #12: CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS --- THE CULTURAL WORK OF LGBT ACCEPTANCE

Combine rigorous academic thinking from Harvard and NYU with successful ground work into new insights for changing hearts and minds. Have the discussion moderated by Roberta Achtenberg and there is no better place to spend one hour this Sunday afternoon, March 20, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Clich here to get dialing information.

Click here to ask questions now, whether you will attend in person or not.

This panel is a must for all interested in advancing effectively our equality.

PANEL ON FEDERAL EQUALITY LEGISLATION

On Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from noon to 1 pm EDT, do not miss the panel with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and US Senator Jeff Merkley.

You can participate via telephone. Get the dialing information here. You can also ask questions via the internet now (even if you are not able to attend the call).

PANEL ON STATES OF EQUALITY

A discussion with the executive directors of four state organizations to show the spectrum of challenges and opportunities facing our movement in the states.

Participate live on Monday, March 14, 2010 from Noon to 1 pm EDT. See the dialing information and how to ask a question to the panelists now.

PANEL ON ACTING DIFFERENTLY

Don't miss this great eQualityThinking panel on acting differently: civil disobedience, direct action and more.

Tuesday, February 22, 2010 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm EST (9:30 am to 10:30 am).

Click here for the dialing info.

Click here to ask a question now.

Don't miss this panel on The Truth Behind The Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal.

Monday, February 14, Noon to 1:00 pm EST.

Click here for the dialing information. And click here to ask a question to the panelists.

We just held this panel as part of our series of eQualityThinking: Panel #2: Does the "T" in LGBT Mean Anything More than "Token"?

Very interesting issues were revealed such as that we had enough votes to pass an inclusive ENDA in the last Congress. Click on the link above to listen to the audio.

Don't miss the two next panels in eQualityThinking convention for LGBT legal equality:

Panel #2: Does the "T" in LGBT Mean Anything More than "Token"?
This Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EST

and

Panel #3: Why HIV Criminalization Matters
Monday, February 7, 2011 from Noon to 1:00 pm EST

To get the dialing instructions and/or ask questions to the panelists, just click on the link for each panel.

Tonight we start eQualityThinking: a free and open virtual convention for full LGBT legal equality. It will run from January 24 to March 31, 2011.

Check all the details here at eQualityThinking.org

ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS ON LGBT EQUALITY

Andy Tobias, the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), maintains a list of the accomplishments by the Administration and Congress on LGBT equality. It was in chronological order. He has reorganized the list into three categories: (1) Federal Legislation Signed into Law, (2) Policies Changed, and (3) Respect & Inclusion. Within each category, the entries are in chronological order.

Check the Accomplishments by the Administration and Congress on LGBT Equality.

TO APPEAL OR NOT APPEAL DADT

We have added a new article in our website in which Professor Tobias Wolff discusses the DADT appeal and the court injunction. Very worth reading.

ILLINOIS ADDS SAFE SCHOOLS LEGISLATION

Congratulations to all of those involved in passing Senate Bill 3266 in Illinois. It is an anti-bullying legislation that enumerates sexual orientation and gender identity. It was signed into law on June 27, 2010.

With this new legislation, the equality score for Illinois rises from 4 to 5 (out of 6). Check the states equality scorecard for this state and all states.

ADDED LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM BISHOP ROBINSON

Read the letter from the Reverend Gene Robinson, the openly-gay Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, in support of Annie Kuster, who is running for US House representing New Hampshire.

ADDED MORE ENDORSED CANDIDATES

On the top of our additional Endorsed Candidates is Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). He is an Equality Hero and now he needs our support more than ever since he is slightly behind on the polls.

We have also added more Endorsed Candidates. All of them, like Senator Feingold, are totally pro-equality and were interviewed by us. They are:

- Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH) running for US Senate in New Hampshire.

- State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) running for US Senate for Illinois (Obama's old seat)

- Randy Parraz (D-AZ) running for US Senate in Arizona

- Annie Kuster running for US House for New Hampshire

- Lincoln Chafee (I-RI) running for Governor of Rhode Island

- Stan Garnett (D-CO) running for Attorney General of Colorado

- Scott Maddox (D-FL) running for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Read the whole list of eQualityGiving Endorsed Candidates for 2010.

ADDED ALEXI GIANNOULIAS (D-IL) AS AN ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR US SENATE

Alexi is very outspoken about his total support for equality---with a great emphasis on marriage equality. He will take the senate seat formerly of President Obama.

Check also his impressive video in full support of our equality.

BRAVO ARGENTINA

Argentina is the 10h country to make marriage available to all citizens, irrespective of sexual orientation. The United States continues to lag in being a beacon of freedom. Check the status of our Equality Goals (including marriage equality).

RANDY PARRAZ ENDORSED

We are pleased to announce that eQualityGiving has endorsed Randy Parraz for US Senate in Arizona. He is a graduate of Harvard with a Masters in Public Administration and Berkeley with a law degree. He is fully pro-equality and faces a primary battle. Check more details about him and watch his pro-equality video here.

A PATHWAY TO REPEAL DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell based on certification by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff that such action does not affect troop readiness. Similar legislation is expected to pass the Senate in the next few days.

It is expected that by the end of 2010 or early 2011, troups will be allowed to serve openly independently of their sexual orientation. We are looking forward to that day to update our Federal Equality Index.

ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR 2010

Don't miss our first batch of Endorsed Candidates for 2010. Our endorsement process follows solid, rigorous endorsement criteria that we have published and each candidate is interviewed personally by eQualityGiving. Each candidate is fully pro-equality (including marriage) and has a chance to win.

The end result is a list of candidates for statewide or federal office that deserve our total support (as donors and volunteers).

Check who these candidates are and do all you can so they win and we accelerate getting LGBT legal equality.

WASHINGTON DC ACHIEVES MARRIAGE EQUALITY

The District of Columbia has marriage equality effective March 2, 2010.

This brings the equality score for DC from 4.5 to 5.0: See how your state stands on LGBT equality.

NEW ENDORSED CANDIDATE: DAN HYNES (D) FOR GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS

As with all of our endorsees, Dan Hynes if fully pro-equality. See more information on him and the other eQualityGiving Endorsed Candidates. More endorsements will be coming over the next few weeks.

Also, do not miss the video of Dan Hynes speech during the March on Washington in October 2009.

OPED: HAVE CONGRESS AND OBAMA DONE ENOUGH FOR LGBT EQUALITY?

Check the OpEd that we published in the Bay Area Reporter reviewing this question from different perspectives.

TAKE THIS POLL

How much has the President and Congress done for LGBT equality so far?

Take eQualityGiving's latest poll. It takes less than 30 seconds, and you can see how others voted.

On the same page, check also the comprehensive analysis that we provide about what has been accomplished so far and what needs to be done for LGBT equality.

Tell others to vote too!

STRAIGHT ALLY SPEECH

Check out the speech that Liebe Gadinsky, an straight ally, delivered when accepting the Human Rights Award by the Anti-Defamation League. Very inspirational!

THE DALLAS PRINCIPLES AND ACT ON PRINCIPLES

Check our expanded page about The Dallas Principles (mantra: full LGBT civil rights now. No delay. No excuses.) and its follow up Act On Principles that provides three innovative tools for organizations as well as individuals to take action to achieve full LGBT civil rights now. Check the page here.

STATES SCORECARD

We updated more information to our states scorecard.

But before you look at the results, take this quick gay quiz to check your knowledge of the LGBT rights on your state (or any state you want).

MORE USE OF eQualityGiving's RESEARCH

From: "Garden State Equality" <goldstein@gardenstateequality.org>
Date: December 1, 2009 5:27:14 PM EST
Subject: New study: New Jersey tied for #1 in America for LGBT rights

REPORT: NEW JERSEY TIED FOR #1 IN AMERICA FOR LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS

           A report by the national LGBT organization eQualityGiving.org ranks New Jersey as number one in the United States, tied with three other states, for LGBT civil rights. The States of Equality Scorecard by eQualityGiving, online at www.equalitygiving.org/States-of-Equality-and-Gay-Rights-Scorecard, ranks America's top four states as New Jersey, California, Iowa and Vermont.

           The four states received a 5.5 score on a 6 point scale. No state received a 6.

           "New Jersey ranks number one because our millions of progressive citizens expect nothing less than full equality for everyone," said Steven Goldstein, Chair of Garden State Equality. "Our state is ready for marriage equality now.

           "The people of New Jersey have welcomed each advancement for LGBT civil rights with open arms rather than clenched fists. The only backlash our political leaders should fear is the backlash that would result by not enacting marriage equality. That backlash would be guaranteed."

            Since Garden State Equality's founding in 2004, New Jersey has enacted an unprecedented 210 LGBT civil rights laws at the state, county and local levels.   For the complete list of 210 laws, visit www.gardenstateequality.org/pdfs/210.pdf

            Among the 210 laws:

            Twelve expansions of the domestic partnership law from 2004 to 2006; a civil union law in 2006; a law expanding the Law Against Discrimination to include the transgender community in 2006; and in 2008, a statewide law that simultaneously overhauls the state’s anti-bullying law, expands the state’s hate crimes law to encompass the transgender community, and toughens up the entire hate crimes law to strengthen the fight against all bias-motivated violence.

            Also in 2008, New Jersey became only the second state in the United States, after California, to mandate paid family leave to employees who need to provide care for their same-sex partners.

            And in 2009, in conjunction with his speech at Garden State Equality’s annual Legends Dinner, Governor Corzine signed an executive order mandating that the state indicate gender on driver licenses in accordance with one’s own gender identity or expression, yet another milestone for transgender rights.

A GOOD USE OF eQualityGiving INFORMATION

Here is a good article that uses extensively the ranking that eQualityGiving has created for scoring the states in terms of legal equality for LGBT equality: http://wesblackman.blogspot.com/2009/11/florida-drops-to-43-on-states-of.html

Don't miss the new sets of tools that we have developed to accelerate achieving LGBT legal equality. Check www.ActOnPrinciples.org

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Last Modified 2009-08-30