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Dear Equality Texas Member,
Equality Texas acknowledges the
importance of multiple strategies to achieve equality, and we
believe they can have positive effects on achieving policy goals
and objectives. As the statewide organization working for
equality here in Texas, our mission and our focus must be on
Texans. As good stewards, we must maintain the focus on
our state while honoring the energy and efforts of activists
organizing to go to Washington, DC for the March on Washington
on October 10th.
Equality Texas' first priority will be to ask
our members to think about how they can take direct action to
affect change in Texas. We will be asking members
to spend their time and resources to elect Annise Parker as the
first openly lesbian mayor of Houston and the first openly LGBT
mayor of our nation's fourth largest city. Annise
Parker's election to office is a critical battle that must be
won in order to advance equality in Houston and in
Texas. The weeks just before this November's
election are critical to a successful get-out-the-vote
operation.
We will be asking our members in West Texas to
continue to support the City of El Paso's provision of domestic
partner benefits for their city employees. We are
expecting a possible ballot initiative that could come as early
as November to protect these benefits. Additionally, we
will also be asking our members to hold Fort Worth and TABC
officials accountable for their actions in the Rainbow Lounge
raid, and asking members to become involved with Fairness Fort
Worth.
With these battles happening here in our own
backyard, there are some great opportunities to channel energy
into direct action with immediate results. We
must harness the power of Texans that support equality and
demonstrate our ability to move people to make positive change
here, as well as in DC. Similarly, our peers in Maine are
desperate to have people come during October to work against the
ballot initiative that would invalidate the legislature's and
the governor's approval of marriage equality.
Equality Texas supports our members' participation in
the March on Washington. However, we know the importance
of work here in Texas that can have a dramatic effect on
equality at the state and local level. Our mission, our
work, and our strategic plan are all focused on effecting change
in the most strategic way right here in Texas. Because we
have limited resources, we must focus on these
priorities.
We think all activism is a good thing. When
participants in the March come home, we ask that they devote
their time, energy and resources to do the work that must be
done right here in Texas.
Sincerely,
Paul Scott, Executive
Director
P.S.
Will you help us continue our work by investing in Equality Texas
today? Your contribution makes a real
difference.
EQTX: Making Equality Happen in
Texas |
Domestic Partner Benefits for City of El
Paso
On August 25th, by a vote of 7 to 1, the El Paso
City Council approved the provision of health insurance benefits
to domestic partners of city employees. The lone
dissenting vote was cast by District 4 Representative Carl L.
Robinson.
As approved, health insurance benefits will be available
to the domestic partners of city employees - both gay and
straight. The benefits would commence in January,
2010. Under the City's benefit plan structure,
approximately 35% of the health insurance premium is paid by the
employee and 65% is paid by the
employer.
El Paso now joins the cities of Austin and Dallas, plus
Travis County, as governmental jurisdictions in Texas providing
health insurance benefits to domestic partners. Closer to
El Paso, the cities of Albuquerque and Las Cruces in New Mexico,
and Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Tuscon in Arizona also
provide partner health
insurance.
Equality Texas has been working with local
community members and organizations since the June 29, 2009
incident at a Chico's Tacos restaurant when a public kiss
resulted in the removal of five gay men. On July
21, 2009 the El Paso City Council unanimously adopted a
resolution rejecting acts of discrimination, intolerance and
bigotry. Since that time, Equality Texas has issued four
(4) Action Alerts - one in support of the nondiscrimination
resolution and three action alerts in support of domestic
partner benefits. Equality Texas has coordinated
discussions with El Paso leaders and with national partners to
develop talking points and strategies. Additionally,
Equality Texas staff and intern Beth Casey have provided
research on these issues to city council members and Equality
Texas members.
Public testimony in support of the benefit plan was
effectively coordinated by local organizations including Puentes
LGBT Resources, Rio Grande Adelante and members of the
congregation at MCC El
Paso.
Equality Texas Political Director Randall Terrell worked
to facilitate supportive testimony from Texas State Senator
Eliot Shapleigh. In written testimony, Senator Shapleigh
urged, "Do the right thing for equality and fairness. Do
the right thing to ensure that the City can compete for talented
employees. I urge you to approve the City's budget with
partner health
insurance."
Terrell also obtained supportive
testimony from Ken Miyagishima, Mayor of Las Cruces, who stated,
"We passed domestic partner benefits in Las Cruces without a lot
of discussion or debate because it was the right thing to
do. I strongly suggest that El Paso provide domestic
partner benefits, as well."
Opponents of the benefit plan have stated their
desire to use the City's referendum and initiative process to
force a citywide ballot measure on the issue.
Equality Texas is already working on legal analysis of the
referendum process and will continue to be engaged with local
community members and organizations to help ensure that health
benefits remain available to domestic
partners.
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Safe Schools Forums Coming
to Austin, Houston and San Antonio
Every student in Texas
schools deserves an education free from the harmful physical and
emotional effects of harassment and bullying. However, as
schools across the state are reopening for the Fall term,
thousands of Texas children dread going to school to face the
taunts, jeers, humiliation, physical intimidation and pain
inflicted through harassment and bullying.
The Equality
Texas Foundation is concerned that most school districts’
current policies on bullying and harassment may be inadequate,
or inadequately enforced. Although Texas’
schools have worked to make safe schools a reality by putting in
place bullying and harassment policies required by the Texas
Education Code, we believe current statutes do not yet
adequately address the prevention, intervention, and elimination
of bullying and harassment from our schools.
Although well-defined
and communicated policies help deal with bullying and harassment
when it happens, a comprehensive program is necessary for
prevention. Programs that integrate a data-tracking system for
bullying and harassment incidents, a robust district-level
policy that is consistently enforced, and a research-proven
program to educate both students and staff about bullying
and harassment have been found to be the most
effective.
On Wednesday,
September 16, 2009, the Equality Texas Foundation will host the
first of several open community forums on safe schools.
Community
Forum on Safe Schools - Austin
Wednesday, September 16,
2009
6:00 p.m.
Baker School Cafeteria
3908 Avenue
B
Austin, TX 78751
Panelists:
Kimme
Mitchell – Parent of a bullied child in the Georgetown
ISD;
Megan Flowers – Coordinator, No Place for Hate
program of the Anti-Defamation League;
Dianna Groves –
Student Intervention Specialist, Dept. of Student Support,
Austin ISD.
Parents and
students are encouraged to join us for this important open
discussion on school safety. This forum is
presented by Equality Texas Foundation, in collaboration with
the City of Austin Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Defamation
League, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and the Texas GSA
Network – a project of Out Youth.
Community Forums on
Safe Schools have been scheduled for:
Community
Forum on Safe Schools - Houston
Wednesday, September 23,
2009
6:00 p.m.
Lamar High School Cafeteria
3325
Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77098
Community
Forum on Safe Schools - San Antonio
Wednesday, October
21, 2009
6:00 p.m.
UTSA Downtown Campus
Durango
Building, Southwest Room
San Antonio, TX
Additional Community
Forums are planned for North Texas and West Texas. Watch for
additional information.
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Designate EQTX Foundation for
Black Tie Dinner; Former Board Chair Steve Atkinson to
Receive Kuchling Humanitarian Award
Equality Texas Foundation is once
again a beneficiary of the Black Tie Dinner that supports 18
local beneficiaries and HRC, its national
beneficiary.
The support from Black Tie Dinner is
instrumental in continuing our work in North Texas with our
Equality Project trainings, Pride in Faith programs, and our
collaborative work to educate Texans about the critical
importance of education and advocacy to achieve equality in
Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Denton, and across the entire
state.
If you attend Black Tie or know
someone that does, then you can directly impact the work of
Equality Texas Foundation as we continue to expand our
outreach and make equality happen here in Texas!
Simply, being a table captain for
Equality Texas Foundation or designating your table and its
seats means that your locally designated funds will
support our mission directly. We could not continue to do
our work without your support and the support of Black Tie
Dinner.
 The Black Tie Dinner Board of Directors
announced that activist and community volunteer Steve Atkinson
will be this year’s recipient of the prestigious Kuchling
Humanitarian Award. Each year since 1983, the
Black Tie Dinner Board of Directors has awarded the Kuchling
Humanitarian Award to local individuals who have made
extraordinary gifts of their time and
talents on behalf of
the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Atkinson has served as a shining example of
leadership for more than 16 years. From walking the streets of
Dallas for political campaigns or holding a placard to protest
injustice, he has worked tirelessly to move the LGBT community
toward full equality at the local, state and national
levels.
Steve served for many years on our board of
directors and is a former board co-chair. Steve and his
partner of 20 years, Ted Kincaid, have two tables at Black Tie
Dinner this year, and they have designated both as Equality
Texas Foundation tables, and have designated each guest's
designation to the Foundation.
Congratulations to Steve and many thanks for
his years of support and service!
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Annise Parker Endorsed for Mayor of
Houston
Equality Texas is asking its members to spend
their time and resources to elect Annise Parker as the first
openly lesbian mayor of Houston and the first openly LGBT mayor
of our nation's fourth largest city. Annise
Parker's election to office is a critical battle that must be
won in order to advance equality in Houston and in
Texas.
Annise Parker is simply the best candidate to move
Houston forward.
- Annise Parker has what it takes to
manage Houston through tough economic times.
- As City Controller, Annise directs
Houston’s financial investments and manages billions of
tax dollars. Because of her fiscal responsibility and
leadership, Houston is stronger today than other major cities
that gambled their futures on risky investments and
irresponsible budgets.
- Annise has a plan to create jobs, secure
Houston’s future as the headquarters for new energy
development, and maintain fiscal responsibility. As Mayor,
Annise will fight to create good-paying jobs using national
stimulus program and local funds – and to make sure the
paychecks go to Houston families.
- At every step of the way, Annise has worked
hard to make Houston better and improve the quality of life
for Houstonians.
- Annise’s roots in Houston run deep.
She was born and raised in Houston, as were her parents –
who met as students at the University of Houston. Annise and her
life partner, Kathy Hubbard, have been together since 1990. They
have two children.
Save the
Dates - October 3rd & 4th!
Save
these dates for "Days of Service" for Annise Parker's election
campaign. Volunteer opportunities will include
block-walking and phone-banking. Volunteers interested in
phone-banking do not have to physically be located in
Houston.
If
you live in Houston, volunteer phone banks are open each Tuesday
and Thursday from 6 to 9pm.
CLICK HERE for 6 Easy Ways to Get
Involved.
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News from Other Statewide Equality
Groups |
Maine: You Can Help Protect
Marriage Equality
In May, Maine
became the fifth state in the country to win marriage for
same-sex couples. Within days of this victory, the
opposition launched a People's Veto campaign - modeled after
California's Prop 8 - to take away the right of same-sex couples
to marry. Maine is now ground zero in the national fight
for marriage equality.
To win, we
need your help. Please consider a Volunteer-Vacation, where you'll
have the opportunity to volunteer full-time with the
No on 1 campaign to protect marriage at the ballot
box. This is a 1 or 2 week structured program offering an
intensive, hands-on chance to hone your campaign skills.
Washington: Domestic Partnerships Under
Attack
This spring, Governor
Gregoire signed the 2009 Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill,
completing the Domestic Partnership System in Washington State,
giving all couples in Washington State equal protection under
the law. Opponents of the domestic partnership law are
seeking to repeal it through a referendum. Referendum
71 would ask voters whether the law should be approved or
rejected. A vote to “APPROVE” keeps the law so that
all families will have these protections in all parts of the
state.
If you live in Washington, call Equal
Rights Washington at (206) 324-2570 to volunteer to help
preserve the Domestic Partnership law. For more
information, visit the Washington Families Standing Together
website.
Michigan: Defending Discrimination
Protections
In July, City Commissioners in Kalamazoo, Michigan passed an
ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation
or gender identity in employment, housing, and public
accommodations in the city. Anti-equality forces immediately
challenged the law and submitted 1,624 signatures to put the
issue on the ballot, suspending the law until election time.
Equality is not equality unless it’s equality for all.
The right-wing continues to demonize transgender people to lie
to uninformed voters. We need to stop them everywhere. We need
to stop them in Kalamazoo. Visit the One
Kalamazoo website to learn more. To find out how you
can get involved, click here.
Iowa: NOM Backing Anti-Equality
Legislator
Last week the National Organization for
Marriage (NOM) started flooding rural Iowa with nearly $90,000
worth of ads trying to scare Iowans into voting for an anti-gay
legislative candidate. The same extremists that
bankrolled ballot initiative efforts in Maine and California are
now spending money to buy an election in Iowa.
It takes some nerve for a New Jersey-based
group, with ties to the Mormon Church to fund a "Reclaim Iowa"
project on behalf of wealthy out-of-state extremists. NOM
doesn't want you to know who is behind these efforts and they
pledge to shield their donors from outside scrutiny by refusing
to release this information.
Don't let them get away with
it! Sign One Iowa's petition
demanding a full disclosure of NOM's anti-gay
funding!
California:
Winning Back Marriage Equality
Equality
California recently released a report of their
comprehensive research and analysis as to the
best time to go back to the voters to win back the right to
marry in California and recommends getting to work now
to set the stage for the complete repeal of Prop 8 in 2012.
The report, Winning Back
Marriage in California: Analysis and Plan, is
a proposed 3-year-effort to repeal the ban on marriage for
same-sex couples in 2012 with coordinated statewide organizing
both on the ground and online, opportunities for families headed
by same-sex couples to share their stories through advertising
and other platforms, a timeline for a victory and an opportunity
for both grassroots leaders and larger organizations to work
together.
EQCA arrived at
its position after carefully considering input from vital
stakeholders: LGBT community members, grassroots organizers,
leaders in communities of color and faith, donors and coalition
partners, as well as political strategists. It also conducted
in-depth analysis of turnout models, polling and fundraising.
Key factors that led to the decision include the belief of
leaders in communities of color that moving likely voters in
their respective communities requires more time, as well as the
enormous challenge of raising the $40 to $50 million dollars
needed to run an effective campaign during one of the nation's
worst
recessions.
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