A Victory on the Long Road Ahead

As most of you know, yesterday was an election day in various places around the country. On this day after election, we have some great things to celebrate, some great losses to consider and more work to follow.

In Missouri, PROMO-endorsed and former PROMO-PAC board member, Stacey Newman, won a seat in the state House yesterday. PROMO volunteers helped assure this victory by working tirelessly canvassing and phone-banking for her campaign. She is going to be a great ally for us in Jeff City.

As I'm sure you know by now, marriage equality was narrowly defeated in a voter referendum Tuesday. What you might now know is that Kalamazoo, Michigan pulled out a substantial win defeating a roll-back of their nondiscrimination ordinance. And in Washington State, early returns indicate voters approved the expansion of domestic partner benefits (this will take a few more days to be determined for sure). In Houston, Texas, Annise Parker is slated for a run-off election and could potentially become the first out individual to hold a mayoral office in one of he nation's top ten cities.

But as the results from Maine show us, we still have a long road ahead. If we are ever going to achieve the final goal of full equality, we in Missouri have a long road to travel with many stops along the way.

And the work continues

Within Missouri, the election of Stacey Newman is the latest, but not the first, step on this journey to equality. While we're all thilled that Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes bill is now federal law, back in 1999, Missouri was the first state in the U.S. to enact a hate crimes law that included LGBT persons. This was the results of PROMO's years of leadership and lobbying in Jeff City. Within the last year, PROMO has worked on the ground in Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis to pass major pieces of local pro-LGBT legislation, gotten a Senate hearing on the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act and a House vote on Safe Schools, and worked with Treasurer Clint Zweifel and Attorney General Chris Koster to add pro-LGBT policies through the executive branch. In every case this was the result of PROMO's active presence in Jeff City and engagement of elected officials in both the legislative and executive branches of state government.

It's easy to be distracted by the election news right now. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning hitting the 'refresh' button several times. However, now is not the time to simply ponder election results.

Tomorrow the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is holding a hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. We have heard from our allies on Capitol Hill that they are hearing 5 to 1 AGAINST us on this bill. It is urgent you take 5 minutes to contact both your House and Senate officials- Click here for the number and a suggested script.

So, is equality inevitable? Hardly. The forces arrayed against us are well-organized and well-financed. That's why PROMO is working year-round to assure that more legislators like Stacey Newman who value equality are elected to the Missouri legislature. That's why PROMO spends so much time and effort lobbying during the session to work with our Attorney General, Treasurer, and elected officials at all levels to promote equality. That's why PROMO's presence throughout the state working on campaigns and at town halls is so crucial.

Turn your anger into action - what you can do right now

I've heard from so many of you about the punch to the gut that you feel right now about Maine. It is not unlike what we felt after Proposition 8 passed in California last year. The road ahead is long, and ultimately victory will be ours, but your support will determine how long or short that road is going to be.

Here are two simple things you can do to help turn things around and work for equality right here at home:

• Continue to advance equality here in Missouri by making a gift to PROMO online right now- you can make a one time gift by clicking here or sign up to be a monthly supporter by clicking here.
  
• Call Washington and let your Elected Officials know you want their support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Call even if you've done this already. Click here for more information on calling, e-mailing and writing your elected officials in Washington

With such a mixed bag of results around the country, I only see this as a strengthening of our movement for equality- but we can't do it with you!

United in equality,


A.J. Bockelman
Executive Director