Frm BRO: ENDA!

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced this week. This version of ENDA would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. In 2007, we won comprehensive nondiscrimination at the state level in Oregon—but 37 states aren't so fortunate.

As we all know work, place protections for LGBT people are urgently needed and long overdue, and we need your help in making sure that the ENDA passes.

Contact your representative and ask them to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

The President will sign this bill. All we need now is for Congress to act.

This historic bill has bipartisan support in the House, but we need your support to make it a reality. Please take action NOW to contact your representatives and urge them to support this crucial piece of legislation that protects all workers.

A CELEBRATION OF THE HEART

A CELEBRATION OF THE HEART
Embracing Diversity
Sponsored by
The Eugene/Springfield PFLAG Chapter
(Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Queers)

Come and join us in a celebration featuring voices from community leaders and clergy embracing diversity and the GLBTQ community. Partnering with Community Alliance of Lane County to display the traveling photo exhibits: Shared Communities/Mixed Identities, We Are Neighbors and What Does A Family Look Like? Entertainment will be provided by the Soromundi Lebian Choir. Light refreshments will be served.

Monday, June 29th 6:30-8:00: First Christian Church, 1166 Oak St. Eugene, Oregon

Community Partners Include:
CommunityAlliance of Lane County
Back to Back: Alies for Human Dignity
Religious Response Network of Eugene
Eugene Human Rights Commission
Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect
Basic Rights Oregon

PFLAG meeting Monday June 15!

Our monthly meetings are open to anyone. Good folks, advocacy, education, support.

We will show a short video “It Takes a Team” which is about LGBTQ athletes. There will also be time for sharing.

Meeting Time and Location

We meet the 3rd Monday of most months at the First Congregational Church in Eugene, 1050 E. 23rd, at 6.45pm. The Church is a few blocks east of Sundance Natural Foods, on the corner of East 24th and Harris. Park in the lower parking lot off 24th and enter the building downstairs through the double doors facing 24th.

Kulongoski signs safe Schools Act

From Basic Rights Oregon

It is unanimous!

From Alan Brown:

Today the Oregon Senate joined the Oregon House of Representatives in voting unanimously for HJM 22, the Oregon Hate Crimes Bill. Next stop the Governor's desk.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hjm1.dir/hjm0022.intro.pdf

This is the first Bill in the United States that includes both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to pass unanimously by any State. We should all be proud of the work we have put into this and the job that we have done as grass roots activists.

A HUGE Thank you goes to Basic Rights Oregon for their help, guidance and working the Halls of the Capitol to make this bill successful. Thank you also to Rural Organizing Project for working with activists all over the state to make constituent calls. Kitchen table activism rocks!!!

After the Governor's desk it's off to Congress for HJM 22 to encourage the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (otherwise known as the Matthew Shepard Act).

New Hampshire 6th State!

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage after the Senate and House passed key language on religious rights and Gov. John Lynch -- who personally opposes gay marriage -- signed the legislation Wednesday afternoon.

After rallies outside the Statehouse by both sides in the morning, the last of three bills in the package went to the Senate, which approved it 14-10 Wednesday afternoon.

Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House, which passed it 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage supporters, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.

more at Huffington Post

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