PFLAG Phoenix: Advocacy . . .

Advocating for EQUAL civil rights . . .

. . . for our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) loved ones is a key component of our PFLAG mission. We must all continue to educate and advocate within our local community, outwardly to the rest of our state, and with our local, state, and federal representatives about the issues which adversely impact our GLBT loved ones. We must do so to help create a society that goes beyond mere tolerance and acceptance to a nation where the God-given diversity that exists among us all is recognized, embraced, and celebrated. Unfortunately, there is much work left to be accomplished in this area. You can most certainly help us in these efforts -- and you don't even have to be a PFLAG member to do so!

Let's Work Together to 'Move Equality Forward . . .'

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing.
- Edmund Burke -

RIGHTS WATCH

The Issue:	Hate Crimes Statues	Workplace Discrimination	Federal Rights for Same-Sex Couples		Military Service	Adoption Rights	HIV/AIDS
The Obama Administration Promise:	Expand to include sexual orientation, gender identity & physical disability	Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)	Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)	Support full civil unions for same-sex couples	Repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy	Expand adoption rights to individuals & couples regardless of sexual orientation	Promote HIV/AIDS prevention through education & empowering women
Latest News:	10/18/09: Obama signs hate crimes bill into law	02/19/10: Frank: "We were very close on ENDA"	10/12/09: The full Obama speech at HRC	10/12/09: The full Obama speech at HRC	12/12/10: Obama signs repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' policy 09/20/11: President Obama's Statement on End of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'		10/30/09: Obama signs HIV/AIDS bill extension; implements lifting of AIDS travel ban 07/13/10: Obama administration unveils national HIV/AIDS strategy
Status:	DONE!	Pending passage in House; Awaiting Senate vote	No action yet	No action yet	DONE!	No action yet	Progress

What has the present Administration accomplished for the LGBT community? Here's a partial list:

Repeal of DADT
Every hospital that accepts medicare & Medicaid (which is virtually every hospital) must allow gays and lesbians to have non-family visitors and to grant their partners medical power of attorney.
Obama Administration has hired more OPENLY gay & lesbian staffers than any other president in history. More then Clinton and Bush combined.
Denounced DOMA, calling it unconstitutional and refusing to defend it in court.
Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the first federal civil rights law to protect gays and lesbians.
Instructed federal agencies to extend benefits where possible to same-sex partners of civilian federal employees.
Ordered the release of data on legally married gay couples from the 2010 census, conferring legitimacy on same-sex relationships.
Ended a ban on HIV-positive immigrants and foreign visitors.
Announced new regulations that recognize LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) families for federal housing programs and prohibit discrimination in getting federally insured mortgage loans.
Appointed more than 100 openly gay people in his administration, including the government's top personnel official and the head of the Council for Environmental Quality.
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to gay icons Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King.
Hosted a White House summit on bullying and recorded a video message to gay youths telling them that "It Gets Better."
INVITED LGBT Families to the white house easter eggroll.
Has dinners at the white house for the LGBT community.
Signs U.N. declaration that calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality. Which dumbass Bush refused to sign during his entire joke of a presidency...

Q. How Do I Begin To Make A Difference -- What Should I Do FIRST?

A. Get informed: SUBSCRIBE to these four FREE email lists! Why? *

* A better option: JOIN these groups & help support their vital missions!

Q. After Subscribing To Those Email Lists, What Should I Do NEXT?

A. Get active: ACT when requested . . . and on your own! Why?

Watch for Action Alerts when they are emailed by us and/or other organizations:

CURRENT ACTION ALERTS: These are listed on our homepage.

OLDER ACTION ALERTS: Check our growing list here -- there's still time to add your voice!

Q. What ELSE Can I Do?

A. PLENTY!

First, we can't emphasize enough how important it is to vote -- and to vote often:

REGISTER TO VOTE. You can register here, right now, online (for AZ residents)
VOTE! See our 'Take Action' sidebar (to the right) to find out who your candidates are.
CONNECT. Interested in local GLBT-friendly political organizations? Check these out!

Also, here are 10 simple things (from PFLAG National) that you can do to make a difference:

	10 Simple Things YOU Can Do To Make A Difference
1.	JOIN. Become a member of PFLAG and join with hundreds of thousands of caring and committed people from all walks of life, including those with GLBT loved ones (plus GLBT people too!) and straight allies who just want to see EQUAL civil rights for everyone, all working together to end discrimination against GLBT individuals, couples, and families.
2.	TEACH. If you are a parent, teach your children that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is simply another means of expressing love. Teach them that being transgender is simply an effort to match up someone's "outsides" with what they truly are "inside".
3.	CONFIRM. If one of your family members is GLBT (or "questioning"), be sure to let them know that you love them just the way they are. You may think they know -- but do they?
4.	REFRAIN. Don't tell anti-GLBT jokes. If you do, you'll help perpetuate the stereotypes about GLBT individuals.
5.	READ. Read our PFLAG literature and find out more about what it is really like to be a GLBT individual in our society.
6.	BE 'OUT'. This applies to straight people just as much as to GLBT people. Be open with others about having GLBT friends or family members (or being GLBT). Secrecy breeds shame.
7.	CONFRONT. If you overhear someone making an anti-GLBT comment, let them know (in a pleasant, friendly manner) that you don't agree or approve.
8.	COMMUNICATE. Contact local, state, or federal representatives to protest any anti-GLBT bills or legislation as you become aware of it, or to support GLBT-positive bills or legislation. It's important that they hear from you either way!
9.	BE HONEST. Encourage open and honest discussion of GLBT issues in your home, workplace and church (yes, church!).
10.	TAKE A STAND. Stand with those who believe that discrimination against anyone is a crime against humanity -- TAKE A STAND WITH PFLAG!

"In the End,
we will remember
not the words
of our enemies,
but the silence
of our friends."

- Martin Luther King Jr. -

"Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world; indeed,
it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead -

Our 'Take Action' Center

To contact:

Your federal representatives:

Your state representatives:

The local & national media:

Speak Out with Your Vote:

Find Your Candidates:

"Great spirits
have always faced
violent protest
from mediocre minds."

- Albert Einstein -

RELATED ADVOCACY NEWS . . .

Note: We include many news stories below from 365gay.com. Unfortunately (for us), they've just relaunched a new version of their website which has made many of our links below inoperable. We are aware of this issue and will work to replace the inoperable links as soon as possible.

General Information:

01/14/08: Gay Rights Legislation On Agenda As Congress Returns
09/10/07: PFLAG National announces' Straight for Equality'

Domestic Partner Benefits:

12/19/07: New Bid To Provide Benefits To Partners Of Gay Federal Workers

ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act):

PFLAG Phoenix is a proud member of UnitedENDA.org!

11/27/07: Transgender Members Quit HRC Over ENDA
11/09/07: Kennedy To Introduce ENDA In Senate
11/07/07: ENDA Passes House Without Trans Protections
11/06/07: Solidarity On ENDA Trans Inclusion Unravels
10/31/07: ENDA Vote Again Delayed
10/24/07: Vote On ENDA Delayed [blog: Will This Battle Over ENDA Ever END?]
10/17/07: Lesbian Lawmaker Offers ENDA Compromise
10/13/07: Groups Slam 'Deal' On ENDA
10/11/07: Arizona's "Fab Four" Storm the U.S. Capitol, Demand Equality!
10/11/07: We Are All Transgender Now
10/09/07: Solmonese: A Place at the Table: Why HRC now supports an inclusive ENDA
10/08/07: Neff: A Mugging on Capitol Hill
10/08/07: A Message on ENDA from Jody M. Huckaby, Executive Director, PFLAG
10/01/07: Vote On ENDA Delayed As LGBT Pressure Mounts
10/01/07: Revised ENDA Also Reduces Protections For Gays Legal Group Says
09/27/07: Gay Groups Unite To Oppose Stripping Trans Protections From ENDA
06/25/07: Study Shows State LGBT Non-Discrimination Laws Not Enough

Resource:

10/01/11: Fired for Being LGBT? Here's How to Get Justice

Hate Crimes Bill:

10/18/09: Obama signs hate crimes bill into law
12/06/07: Congress Drops Hate Crime Bill Covering Attacks on Gays (PFLAG's response)
11/19/07: Hate Crimes Against Gays Rise
09/27/07: Gay Hate Crime Measure Passes Senate
05/03/07: House Passes Gay Hate Bill, White House Threatens Veto
05/02/07: Religious Conservatives Pressure Bush To Veto Gay Hate Crimes Bill

Hospital Visitation Rights

01/18/11: New Hospital Visitation Rules in Effect

Housing Rights

07/09/10: Housing department issues policy on LGBT discrimination

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD.gov: Housing Discrimination Against LGBT Individuals and Families

Marriage Rights:

Note: With so much happening in multiple states regarding same-sex marriage and/or civil union legislation, we can't possibly post all updates here. Therefore, we've only included news updates that we consider having potential for the most impact on these rights.