End Bigotry in Venango County: Reminder: Pennsylvania Equality Summit - Sept. 26

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Reminder: Pennsylvania Equality Summit - Sept. 26 - State College

As more and more states progress toward full equality for LGBT citizens, pro-equality legislation remains bottle-necked in the Pennsylvania legislature. It is now more important than ever before for activists from across the state, from every region, to come together and share ideas, take part in educational programming, network, and build the infrastructure necessary to be the change we wish to see in Pennsylvania.

Join activists, organizations, and supporters from across the Commonwealth at the first-ever state-wide Pennsylvania Equality Summit on Saturday, September 26 in State College, PA!

Sponsored by the Value All Families Coalition, Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, this important and first-of-its-kind summit will train and prepare activists of all backgrounds, from all parts of the state, and equip them with tools and information to bring back to their own communities to continue the work and organizing necessary to see full equality for LGBT Pennsylvanians.

Sessions and panels will include speakers and experts focusing specifically on pending LGBT-related bills in the Pennsylvania legislature. Included in the summit will be dedicated time for regional working groups, networking, and a viewing of the ground-breaking documentary "Out in the Silence," with time for a question and answer session with film-makers Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer. Lunch and all training materials will be provided.

WHAT: Pennsylvania Equality Summit

WHEN: Saturday, September 26 from 10:00am - 6:00pm

WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County

780 Waupenlani Drive Extension, State College, PA 16801

(Portions of the summit will be live-streamed for those unable to attend)

COST: The summit is free to attend, though donations are encouraged to help cover costs

RSVP: Participants are encouraged to RSVP HERE. Space is limited.

QUESTIONS: Please direct all questions to Jake Kaskey at Equality Advocates Pennsylvania

Jake can be reached at: jkaskey@equalitypa.org or 215-731-1447 x 14.

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Principles for Equality

FULL CIVIL RIGHTS GOALS

Being united by common principles and engaging in united action, we will strive to achieve the following goals:

1.DIGNITY AND EQUALITY. Every lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender person has inherent dignity and worth, and has the right to live free of discrimination and harassment.

2.FAMILY. Every LGBT person has the right to a family without legal barriers to immigration, civil marriage or raising children.

3.ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. Every LGBT person has the right to economic opportunity free from discrimination in employment, public housing, accommodation, public facilities, credit, and federally funded programs and activities.

4.EDUCATION. Every LGBT child and youth has the right to an education that is affirming, inclusive and free from bullying.

5.NATIONAL SECURITY. Every LGBT person should have the opportunity to serve our country openly and equally in our military and foreign service.

6.CRIME. Every LGBT person should enjoy life protected against bias crimes.

7.HEALTH CARE. Every person should have access to affordable, high quality, and culturally competent health care without discrimination.

The following eight guiding principles underlie our call to action. In order to achieve full civil rights now, we avow:

1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.

3.Separate is never equal.

4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.

6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

CALL TO ACTION

1.We demand that government officials act now to achieve full civil rights without delay.

2.Our organizations and individuals need to develop a collaborative and revolutionary new organizing model that mobilizes millions of supporters through emerging web and phone technologies.

3.All LGBT individuals must accept personal responsibility to do everything within their power for equality and should get involved in the movement by volunteering, giving and being out.

4.We will hold elected officials and our organizations accountable for being transparent and achieving full civil rights by active participation when possible and active opposition when necessary.

5.Our allies need to be proactive in public support for full civil rights.

6.Every government measure that quantifies the US citizenry must permit LGBT individuals to self-identify and be counted in every way citizens are counted.

7.We demand that the media present LGBT lives in fair, accurate and objective ways that neither include nor give credence to unsubstantiated, discriminatory claims and opinions.

To join the growing chorus of Americans speaking in unison that now is the time to provide full civil rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens, CLICK HERE.

End Bigotry in Venango County

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Reminder: Pennsylvania Equality Summit - Sept. 26 - State College

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