Urge Your Legislator to Support Anti-Bullying Legislation
Recently, the country was shocked to learn that two 11 year old boys (Jaheem Herrera and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover) had killed themselves after enduring constant bullying at school from classmates who called them gay. One of these two boys, Jaheem Herrera, lived in Stone Mountain Georgia.
Now is the time we must redouble our efforts to pass legislation that not only strengthens existing state policies on bullying, but compels school districts to recognize that bullying based on perceptions of sexual orientation or gender identity are especially destructive to young lives.
Georgia Equality asks you to remember Jaheem and Carl Joseph by taking action to protect other students in the future.
In 2008, the Senate passed anti-bullying legislation by a vote of 54-0. A House Education Sub-committee and the full House Education Committee also passed this legislation by unanimous vote. Unfortunately, a floor vote on the bill did not take place by the end of the 2008 Session.
Ask your legislator to support the passage of anti-bullying legislation in 2010
National LGBT Groups Urge Caution on Prop 8 Response
Within 48 hours of the May Prop 8 decision, a legal challenge in federal court was announced, but national LGBT groups agree that a marriage case based on the federal constitution may not win the right to marry back in California, and a loss would likely set back the fight for marriage nationwide, and hurt LGBT parents, employees, and students all over America.
The links below discuss why the ballot box and not the courts should be the next step
on marriage in California.
"Why the ballot box and not the courts should be the next step on marriage in California” is available at http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pdfs/why_the_ballot_box.pdf
"Make Change, Not Lawsuits" is available at http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pdfs/make_change_not_lawsuits-0509_update.pdf
Take the National Health Care Survey - Deadline July 7
As health care reform is being discussed and debated across the country, this is a critical time to ensure that the issues of LGBT people and people living with HIV are included as part of the discussion.
Please consider participating in Lambda Legal’s national Health Care Fairness Survey. This survey provides an opportunity to better document the unique health care experiences and needs of LGBT people and people living with HIV. Information from this survey will be used to educate politicians and other decision-makers about the specific problems health care reform must address.
In order to be most effective, the survey should reflect the entire LGBT and HIV communities. They especially need to hear from people of color, transgender people, seniors, youth (18 and older) and other members of our communities who are often underrepresented. The survey is available in English and Spanish.
The deadline is July 7th.
To take the survey please visit www.lambdalegal.org/healthsurvey for English and www.lambdalegal.org/sondeosalud for Spanish.
