Help get “The Fair Employment Act” to pass
Help Make History in Texas!
Dear friends,
make no mistake about it, history has already been made in Texas this session. An unprecedented number of bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature that are pro-LGBT. Additionally, for the first time in Texas history, “The Fair Employment Act” has actually had a committee hearing.
We have an opportunity here to make history again but it will take all of us working together to make that happen. We need “The Fair Employment Act” to get out of committee, onto the floor, and ultimately to pass this session and become law.
What is “The Fair Employment Act”? I’m glad you asked. Currently Texas is one of several states in which you are legally allowed to be fired, denied employment, or otherwise discriminated against in the workplace without haveing any legal leverage. “The Fair Employment Act” (Senate Bill 237, SB237) would provide legal leverage to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons who suffer from discrimination in the workplace.
Imagine one day, you log into facebook and you ‘like’ a pro-equality post by a friend and your boss infers from that post that you are a member of the LGBT community. The next day, you are fired and your boss tells you that it’s because they think that you are gay. Currently, the only thing you can do is to clean out your desk and start looking for a new job. This bill aims to change that.
The Fair Employment Act would not allow anyone to sue their employer for employment discrimination. It would allow employees who experience employment discrimination to lodge a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission, which would then investigate.
Employment Discrimination Statistics:
- An estimated 431,000 members of the Texas workforce identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
- 26% of transgender Texans report being fired solely based on their gender identity.
- 12% of lesbian and gay Texans report being fired because of their sexual orientation.
- 37% of gay and lesbian Texans report being harassed at work due to their sexual orientation .
The Action:
Right now, the bill is stuck in Senate Committee on Economic Development. At least 2 of the 7 members of the committee are ready to vote “yes”. We only need to convince 2 more Senators on that committee to vote for the bill. We urge you to call the 5 members who are not yet “yes” votes and urge them to support it.
Script:
Here is a suggested script which you can modify to fit your message.
As a Texan, I believe that nobody should be fired from their job or denied employment for anything other than how well they perform their job duties. I agree with the 76% of Texans who support passage of SB237 and I am asking that you do everything in your power to make it law THIS SESSION.
If you are a business owner, a veteran, or a constituent you should also ensure that you let them know that but this call is not limited to those who fit in those categories.
Who to call:
Currently, these are the 5 senators that we need to call:
Sen. Bob Deuell – Chair
(R-Greenville)
Sen. Kevin Eltife
(R-Tyler)
Sen. Brian Birdwell
(R-Granbury)
Sen. Kelly Hancock
(R-N.Richland Hills)
Sen. Troy Fraser
(R-Horseshoe Bay)
GetOUT! GetACTIVE! GetEQUAL!
GetEQUAL TX, Open Conference Call
Dear Visitor,
first I would like to apologize for not having responded to you directly and right away. As you are probably well aware, we are all volunteers which means we are balancing activism with jobs, school, and life in general.
It has been really busy in Texas over the past few months with our legislature in session and, I've been meaning to get in contact with everyone who has filled out the form.
Due to the overwhelming response to the call to join the movement, and the inability to get with everyone one on one in an efficient way, I would like to invite you to join us on a conference call. There, we will be discussing what GetEQUAL TX is all about.
The call will begin on Monday, April 8th at 8PM
You can join that call at the following website https://apps.calliflower.com/conf/show/452146
Please note that, if you create a free account with calliflower, you will be able to log in and interact via the chat application as well. Some people like using the chat area if they have quick questions or comments but do not want to interrupt the current conversation.
This will be a great opportunity to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can use your talents to organize locally.
Do not worry, if you are unable to make this call, you and I can still have a one on one conversation and get you plugged into what we are doing.
This call will be mostly for informational purposes. We will be having a second call next week which will serve as an organizing call. The structure of that call will be very different and geared toward what is going on currently in the state and working out some details regarding actions. You are invited to join that call as well once we work out the time.
Thanks for your continued work for equality!
GetOUT!
GetACTIVE!
GetEQUAL!
--
Michael Diviesti
Texas State Lead | GetEQUALtx.org
GetEQUAL TX, Open Conference Call
As you are probably well aware, we are all volunteers which means we are balancing activism with jobs, school, and life in general.
It has been really busy in Texas over the past few months with our legislature in session and, I've been meaning to get in contact with everyone who has filled out the form.
Due to the overwhelming response to the call to join the movement, and the inability to get with everyone one on one in an efficient way, I would like to invite you to join us on a conference call. There, we will be discussing what GetEQUAL TX is all about.
The call will begin on Monday, April 8th at 8PM
You can join that call at the following website https://apps.calliflower.com/conf/show/452146
Please note that, if you create a free account with calliflower, you will be able to log in and interact via the chat application as well. Some people like using the chat area if they have quick questions or comments but do not want to interrupt the current conversation.
This will be a great opportunity to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can use your talents to organize locally.
Do not worry, if you are unable to make this call, you and I can still have a one on one conversation and get you plugged into what we are doing.
This call will be mostly for informational purposes. We will be having a second call next week which will serve as an organizing call. The structure of that call will be very different and geared toward what is going on currently in the state and working out some details regarding actions. You are invited to join that call as well once we work out the time.
Thanks for your continued work for equality!
GetOUT!
GetACTIVE!
GetEQUAL!
Day of Decision 2013
On March 25 – 27, 2013 LGBT Texans and our many allies stood with hundreds of thousands across the nation on the eve of the Supreme Court hearings for Prop. 8 and DOMA.
WE SHOOK THIS NATION!
As one we called out for equality!
As one we stood on the side of LOVE!
As one we entrusted our nation’s highest court with the civil rights of millions of Americans!
Now we await their decision.
Join us on the day the high court issues their rulings on marriage equality! We will gather again in jubilant celebration of a historic victory for the LGBT rights movement or fierce protest if the justices refuse to extend equality!
Wear RED as a symbol of your support for marriage equality!
Bring signs, candles, flags, drums, noise makers!
Weather victory or defeat- we will be there to light the way to justice once again!
To receive details for an event in your area and to be notified when a decision is issued, use the form below.
San Antonio Planning Meeting – Demand Passage of Human Rights Ordinance!
GetEQUAL TX invites you to join the Community Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA) at a strategy meeting next Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Esperanza Center, 922 San Pedro (upstairs space). There will be sandwiches, snacks, sodas and water available at the meeting.
As you probably know, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the country and, yet, it is the only major city in Texas and in the nation that does not provide non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in its municipal code. CAUSA was formed in June of 2011 by a small group of activists to develop a strategy for amending San Antonio’s current non-discrimination ordinances to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in city employment, public accommodations, housing, city contractors and appointments to boards and commissions.
Shortly after CAUSA began meeting, organizers learned of a “surprise announcement” that the mayor and city manager wanted to include domestic partner benefits in the city budget. CAUSA switched gears to rally support from the community for that initiative and domestic partner benefits were successfully adopted in September, 2011.
CAUSA then refocused on its original goal, to amend the non-discrimination ordinances that exist within the city code to be inclusive of LGBT people. Organizers for CAUSA met with the mayor and City Council Member Diego Bernal, both of whom seemed supportive and dare we say excited to make this great change for the city; however, neither Mayor Castro nor Councilman Bernal, both of whom relied heavily on the LGBT community for donations and support during their elections, have pushed hard enough and the amendments were never placed on the Council agenda. Even after Mayor Castro and Councilman Bernal were presented with a scientific poll showing strong support for this ordinance among a cross-section of San Antonio voters, they continue to fail to take action or give any indication as to when this will be brought before Council.
CAUSA has now expanded its focus and is advocating for a fully-inclusive, citywide Human Rights Ordinance that includes a Human Rights Commission or similar entity to receive and adjudicate claims of arbitrary discrimination brought on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, etc. using the current policies and ordinances of Ft. Worth, Dallas and Austin as a springboard.
We cannot stop simply because “our friends” in power seem disinterested, or worse, indifferent, to discrimination. It is time to develop a plan of action to see that the City of San Antonio provides a recourse for its citizens and visitors when the heavy hand of discrimination strikes. It is time to GetEQUAL!
Jay Morris
GetEQUAL TX
PS: Parking is difficult around the Esperanza Center, so the best place to park is in the parking lot directly south of the Esperanza Building at 920 San Pedro. The meeting starts at 6 pm, but please arrive early to get a parking space and something to eat.
Please RSVP at this link: https://getequaltx.org/rsvpmaker/planning-meeting-demand-san-antonio-pass-a-human-rights-ordinance/
--
GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
San Antonio Planning Meeting – Demand Passage of Human Rights Ordinance!
GetEQUAL TX invites you to join the Community Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA) at a strategy meeting next Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Esperanza Center, 922 San Pedro (upstairs space). There will be sandwiches, snacks, sodas and water available at the meeting.
As you probably know, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the country and, yet, it is the only major city in Texas and in the nation that does not provide non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in its municipal code. CAUSA was formed in June of 2011 by a small group of activists to develop a strategy for amending San Antonio’s current non-discrimination ordinances to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in city employment, public accommodations, housing, city contractors and appointments to boards and commissions.
Shortly after CAUSA began meeting, organizers learned of a “surprise announcement” that the mayor and city manager wanted to include domestic partner benefits in the city budget. CAUSA switched gears to rally support from the community for that initiative and domestic partner benefits were successfully adopted in September, 2011.
CAUSA then refocused on its original goal, to amend the non-discrimination ordinances that exist within the city code to be inclusive of LGBT people. Organizers for CAUSA met with the mayor and City Council Member Diego Bernal, both of whom seemed supportive and dare we say excited to make this great change for the city; however, neither Mayor Castro nor Councilman Bernal, both of whom relied heavily on the LGBT community for donations and support during their elections, have pushed hard enough and the amendments were never placed on the Council agenda. Even after Mayor Castro and Councilman Bernal were presented with a scientific poll showing strong support for this ordinance among a cross-section of San Antonio voters, they continue to fail to take action or give any indication as to when this will be brought before Council.
CAUSA has now expanded its focus and is advocating for a fully-inclusive, citywide Human Rights Ordinance that includes a Human Rights Commission or similar entity to receive and adjudicate claims of arbitrary discrimination brought on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, etc. using the current policies and ordinances of Ft. Worth, Dallas and Austin as a springboard.
We cannot stop simply because “our friends” in power seem disinterested, or worse, indifferent, to discrimination. It is time to develop a plan of action to see that the City of San Antonio provides a recourse for its citizens and visitors when the heavy hand of discrimination strikes. It is time to GetEQUAL!
Jay Morris
GetEQUAL TX
PS: Parking is difficult around the Esperanza Center, so the best place to park is in the parking lot directly south of the Esperanza Building at 920 San Pedro. The meeting starts at 6 pm, but please arrive early to get a parking space and something to eat.
Please RSVP at this link: https://getequaltx.org/rsvpmaker/planning-meeting-demand-san-antonio-pass-a-human-rights-ordinance/
--
GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
Texans Urge Perry to support LGBT Equality!
On March 26, 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry attended a rally at the Capitol for “Faith and Families”. While it would seem that “Faith and Families” are true Texas values, the underlying issue is that both Perry and the attendees of this rally only believe that one specific faith and specific family construct are valid.
Perry gave a speech at the rally in which he said, "the people of the state of Texas, myself included, believe that marriage is between one man and one woman"
We believe that the governor is also a citizen and entitled to hold and express his own opinion however, he is not entitled to make up his own facts.
These are the facts:
While it is true that 76% of voters voted to ban the freedom to marry in 2005, we must remember that that’s only 76% of the 17.97% of registered voters that even bothered to show up to vote. That is not a majority of Texans. It’s not even a majority of voters, but a minority of registered voters who bothered to show up and register their opinion in a special election.
That 76% certainly did not take into consideration the over 17,440 Texas children who are being raised by two moms or two dads, and they certainly were not protecting those families.
According to a 2013 Equality Texas Poll, 52% of Texas voters support the freedom to marry.
the fact is that the majority of Texans support the freedom to marry.
We call upon the governor to recant his statements against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and to do the job he was elected to do which is to represent and protect ALL Texans, including those who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Please sign the petition which will be printed out and hand delivered to the governor https://getequaltx.org/2013/03/texans-urge-perry-to-support-lgbt-equality/
GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information go to www.getequal.org. You can also follow GetEQUAL on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
Texans Urge Perry to support LGBT Equality!
On March 26, 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry attended a rally at the Capitol for “Faith and Families”. While it would seem that “Faith and Families” are true Texas values, the underlying issue is that both Perry and the attendees of this rally only believe that one specific faith and specific family construct are valid.
Perry gave a speech at the rally in which he said, "the people of the state of Texas, myself included, believe that marriage is between one man and one woman"
We believe that the governor is also a citizen and entitled to hold and express his own opinion however, he is not entitled to make up his own facts.
These are the facts:
While it is true that 76% of voters voted to ban the freedom to marry in 2005, we must remember that that’s only 76% of the 17.97% of registered voters that even bothered to show up to vote. That is not a majority of Texans. It’s not even a majority of voters, but a minority of registered voters who bothered to show up and register their opinion in a special election.
That 76% certainly did not take into consideration the over 17,440 Texas children who are being raised by two moms or two dads, and they certainly were not protecting those families.
According to a 2013 Equality Texas Poll, 52% of Texas voters support the freedom to marry.
the fact is that the majority of Texans support the freedom to marry.
We call upon the governor to recant his statements against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and to do the job he was elected to do which is to represent and protect ALL Texans, including those who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Please sign the petition which will be printed out and hand delivered to the governor https://getequaltx.org/2013/03/texans-urge-perry-to-support-lgbt-equality/
GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information go to www.getequal.org. You can also follow GetEQUAL on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
Texans Urge Perry to support LGBT Equality!
On March 26, 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry attended a rally at the Capitol for “Faith and Families”. While it would seem that “Faith and Families” are some great Texas values, the underlyi
Perry gave a speech at the rally in which he said,ng issue is that both Perry and the attendees of this rally only believe that one specific faith and specific family construct.
the people of the state of Texas, myself included, believe that marriage is between one man and one woman
Obviously, we believe that Texas values ALL faiths and ALL families.
Sign our petition below urging Governor Perry to recant his statements against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans and to support equality for the LGBT community.
Note: These petitions will be printed out and hand delivered directly to the Governor himself. We urge you to sign the petition no matter where you live but, please provide your zipcode in the box provided so that we can get an accurate count on the Texans that have signed!
Here is the body of the petition:
Dear Governor Perry,
I heard you say, “the people of the state of Texas, myself included, believe that marriage is between one man and one woman”. I am exasperated at this statement for many reasons. While it is true that 76% of voters voted to ban the freedom to marry in 2005, we must remember that that’s only 76% of the 17.97% of registered voters that even bothered to show up to vote. That is not a majority of Texans. It’s not even a majority of voters, but a minority of registered voters who bothered to show up and register their opinion in a special election.
That 76% certainly did not take into consideration the over 17,440 Texas children who are being raised by two moms or two dads, and they certainly were not protecting those families.According to a 2013 Equality Texas Poll, 52% of Texas voters support the freedom to marry.
Governor Perry,
the fact is that the majority of Texans support the freedom to marry. You are representing the minority who wish to stand in the way of liberty and the pursuit of happiness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans.The future of marriage in Texas is clear and you are currently standing on the wrong side of history!
I urge you to recant your statement and do your job as Governor which is to protect ALL Texas families!
Texas – Light The Way To Justice
On March 25th and 26th, thousands of Texans gathered throughout the state, in their local communities, to rally for marriage equality. These are the stories of history in the making!
Stay tuned to this page, we are adding media as it is found.
http://storify.com/getequal_tx/texas-light-the-way-to-justice
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