Plan Today, Then Act In May

Talking with your elected official can seem intimidating, but it's easy and often pleasant. Just let them know the issues that are important to you and your family, and show them that you are an interested and involved voter.

The simple act of visiting your legislator in person makes more of a difference than a hundred e-mails, letters, or phone calls. Help us humanize LGBT issues and build support for fair and equal treatment of everyone, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Last year's participants were critical to our success in getting both the School Violence Prevention Act and the Healthy Youth Act passed into law.

Online registration for this free event will open in March, but go ahead and make plans now to come to the capitol. (We'll be at the Legislative Building at 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601).

Equality NC will schedule appointments for you with your representatives ahead of time. On the Day of Action, we'll provide training on how to talk with elected officials, bring you up to speed on the key issues this session, and supply you with handy information packets. We'll also group you with other people from your area or neighboring areas so you can go to your appointment with friends and allies.

We'll provide lunch, and we'll end the day with a debriefing on what happened, what we learned, and next steps for positive change.

Issues for this year include:

• Opposing the (highly expensive!) marriage discrimination amendment to the state Constitution
• Opposing legislation that negatively affects LGBT parents and their children
• Supporting legislation for nondiscrimination in employment and housing
• Supporting funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and care
• Supporting reform of the "crime against nature" law
• Supporting reform of the current hate crime law to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (as well as age, gender, and disability status)

Transgender participants may be eligible for subsidy from the Connie Spry Fund. This fund provides assistance in covering transportation and lodging costs for transgender activists with financial need. (This fund was created by a generous donor to honor the memory of our former board member, Connie Spry, who was a strong advocate for the transgender community.)

Face-to-face conversations are the single most effective tool to get more legislators to support our issues. We urge you to take one day off from your ordinary life to change the future for the better. Do it for family, your community, and yourself!