PETITION FOR TEXAS

THE FOLLOWING IS THE PETITION THAT I PROPOSE FOR ALL TEXANS WHO WISH TO IMPROVE THEIR STATE (IT WILL ALSO WORK FOR OTHER STATES):


DEAR SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE____________________,

I, (NAME)__________________________________,
RESIDING AT THE ADDRESS OF , (ADDRESS)__________________________________,
ATTEST THAT I AM YOUR CONSTITUENT.

I AM SIGNING THIS PETITION TO IMPRESS UPON YOU MY CONVICTION THAT PERSONS BELONGING TO THE GAY, LESBIAN, BI-SEXUAL, AND TRANS-GENDER COMMUNITY, HENCEFORTH REFERRED TO AS THE GLBT COMMUNITY, ARE DESERVING OF ALL THE RIGHTS THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED UNIVERSALLY.

I SUPPORT, GENERALLY, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENSURE GLBT INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN SUCH THINGS AS EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, VISITATION, MARRIAGE AND ADOPTION RIGHTS.

MORE BROADLY, I AM OF THE CONVICTION THAT RIGHTS THAT ARE ENJOYED BY SOME, SHOULD BE ENSURED FOR ALL. AND THAT NO GROUP SHOULD BE UNDULY EXCLUDED FROM THE RIGHTS NECESSARY TO ALLOW FOR THE PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, AND THE BETTERMENT OF ONE'S FAMILY (USING THE BROADER DEFINITION OF THE WORD).

MY SIGNATURE AFFIXED HERE:________________________
DATE:_______________


THE GLBT PETITION FACE BOOK PAGE.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Texas

P.O. Box 12905, Austin, TX 78711-2905, T 512.478.7300 F 512.478.7303 www.aclutx.org

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Annise Parker a Success!

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2009
Contact: Adam Harris
501-590-3365 cell | adam@anniseparker.com

We're Thrilled!


Houston, TX – The candidates for mayor filed their finance reports today – and the big story here is Annise Parker.

Everybody thought Gene Locke would have three times as much money. But Annise Parker has more.

Because he has a limited base of support, Brown is having to spend his personal wealth to try to buy his way into the mayor's office. Let's remember, in 2003 Bill White started out with little name ID. That's the position Brown is in. It took White – who did have an actual base of support – $6 million to get into a runoff spot.

Bottom line – the big story is Annise Parker:

* Parker has more cash on hand than Locke.
* Parker has more than three times as many individual donations as Locke, and almost twice as many as Brown and Locke combined.
* Locke is spending almost twice as much money per month as Parker – simply trying to catch up to the substantial lead Parker entered the race with and continues to grow.
* Locke's campaign stated that the evidence of "campaign strength" was raising $383,000 in the last 30 days. But Parker raised more than that during the last 30 days. (If the last 30 days is the mark of campaign strength, it's worth noting that Parker raised 47% of her total contributions in the last 30 days of the period, while Locke raised 33% of his total contributions during that time.)


One thing is clear: Annise Parker is not only the candidate who started out with a strong lead – she's the candidate who continues to grow that lead. Parker's dollars were raised from more individual donors than any other candidate. Parker’s small dollar donors live on a budget, give wisely and will give again and again during this important campaign to steer Houston through tough economic challenges.





As Houston’s elected City Controller, Annise Parker directs Houston’s financial investments and manages billions of tax dollars. Her record of independent audits has cut waste and saved the city money to use for priorities like public safety, after-school programs, and economic development. A businesswoman and neighborhood leader, Parker also served on Houston’s City Council. She spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry before entering public service.

Parker is a candidate for mayor of Houston in the November 3, 2009 election. Learn more on her website at: www.anniseparker.com.

###



Pol. adv. Annise Parker Campaign, 321 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77007

Monday, July 13, 2009

From Equality Texas

The following message was sent to me from Equality. FORT WORTH: CALL TO ACTION - CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 14TH

Fort Worth City Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 6pm

Join "Fairness Fort Worth" and Supportive Organizations

Thanks to all our Fort Worth and North Texas members who emailed Mayor Moncrief and all Fort Worth City Council Members to request an independent investigation of the raid by Fort Worth Police and TABC officers. Equality Texas members and supporters have sent thousands of letters to the Mayor and City Council Members.

Next Steps: With the Fort Worth Police Department and TABC conducting internal investigations of the raid on Sunday, June 28, 2009, and Mayor Moncrief asking the US Attorney to review the police investigation, it is critical that citizens of Fort Worth continue to demand a separate and independent investigation.

We are asking our Fort Worth and Tarrant County members, families, and friends to attend the Fort Worth City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 14th. We need a show of support and solidarity from the Fort Worth/Tarrant County community to demand accountability and action.

Action: Show up to support the call for an independent investigation of the Fort Worth Police Department's Raid on the Rainbow Lounge.

Arrive by 6:00 pm to secure a seat or standing room. Dress appropriately for a city council meeting.Look for organizers wearing "Fairness Fort Worth" t-shirts or buttons. They will ask you to sign in with them. No signs, posters, or flags, please.

It will be a long evening as there are 77 agenda items. Be prepared. "Fairness Fort Worth" spokesperson Jon Nelson is scheduled to speak under the "Public Comment" part of the agenda. (With respect to parents wishing to bring their children, please arrive and stay for the first hour or so and then leave if children need to eat or go to bed.) * It will not be required or necessary to speak, but it is important to have a large number of supporters present. We encourage families, parents, friends, faith leaders, and straight allies to attend to reflect the diversity of support. * Fort Worth City Hall, Council Chambers, 1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Your presence alone will affirm to Mayor Moncrief and to each City Council Member that you are concerned about your community and that you want action.

YOU make equality happen!
EL PASO: CALL TO ACTION - CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 14TH

El Paso City Council Meeting Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 8:30am

PUENTES LGBT RESOURCES will provide public comment in support of diversity training for local law enforcement agencies

Last Thursday, the ACLU of Texas and Equality Texas called for an official investigation into the El Paso Police Department's response to the June 29th incident at an area Chico's Tacos restaurant. "We’re extremely concerned that the actions of the restaurant employees and the El Paso police may have violated the law," said ACLU of Texas legal director Lisa Graybill. "The City of El Paso prohibits restaurants from refusing service to anyone based on their sexual orientation, and the police should have enforced that ordinance.”

Paul Scott, Executive Director at Equality Texas, noted that "While neither state nor federal law explicitly prohibits discrimination against LGBT individuals in public accommodations, the City of El Paso, like other major Texas cities including Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth, went above and beyond to adopt an anti-discrimination ordinance that protects LGBT individuals. This makes what reportedly happened in El Paso all the more disappointing. Additionally, the continued reference to the unconstitutional sodomy statute by law enforcement officers is further proof that the Texas Legislature needs to repeal this statute and get it off the books." Read the full press release here.

Next Steps: The ACLU of Texas and Equality Texas are working together on outreach efforts to help Texans better understand their rights. Meanwhile, PUENTES LGBT RESOURCES will be advocating for increased diversity training for law enforcement officials. PUENTES LGBT RESOURCES will be providing public comment at Tuesday's El Paso City Council meeting.

Action: You can show your support for PUENTES' advocacy efforts merely by your respectful presence in the council chambers. The meeting begins at 8:30am, however the public comment portion of the meeting will likely be later in the day. No signs, banners, or flags, please. The full agenda is viewable online here.

El Paso City Hall, Council Chambers, El Paso, TX 79901 (Public parking at Durango & Franklin).
AMARILLO: SUMMER CAMP POOL PARTY

SUMMER CAMP!

"SUMMER CAMP THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE"

Benefiting Equality Texas and Equality Texas Foundation

Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 2pm - 6pm

At the home of Joseph Madrid & Steven McDaniel

6723 Sandie Court, Amarillo 79109

$30 in advance - $35 at the door

BUY TICKETS NOW - HERE

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE HERE or call 512.474.5475

SPONSORS

Steve McDaniel & Joseph Madrid Whitney Kelly & Jim Kemp

David Allee & Junior Ramos Dave Blakely and Bruce McAda Kirby Curry and Ronnie Nanos Diane Farrington-Curtis and Shanna Foust Peeples Terry Gibbs Jennifer Hinkle and Holly Mitchell, MD John Hintz D. Clay Holcomb and Nelson Williams Sheldon Johnston and Jay Youree Jay Kirk Rex Lusk Tom Persechino Saul Reyes and Tony Brockman The 212 Club: David Torres and Kevin Locke The UPS Store (Hillside and Bell): Sheri Sorrell Robert Carr Vincent and Brodey Carter
NORTH TEXAS: BLACK TIE DINNER TABLE SELECTION PROCESS CONTINUES

Equality Texas Foundation is once again a beneficiary of the Black Tie Dinner that supports 18 local beneficiaries and HRC, its national beneficiary.

The support from Black Tie Dinner is instrumental in continuing our work in North Texas with our Equality Project trainings, Pride in Faith programs, and our collaborative work to educate Texans about the critical importance of education and advocacy to achieve equality in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Denton, and across the entire state.

If you attend Black Tie or know someone that does, then you can directly impact the work of Equality Texas Foundation as we continue to expand our outreach and make equality happen here in Texas!

Simply, being a table captain for Equality Texas Foundation or designating your table and its seats means that your locally designated funds will support our mission directly. We could not continue to do our work without your support and the support of Black Tie Dinner.

The 2009 Online TABLE CAPTAIN Process launched on June 15th. Table Captains register by creating a log-in account and either they, or their guests, can make payment for their seats or the full table through the secure online system.

As in the past, the number of Table Captain tables is subject to availability. The key difference this year is that Table Captain table selection is based on the table payment completion date; and as in prior years, after Sponsor table selection. Table Captains are encouraged to register and organize their tables quickly to obtain the best table selection position available.

Thank you for being a table captain. Please let us know if you intend to intend to be a Table Captain for us or if you intend to designate your seats to Equality Texas Foundation - HERE.

Volunteer for Black Tie Dinner on behalf of Equality Texas Foundation

All beneficiaries are required to provide volunteers for the event to qualify to be eligible for funds raised at the Dinner.

These much-needed funds are used to conduct research, educate Texans about issues of equality, and to coordinate efforts of LGBT and allied organizations across the state.

Sign up now and we'll contact you about specific shift times and the different duties before, after, and during the dinner.

SIGN UP NOW
DALLAS: EQUALITY PROJECT TRAINING WEEK OF AUGUST 3RD

Equality Texas and the Human Rights Campaign will conduct a joint training session in Dallas the week of August 3rd in order to prepare attendees to make district lobbying visits to their elected officials - both Federal and State.

Equality Texas will provide its Equality Project training, with talking points and voting histories for Texas State Representatives and State Senators. HRC will provide lobby training with talking points and voting histories for United States Congresspersons and Senators.

Date, time and location will be released soon.

Lobbying & Advocacy (not deductible, but funds our work at the Texas Capitol) Single gift Monthly giving

Public Education (tax deductible) Single gift Monthly giving

Thank you for supporting our work!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

BARC

Annise Parker for Houston Mayor

Annise Parker Releases Plan to Improve Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care

Parker: “If elected mayor, I will do everything within my power to make sure BARC becomes a humane and adequately funded no-kill shelter.”

Tea Party

"Indeed, the rightward tilt of the state's GOP electorate permitted another Tea Party insurgent to mount a respectable run without serving as a spoiler to Perry's similarly themed campaign. Debra Medina, a darling of the far right, recently made headlines for questioning the government's involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but came in with about the same 16 percent showing that polls registered prior to her gaffe. -http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100304/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1213


The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.

The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.

"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.

The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.

http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/


If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.

The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.

Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.

Capitol Building -Austin

State Capitol Complex:
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.

Texas Employment Law

"Texas employment law does NOT prohibit workplace discrimination and/or termination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status." -Equality Texas


"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com

http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html

Texas Travel and Leisure Blog

Check out my website:
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!