Vigils Around The Country to Honor Slain Gay Teen Lawrence King

Feb 12th marks two years since the tragic murder of 15 year old Lawrence King due to his sexual orientation and gender expression. Lawrence King was an innocent victim of queerphobia, murdered simply because he asked a fellow classmate to be his valentine. We must never forget Lawrence King and the countless others murdered due to hate, and we must continue to fight for a comprehensive hate crimes legislation in every locale and an end to state-sanctioned homophobia/transphobia.

Minnesota

End the Violence
Blaine, Minnesota
Friday, February 12, 2010
11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m
Location: Blaine High School
Co-Sponsored By: Blaine High School Gay Straight Alliance
Virginia

Virginia

"I Love Larry"
Arlington, Virginia
Friday, February 12, 2010
All Day
Location: Wakefield High School
Co-Sponsored By: The Wakefield High School Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Questions: jclisham@arlington.k12.va.us 703-228-6711

To add a vigil or learn more goto http://www.rememberinglawrence.org/

Help Make Minnesota's Schools Safer!

“The Safe Schools for All” (SF 971) was introduced by Minnesota State Senators Dibble, Wiger, Rummel and Saxhaug. Clear and strong implementation language will help reinforce the training and education necessary for a bill like this to take root in the school community.

Take some time right now and do three things to ensure safe schools for all young people in Minnesota!

Call your Senator Today! Call your legislators and ask them to support the bill. You can find out who your legislators are by clicking on this link. (If the senators listed above represent you, please contact them and thank them – it goes a long way!). Be sure to tell your senator:

"I support SF 971 because I believe schools should be safe for all students and families. Please vote yes on SF 971. This bill is an important step for Minnesota to provide a safe learning environment for our young people by prohibiting bullying and harassment."

Share Your Stories! If you have a relevant story about bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools – big or small – and let us know. These stories will help us pass this bill. Your legislators will want to see and hear how enacting this bill will correct current and past wrongs. Your experience just might convince the final legislator to vote for our families’ needs.

Forward our blog! Tell your friends and family about this bill. Call them up and/or email this blog write-up to them. Encourage them to contact their legislators with the same message above.

Crossposted via PFLAG National Blog.

Minnesota Gay Republican To Vote Against Marriage Equality

"Minnesota State Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told KLKS on Friday that he will not vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples many of the rights currently denied by Minnesota statute. Koering, who is gay and a Republican, said he would vote against it because the state faces bigger problems.

“I think some of the gay activists will be upset with me for this, but sometimes I think an agenda is pushed so far and so fast that people have no alternative but to push back,” Koering told Raw Story at the time. “And I think that sometimes you have to move slowly." (Minnesota Independent News)

This is a pot of gold for the right wing! Tell Mr. Koering we have enough enemies opposed to equality and that it's one thing not to bring up the legislation but quite another to vote against it once it comes up for a vote.

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
State Office Building, Room 131
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
651.296.4875
sen.paul.koering@senate.mn