Tell Congress to Include LGBT Families in Immigration Reform

Members of Congress are writing a comprehensive immigration reform bill right now that will fix our country's broken immigration system. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that he will complete the bill by Labor Day, and it is critically important that he, and other lawmakers, hear from us about the need to include LGBT families in the legislation.

Every day, more than 36,000 lesbian and gay families are impacted by discriminatory immigration policies. Families, like those recently featured in The Advocate, are forced to leave the United States or be split apart - because U.S. immigration law does not allow lesbian and gay Americans to sponsor their partners and children for residency. For each of those families, the clock is ticking.

Take action with PFLAG to contact your representatives.

Tell Congress: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

A Message From PFLAG:

Please email your Member of Congress and urge them to support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Lawmakers are now considering The Military Readiness Enhancement Act - a bill that would end the prohibition on service by lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans - and they need to hear from their constituents about why this issue is so important.

By the end of today, two more service members will be dismissed from our armed forces under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

That's right: Two people are fired by our federal government, every day, simply because of who they are, and who they love. Since the law's inception, more than 12,000 men and women - including doctors, linguists, helicopter pilots and others - have been dismissed from the military.

Military families deserve to be treated equally under the law. LGBT Americans deserve an opportunity to serve our country. And our country deserves a fighting force that includes the best and brightest our country has to offer, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, too.

Join PFLAG in calling on Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The time has come to end this discriminatory law and break down the barriers that prevent our loved ones from proudly defending the country we love.

Through this PFLAG Action Alert you can put another dent into this discriminatory law.

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.

Pepsi "Something for Everyone" Slogan is Working!

The American Family Association is calling for a boycott of Pepsi due to their support for the "homosexual agenda" and they are asking their constituents to take action by letting Pepsi know they plan on boycotting.

They are angry because Pepsi donated $500,000 to the Human Rights Campaign as well as $500,000 to Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays(PFLAG)

Pepsi has also marched in pride parades and handed out Pepsi products and paraphernalia in an effort to market to the LGBT community.

In addition PepsiCo has workshops to trains its employees in diversity training which includes educating about sexual orientation and gender identity issues.

---

Please call Pepsi (914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652) and let them know you appreciate their commitment to diversity and for supporting gay charities.

Pepsi's products include Pepsi soft drinks, Frito-Lay chips (800-352-4477), Quaker Oats (800-367-6287), Tropicana (800-237-7799) and Gatorade (800-367-6287).

E-contact form for PepsiCo

Forward this page to your friends and family so they will know about Pepsi's support for equal rights and for LGBT organizations.

Demand Comprehensive Hate Crime Legislation

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays has a petition targeting the U.S. senate urging them to pass comprehensive hate crimes legislation. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are on the rise! Only 27 states and the District of Columbia have hate crimes laws inclusive of sexual orientation, and only five of those and the District of Columbia are expressly transgender inclusive.

Sign PFLAG's Petition Over at Care2

Early Voting Has Begun in Select States!

PFLAG is urging us to the Get Out The Vote. In some states you can skip lines and vote early! Voting has begun, vote NO on marriage amendments! Vote Obama!

Arkansas: Early voting has begun in the state. (Vote NO on Act 1, that bans unmarried co-habitating couples)

Arizona: which is facing a divisive anti-gay amendment (no on 102), voting is also already taking place.

Colorado: Early voting begins today and ends October 31. Vote-by-mail applications msut be received by October 28 (via mail) or October 31 (in-person).

Florida: Early voting begins today and ends November 2, (No On prop 2 "marriage protection amendment"). Vote-by-mail applications are due October 29.

Georgia: Early voting begins October 27 and ends October 31. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 31.

Indiana: Early voting is already underway and ends November 3. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 27.

Iowa: Early voting is already underway and ends November 1.

Maine: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 4.

Montana: Early voting is already underway and ends November 4. Vote-by-mail applications are due November 3.

Nevada: Early voting is already underway and ends on October 31. Vote-by-mail applications are due by October 28.

New Mexico: Early voting is already underway and ends November 1. Vote-by-mail applications must be received by October 31.

North Dakota: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 3.

Ohio: Early voting is already underway and ends November 3. Vote-by-mail applications must be received by November 1.

Tennessee: early voting has started, and lasts until October 30.

The District of Columbia: early voting started on October 20.

Wisconsin: Early voting is already underway and ends on November 3.

Pepsi Donates 500K to PFLAG

Pepsi Co. has donated $500,000 to "Straight for Equality" a program by Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). The program seeks to reach out to straight allies and educate them about LGBT issues.

Jacqueline Millan, Director of PepsiCo Corporate Contributions, said:

"We are delighted to continue our partnership with PFLAG. The Straight for Equality in the Workplace training program is unique in that it is promoting the necessary message of inclusion to untapped groups within the local community, and that is a crucial step towards building a healthy working environment."

As you could imagine right-wing anti-gay groups are already fired up and threatening Pepsi.

Please be sure to contact Pepsi and thank them for donating to LGBT causes and specifically to the "Straight for Equality" program of PFLAG. We must demonstrate that our population is full of brand loyal consumers who watch carefully the political and social ramifications of decisions made by corporations.

Demonstration by LGBT & Allies at "Ex-Gay" Conference in Orlando, Florida

According to Lavender Newswire:

"June 7 Event to Send Message that Parents Love Their LGBT Children “Just the Way They Are”

WHAT: Parents, family members, clergy and allies from across the Gulf Coast region will greet attendees entering the Orlando, Florida “Love Won Out” conference. The conference, organized by the American Family Association, endorses so-called “reparative therapy” for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will greet attendees with donuts, coffee and information on embracing lesbian and gay loved ones.

WHO: PFLAG parents will be joined by supportive members of the clergy from around Orlando, as well as PFLAG National executive director Jody M. Huckaby and Lance Helms, Gulf Coast Regional Director for PFLAG.

WHY: So-called “ex-gay ministries,” such as “Love Won Out,” use out-moded medical theories and radical religious beliefs to justify trying to alter gay and lesbian people’s natural sexual orientation. In 1990, the American Psychological Association (APA) stated that scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good.

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008 7:00am

WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 106 E. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801"

Sally Kern Gone Wild? Rep: "Gays Shouldn't Be Fired Because of Sexual Orientation"

Pop out the champagne, Sally Kern who just a few days ago said the "gays are worse than terrorism" and said the "gay agenda is spreading like a cancer" now has a change of heart. In front of P-FLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) she has said she does not rescind her previous comments but does not feels gays should be discriminated against with regards to employment.

We at Queers United applaud any positive step in the right direction, its small but it is something. Please contact Ms. Kern to thank her for her pro-LGBT sentiment, and also push for her to apologize for her previous offensive comments.

UPDATE: This is an email response I have received from Sally Kern after thanking her for her more progressive comments.

"For the record, I said a homosexual should not be fired from their job just because they are a homosexual. Meaning that if they are doing their job just the same as a heterosexual does their job, they should not be fired. Those from PFLAG misinterpreted my comments to mean that I think homosexuals should have equal rights as they interpret equal rights. I told them that as US citizens they already have equal rights but want special rights. Employers should not go on a witch hunt to fire homosexuals. I do not support laws that would force employers to check their First amendment rights to freedom of religion, speech, and association at the workplace. " -Representative Sally Kern

Capitol Address: 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 332 Oklahoma City, OK 73105

District Address: 2713 Sterling Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73127.

Phone: (405) 557-7348.
Email:sallykern@okhouse.gov