Tell Speaker Pelosi to Make Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal a Priority

The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1283) which would allow gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers to serve openly has the backing of the majority of citizens and Democrats in power. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the power to make this issue of ending discrimination in our military a priority.

Join SLDN and the Courage Campaign in urging Speaker Pelosi to act to end DADT.

"Make It Work" With the Courage Campaign

"Make It Work" is a new set of events by the Courage Campaign to win back marriage equality in the state of California. More than 20 “Make it Work!” events are scheduled between June 18-28.



For a listing of events or to join an equality team check out the "Make It Work" page.

Tell the President to End the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy and not to Fire Lt. Dan Choi

Lt. Dan Choi, from Orange County, California, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an Iraq War veteran. Last March he went on Rachel Maddow's show and spoke three truthful words: "I am gay."

As a result Lt. Choi received a letter from the Army on April 23 discharging him for violating the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He told Rachel Maddow the letter was "a slap in the face" to himself and the soldiers he as commanded and served with over the past decade.

Lt. Choi is fighting to stay in the military and ensure that no other soldier is ever again discharged as a result of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile are joining his effort to secure equality in our armed forces.

President Obama did not create this policy. But he now has the opportunity to keep his promise and allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly in the military. It's the right thing to do -- for justice and for national security.

140,860 people (as of Tuesday, May 26) have signed the following petition to President Obama from the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile. Please add your name now:

Keep Your Promise, President Obama

A new petition by the Courage Campaign is calling upon Obama to allow the federal government to provide the same health benefits to same-sex spouses and partners of federal employees that other federal employee spouses receive.

Join them in urging Obama to keep his promise for LGBT equality, sign the petition.

Pay It Forward: Thank Dustin Lance Black, Sean Penn and Cleve Jones

The Courage Campaign is urging us to send a thank you letter to Dustin Lance Black, Sean Penn, and Cleve Jones for making the movie MILK possible, and for their commitment to LGBT rights and equality. Their acceptance speeches at the oscars and their inclusion of gay rights in their speech is heartfelt and has been heard by millions.

Click here to fill out the letter

URGENT: Ask President Clinton to Respect the Manchester Hyatt Boycott

President Clinton is scheduled to give a paid speech this Sunday at the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego to the annual convention of the International Franchise Association. Doing so will violate a union boycott and labor dispute -- the workers at the hotel lack job security and the housekeepers face onerous workloads.

But that's not all. President Clinton will also be offending supporters of marriage equality. Doug Manchester, the owner of the hotel, contributed $125,000 in early seed money to the Proposition 8 campaign.

We can't let this happen. President Clinton has the power to move his speech away from the Manchester Hyatt. And you have the power to convince him before it's too late. Please sign this petition to President Clinton immediately and the Courage Campaign and UNITE HERE will do everything in our power to get your signatures to him ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/dotherightthing

Watch "Fidelity" and Sign a Letter to California Supreme Court

The Courage Campaign is asking us to tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry.

DEADLINE: Valentine's Day.



Sign the letter to the California Supreme Court.

Camp Courage - Training Sessions Throughout California to Defeat Prop 8!

Camp Courage is a training program inspired by "Camp Obama" that will use community organizing methods that have developed leaders and nurtured progressive social movements for decades in an effort to repeal proposition 8 and bring back marriage rights to same-gender couples.

The first Camp Courage will take place in Los Angeles and the deadline to apply is Jan 13th, but soon after will move on to other parts of California like like Fresno, San Diego, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and San Francisco.

Please address any questions to: CampCourage@couragecampaign.org

"Please Don't Divorce Us" Campaign

The Courage Campaign, a progressive organization that has been very active in fighting proposition 8 has begun the "Please Don't Divorce Us" campaign. The campaign is in response to the anti-equality folks who want to nullify the existing 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in California prior to the right to get married being taken away.

The effort is to put a face to the marriage equality movement and to show Kenneth Starr arguing to nullify the marriages and those on the anti-equality side that their efforts are affecting real families.

To get your picture added just take a picture holding a piece of paper that says "Please don't divorce us," "Please don't divorce my moms,""Please don't divorce my friends, Dawn and Audrey," "Please don't divorce Californians" or whatever you want after "Please don't divorce..." and send it to: pleasedontdivorce@couragecampaign.org

"Changing The Conversation" Invitation for Rick Warren to Debate on Prop 8!

While President-elect Obama has chosen to ignore the troubling beliefs of the man who will spiritually usher in his presidency, Californians can not ignore Rick Warren.

We can not ignore Rick Warren's fervent support for Proposition 8 or his mobilization of thousands of Saddleback Church evangelical Christians to enshrine discrimination into our state constitution.

That's why we're asking you to give Pastor Warren a new invitation -- a Courage Campaign invitation to a public debate on same-sex marriage with Reverend Eric Lee, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) of Greater Los Angeles.

The deadline for the petition has been extended, please sign now!

Courage Campaign's - Repeal Prop 8 Petition!

"The birth of a new Marriage Equality Movement -- the civil rights movement of the 21st Century -- is unfolding before our eyes.

Movements are visceral and popular, often borne of outrage and anger. What we are witnessing on the streets and online is a community of people who have come together to say: "These are our lives. This is our time. This is unacceptable." Organized from the bottom-up by thousands of ordinary people just like you, this people-powered phenomenon is exponentially growing by the minute, online and offline.

This is our moment to stand strong together -- gay and straight -- and say that we refuse to accept a California where discrimination is enshrined in our state constitution. Please show your support by pledging to support our campaign to repeal Prop 8 and restore marriage equality to California.

Please sign the pledge to repeal Prop 8 -- then forward this link to your friends"

Join Courage Campaign "Conference Call" Tonight for Next Move on Marriage Equality

On Thursday, November 6, from 5-6 p.m. PT the Courage Campaign will host State Senator-elect Mark Leno, a leader in the fight for marriage equality and a progressive champion in the Legislature, and Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council President as well as Barack Obama's California campaign co-chair for a unique discussion on where we
go from here, post-election.

During this "Courage Campaign Conversation," there will be an opportunity for participants to ask Eric Garcetti and
Mark Leno a question. Or, if you would like to increase the chances of your question being asked by the moderator, please submit your question in the form field below.

Space is limited, so please fill out the form below to RSVP ASAP. We will contact you via email immediately with the phone number and call-in information.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/LenoGarcettiCall