Vote for Pro-LGBT Miss America Contestant!

Ms. Claire Buffie a contestant for Miss America is the first ever pageant queen to campaign on an LGBT rights platform. Having won the nomination for Miss New York the beauty queen/photographer and activist now vies for the top crown.

Ms. Buffie has been active in educating students about respect and acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. A straight ally herself, Buffie has a lesbian sister whom she wants to see have equal rights in her lifetime.



Visit the Miss America site to vote for Buffie, or text MANY to 24470.

Be sure to tune in on January 15th to see if she is selected to the top 15!

Jason Mraz Stands Up for LGBT Equality

Singer and songwriter Jason Mraz is standing up for LGBT people and wants to be proactive in the community. In a recent trip to the San Diego LGBT Center he says:

"I came down here to learn more about how I can get involved in the fight for equality. Not just marriage equality, but equality for all. And why it's important to me is that it affects my life. Many of my friends, management, staff, even one of my close, personal friends, my transgender surfing buddy ... I have been so inspired by the life that they live and the committed relationships that they have. Most of them have had longer, more committed relationships than I have had, yet don't get the same rights as I do, don't get to plan and protect each other in the bond that marriage offers, and to feel protected in society. So I'm down here to learn and hopefully you are here to learn and are joining me in the fight" (Advocate).

Thank Jason Mraz for standing up for LGBT equality via Twitter.

*Photo courtesy of Macinate on Flickr.

Urge The White House to Stand Firm on LGBT Equality

The airways and the Internet are saturated, literally dripping with analyses and discussions of President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office. When Obama was sworn in, the White House announced an eight-point civil rights agenda for LGBT Americans.

In assessing Obama’s progress in fulfilling this agenda, it bears remembering that each of the goals listed require action from Congress. None of these can be addressed by a presidential order. But we’ve already been disappointed to see foot-dragging on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” not just in Congress but at the White House as well.

Please urge the White House and President Obama to stand firm in his support for LGBT rights and in passing them as soon as possible.

White House Switchboard: 202-456-1414

E-Contact Form

Crossposted via Box Turtle Bulletin.

Does Your Business Support Overturning Prop 8?

A number of businesses, including Google, have signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief supporting our effort to overturn Proposition 8. We appreciate support from businesses who are interested in fairness and equality for their LGBT employees and all California’s families. If your company would like to be involved in our efforts, please fill out the form below to let us know what you are interested in and how to get in touch with you.

Sign up with the National Center for Lesbian Rights as a business that supports overturning prop 8. You can sign the amicus brief to the courts, or find out how to help.

The VIRTUAL March for LGBT Equality!

Join Equality Matters for Inauguration Week, January 17 to 24, for the first "Online March for Equality." The simple act of posting this website to your Facebook profile AND changing your profile picture will help spread the word and send a message of equality at a critical time in our Nation's political history.

If we're ever going to achieve equality, it's going to happen because we educate all Americans about the important rights we're fighting for: tax fairness, hospital visitation, medical decision-making, exemption from estate taxes, spousal immigration, and government benefits -- just to name a few.

Click here to select a badge for your profile or site.

Check out the 1,138 reasons why we must demand marriage equality.

Got Milk?

Here is your chance to be styling with a cute and politically hip button while also making a contribution to LGBT equality. There are several buttons to choose from and all proceeds benefit Driving Equality.