Lady Gaga Supports Boycotting AZ's LAW SB1070 During The Monster Ball Tour in Phoenix 31 July 2010

From GETEQUAL: Your pressure, combined with some amazing on-the-ground organizing, created a moment in Arizona on Saturday night that was unforgettable.

Just before her Phoenix concert, Lady Gaga met with the two queer migrant youth who we introduced you to last week. They originally launched the petition asking Lady Gaga to speak out against the discriminatory SB 1070. [1] During that meeting, the youth talked with her about their lives -- and about the culture of fear that has been created for immigrants in Arizona.



Following that backstage meeting, Lady Gaga tweeted to more than five million followers, "Tonight we will continue to actively protest social and political injustices in Arizona. We will sing, we will stand up, + we will be heard."

She performed that night with "Stop SB 1070" written on her arm -- which Victor and Amelec had helped her paint on -- pausing in the middle of her show to denounce the bill and call on fans to "peacefully protest and speak against discrimination everywhere." After a mix of applause and boo's, she continued, "Without immigrants this country wouldn't have sh*t."

GetEQUAL was thrilled to be asked to be part of the organizing effort that helped create this opportunity, and are proud of Lady Gaga's ongoing commitment to stand up to legal and social discrimination. We will continue to support the work of the young organizers who created this conversation -- and others who stand at the intersection of LGBTQ and immigration issues.

We know that there is a lot of work left to do in educating people about the overlap between LGBTQ issues and immigration issues. GetEQUAL is committed to continuing the work of intersectional organizing, and we hope that you will join us.

Thank you for taking action -- we look forward to doing more work with you soon!

Get out! Get active! GetEQUAL!

Robin, Kip, Heather, Jay, and Michelle

GetEqual's Co-Founder Robin McGehee’s Post-Arrest Statement

GetEqual’s Robin McGehee, who was arrested Thursday with Lt. Dan Choi at the White House as part of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” protest, filmed a statement explaining why GetEqual is taking action and pushing for a repeal of DADT and a trans-inclusive ENDA.



"We believe we need to do more than lobbying, making phone calls, and giving money to people who are not making true to the promises we were given. And that's the reason that we organized with Lt. Dan Choi and Cpt. James Pietrangelo today, to take action at the White House where true pressure needs to be given. Everyone knows that without repeal language added to the defense authorization bill, that there is not a true course or a true plan of action that will be successful by this year's end."

GetEqual ENDA Heroes freed Rallies in support planned Nationwide

ENDA's Dog tail

Pelosi's office says despite the civil disobedience in which four members of a newly formed group 'GetEqual' were arrested at her office she will not move ENDA untill she is sure the bill has all the votes needed to pass. Education and Labor chairman Miller more optimistically stated Thursday that "ENDA HR3015 will be marked up and moved [out of his committee] after heath care reform", but protocol dictates he cannot actually do so untill Pelosi gives him the go ahead.

ENDA Dog chases tail.

Inclusive ENDA leader Dr. Julian Weiss has compiled a exhaustive straw poll survey which indicates that there are the votes needed to pass ENDA in the House. However Pelosi's office contests this unique citizen poll maintaining that straw polls are conducted only after a bill is moved out of committee and onto the house for a vote. Pelosi says untill then there is no way to know how each individual representative will vote.

In the ENDA Dog raises it's tail to avoid the...

Pelosi's feet dragging enrages LGBT community who resort to committing a act of civil disobedience. The group GetEqual entered the House of Representatives speakers offices on both coasts spontaneously. Their stated goal was to remain in Pelosi's office untill she agreed to move ENDA HR3015 for a vote by the months end if she denied that request, to refuse to leave. The GetEqual members were arrested and release.

Calls going out for protests and rallies demanding ENDA move forward! please direct message queerunity on twitter with details or leave information on Queers United post.

DC Agenda 4 arrested in ENDA protest on Capitol Hill

More Activist arrested

GetEQUAL on twitter
Pelosi aide Dan Bernal says Pelosi has no commitment or timeframe to act on ENDA #GetENDA. Epic #fail of leadership. Tweet using hashtags #lgbt #ENDANOW

ENDA votes compiled by Inclusive Enda's straw poll.

Unconfirmed Senator contact info: http://bit.ly/45WGMc

US Senate ENDA Spreadsheet: http://bit.ly/14TDll

Unconfirmed Reps contact info: http://bit.ly/NUFUd

US Reps ENDA Spreadsheet: http://bit.ly/Q5YMJ

Civil Disobedience happening NOW: LT Dan Choi handcuffed to White House, Sit in' at Nancy Pelosi offices in DC and SF

Dear friends,
Nancy Pelosi has the ability to end workplace discrimination of LGBTQ people, but she is refusing to act. It's time to let her know that we won't wait any longer.
As you read this, GetEqual.org members are entering Pelosi's offices in DC and her district office in San Francisco. They won't leave until Speaker Pelosi commits to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the floor for a vote this month - or until they are arrested.


Speaker Pelosi needs to hear from our community today. Can you call Speaker Pelosi right now to demand that ENDA (HR 3017) move to the floor for a vote? (202) 225-4965
After you call, please click here to tell us about it, even if you get a busy signal or can't get through.

A majority of Congress supports this bill to stop job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but promises to bring it to a vote last fall were broken several times. ENDA has been jammed up in committee for six months, awaiting a signal from Speaker Pelosi that hasn't come. We have visited, called and written Congress by the thousands, and have been ignored. The usual lobbying tactics do not appear to be having the needed effect. Now the midterm elections are coming, and Speaker Pelosi has promised Congress no more "controversial" votes. The "controversy" is whether LGBT Americans have the right to a job. This "tyrrany of the majority" must stop. Nonviolent direct action is relevant and needed and it's happening now.
ENDA is important because studies show that LGBT workers endure high unemployment, underemployment and harassment. We have to lie and hide in order to get and keep a job. In 30 states across America, there is no law against firing someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and the same is true in 38 states for gender identity. Ask Police Officer Michael Carney of Springfield, Massachusetts, who testified before Congress about the harassment he had to endure in the station house before being fired. Ask Vandy Beth Glenn of Atlanta, Georgia, who told Congress about being fired from her job as a proofreader with the Georgia legislature because she is transgender. This has gone on long enough.
If you want more information on Speaker Pelosi's position, and the demand that she move ENDA forward, you can find it here.

Will you join with us in demanding that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people be protected from job discrimination?

Call Speaker Pelosi's office at (202) 225-4965 to ask that ENDA (HR 3017) move forward to a vote. Be polite, but firm. Take action now, and please let us know how it goes.
As President Obama himself said, quoting Frederick Douglass: "Power concedes nothing without a demand." We know Speaker Pelosi is sympathetic to our cause, but is she ready to act on our civil rights? It is time for a demand.

-Jillian Weiss and the GetEQUAL crew