National Freedom to Marry Day

National Freedom to Marry Day
Feb 12, 2009

On National Freedom to Marry Day, all Marriage Equality USA® Chapters and Member Organizations will participate in Marriage Equality USA's National Freedom to Marry Events. Marriage Equality USA® has also partnered with Join The Impact for this national event. Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.



Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA® chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else. Everyone who supports marriage equality is welcomed to attend and support this event.

By Kelli Busey
Jan. 15, 2009
planetransgender

TEXAS to decide fate of Gender inclusive "ENDA" HB508

By: Villarreal H.B. No. 538

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prohibition of employment discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subdivisions (9-a) and (13-a) to read as follows:
(9-a) "Gender identity or expression" means having or
being perceived as having a gender-related identity, appearance,
expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance,
expression, or behavior is different from that commonly associated
with the person's actual or perceived sex.
(13-a) "Sexual orientation" means the actual or
perceived status of an individual with respect to the individual's
sexuality.
SECTION 2. Section 21.051, Labor Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 21.051. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER. An employer
commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color,
disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual
orientation, or gender identity or expression the employer:
(1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges
an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an
individual in connection with compensation or the terms,
conditions, or privileges of employment; or
(2) limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or
applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to
deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely
affect in any other manner the status of an employee.
Full bill at www.legis.state.tx.us

Please contact Representative Michael Villarreal and tell him that you support his efforts.

By Kelli Busey
Jan. 14, 2009
planetransgender