Freedom to marry under attack in Maine.

An important message sent on behalf of No on 1 - Protect Maine Equality Campaign

Freedom to marry under attack in Maine.
The freedom to marry is under attack in Maine. We need your help!In less than six weeks, Maine voters will decide on a statewide referendum that could deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry. As usual, anti-gay extremists are doing everything they can to strip LGBT people of this fundamental right. Despite their efforts, polls show the election is very close.But with so much at stake, the No On 1 campaign in Maine needs every one of us to pitch in and make sure that voters in Maine hear from us. It's time to hit the phones!Sign up here to be part of the September 27th Maine Day of Action.

On Sunday, September 27, join thousands of volunteers from across the country who are calling Maine voters.
All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing – the web-based software does it all. But it can't sign you up! So do it – sign up here and dial for freedom.
For the past five years, the Task Force has been working side-by-side with our partners in Maine to prepare for this moment. Learn more about our work in Maine.

Relgious broadcaster (NRB) Only opposing voice to ENDA HR 3017

House Labor and Education Committee testimony establishes systemic State and Local governmental discrimination against LGBT people and disproves claims that religious right wing would be unfairly targeted.

Mr Parshell who represents NRB "Christian broadcasters" testified that HR 3017 would would unfairly subject the profit and not for profit religious radio stations his organization represents to additional litigation. Mr. Parshell stated he represents a wide diversity of faith communities presumably hoping to present religion as a whole as being opposed to ENDA.

ENDA uses the time proven tittle 7 scope to protect religious organizations. In 1998 the FCC ruled to cover religious broadcasters be they non profit or for profit.

Rabbi David Saperstein testified that ENDA enjoys a wide support of religious organizations.

MR. Miller, Chairman of the Labor and Education Committee, after hearing Vandy Beth Glenn recounting how she was summarily dismissed from her Georgia State job for being transgender breathed hard and said "We need this law."

Professor William Eskridge testified passionately that his dismissal at the University of Virginia was due to his sexual orientation. The irony of Professor Eskride testimony was that while being summarily dismissed at the University of Virgina the belief at that time in Congress was that LGBT people were degenerates, sexual predatory and prone to be disruptive of civil proceeding! That belief was substantiated by testimony in committee much like the current testimony debunking those same beliefs.

Federal Communications Commission 1998 News Release
FCC MODIFIES EEO ENFORCEMENT FOR RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS
The FCC said that religious broadcasters may establish religious belief or affiliation as a job qualification for all station employees.

NRB Press Release September 23, 2009NRB SAYS GAY RIGHTS BILL WILL "CRIPPLE" FAITH BASED GROUPS

Rabbi David SapersteinNewsweek’s 2009 list as the most influential rabbi in the country



Witnesses:

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

Hon. Stuart J. Ishimaru
Acting Chairman
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

William Eskridge
John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence
Yale Law School

Vandy Beth Glenn
fired from her Georgia state legislative job when she told her supervisor she was transitioning from male to female

Camille Olson
Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Craig Parshall
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
National Religious Broadcasters Association

Rabbi David Saperstein
Director
The Religious Action Center

Brad Sears
Executive Director
Williams Institute
UCLA School of Law

by kelli Anne Busey September 23, 2009