Western Mass. Equality Across America

Prop 8 Day AFTER Decision Rally & Kiss-in: Celebration/Protest

2010-06-23T16:12:00.001-07:00

Rally & Kiss-in: Celebration/Protest

Day AFTER Decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger

Stand for FULL marriage equality and full federal benefits for same-sex couples!

THURSDAY * AUGUST 5

6pm * Northampton City Hall * Main Street

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102827123108100&ref=mf

In the coming days, federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will announce his decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a trial to determine the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which in November of 2008 took away marriage equality in California.

In the trial, Judge Walker asked whether there was enough of a "political tide" for his decision to be upheld in the US Supreme Court. In other words, if we are vocal enough we can be a part of creating the "political tide" necessary to put pressure on the court to overturn Prop 8.

And, such a decision in the Supreme Court could overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies same-sex married couples in states like ours over 1,000 federal benefits.

So, regardless of the decision, let's come together at 6pm at the Northampton City Hall steps the day AFTER the decision is announced for a rally and a kiss-in to celebrate a victory or show our anger at a defeat.

WMass to Boston: Rally for Trans Civil Rights and Full Equality!

2010-05-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Glenn Koetzner)

Wednesday * May 19 * 7 PM

Bangs Community Center

70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst (Behind Rao's Coffee)

RSVP Here on Facebook.

Join us to find out more about the Western Mass. chapter of Equality Across America (struggling for full federal equality for LGBT people as part of a national network: equalityacrossamerica.org), and help shape our activities this summer!

Also, this will be the place to meet others and arrange carpooling for the Harvey Milk Day of Action (a national call) event in Boston on May 22, where we will join activists in Boston to rally at the State House for the Trans Civil Rights bill and full federal equality!

More info here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117401691623911

EQUAL RIGHTS ON THE JOB!

2010-04-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

Rally for a Trans-Inclusive ENDA

Monday * May 3 * 5:30 PM

Northampton City Hall Steps

In 38 states in the USA you can be legally fired for being Transgender.

In 29 states, you can be fired for being Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual.

This is especially devastating with overall unemployment near 10% and more than 5 people applying for every 1 job opening.

89% of US residents oppose employment discrimination.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), would outlaw employment discrimination on the federal level, giving LGBT workers equal rights on the job in all 50 states.

Activists across the country will be turning up the heat to get ENDA passed this Spring.

THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME WHEN WE CAN MAKE HISTORY. WE MUST ACT NOW!

ENDA needs just 16 more votes in the House, and 14 in the Senate to pass. And there are 60 Democrats in the House and 16 in the Senate who have not committed to support the bill.

We need to urge them to do so now, and educate and rally others to do the same! 9 in 10 people are with us, so let's get the message out and rally their support!

Even though Representatives Neal and Olver are co-sponsors of ENDA, we can urge them to be more vocal advocates and get their uncommitted colleagues to vote "Yes" for LGBT civil rights!

And, we must demand that ENDA pass with protections for Transgender people, 97% of whom face discrimination on the job or in finding work. We cannot compromise on the rights of our Transgender brothers and sisters!

We cannot let this moment pass us by. We are so close, but nothing is automatic. As Frederick Douglass said, "power concedes nothing without a demand," so let's make our demands heard on May 3rd!

Next Steps for Western Mass. Equality Across America

2010-04-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

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LGBT: WE DEMAND EQUALITY!!!
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Next steps for Western Mass. Equality Across America
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Monday * April 5 * 6PM
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Hampshire College * Franklin Patterson Hall Room 101

Join us if you want to get involved in the struggle for full federal equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. We should bring our thoughts from the conference, share those with people who didn't get a chance to go, and talk about our next steps locally and in general.
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There is a lot going on: Northampton Pride, the Trans United march, the Harvey Milk Week of Action...it's an exciting time to be involved in this civil rights movements!
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LGBT people and allies are welcome!!!
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136130896264&ref=ts

First-hand Account of San Diego Marriage Equality Sit-in

2010-03-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

Wednesday * March 10 * 7PM

Smith College, Seelye 102

ON MAY 27, 2009--the day after the California Supreme Court voted 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman--activists staged a five-hour sit-in at the San Diego County Administration Building after Brian Baumgardner and Michael Anderson, a same-sex couple, were denied a marriage license.

The sit-in in San Diego, which looked to the sit-ins of the African American civil rights movement for inspiration, was part of a wave of protests around the country that involved tens of thousands, showing that the resurgence in LGBT equality activism following the passage of Prop 8 was alive and well.

In October, the National Equality March brought 250,000 people to DC to demand full equality now!

Activists in Western Mass., as Western Mass. Equality Across America, are organizing to go to the LGBT Rights Making an Impact Northeast Regional Conference on March 26-8 to plan the next steps for our struggle with allies from across the region.

Join us for a presentation by Kelsey Hoffman, a Smith student who is a member of the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality and Western Mass. Equality Across America, who participated in the sit-in on May 27 and will share her experience, followed by a planning meeting for the conference.

WMass Equality Across America Planning Meeting

2010-01-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Laying the foundation for the LGBTQ civil rights movement!

Monday * February 8 * 7PM

Hampshire College, Franklin Patterson Hall (directions below)

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266934402849

Last Fall, chapters of Equality Across America (EAA) were founded across the country in the wake of the October 11, National Equality March, when 250,000 people descended on DC demanding full equality for LGBTQ people NOW!

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150 people came from Western Mass., and in December students from 5 local colleges as well as members of the community founded the Western Mass. chapter of Equality Across America.

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Now that the success of the march has shown the potential for building a grassroots movement for LGBTQ equality, it's time to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of transforming EAA from a new network of activists into an organizations that can put pressure on the politicians in DC to force them to take action, to win full federal equality.

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Let's meet to discuss how to develop our organization, how we can become the leaders this movement needs, and to plan for the northeast regional Equality Across America conference the weekend of March 26-28, when EAA members from across the region will come together to strengthen our connections, learn from one another, and discuss and debate the way forward for our struggle.

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Anyone who agrees that there should be full equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states NOW is welcome to join EAA. We hope to see you there!

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For more info and/or a ride, email equalitywmass@gmail.com

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Check out a campus map here: http://www.hampshire.edu/map/

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If you're driving, use the main entrance on 116 and take a left at the stop sign and follow signs for "Franklin Patterson Hall": go around the bend, past a parking lot on your left, and then take the next main right. There is parking in a lot right behind FPH.

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By us, get off at the main Hampshire stop. FPH is right across from the bus stop, past the large flag pole. Go around the back (by the parking lot) and look for a sign for the meeting.

Stay Tuned!

2009-12-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Our meeting on December 8th was a success, with community activists and students from five area colleges in attendance and eager to continue to organize this winter and beyond.

We will be taking a break for the holidays, but stay tuned for more meetings in January!

LGBT: We Demand Equality!

2009-11-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

Why We Need a Grassroots Movement Demanding LGBT Equality and How To Build It

Tuesday * Dec. 8 * 7PM

UMass Campus Center Room 803

In most states, for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people:

It's legal to be fired because of your sexuality or gender identity;

Same sex marriage is illegal, and where it's allowed couples are denied over 1,000 federal benefits including immigration equality;

LGBT people face discrimination in housing; gay men may not give blood.

In addition LGBT people may not serve openly in the military, the largest employer in the USA.

Come to the first Western Mass meeting of Equality Across America to find out why we need a grassroots movement demanding full federal equality and how we can build it.

RSVP on Facebook.

Equality Across America Event Planning Meeting

2009-11-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

Sunday * Nov. 22 * 5-6pm

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UMass Student Union 423A

(same as last week...see directions below or call 617-851-5354)

Last week we met and founded a chapter of Equality Across America, with representatives/support from Mt. Holyoke, UMass (including GEO union members), Hampshire, Elms College, Smith, and workers in the area.

We decided to form a chapter of EAA with two points of unity/demands:

(1) Full federal equality for LGBT people

(2) A principled stand against all forms of oppression

We are planning a meeting for Dec. 8 where our goals will be to spread the word about the state of LGBT inequality, and make the case for a movement to win full equality under the law.

Please join us to get involved in planning our kick-off meeting and to share ideas for other things we should get involved with...and bring friends!!!

Western Mass. Equality Across America Founding Meeting

2009-11-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday * Nov. 15 * 5pm

UMass - Amherst * Student Union 420a (next to WEB Dubois Library, a red brick skyscraper)

(ISO Office...enter, take a right and go up the stairs, go right down the hall, and then around the corner and we're on the left...call 617-851-5354 if you need directions)

We brought 150 people from Western Mass down to the National Equality March to demand full equality now. Since then, we've been meeting and are continuing to organize to win full equality for LGBT people.

Thousands of people around the country are doing the same thing, and it's important that we work together to learn from each other, collaborate, and grow.

Equality Across America, which was formed out of organizing for the march, is a grassroots network of activists from across the country who share one demand: full equality for LGBT people NOW! We refuse to compromise or wait, because as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "wait" almost always means "never."

The politicians aren't going to give us our rights; we need to demand them.

Several people who've been involved in the organizing so far have expressed interest in doing this, so, let's meet, officially found our chapter of Equality Across America, and plan our debut so that we can let others know we exist and encourage them to get involved!

Everyone who agrees that we need full civil equality, which includes marriage equality, an end to employment discrimination, the right to serve openly in the military, the right to give blood, and equal protection under the law is welcome!

HATE CRIMES

2009-11-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Come to a meeting today

Tuesday, at 7:30 PM

at Hampshire College

Franklin Patterson Hall

(take a left at the stop sign by the main entrance...follow the signs, and park in the small visitor lot nearby). We will be discussing an event to raise awareness about instances of hate, both physical and verbal, specific instances and the general climate, as a way to stand up and also to reach out...while our organizing has a focus on LGBTQ oppression and equality, we are looking to make connections with others facing similar issues. I hope to see you there! RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=200988401250&index=1

EMERGENCY ACTION

2009-11-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

***Protest Maine's Repeal of Same-sex Marriage***

***TODAY, Wednesday 11/4/09, 6pm***

***City Hall, Main Street, Northampton***

Voters, in a mid-term election on November 3 in Maine overturned same-sex marriage.

This is a defeat, but I hope that we can turn our frustration and anger into the determination necessary to continue to organize for full equality on the federal level, which would make votes like these irrelevant.

We should be firm in the just demand that a slim majority of voters (and given turnout of 50% or so, that's just 25% of eligible voters) should not be able to strip a minority group of their rights.

No state has the right to deny its citizens equality, and we can and must press for full civil equality for LGBT people on the federal level.

I am reminded of a line from the letter Joe Hill, the great labor songwriter and member of the Industrial Workers of the World, wrote to this comrade Big Bill Haywood shortly before he was executed in 1915 for a crime he didn't commit, in an attempt by the state of Utah to silence his powerful voice for liberation:

"Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize..."

Despite this setback in Maine, history remains on our side; we must not give up, but keep moving forward.

Pam H, a local fighter for equality, has called a protest at Northampton City Hall at 6pm tonight. We will will be there, and I encourage all of you to come out as well. Now is not the time to mourn this in isolation; it is the time to come together, share our outrage, and talk about the next steps on the road to federal equality.

Next Meeting 11/3/09 * 7:30PM

2009-11-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Teach-in/Barney Frank Protest Planning

Tuesday * Nov. 3 * 7:30PM

UMass Student Union * Dukes Room

Join us for a meeting as we continue to plan a teach-in and work out details for our protest of Barney Frank to demand that he stands for full equality!

To get to the Dukes Room, enter the Student Union through the main entrance and go straight. Take a left down the corridor just before the Ballroom, and you'll find the room there.

RSVP on Facebook.

Join our group on Facebook.

Next Meeting: Tuesday * October 27 * 7PM

2009-10-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

LGBT Equality Teach-in Planning Meeting
(UMass group)

Let's educate the community on the need to stand up for LGBT civil rights!

Tuesday * October 27 * 7PM

UMass Campus Center #803 (8th floor)

First we marched, now we organize!

Last week we met and decided a great next step for our local work building the LGBT civil rights movement would be to organize a teach-in to educate the broader community on the inequality and oppression faced by LGBT people and why we need a movement to fight it.

Come be a part of shaping this new movement!

RSVP on Facebook

Join our Facebook group

We Marched!!! What Next?

2009-10-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

After the National Equality March:

What's Next for the LGBT Civil Rights Movement?

Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 12-1pm Lunch & 6-7:30pm Report-back
UMass-Amherst, Student Union Ballroom

On October 11, 2009, over 150 students and other activists from all 5 Colleges and Western Massachusetts joined hundreds of thousands of others as we marched on Washington, DC to demand FULL EQUALITY for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states NOW.

This was the debut of a new grassroots movement, proof that we can mobilize masses of people with little money, and that there is a new generation of civil rights activists tired of waiting for their rights and ready to struggle to win them!

But one march is not enough. We need you to get involved in building our era's civil rights movement. Join us as we report back from the march, share photos and video, and talk about the next steps. GET INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS!

RSVP on Facebook.

Join our Facebook group.

FINAL BUS TIMES/LOCATIONS

2009-10-07T12:47:00.001-07:00

It's almost time to march! Here are the times/locations to catch the buses. As of now, there are a handful of seats left, likely to be gone very soon, so get in touch ASAP to reserve one of the last spots!

If you're on the Amherst Bus:

Meet at Haigis Mall, Presidents Drive, off of Massachusetts Ave. on the UMass campus. Google map here: http://tinyurl.com/ybj2hbj

Depart October 11, early morning: Please arrive by 12:15AM, as the bus will be leaving by 1AM. Parking is available the other side of Mass. Ave.

Return to the same location, about 3AM on October 12.

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If you're on the Northampton Bus:

Meet at NORTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, 380 Elm St., Northampton, MA (back parking lot...take a left off of Route 9 past Smith College, heading towards Florence). Google map here: http://tinyurl.com/yeoxtok

Depart October 11, early morning: Please arrive by 12:45AM, as the bus will be leaving by 1:30AM. Parking is on site.

Return to the same location, about 3AM on October 12.

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WHAT TO BRING (no alcohol):

(1) Bring your cell phone, and make sure that it's fully charged (or buddy up with someone with a phone)!

(2) Bring a map of DC, either a street map or a printout (from Googlemaps, etc.) of the area around the Capitol, and around the intersection of 15th St and I ("Eye") Street NW, where the march will be meeting.

(3) Comfort/needs: bring food...we may have snacks, but not enough...think about 3 meals on Sunday. Also, bring a pillow/blanket if you'd like. We can leave things on the bus (but won't have access to them during the day). Also, bring water! Marching and chanting makes you thirsty.

(4) Bring SIGNS!!! Make your own signs to carry during the march.

(5) Bring some money for emergencies and concessions, and remember to save at least $2 for a tip for the bus driver on the way back!

(6) Bring a pen and some paper to write things down. I'll have handouts as well with basic info on them about where to meet after the march.

RALLY FOR EQUALITY * THU * OCT 8 * NOON

2009-10-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

Join us for a Rally For Equality on the UMass Student Union steps! THE TIME IS NOW to demand full civil equality for LGBT people!

Bring signs and your voice and let's get a sense of our unity and strength before we march on DC!

GET INVOLVED WITH ORGANIZING FOR LGBT EQUALITY!!!

2009-10-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Activists have come together to build a coalition to get more people from Western Mass. down to DC, and to continue organizing on October 12 and beyond.

We need you to join us to help build our era's civil rights movement!

Our next meeting will be at UMass Amherst on Monday, 10/5, at 7:30pm, in the GEO Office, Room 201 in the Student Union (down the stairs to the left through the main entrance, turn the corner to your left, and the office is on your right)

AND CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK!

Get on the bus to DC for LGBT equality!

2009-08-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Join Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) people and allies from across Western Massachusetts as we march on Washington, DC on Sunday, October 11, 2009, to demand full equality in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states: NOW!

To learn more about the march, visit the main march website here.

Buses will be leaving from Amherst and Northampton.
A round-trip ticket for one person is $60-$120 (sliding scale-pay more than $60 to help low-income marchers attend).

Spaces are filling up quickly, so reserve your seat today!

To reserve and pay for a spot on the bus, email us at equalitywmass@gmail.com or call 617-851-5354 to confirm that there is space.

You can pay by cash or check, so I will either send you an email with an address to mail a check (made out to "Equality WMass") or let you know where we will be tabling in the community that week (see schedule at left) so you can pay in person.

We've also set up a Paypal account if you'd like to pay online through your Paypal balance, bank account, or credit card. Just click the "Donate" button below. Please note that if you pay by this method, add $2.04 to your amount (Paypal charges a fee: so a minimum of $62.04), and email us at equalitywmass@gmail.com or call 617-851-5354 so we make sure to get your information and register that you paid.

Also, PLEASE DONATE what you can! You can sponsor a seat for a low-income activist for $60, one and a half for $90, or two for $120. But, of course, any amount helps!

BUS INFORMATION
The buses will be leaving a little after 1am on Sunday, Oct. 11, arriving in Washington, DC at about 9:30am. They will leave DC at 6:30pm the same day (Sunday), and arrive back in Amherst and Northampton early Monday morning (Columbus Day) around 2:30am.

Stay tuned for more details on exact pickup/drop-off times and locations. Once the details have been finalized, we will email you or call you and post the information here, so check this site regularly.