Friday
December 02, 2005
SGN.org
Volume 33
Issue 48
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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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Making a Difference in Olympia |
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| Making a Difference in Olympia | ||
| A citizen's job isn't over after Election Day. We elect legislators to represent us in Olympia, and they can represent us effectively only if we communicate with them.
Equal Rights Washington works with state representatives and state senators every year to promote legislation that advances LGBT equality and to block legislation that harms our community. This year, that job is particularly important. During the 2006 session, which begins in January and ends March 9, the state legislature will be considering the anti-discrimination bill again, and it will be reacting to the state supreme court's marriage decision. Key to our success in Olympia will be the relationships that state legislators have with their LGBT and allied constituents. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS It's pop quiz time. Can you name your state representatives and your state senator? Have you ever written to them in support of or opposing specific legislative action? Better yet, have you met them in person? Politics is all about relationships. When representatives and senators vote on issues, they bring their own beliefs and biases to the table. But they also think about the constituents they've talked with, the people they know in their own communities. When you meet with your legislators and respectfully discuss issues important to you, your face is one of those that they see as they consider those issues. The first step in building a relationship with the people who represent you is to find out who they are. To see which legislative district you live in and find the contact information for your representatives and senator, visit Legislature's website (http://www1.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/) and enter your home address. Next, meet your legislators. Most will happily meet with you for half an hour in a local coffeeshop when the legislature is not in session. Just call your representative or senator's office and ask to set up a meeting. You can talk with them about LGBT issues, such as the anti-discrimination bill and marriage equality. It's important that they also recognize your investment in other issues, as well, such as transportation, education, or whatever you're passionate about. During casual meetings between legislative sessions, you have the opportunity to get to know your representatives and senator and to let them get to know you. Remember, you're building a relationship. You should be friendly, open, and willing to talk about what issues mean to you personally. When the legislature votes on an issue, you want your representatives and senator to think of you and how the issue affects your family. Encourage friends and family to meet with their legislators, as well, especially if they're straight and supportive of LGBT issues. All of our state representatives and senators need to understand that a wide range of Washingtonians support equality for LGBT people. EQUALITY DAY Mark your calendar for January 23, 2006. Equal Rights Washington and the Religious Coalition for Equality are jointly organizing Equality Day in Olympia - a chance for LGBT folks and allies to come together to rally in support of equality and to speak with our legislators. We'll help you set up appointments with your legislators, provide advocacy workshops to help you prepare for those meetings, and rally together to show the strong support LGBT equality has in this state. o Reserve Monday, January 23, 2006. You may need to take the time off from work or school, so be sure to make those arrangements early. o E-mail info@equalrightswashington.org to let us know that you can participate. We'll need to know your address to find your legislative district, and please tell us whether you'd like to reserve a seat on a bus. o Help make Equality Day a success! If you can give your time and skills to help plan the event, or to help us get the word out, email cassy@equalrightswashington.org. Co-sponsor! We need financial contributions to cover all the expenses involved in organizing Equality Day. And we want to show just how much support there is for equality in Washington state. If you'd like to cosponsor, contact stankehl@religiouscoalition-wa.org. |
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International Readers |
 
It's new!A blog created by the SGN staff so you can be heard |
"Putting on the Ritz |
The Beauty of Freedom artist's reception |
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copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2005