LGBTQ+ Rights Archives : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress https://front.moveon.org/tag/lgbtq-rights/ MoveOn is a community of millions of Americans from all walks of life who use innovative technology to lead, participate in, and win campaigns for progressive change. Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:38:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://front.moveon.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-38875418-52635f78-4228-11e8-82da-b221a5a85253-32x32.png LGBTQ+ Rights Archives : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress https://front.moveon.org/tag/lgbtq-rights/ 32 32 August 2024 MoveOn Member Newsletter https://front.moveon.org/august-2024-moveon-member-newsletter/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://front.moveon.org/?p=67495 In This Issue Our 2024 election program, restoring abortion access, protecting LGBTQ+ youth, and more! A message from Rahna Epting, MoveOn’s Executive Director It is one of my greatest joys as MoveOn’s executive director to speak to you and your fellow MoveOn members. I am inspired by your commitment to building a better future—one rally, […]

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In This Issue

Our 2024 election program, restoring abortion access, protecting LGBTQ+ youth, and more!



A message from Rahna Epting, MoveOn’s Executive Director

It is one of my greatest joys as MoveOn’s executive director to speak to you and your fellow MoveOn members. I am inspired by your commitment to building a better future—one rally, phone call, donation, and petition signature at a time. You have shown, time and again, that you care about your families, communities, and future generations. I am honored to co-create a more just country with you—one where we all can thrive.

I hope that you feel inspired as you read this newsletter. Every accomplishment outlined demonstrates the incredible progress you fuel as one of MoveOn’s most dedicated supporters. Together, we will advance progressive victories in this critical election year and beyond.



Trump is Not Above the Law

MoveOn members have long been on the front lines of holding Donald Trump accountable. In 2017, we protested his executive order banning people from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. We denounced him in 2018 for separating migrant children from their families, in 2020 for his disastrous coronavirus response, and in 2021 for fueling the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

In the last 12 months, more than half a million MoveOn members signed the petition urging secretaries of state, state officials, and Congress to disqualify Trump from holding public office, under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. After Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in New York, MoveOn members began calling for a fair and just sentence that reflects the seriousness of his crimes. More than 120,000 MoveOn members ordered a sticker reminding voters that no one is above the law in the aftermath of his conviction—coming together to show that Trump must be held accountable and not reelected in November.

Hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members signed petitions demanding trials and verdicts before Election Day. This June, MoveOn ran a full-page ad in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution targeting the Georgia Court of Appeals after continuous delays to Trump’s trial in Georgia to convey MoveOn members’ demand that the courts overseeing Trump’s criminal trials and appeals stop the delays, because voters deserve to know a full accounting of his crimes before Election Day. MoveOn is amplifying our members’ voices through social media and press engagement.

Together, we’re working to keep Trump out of the White House by making sure that voters across the country know that he has been found guilty—and that they learn what’s on his despicable agenda if he wins a second term.



Restoring Abortion Access

MoveOn members are fighting to stop bans and restore access to abortion. Two summers ago, the Trump-packed Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case protecting abortion rights in the United States. Right-wing antiabortion laws have subsequently been passed in state after state. These efforts to ban abortion and criminalize those who seek and provide it are causing great harm to people across our nation.

MoveOn members urged Congress to vote for the Right to Contraception Act, a bill to codify the constitutional right to access contraception. In May, MoveOn members hosted more than 100 abortion-rights-themed election parties across the country.

Abortion is one of the cornerstone issues of MoveOn’s electoral campaign, and we’re working to vote out antiabortion extremists in the 2024 elections. One in eight voters of all ages say that abortion is the most important issue to them. Research shows that these voters are disproportionately Black voters, Democratic voters, women voters, and the youngest voting bloc—voters ages 18 to 29. MoveOn is helping to motivate voters, convince them that their vote matters, and get them to the polls to elect leaders who will protect our freedom to make decisions about our futures and our right to reproductive care.



MoveOn’s Member-Powered 2024 Election Program

MoveOn’s greatest strength is the grassroots people power of millions of MoveOn members. In this crucial election year, when our rights and freedoms are threatened more than ever by MAGA Republicans, MoveOn members are leading the charge to victory in November by getting out the vote early—and with great impact.

MoveOn’s analytics team has identified 1.5 million voters who live in key states and districts and who lean Democratic but may not vote consistently. MoveOn members are reaching out to these “surge” voters in three different ways: sending postcards, making phone calls, and knocking on their doors.

Members are engaging their friends, families, and communities in this effort by inviting them to informative and fun election parties. These parties are themed around long-term and rapid-response issues, including abortion rights, Pride Month, and Trump’s conviction. In just a few months, MoveOn members have hosted almost 300 parties, mailed 23,374 postcards, and called 57,624 voters.

To amplify our member-driven voter contact program, MoveOn is implementing paid communications and traditional rapid-response campaigning. That includes a powerful digital advertising campaign, leveraging a team of micro-influencers along with MoveOn’s own social media reach, and sharing MoveOn members’ meaningful and persuasive stories about why the election matters to them.

MoveOn’s supercharged 2024 election program is strategically designed to secure the presidency and a Democratic trifecta and to protect democracy from Trump and MAGA Republicans.

MoveOn members have chosen to endorse close to 30 progressive candidates for Congress so far this year. Our members decide which candidates will be endorsed by MoveOn by responding to surveys. MoveOn will endorse a candidate only if the majority of members in their district approve the endorsement.

In May, MoveOn members in Maryland endorsed Angela Alsobrooks in a crucial race to maintain the Democratic majority in the Senate. Alsobrooks reports that she is “glad to have MoveOn and its strong base of grassroots members alongside me in this fight.” Other endorsements include Representative Andy Kim in his Senate bid in New Jersey and Representative Summer Lee in her reelection bid in Pennsylvania.

For more than 25 years, MoveOn members have led the way—mobilizing in key moments and staying committed to long-term fights. We’ve taken on great challenges before and won. Together, we can do it again now.


“When I first heard about MoveOn, it just made sense to me that this was work that needed to be done—and supported. I’ve been a MoveOn member for more than 20 years and have felt very good about the priorities and strategies that MoveOn has taken. Even the name MoveOn. One of its major strengths is that it does move on, it doesn’t stay stuck. So many organizations are doing the same thing year after year. MoveOn amazes me because we don’t. We move on!”

– Bob R., MoveOn member and supporter



Sign Up to be a 2024 Vote Mobilizer

Help to defend democracy and win in November by joining the Vote Mobilizer community! The MoveOn team will train you to bring your community together and reach out to voters. As a volunteer election program leader, you’ll drive voter contact efforts in your area and across the United States—and you’ll meet other MoveOn members who share your commitment to fighting for progress. Sign up at MoveOn.org/VoteMobilizer.





Protect LGBTQ+ Youth

Generation Rainbow was created by MoveOn as an online space for queer folks and allies to take action against Republican attacks that seek to erase LGBTQ+ people. MAGA Republicans have increased their bigoted attacks on LGBTQ+ rights—with more than 500 antigay and antitransgender laws introduced in states and in Congress this year alone. From bathroom bans to book bans to drag bans, they’ve scapegoated, bullied, and marginalized the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender folks. Together, we will vote them out and elect leaders who will protect the inherent human rights of all people. Learn more, take action, and check out the Pride merch collection at MoveOn.org/GenerationRainbow.


“As an organizer with MoveOn, I have been so inspired by the enthusiasm and compassion of members organizing during Pride Month to defend equality within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. MoveOn members are excited to take action.

Kathie in Beaverton, Oregon, is one of these amazing MoveOn members! She hosted an incredible phone-banking event, bringing together 12 volunteers to speak to voters. They had more than 200 conversations!

This is the activism we need in 2024 to counter hate and those who divide our country, and to defeat Donald Trump.”

–Christian P., Pacific Coast Field Organizer


MoveOn members are the driving force behind our impact. This newsletter celebrates the remarkable progress your generosity has powered.

Thank you for all you do to protect democracy and lead the resistance against the radical right. With your support, together we are creating a better future, rooted in equality, sustainability, justice, and love.

Not a MoveOn member yet? Sign up now!

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MoveOn members cheer nationwide marriage equality https://front.moveon.org/moveon-cheers-nationwide-marriage-equality/ https://front.moveon.org/moveon-cheers-nationwide-marriage-equality/#respond Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:14:40 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=57413   Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of an Ohio gay couple in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, ruling that marriage is a fundamental constitutional right, protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, that extends to same-sex as well as opposite-sex couples. Responding to the decision, Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic […]

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Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of an Ohio gay couple in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, ruling that marriage is a fundamental constitutional right, protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, that extends to same-sex as well as opposite-sex couples. Responding to the decision, Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action, issued the following statement, cheering the Supreme Court for expanding marriage equality nationwide:

“In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that all couples—regardless of sexual orientation—are entitled to all of the fundamental rights and dignities that come with marriage. This is a monumental and incredibly meaningful decision for millions of American families. Millions of MoveOn members across the country will be celebrating today.

“This decision, which correctly interprets the Constitution, is a momentous step toward a society of greater freedom and equality for all.”

 

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VICTORY: Arizona Gov. Brewer Vetoes Discrimination Bill https://front.moveon.org/53958/ https://front.moveon.org/53958/#respond Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:02:31 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=53958 Last week, Arizona's House and Senate passed S.B. 1062, a bill that would allow businesses to deny services as long as they invoked religious beliefs. The bill would mean a free pass for discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBT community. That's why the organization GetEQUAL started a MoveOn Petition, demanding that Republican Gov. Jan Brewer veto the anti-business, anti-equality, anti-LGBT bill.

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Last week, Arizona’s House and Senate passed S.B. 1062, a bill that would allow businesses to deny services as long as they invoked religious beliefs. The bill would mean a free pass for discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBT community. That’s why the organization GetEQUAL started a MoveOn Petition, demanding that Republican Gov. Jan Brewer veto the anti-business, anti-equality, anti-LGBT bill. Pressure for a veto grew as more than 7,000 MoveOn members added their names to the petition, and yesterday, Gov. Brewer vetoed the bill, stating it had “the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve.”

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Meet Two Guys Defending Marriage Equality in a Super-Red State https://front.moveon.org/meet-the-two-guys-defending-marriage-equality-in-a-super-red-state/ https://front.moveon.org/meet-the-two-guys-defending-marriage-equality-in-a-super-red-state/#respond Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:16:18 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=53507 These two Utah MoveOn members are fighting to uphold a landmark ruling in support of marriage equality.

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Utah banned same-sex marriage in 2004. But three same-sex couples recently filed a suit against the ban, and five days before Christmas, Judge Robert J. Shelby made a landmark ruling that the ban was unconstitutional. The 43-year-old Utah resident and federal judge held in his ruling that the Constitution protected “their fundamental right to marry.” Yay! Right?

Not so fast. Utah Governor Gary Herbert — usually a slow, careful decision-maker — jumped on the issue in hours, criticizing Judge Shelby’s ruling and later even ordering all state agencies not to honor the 1,300-some same-sex marriages that occurred after December 20.

But two Utah MoveOn members are defending Judge Shelby’s decision. Tim Wagner, a straight, married Sierra Club activist, and Matt Jacobson, a young, recently married gay man, both started petitions to support marriage equality in Utah and quickly collected tens of thousands of signatures. (And they’re making progress — this Friday, the Obama administration said it will recognize Utah’s same-sex marriages!) Wagner and Jacobson graciously talked to MoveOn about their campaigns before delivering the 56,000 signatures at a big rally on Friday, January 10– where nearly 2,000 people showed up to support marriage equality.

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After sharing his petition (which asks Gov. Herbert to let Judge Shelby’s ruling stand) on Facebook, Tim Wagner only expected about 500 signatures. Now it has a staggering 46,530 and his campaign has attracted substantial media attention. “What’s remarkable is that if you look through who signed it, roughly 75 percent of those are from Utah, the reddest of red states,” Wagner says. “So it clearly shows that this governor is way out of touch with what most Utahns really want.”

Although Wagner isn’t gay, he was incensed to see “all these crazy claims that somehow allowing two people of the same gender to marry into a loving relationship threatens my marriage. No one has demonstrated any evidence to show that that is remotely true,” he says. “Love and equality just cross all lines. And to try to restrict that is not only a violation of our constitutional rights, but just also a violation of plain old human decency.”

Wagner likens supporting same-sex marriage to his day job with the Sierra Club, where he holds corporations responsible for the pollution they produce. “People should have the right to clean air. People should have the right to marry who they love. It’s kind of one and the same, as far as I’m concerned,” he says. “We do not have to stand by and let this happen. We can stand up and we can push back and we can correct this, and that’s exactly what I hope we do here.”

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After signing Tim Wagner’s petition, Matt Jacobson started his own upon hearing Utah planned to pour $2 million into fighting Judge Shelby’s ruling. He shared his petition on Facebook, as well as on his blog, and it’s garnered nearly 13,000 signatures. The petition asks the state to do something good with those taxpayer dollars, rather than trying to prevent some people from being happy.

“Everywhere I go, I can see things that benefit from $2 million,” Jacobson says. “In Utah, we spend the least per student on education out of every single state. And on top of that, we have the worst air quality in the nation. There’s a lot that $2 million could do.”

Judging by the response to his petition, Utahns agree — even many members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, which is politically influential in the state and doesn’t condone gay marriage. “I’ve been reading all the comments on the petition, and there are actually a lot of people who say they’re LDS. And I have a lot of friends and family who are LDS who just want everyone to be happy,” Jacobson says.

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Jacobson is gay, so Judge Shelby’s decision hits close to home. “I just want to be able to wake up in the morning and know that if something happens to me or my husband, the state wouldn’t come and take our possessions away because we aren’t legally recognized,” he says. “Or if someday we want to have children, they can be our children and not just belong to one of us. These are things people take for granted.”

Jacobson says he and his husband went to California to get married in August 2013, never dreaming their marriage might soon be legally recognized in their home state. “We were actually thinking about moving so that we could be recognized and have the same dignity as everyone else,” Jacobson says. “That’s a sad thing for us — we love our state, and all of our friends and family live here, so in order to be equal in the eyes of the law, we would have to leave our friends and family behind.” Hopefully Judge Shelby’s ruling will stand, and Jacobson and his husband won’t have to move.

Add your support to Tim’s and Matt’s petitions.

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VICTORY: Judge’s Ruling Sets Course for Fighting Ohio’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban https://front.moveon.org/victory-judges-ruling-sets-course-for-fighting-ohios-same-sex-marriage-ban/ https://front.moveon.org/victory-judges-ruling-sets-course-for-fighting-ohios-same-sex-marriage-ban/#respond Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:42:28 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=53488 John Arthur, a terminally ill Ohio resident, was concerned that he would die without his partner, Jim Obergefell, being formally recognized as his spouse. So the couple flew to Maryland to be legally married, and a judge issued a temporary order requiring Ohio to list Obergefell as Arthur's "surviving spouse" on his death certificate—but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine threatened to appeal the judge's decision. That's why Steve Bluestein started a MoveOn Petition telling Ohio officials to recognize the marriage.

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John Arthur, a terminally ill Ohio resident, was concerned that he would die without his partner, Jim Obergefell, being formally recognized as his spouse. So the couple flew to Maryland to be legally married, and a judge issued a temporary order requiring Ohio to list Obergefell as Arthur’s “surviving spouse” on his death certificate—but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine threatened to appeal the judge’s decision. That’s why Steve Bluestein started a MoveOn Petition telling Ohio officials to recognize the marriage. The petition gathered nearly 2,000 signatures.

Although Attorney General DeWine continued to fight against the ruling in court—even after Arthur’s death in October—the legal battle ended in success for progressives when Judge Timothy Black ruled that state officials must recognize same-sex unions on Ohio death certificates. This ruling is an important step toward challenging Ohio’s same-sex marriage ban on constitutional grounds.

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In 29 States, You Can Be Fired for Being Gay. Help Change That. https://front.moveon.org/in-29-states-you-can-be-fired-for-being-gay-help-change-that/ https://front.moveon.org/in-29-states-you-can-be-fired-for-being-gay-help-change-that/#respond Thu, 31 Oct 2013 21:39:42 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=52443 It’s hard to believe that in nearly 30 states, you can still be fired for being gay.

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As marriage equality gains ground across the country, it’s hard to believe that in nearly 30 states, you can still be fired for being gay. But it’s true.

“As we move forward, [LGBT] people will be able to get married and the very next day, just by going to their HR office and saying, ‘I want to add my spouse to my insurance,’ they can be fired,” explains MoveOn member Brad Delaney. “You can get married one day and fired the next, just for marrying the person you love.”

Delaney’s Fight

Delaney is a gay Seattle resident and long-time LGBT rights advocate fighting to end workplace discrimination against LGBT people. He worked on the successful Washington United for Marriage campaign and currently serves on the board of directors for LGBTQ Allyship while studying communications and media at the University of Washington.

“I’m from Memphis, Tennessee, which is one of the 29 states where LGBT employees are not protected,” he says. “And there’s 17 states where transgender people are protected [from being fired, denied a promotion, etc.], but 33 where they’re not. So we have a problem.”

To remedy that problem, Delaney started a MoveOn petition to Congress asking them to pass Senate bill S. 815, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

via Snopes

His cause is particularly timely in light of recent events. “On Monday, Senate majority leader Harry Reid went on the record and said, ‘We’re going to take up this legislation in the Senate before Thanksgiving,'” Delaney notes. “Studies say, right now, Americans support protections for LGBT people in the workplace across the board.”

Some Background

“Employment non-discrimination has been talked about and proposed on the floor of the Senate and the House since the ‘70s,” Delaney continues. “The most recent iteration of [the legislation] was brought to a vote about 10 years ago but excluded transgender people. The most recent iteration that is now in the Senate includes not only sexual orientation but also protections for transgender people,” he explains. “It actually passed the House in 2007 and then it hit a roadblock in the Senate. And now we have the votes to pass it in the Senate.”

Then things get personal. “I’ve had friends who’ve been fired for who they are,” he adds. “My friend is a radio host in New Jersey, and she went in to talk to her boss and explain that she’d be transitioning, and they [fired her]. Happens every day, all across the United States.”

Tips for Activists

His petition already has more than 1,500 signatures. I ask him what advice he’d give others seeking to start a petition.

“You have about 30 seconds to capture your audience’s attention,” he answers. “I would start by telling a story. And be brief — stick to just one paragraph. Then explain how you’ve been affected by [the issue], and how they can help change things.”

How can those of us who’ve signed the petition keep the momentum going?

“Write letters to the editor,” Delaney says. “Please, please, please post on Facebook and Twitter. Social media really helps petitions take off. Email it to your friends. Go and talk to your local legislator.”

Thanks, Brad! We’ll be watching the Senate closely to see how this one turns out. Sign the petition to show your support for LGBT people in the workplace!

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15 Changes Marriage Equality Brings To LGBTQ Couples https://front.moveon.org/15-changes-marriage-equality-brings-to-lgbtq-couples/ https://front.moveon.org/15-changes-marriage-equality-brings-to-lgbtq-couples/#respond Wed, 30 Oct 2013 00:08:42 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=52414 It's about time.

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It’s about time.

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Found on PBS NEWSHOUR.

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6 Activist Tips from the Woman Leading the Barilla Protest https://front.moveon.org/6-activist-tips-from-the-woman-leading-the-barilla-protest/ https://front.moveon.org/6-activist-tips-from-the-woman-leading-the-barilla-protest/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2013 20:53:45 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=52005 Beth Allen, who started the petition to boycott Barilla Pasta after the company's president made homophobic comments, shares her advice for others.

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This January, right after Maryland legalized gay marriage, Beth Allen and her partner of more than 20 years finally wed. The couple lives outside of Washington, D.C., and has two kids. So hearing homophobic comments from the president of Barilla Pasta — pasta that routinely found its way onto her family’s dinner table — was deeply upsetting.

“I’d read about Guido Barilla’s comments, and they made me very angry because he was so dismissive,” she told MoveOn. “Not just that he said that he wouldn’t show a gay family in his advertising, but that if gay people don’t like it, they can just not buy the pasta. That seemed like a challenge. So I started the petition to help spread the word about what he’d said and encourage other people to join me in boycotting Barilla.”

Within a few days, she got 139, 000 people to join her campaign.

We asked Beth what advice she would give to other activists who want launch their own campaigns. Here’s what she had to say:

1. Use online tools

“Starting with online activism is super-easy with tools like the MoveOn petition tool,” Allen says. “I was able to get that petition up and running in literally 10 minutes or less.”

2. Be strategic about who you target and what you say

“Think really carefully about the target of your petition and what you’re asking,” Allen advises. “One mistake I see is choosing someone who’s too distant. [New activists] may be upset about something locally but direct the petition to the president. Target your petition to people who may not get a lot of petitions, because sometimes they’re more open to being persuaded.”

3. Make it personal

“People really respond to personal stories,” says Allen. “So I made sure to say that I’m part of a gay family, my son eats a lot of pasta — that helps people really relate.”

4. Plan next steps

Allen wasn’t done after simply starting the petition. She came up with a plan to go to local grocery stores and ask managers not to stock Barilla pasta. “That also is from my experience as a labor activist, thinking about who can have influence on decision-makers. By addressing the supply source, we could have a bigger impact,” she says.

5. Tap into the cultural zeitgeist

When asked how she managed to get a whopping 139,000 signatures on the petition, Allen says, “The issue was in the news, so it was timely. People had heard about it from other places, so when they got my email, it wasn’t the first time they’d heard about it; they had some education on the issue.”

6. Know who your supporters are

“I think one of the things Barilla didn’t realize when he made his comments is that it’s not just about gay families — it’s about friends and family members and supporters of gay families, and that’s 10 or 20 times more people than he realized,” Allen says. “I don’t think he understood what broad support gay families have. There’s a huge base of people who are ready and eager to be supportive on this issue, and I think it really hit a nerve with folks and helped propel the petition forward.”

Ideally, Allen hopes Barilla will create an ad featuring a gay family. If nothing else, the controversy is sending a message to companies that homophobia is unacceptable. Way to go, Beth!

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VICTORY: Michelle Rhee Rescinds Award For Anti-Gay Legislator https://front.moveon.org/michelle-rhee-rescinds-award-for-anti-gay-legislator-2/ https://front.moveon.org/michelle-rhee-rescinds-award-for-anti-gay-legislator-2/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:00:27 +0000 http://moveon.wpengine.com/?p=50755 Eleven-year-old Marcel Neergaard, who had come out as gay, and was severely bullied in school, created a MoveOn Petition with his family, asking StudentsFirst to withdraw its award to Rep. Ragan.

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Michelle Rhee’s national education group StudentsFirst named Tennessee State Representative John Ragan its “Reformer of the Year” in 2012. StudentsFirst continued to support Rep. Ragan after he sponsored legislation known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which would have prevented school employees from talking with students about being gay. 11-year-old Marcel Neergaard, who had come out as gay, and was severely bullied in school, created a MoveOn Petition with his family, asking StudentsFirst to withdraw its award to Rep. Ragan. The Neergards worked with allies, and garnered state and national press, and more than 53,000 people signed their petition. Within days, StudentsFirst denounced the anti-gay legislation and rescinded its recognition of Rep. Ragan.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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VICTORY: Rhode Island Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage https://front.moveon.org/victory-rhode-island-legalizes-same-sex-marriage/ https://front.moveon.org/victory-rhode-island-legalizes-same-sex-marriage/#respond Thu, 02 May 2013 19:39:58 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=52840 Rhode Island's marriage equality bill had already passed in the state House when Lisa Roseman Beade started a MoveOn Petition to state senators asking for their support.

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Rhode Island’s marriage equality bill had already passed in the state House when Lisa Roseman Beade started a MoveOn Petition to state senators asking for their support. Senators couldn’t ignore the overwhelming call for marriage equality from their constituents, including the 1,100 MoveOn members who signed Lisa’s petition. On April 24, the state Senate approved the bill by a vote of 26-12. Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the bill on May 2, making Rhode Island the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

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New Zealand Passed Marriage Equality And Immediately This Happened https://front.moveon.org/new-zealand-passed-marriage-equality-and-immediately-this-happened/ https://front.moveon.org/new-zealand-passed-marriage-equality-and-immediately-this-happened/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:39:00 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=47422 Can you feel the love?

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Can you feel the love? WATCH:

Found on JohnMBecker.com. Originally submitted by Angie A.

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Last 3 Democratic Holdouts On Marriage Equality Pushed By MoveOn Members https://front.moveon.org/last-9-democratic-holdouts-on-marriage-equality-pushed-by-moveon-members/ https://front.moveon.org/last-9-democratic-holdouts-on-marriage-equality-pushed-by-moveon-members/#respond Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:54:58 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=47059 See who they are and help get them to change their minds!

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In a coordinated effort, separate MoveOn members have launched campaigns targeting some of the last Democratic senators who won’t oppose DOMA. Check them out here and help these equality stragglers change their minds.

Click on the names or faces to see the petition.

1. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)

VICTORY UPDATE 04/02/13: Sen. Tom Carper has released this statement today.


As our society has changed and evolved, so too has the public’s opinion on gay marriage – and so has mine. I pray every day for God to grant me the wisdom to do what is right. Through my prayers and conversations with my family and countless friends and Delawareans, I’ve been reminded of the power of one of my core values: the Golden Rule. It calls on us to treat others as we want to be treated. That means, to me, that all Americans ultimately should be free to marry the people they love and intend to share their lives with, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that’s why today, after a great deal of soul searching, I’m endorsing marriage equality.

2. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN)

VICTORY UPDATE 04/05/2013: Sen. Joe Donnelly has released this statement today:

“In recent years, our country has been involved in an important discussion on the issue of marriage equality. While serving in the House of Representatives, I had the opportunity to act on a core belief of mine: we are a stronger country when we draw on the strengths of all Americans. I voted to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and was an original supporter of the bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation. It is also for that reason that I oppose amending either Indiana’s or our nation’s constitution to enshrine in those documents an ‘us’ and a ‘them,’ instead of a ‘we.’ With the recent Supreme Court arguments and accompanying public discussion of same-sex marriage, I have been thinking about my past positions and votes. In doing so, I have concluded that the right thing to do is to support marriage equality for all.”

3. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)

VICTORY UPDATE 04/05/2013: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp has released this statement today:

“In speaking with North Dakotans from every corner of our great state, and much personal reflection, I have concluded the federal government should no longer discriminate against people who want to make lifelong, loving commitments to each other or interfere in personal, private, and intimate relationships. I view the ability of anyone to marry as a logical extension of this belief. The makeup of families is changing, but the importance of family is enduring.”

4. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)

VICTORY UPDATE 04/08/13: Sen. Tim Johnson has released this statement today.

“After lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation,” Johnson said in a statement. “This position doesn’t require any religious denomination to alter any of its tenets; it simply forbids government from discrimination regarding who can marry whom.”

5. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

6. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

7. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)

VICTORY UPDATE 04/04/13: Sen. Bill Nelson has released this statement today:

“It is generally accepted in American law and U.S. society today ‘… that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.’ I believe that. The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all.

“Thus, to discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me. If we are endowed by our Creator with rights, then why shouldn’t those be attainable by Gays and Lesbians?”

8. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR)

You can’t stop an idea whose time has come.

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How Many Times Did You Need To Hear The Word ‘Yes’ Before You Did This? https://front.moveon.org/how-many-times-did-you-need-to-hear-the-word-yes-before-you-did-this/ https://front.moveon.org/how-many-times-did-you-need-to-hear-the-word-yes-before-you-did-this/#respond Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:13:58 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=47014 Imagine asking the same question a million times over.

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Imagine asking the same question a million times over. WATCH:

Found on YouTube. Originally submitted by Jayne F.

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INSPIRING: Former GOP Lawmaker Admits To A Huge Mistake https://front.moveon.org/inspiring-former-gop-lawmaker-admits-to-a-huge-mistake/ https://front.moveon.org/inspiring-former-gop-lawmaker-admits-to-a-huge-mistake/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:57:44 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46712 Now she's asking current lawmakers not to repeat it. WATCH:

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Now she’s asking current lawmakers not to repeat it. WATCH:

Found on UpTakeVideo’s YouTube channel. Originally submitted by Angie A.

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The Funniest Anti-Gay Marriage Ad We’ve Seen In At Least Two Weeks https://front.moveon.org/the-funniest-anti-gay-marriage-ad-weve-seen-in-at-least-two-weeks/ https://front.moveon.org/the-funniest-anti-gay-marriage-ad-weve-seen-in-at-least-two-weeks/#respond Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:45:27 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46639 Because NOM makes mocking them WAY too easy. WATCH:

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Because NOM makes mocking them WAY too easy. WATCH:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This video is a spoof of anti-gay marriage ad. It’s pretty apparent at the end of the video, but just in case you don’t watch the whole thing, we’re letting you know now.

Found on NonRandomNonSense’s YouTube channel. Originally submitted by Jayne F.

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Reason #8493 Jon Stewart Is Pretty Much One Of The Smartest People On Television https://front.moveon.org/reason-8493-jon-stewart-is-pretty-much-one-of-the-smartest-people-on-television/ https://front.moveon.org/reason-8493-jon-stewart-is-pretty-much-one-of-the-smartest-people-on-television/#respond Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:28:03 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46610 Once again, the man makes total sense!

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Once again, the man makes total sense!

Found on FCKH8’s Facebook page. Originally submitted by Jayne F.

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Would You Say This Man Is Lashing Out At Folks For Being Religious? https://front.moveon.org/would-you-say-this-man-is-lashing-out-at-folks-for-being-religious/ https://front.moveon.org/would-you-say-this-man-is-lashing-out-at-folks-for-being-religious/#respond Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:29:18 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46490 Or simply describing clear boundaries against discrimination in public life? WATCH:

The post Would You Say This Man Is Lashing Out At Folks For Being Religious? appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.

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Or simply describing clear boundaries against discrimination in public life? WATCH:

Found on NOMVideoFeed’s YouTube channel. Originally submitted by Angie A.

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Soledad Has No Time For This Bullsh_t Argument About Gays In The Boy Scouts https://front.moveon.org/soledad-has-no-time-for-this-bullsh_t-argument-about-gays-in-the-boy-scouts/ https://front.moveon.org/soledad-has-no-time-for-this-bullsh_t-argument-about-gays-in-the-boy-scouts/#respond Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:17:49 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46461 She has no problem putting this guy in his place.

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She has no problem putting this guy in his place. WATCH:

Found on Think Progress’ YouTube channel. Originally submitted by Jayne F.

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This Hidden Camera Footage Of A Gay Couple In Texas Will Shock You https://front.moveon.org/this-hidden-camera-footage-of-a-gay-couple-in-texas-will-shock-you/ https://front.moveon.org/this-hidden-camera-footage-of-a-gay-couple-in-texas-will-shock-you/#respond Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:01:25 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46364 It will also make your day.

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It will also make your day. WATCH :

Found on YouTube. Originally submitted by Angie A.

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Fox News Doesn’t Fact Check : Lesbian Wedding Edition https://front.moveon.org/fox-news-doesnt-fact-check-lesbian-wedding-edition/ https://front.moveon.org/fox-news-doesnt-fact-check-lesbian-wedding-edition/#respond Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:14:50 +0000 http://front.moveon.org/?p=46306 Oh, this is just delightful!

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Oh, this is just delightful!

Source.

Found on Have A Gay Day’s Facebook page. Originally submitted by Jayne F.

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