Counter the radical right

[ladyinred]

reposted in full on the bottom

[ladyinred]

From PFAW:

Even with Democrats in control of both chambers of Congress, the Far Right remains relentless in trying to exert its influence in federal lawmaking. Right-wingers have set their sights on two important bills coming to the floor of the House this week. Members of Congress are hearing from the Right’s activists – now they need to hear some common sense from you.

Call today and urge your representative to:

1. Vote YES on H.R. 1592, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act
2. Vote NO on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1429 and protect civil rights in Head Start

Rep. Sam Johnson
Phone: (202) 225-4201

You can let us know how your call went with our online call report form: http://pfaw.kintera.org/CallReport.

1. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592)

H.R. 1592 would strengthen current federal law, making violent crimes prosecutable as hate crimes when the victim is targeted because of his or her gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It would provide important backup where state and local authorities cannot or will not act. But the anti-gay Right has engaged in a dangerous and wholly dishonest propaganda campaign based on the absurd claim that hate crimes legislation would criminalize Christianity and free speech. NOTHING could be further from the truth.

The purpose of this bill is to help ensure prosecution of violent crime. To emphasize that speech and religion are not threatened by the bill the House Judiciary Committee even adopted an amendment, offered by Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), that states:

"Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution."

But that hasn’t stopped groups like the so-called American Family Association, which just yesterday circulated a statement saying:

“The Hate Crimes Act [sic] threatens religious leaders with criminal prosecution for their thoughts, beliefs and statements.”

No tactics are off limits to members of the Radical Right. They are misleading the public and to Congress about the impact of this bill. We need you to call YOUR representative to counter this right-wing propaganda machine.

Read PFAW’s edit memo, Hate Crimes, Religious Liberty and the Right’s Propaganda:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=23783.

2. Head Start Reauthorization (H.R. 1429)

H.R. 1429 is a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the Head Start program, keeping in place a 35-year-old civil rights provision that protects against religious discrimination within the program. Specifically, the provision prohibits employment discrimination based on religion in federally-funded positions in Head Start programs and protects not only the 213,000 Head Start teachers and staff, but the 1,360,000 parent volunteers involved with the program.

The civil rights/religious nondiscrimination provision has been in place since Head Start’s inception in 1972 and has remained in each reauthorization since then with bipartisan support. But now, it seems some on the Right in Congress want to gut this vital provision. When H.R. 1429 comes to the House floor this week, they intend to offer a “Motion to Recommit” which will include instructions to strip the civil rights protection, thus allowing government-funded religious discrimination in the Head Start program.

Head Start is an effective program that has helped millions of pre-school aged children from low-income and disadvantaged families. Stripping the nondiscrimination provision would only weaken it – we cannot let that happen.

Your representative needs to hear from you today with the message, “vote NO on the Motion to Recommit, reauthorize Head Start with the religious nondiscrimination provision INTACT.”

Read letters urging Congress to preserve the provision:

* Civil rights coalition letter signed by PFAW: http://media.pfaw.org/pdf/Headstart.pdf
* PFAW letter: http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/capitolhil...tart-floor.pdf
* African American Ministers In Action (AAMIA) letter: http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/capitolhil...tart-floor.pdf

AND CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW with the message:

1. Vote YES on H.R. 1592, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act
2. Vote NO on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1429, keep religious liberty in Head Start

Rep. Sam Johnson
Phone: (202) 225-4201

Thank you.

--Your Allies at People For the American Way

[ladyinred]

http://actions.pfaw.org/siteapps/adv...48149&aid=8333

Federal legislators are taking several significant steps towards fairness and justice for LGBT citizens by introducing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. We need more co-sponsors, and we need your support!

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592) provides important backup where state and local authorities cannot or will not act. It would make violent crimes prosecutable as hate crimes when the victim is targeted because of his or her gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.


ENDA, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, would bar employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity when making hiring, promotion, or firing decisions.


The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), would repeal the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. military.
All of these bills need strong bipartisan co-sponsorship and votes to ensure passage and to ensure that they become law over potential presidential vetoes. We need more co-sponsors to ensure that doesn’t happen. Urge your Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor these bills.
Above is the website wher you can take action.

[ladyinred]

That's why I posted my emails to alert you all to what the religious right is trying to do,without taking action to counter what they are trying to do, they will suceed in defeating these bills. I would urge you to tell everyone you know about these matters and get them involved. Call them on the phone, email them or whatever it takes. The more people involved , the better in over-turning the rights intentions.They have used power in numbers by getting people to call to get congress to act against these bills , we must do the same.

[ladyinred]

I got this one in the email:

I'm forwarding you a message from our legislative director,
Allison - the vote on hate crimes will be Thursday, and she's
got some disturbing news.

Apparently legislators are being so heavily bombarded with calls
and emails from the radical right that some are getting very
nervous about voting for the bill. Knowing how close we are,
that's not good.

EVEN IF YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED YOUR REPRESENTATIVE about
this bill, and even if they've said they'll vote for it, we need
you to pick up the phone RIGHT NOW and remind them of your
support.



For talking points, and to tell us you called, go to:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/G73gyW71ezTA/

Thank you so much,
Joe Solmonese

-----Original Message-----
>From: Allison Herwitt
>To: Joe Solmonese
>Subject: Thursday
>
>I got my hands on the latest House vote schedule. The vote on
hate crimes is going to be Thursday.
>
>I also just returned from talking to two key democratic
leadership staffers, who asked us to kick up the grassroots
support. They are talking to Members of Congress and senior
staff who are reporting that they are getting flooded by the
other side's emails and phone calls. This has some key freshman
Members very nervous. Others are still on the fence.
>
>We have to fill up the phone lines - could we go back to the
email supporters ASAP?
>
>
>Allison
>
>Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>

--------------------------------------------------

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for
Human Rights Campaign at:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actio...=Jp3gyW71w81eE

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[u-dog]

Done it. Two Senators and Congressman. One Democrat and two Republicans. The Senators (Lugar and Bayh) are good legislators. The Congressman is a moron.

[ladyinred]

Frankly mine is an idiot.Won't say his name, he will not vote for it(Here in Texas) I just hope people care enough to get involved and act. I mean it is impacting their lives personally, but you know what Udog, some people when I alert them to these things or ask them to get involved don't get it, even in the LGBT community, it's like "Ding,ding, ding" Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is your opportunity to particpate in the political process and do something to protect your rights or help bring change about.. Sometimes I shake my head, and think , ok, but when your rights are void and nil and there is no opportinity left to speak out or affect change, then when you yell discrimination don't b-tch to me.

[ladyinred]

Here in my home state I voted straight democrat, even though liberals are pretty hated and maligned(I'm not extreme left, more of a moderate liberal) but from what I know ,the democrats are the only party willing to take a stand when it comes to LGBT rights. It is beyond my comprehension why people in the LGBT community would vote republican . Perhaps they they don't know that many in te republican party are aligned with the religious right and are the very ones who would like to take away their rights. Now if there were more of a moderate republican who was willing to support our rights,I'd probably vote for them if such a person existed in my state. But to me I refuse to vote for or support anyone who is going to tell me I'm a second class citizen and have no rights. In my mind that is like voting for someone who is acting against my own interests and welfare.To me it is unconscionable to vote for people who will legislate and uphold discrimination against people because of their orientation. I guess I just don't get it when people do, it just doesn't make a heck of alot sense to me...

[BrentRichards]

My Congressman is also a moron. Joe Pitts (and he is the ...). I called his office about 2 weeks ago on this legislation, and the staffer told me he "wasn't permitted to comment" on how Pitts would be voting ... excuse me? I'm your constituent! Frankly, I know full well how he'll be voting, which is why he didn't get my vote last election.

On the plus side, both of my Senators are likely to support it, now that we sent Santorum back to Pittsburgh to earn an honest living.