RALEIGH — It’s not too late to sign up for participation at Equality NC’s Day of Action (DOA) on May 25 at the Legislative Building. Take a day off to help secure LGBT equality.
ENC asks that participants “oppose the marriage discrimination constitutional amendment and speak out for important legislation to address discrimination, HIV prevention and care funding, and other issues.”
They will provide whatever necessary training one needs to talk with elected officials. Sessions will help to “demystify the process, followed by meetings with state lawmakers, caucusing opportunities with other activists from across the state and mini-workshops on issues of importance to our community.” Attendees will be brought up to speed on the key issues for this session, then will send DOA participants for appointments with legislators.
Registration is available free-of-charge. Details are available at equalitync.org/news/dayofaction, along with a schedule.
Transportation assistance for transgender community members is being made possible through the Connie Spry Fund, created by a donor to honor the memory of ENC’s former board member Connie Spry. Spry was a strong advocate for the transgender community. The fund will provide assistance in covering transportation and lodging costs for transgender Day of Action participants with financial need.
To apply, call Executive Director Ian Palmquist at 919-829-0343. Information needed is: name, address and phone number; reimbursement request (gas money, parking fee, bus ticket, lodging if one must drive to Raleigh the night before Lobby Day, etc.); and a statement that the attendee identifies as transgender and has a financial need to cover these expenses.
In other news, there is a 2010 PAC challenge issued by a few supporters to help raise funds for legislative actions. The call by Michael Edwards, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, Angela Haas, John Lalonde and Bob Page and Dale Frederiksen states that contributions will be matched up to $20,000 leading up the the annual PAC legislative reception at All Saints Chapel, 110 South East St., from 6-8 p.m. on the evening of the Day of Action. Donators do not have to attend to be included.
At press time, special guests for the reception are House Speaker Joe Hackney, Sen. Julia Boseman, Rep. Tricia Cotham, Rep. Susan Fisher, Rep. Rick Glazier, Rep. Ellie Kinnaird and Paul Luebke.
Sponsors for the event are Dan Gurley, Colleen Kochanek and Stephanie Norris, Scott Taylor and Jesse White.
To register for the reception (RSVP by May 24 at 12 p.m.), visit eqfed.org/equalitync/events/2010pacreception/details.tcl.
To contribute to the challenge, visit eqfed.org/equalitync/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=38445717. : :