This came to me via Mark Segal: Pennsylvania voter’s – Tomorrow When you VOTE there’s a question on the ballot regarding Equality in PA. Retention of Justices. Both Ron Castille & Max Baer are up for retention. PLEASE vote YES. As Supreme Court Justices they led the battle to have all state court employee’s have domestic partners full rights. If you support Equality, vote yes
PHILADELPHIA: Pa. State Representative Brian Sims, D-Phila., the first openly gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania applauded the vote on cloture for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate tonight. Sims especially commended Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, and Patrick Toomey, R-Pennsylvania. Both Senators voted for cloture on the landmark LGBT civil rights bill. “I have long believed that civil rights cannot be a one party issue. Senator Casey has supported LGBT civil rights[Read More…]
I’ve wanted to post about the upcoming elections on November 5th, but rather than just talk about the local election and candidates, I want to put things into a bigger context. This post will be a three part series. Or more, if I’m honest with myself. Do local elections matter? My friend, Adrian Shanker posted this to Facebook the other day. His point was to get people to thank the elected official, and I’d encourage you[Read More…]
take a moment to thank Senator Toomey. Call his office, send him an email, or even better- send him a short handwritten note. A handwritten note will definately makes its way into his hands, where the email will probably not.
There may be 60 votes to pass ENDA in the Senate, but we must be sure it remains fully inclusive and protects trans persons!
State Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila., the first openly-gay elected member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature penned an open letter today to Senator Patrick Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, urging the Senator to openly declare his support for the federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA). A vote in the U.S. Senate on ENDA has been scheduled for next week.
The Victory Institute’s mission is to increase the number of LGBTQ persons into public office and support them in different ways to achieve success. They rare helping to bring more Brian Sims onto the scene. You can help make that happen!
JARED SCHAAF TO BE FIRST NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIAN TO LEAD A STATEWIDE LGBT ORGANIZATION STATE COLLEGE, Pa., – The Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition (PSEC) Coordinating Committee has elected new leadership, appointed four board members, and formally announces the 2014 Youth Action Conference: Igniting a Pennsylvania Youth Movement for Trans* Justice and Freedom. At the PSEC Fall Convening held October 18-20, 2013 at Penn State – University Park, Jared Schaaf, Gannon University ‘15, of Erie, was elected[Read More…]
In the five years since the inception of thomascwaters.com, the blog has had two themes, but it is time to make that three! So beginning this evening, a new theme has been activated. There are some details to be sorted out and enhancements will be made, but please excuse any inconvenience over the next few days as I make these changes.
Brad also seems to be on top of understanding LGBTQ issues in a big way. While Marriage Equality seems to be the trendy issue of the day, the reality is that our state is way behind others in that we don’t even offer state-wide non-discrimination protections. These protections, hate crimes legislation, anti-bullying protections- all of these need to be put in place before Marriage can be fully meaningful here in Pennsylvania.