HRC Blog

HRC Launches New Grassroots Campaign: “No Excuses”

July 30, 2009

Today the Human Rights Campaign launched a national, grassroots campaign called “No Excuses” to demand action from Congress on key issues of equality. Designed to take advantage of the Congressional summer recess when members are in their local offices and meeting with constituents, “No Excuses” will mobilize HRC's 750,000 members and their allies to meet directly with lawmakers and push for federal legislative change. Members and supporters can be involved by visiting: http://noexcuses.hrc.org.

Said HRC President Joe Solmonese of the effort: “While we salute and acknowledge the heroic members of Congress who have worked tirelessly on our behalf, far too many have dragged their feet on basic matters of fairness and equality that have lingered too long and hurt too many LGBT people and their families. Yes, there are many challenges facing this Congress and this President. But LGBT people often face additional hardship protecting their families, their loved ones and their jobs, and too few in Congress are willing to champion these issues of basic fairness. Now, more than ever, members of the LGBT community need to make their voices heard face-to-face and in the districts where they live.”

The in-district meetings will focus on the following key legislative priorities in the 111th Congress:

Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which denies legally married lesbian and gay couples more than 1,000 federal protections;
Prohibit workplace discrimination for the LGBT community by passing an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA);
Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell to ensure that service members who contribute to our nation's security are no longer summarily discharged for who they are;
Pass immigration reform that recognizes permanent same-sex couples and ends the painful separation of families;
Provide health benefits equally to the nearly 3 million federal government employees, including same-sex domestic partners.