Human Rights Campaign Weekly Message for March 13
March 13, 2009
Good afternoon, Last weekend, Human Rights Campaign volunteer leaders from across the country came to Washington to sharpen their skills in doing the noble but hard work of advancing equality. It was our largest ever Equality Convention. More than 400 board members and volunteer leaders participated in training tracks, policy briefings and shared best practices at the state level. It kicked off with our annual Lobby Day on Capitol Hill— again, one of the largest HRC groups to descend on Congress. Nearly 260 citizen lobbyists visited their members' offices and urged them to support federal legislation to extend hate crimes protections, prohibit workplace discrimination, eliminate unfair tax burdens on lesbian and gay couples, and repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We know these Congressional battles will be bruising. A quick glance at our new EndtheLies.org interactive website illustrates what we’re up against—anti-LGBT forces who think nothing of using lies and distortions to stop us at every turn. EndtheLies.org is all about confronting those lies with the truth AND grassroots action. In the week since we launched the site, more than 46,000 visitors have signed a petition calling out Ken Starr’s defense of Prop 8 and the nullification of 18,000 legal marriages in California. Yesterday, we hand-delivered those signatures to the D.C. office of Starr's law firm. We also added three new names to our interactive wall—Colorado State Senator Scott Renfroe, right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh, and GOP Chairman Michael Steele. We hope EndtheLies.org continues to steer people toward the truth and away from the faslehoods used so often to defeat our work. This last weekend, one recurring theme for our volunteer leadership was "All hands on deck." This is a year filled with great challenge and great opportunity. It's up to each of us to begin turning the dream of equality into action and, indeed, into law. Visit EndtheLies.org. Learn more about how to answer these lies and add your voice. Together, we can indeed change hearts and minds. Warmly, 
P.S. Be sure to check out the HRC Religion and Faith Program’s Out In Scripture. This week’s commentary discusses the importance of not bearing false witness—which ties in nicely with the themes of EndtheLies.org. You’ll also find the latest Out in Season video, which addresses the season of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.
