Let's kick off 2022 with an informative presentation on how to create a successful postcard initiative scaled for smaller organizations. Guest speakers: Capital Equality members and voting rights activists Darwin Gamble and Barry Munroe, joined by Andy Janecek, chapter president.
Advance registration required at
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsfu6sqD4rHtQpHUkpaAlmVyonGbnH29SL
The March On for Voting Rights Pensacola march and rally will be held Saturday, August 28 in conjunction with the national March On for Voting Rights in Washington DC. The march will begin at 11:30 a.m. outside the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, located at 213 S. Palafox Place, and proceed to Seville Square for a rally. All participants are asked to wear a mask. Those who choose not to march can gather at Seville Square at 11:45 a.m.
This link is to a WUWF interview recorded earlier this week with Rev. Matthews about civil rights and our local March.
Speakers at the rally include civil rights icon Rev. H.K. Matthews, Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, Vice President of the Okaloosa County NAACP Subu Williams, Movement for Change President Rodney Jones, publisher of La Costa Latina Grace Resendez McCaffery, Dream Defenders spokesperson Hale Morissette and Escambia County Democratic Party Chair Lil Eubanks. Voter registration and vote-by-mail applications will be available as well as Fines and Fees Assistance Application forms for qualifying citizens interested in restoring their right to vote. A COVID-19 Vaccination Station, provided by the Escambia County Health Department, will be at the Seville Square rally site for anyone interested in vaccinations.
March On for Voting Rights is a mass mobilization to demand that elected officials stop hijacking democracy, denounce voter suppression and ensure fair, easy access to the vote for all. On August 28, the 58th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic March on Washington, we will march on cities across America to demand that the vision of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech be deferred no longer. We invite all Americans who believe in the power of democracy and free elections to join us. Marches will take place in states where voter suppression efforts are already imperiling our democracy: Atlanta, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Houston, Texas; in Washington, D.C.; and across the country.
Emerald Coast Equality is proud to announce that we will be celebrating PRIDE in-person on Sunday, June 20 from 2-5 PM at Odd Colony Brewing Company, 260 N. Palafox, Pensacola. We hope that you will make plans to attend for fun afternoon of reconnecting.
Those who have paid their dues for 2021 and those who do so at the event will receive a FREE Emerald Coast Equality t-shirt.
Membership forms will be available at the event. However, if you would like to have a completed check handy, membership categories and dues are:
Single member - $25, Household of 2 - $40 and Student member - $10
T-shirts will also be available in exchange for a donation of $10 or more.
It has been quite a year, plus. Achievements, disappoints and yes, COVID-19. We need to be together. We hope that everyone who can has been vaccinated by now. However, whatever your vaccination status, please be sure you are following the CDC guidelines that apply to you. We also expect attendees to abide by the COVID protocols of the venue.
It takes a lot of privilege to “not be political.” Stay safe... and engaged!
NEWS
LGBTQ+ Dems Welcome Reintroduction of the Equality Act
The Equality Act was reintroduced in the US House of Representatives this afternoon. The landmark bipartisan legislation would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories in a number of civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, among others. Stephen Gaskill, president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement:
“LGBTQ Americans face discrimination everyday solely for who we are. The Equality Act is a simple but giant step that ends the patchwork system of equality measures our community faces across the country — and even across Florida. By amending key civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, the Equality Act strengthens protections for everyone. The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus thanks our Florida congressional delegation for their support and advocacy on behalf of equality for all Americans.”
“Congratulations to Secretary Pete Buttigieg on his historic confirmation,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “This confirmation breaks through a barrier that has existed for too long; where LGBTQ identity served as an impediment to nomination or confirmation at the highest level of government. Let this important moment for our movement serve as a reminder to every LGBTQ young person: you too can serve your country in any capacity you earn the qualifications to hold. President Biden promised to deliver an administration representative of the diversity of this nation, and this confirmation is a significant achievement toward that goal. I look forward to working with Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the entire Biden cabinet.”
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/secretary-pete-buttigieg-makes-history-as-first-openly-lgbtq-senate-confirmed-person-to-lead-a-department
"Gender identity should not be a barrier to military service," said Emerald Coast Equality President Jeff Nall. "If someone is willing to step up and volunteer, and they have the skills that we need to protect our country, than these patriots need to be able to serve."
http://weartv.com/news/local/nw-florida-lgbtq-advocates-support-president-bidens-reversal-of-transgender-military-ban
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. CST via Zoom
Speaker: Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Director of Veteran Outreach Eddie De La Vega
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. CST via Zoom
Speaker: Delarian Wiggins, Pensacola City Council
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. CST via Zoom
Speakers: Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill and Legislative Director Nathan Bruemmer.
October Social: Sunday, October 10 from 2-5 PM at Odd Colony Brewing Company, 260 N. Palafox Street.
Contact
Email us at EmeraldCoastEquality@gmail.com
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