ShowMeNoHate is organizing a group of St. Louisans (and surrounding cities) who want to attend the National March for Equality in Washington DC, Oct 10-11, 2009. The event is taking place on the Columbus Day holiday weekend, National Coming Out Day weekend and will be the 30th Anniversary of the first LGBT rights march on the Washington Mall.

We are currently working with several local community activists as well as with the National Equality March organization to better facilitate a successful Missouri contingency to DC. This will include information on air and ground travel; DC hotel discount packages and the possibility of chartered buses leaving from St. Louis to DC.

For more information check here or email showmenohate [at] gmail [dot] com

We are currently speaking with several local and regional organizations, politicians and activists on the idea of building a stronger Missouri Marriage Equality coalition. Show Me No Hate believes that Marriage Equality has gained so much ground in 2009 but we feel it will continue to gain support in 2010. We know Missouri was one of the first states where the voters accepted writing discrimination into our Constitution. A Marriage Equality coalition would help reverse that discrimination and the climate it has since created. There has even been talk about putting Marriage Equality back up to the Missouri Voters in 2012.

For any organization to tackle such an ambitious voter ballot iniative they need to be not only organized but focused with a clear plan to win. This takes money, time and lots of grassroots energy. We feel strongly in the possibility of building that energy now for a victory in 2012.

We are looking for some creative thinkers as we explore different ideas. Nothing is on or off the table other than building a strong Marriage Equality coalition in our state.

Are you ready to Show Us your creativity?

Please send us an email at ShowMeNoHate [at] Gmail [dot] com.

The president said the move “paves the way for long-overdue progress in our nation’s pursuit of equality,” though he acknowledged “this is only one step.”

“Hundreds of Fortune 500 companies already offer such benefits not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because they recognize that it helps them compete for and retain the best possible talent — and we need top talent serving their country right now more than ever,” he said.

The president also announced his support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, which he described as “crucial legislation that will guarantee these rights for all federal employees.”

The remarks marked Mr. Obama’s first significant comments on gay rights issues as president. While he heralded the move as an “historic step,” many gay rights advocates have dismissed it as a minor action that only affects a small number of people and is designed to quell outrage over the president’s lack of action on a number of issues important to the gay community.

They noted that health insurance benefits will still not be extended to gay partners and questioned whether the announcement has any real impact, since many of the benefits announced Wednesday have been available to some partners of gay federal employees since the Clinton administration.

Office of Personnel Management director John Berry addressed criticisms of the move in a conference call with reporters Wednesday afternoon, saying the president’s announcement means Mr. Obama is “conferring a mandatory right” that was previously “subject to the whim of a supervisor.” (ShowMeNoHate note: Hillary Clinton already provided benefits across the board to her State Department LGTBQ married employees. )

VIDEOS ON THE ISSUE

Do you support Marriage Equality? If so use this wonderful new resource called http://www.buyequality.com

Missouri locations are limited, so help grow this website by submitting businesses that support Marriage Equality in Missouri.

Check here for information on the suit:
http://www.equalrightsfoundation.org/
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1902556,00.html

Check here for videos on this suit:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10348

Video by Sean Chapin

See the following links to catch-up on what was experienced in Fresno, California.

unitethefight.blogspot.com

www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com

Here is a great article showing the timeline for Marriage Equality:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/26/f-same-sex-timeline.html

Please pass this article to friends and family.

The Supreme Court upheld Prop 8. Sign the pledge to repeal Prop 8 and restore marriage equality to California:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Equality

This provocative new TV ad was created in the spirit of Harvey Milk’s call to “come out, come out wherever you are” and proudly tell the stories of the people most affected by the passage of Prop 8 — in moving images set to the beat of Regina Spektor’s beautiful song “Fidelity”.

GOOD NEWS!

Not only did we make every St. Louis major television station’s news coverage; moreover, we added some new radio stations and the Associated Press ran my interview all day in some 25 regional cities.

EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS!

We made national news on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow show tonight! Rachel covered the Proposition 8 rulings and she included many of the events around the United States. She highlighted St. Louis’ Day of Decision Rally and images from our City Hall.

I would like to personally thank:

Board President of St. Louis Alderman Lewis Reed, Alderman Shane Cohn (for going above and beyond to secure City Hall), Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, Senator Joan Bray, Rev. Carol Trissell of Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis, Rev. Dietra Wise of Liberation Christian Church, Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation, Rabbi James Stone Goodman Neve Shalom Congregation, Brenda Jones-Executive Director of ACLU of Eastern Missouri, A.J. Bockelman-Executive Director of PROMO, Blue Jones-Executive Director of LGBT Community Center of St. Louis, and April Breeden and Crystal L Peairs-Missouri couple both married in California in 2008.