RU12? Community Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Vermont

For the most up-to-the minute Marriage Equality news...

...check out the VT Freedom to Marry Taskforce...

Annual Dinner Tickets Now on Sale

Click here for all the rootin'-tootin' details of this year's western-themed "Denim & Diamonds" dinner featuring Comedy Central comic Sabrina Matthews!

We will not let you veto away our families!

A message from the Freedom to Marry Taskforce...

Gov. Douglas held a press conference today where he announced that he will veto bill S.115, the marriage equality bill, if it passes the House. 

WE CANNOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!!!

Our task is clear now – we must use the upcoming days to change his mind. 

We need YOU at the State House this FRIDAY at 8:45AM to show your support for marriage equality. We need to thank the Legislators for their leadership and to URGE Gov. Douglas to change his mind. The Governor has a Legislative Open Door from 9am-9:30am. WE NEED YOU THERE.

We will send out an email shortly to let you know what other actions to take!

In the meantime - call or email Gov. Douglas to express your outrage and urge him to change his mind. It's not too late.

Ph:802 828-3333
(toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825)

Email Gov. Douglas Now!

NOW MORE THAN EVER - your House Representatives and the members of the House Judiciary Committee must hear from you. Even if you have called or emailed in recent weeks, please contact your House Representatives and members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY!  

Want to make a huge difference in getting out the word? We need phone bank volunteers tonight (Wednesday) from 4-8pm, Thursday from 4-8, Friday from 4-8pm, Saturday from 11-3pm, and Sunday from 4-8pm. All our supporters need to know how to help out, and you can help be a part of making it happen!

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS BELOW:

Rep. Bill Lippert - Chair
Ph: (802) 482-3528
E-Mail: wlippert@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Maxine Grad - Vice Chair
Ph: (802) 496-7667
E-Mail: mgrad@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Eldridge French
Ph: (802) 492-3304
E-Mail: efrench@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. William Jewett
(802) 388-4061
Ph: E-Mail: wjewett@leg.state.vt.us, wjewett@adelphia.net

Rep. Patty Komline
Ph: (802) 867-4232
E-Mail: pkomline@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Richard Mareck
No Phone
E-Mail: rmarek@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Cynthia Martin
Ph: (802) 886-8470
E-Mail: cmartin@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Kathy Pellett
Ph: (802) 875-1372
E-Mail: kpellett@leg.state.vt.us

Rep. Hiedi Sheuermann
Ph: (802) 253-2275
E-Mail: hscheuermann@leg.state.vt.us
parkside@vtusa.net

Rep. Andrew Donaghy
Ph: (802) 287-9693
E-Mail: adonaghy@leg.state.vt.us, andy05764@aol.com

Rep. Margaret Flory
Ph: (802) 775-3229
E-Mail: pflory@leg.state.vt.us, mkf3229@yahoo.com

We have worked long and hard for equal rights – please, help us finish the job!

Robyn Maguire

Field Director

Marriage bill passes the Senate today!

The Vermont Senate passed S.115 in its final vote this morning. You can watch Senator John Campbell's speech from yesterday's historic Senate debate online at www.vtfreetomarry.org.
.
If you haven't thanked the Senators who supported this bill, we urge you to do so.

Please, please, please do not be lulled into complacency by our success in the Senate. We CANNOT take anything for granted, and MUST work hard to reach out to our Representatives. Many of them are hearing from opponents of marriage equality, and they absolutely need to hear from us.

Contact your Representatives NOW: (contact information can be found here)

* Call the Sgt.-At-Arms at 802-828-2228 and leave a message for your representative during business hours.
* Call your Representatives at home at a reasonble hour.
* Send your Representatives a postal letter. This is the most effective way to reach out.

The House Judiciary Committee takes up the bill this afternoon and is expected to hold hearings throughout the week. Click here to view the House Judiciary schedule. We encourage you to come.

You are not alone.

The recent advancements in the marriage equality movement have brought out the best in some people, and the worst in others. Our community has been targeted and attacked through hateful faxes, emails, and passed propaganda, even more so this past week than usual. These messages of hate can bring up many emotions — anger, sadness and frustration, among others.

We here at RU12? and SafeSpace want you to know that you are not alone, and that we share these emotions as well. If you need another person to talk with, want to vent about these recent attacks, or just want to be in a space with others, please call us at (802) 863-0003 or come on by the Center. We are here for you, in solidarity.

A message from the Freedom to Marry...!

We hope that the Senate will vote on the bill very soon, so we need to flood the State House with calls. Please call the Sergeant-At-Arms TODAY to leave a message for your senator/s.

Even if you’ve emailed or contacted them in recent weeks, please call again TODAY. Opposition is doing a good getting contacts, so Senators need to be reminded of your support TODAY!

CALL NOW – 802.828.2228

Tell them your name, town and urge them to vote in support of S.115, the freedom to marry bill.

Please encourage your family and friends to call as well.

***

If you are interested in seeing coverage about last night's hearings, check out clips, links, and more information on the VT Freedom to Marry Taskforce website.

 

Pride Chair and volunteers wanted!

Pride Vermont Committee Chair and Members Wanted

Pride VT is looking for a Volunteer Committee Chair to start immediately. The Pride VT Chair will coordinate the Pride Committee, be responsible for regular meetings of the Committee, be the contact for other Committee members to report to, be the spokesperson for Pride VT, and ensure a successful Pride this July 25th in Burlington.

Supervision and support will be provided to the Pride Chair by the RU12? Executive Director. This volunteer position starts in March and ends in August 2008. Hours are flexible; Pride meetings are usually weeknights.

Pride VT also needs more volunteer committee members, so call
802.860.7812 or email thecenter@ru12.org today!

Please email a letter of interest for the Chair position to Kara@ru12.org.

Public Hearing TONIGHT in Montpelier for equal marriage rights!

This is it! This is our time! It's critical that supporters of equality fill the state house TONIGHT 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m for the joint House and Senate Public Hearing on Marriage Equality.

Our friends at the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force are organizing buses to Montpelier, visit www.vtfreetomarry.org for more information.

Hope to see you there!

If you can't make it in person but want to watch this historic event, Channel 17/ Town Meeting TV will stream live coverage of the Joint Vermont House and Senate Judiciary Committee public hearing on the proposed gay marriage bill today from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at www.Channel17.org. The hearing will also be aired on Channel 17, (on Comcast and Burlington Telecom) on Friday, March 20 at 10:45 p.m. and Saturday, March 21 at 3:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

http://www.cctv.org/news/same-sex-marriage-hearing-streaming-live-tonight-318-6-pm

Breaking News from Freedom to Marry: Leadership Pledges To Pass Marriage Bill

The time has arrived!

Today Senate leader Peter Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith confirmed that they intend to take up, and pass, a bill to ensure equal access to civil marriage.

THIS IS IT! The pieces are in place, and it's up to us to make our case!

Sen. Shumlin and Rep. Smith outlined the General Assembly's extensive work to stimulate the economy and create jobs, as well as its groundbreaking legislation to ensure that Vermont has the country's toughest and most thoughtful laws governing sex offenders.

Laying out their agenda for the second half of the session, they concluded that the legislature can and should pass a bill ensuring the equal right to marry. The Senate Judiciary Committee will start the work on S.115, "An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Promote Equality in Civil Marriage," sponsored by Senate leaders Peter Shumlin, John Campbell, and Claire Ayer, on Monday, March 16, when legislators return from the Town Meeting break.

The House and Senate Judiciary Committees will jointly host a PUBLIC HEARING on Wednesday, MARCH 18, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Statehouse in Montpelier. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Vermont Freedom to marry will have buses around the state!! Watch for more information.

The Senate Judiciary Committee expects to complete its work, and to vote on the bill, by Friday, March 20. The full Senate will likely debate and vote on the bill the following week. The House stands ready to act once the Senate passes a bill.

Stay tuned! More following with video excerpts of Senator Shumlin's remarks and information about how you can sign up for a bus ride to the public hearing.

Take the Doyle Poll Today for Marriage Equality!

You can help support full marriage equality in Vermont! Please download the Doyle Poll, Vote YES, and mail it in.

Also, please distribute this link and/or the attachment of the Doyle Poll widely. Put it on your face book, send it to your listserves,etc. We want VERMONTERS to fill out this form. If you put it on your Face Book, pass it out on campus, in class and please make sure to let people know we want Vermonters to fill it out.

http://www.vtfreetomarry.org/pdf/doylepoll.pdf

Thanks!