Stop being nice; Start making a difference!

"We are past the moment when you can claim support of me and other LGBT folks you know and love and yet still stand with those who deny us marriage. To not support marriage equality, right here and right now, means you believe that same-sex couples are less valid, less equal, and less deserving. Such a position is untenable with any claim that one is 'fair-minded.'" — Kate Kendall, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

I'm pissed. I may have been a big cheerleader in the blog post I wrote for the ACLU, but personally, I'm sick of this. Sick of having to wage political campaigns to beg voters to give gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans the protections guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution. Sick of elected officials and politicians who say they support LGBT people but don't do anything to help (or don't do anything until they're out of office). Sick of having to forfeit the protections that most Americans take for granted, just because some small percentage of voters are afraid that their kids might go to school and find out that (GASP!) GAY PEOPLE EXIST!!!

To quote the patron saint of drag queens everywhere, this shit is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

So I am declaring today a nationwide day of action in response to the defeat of marriage equality in Maine. The day? TODAY. Whatever day you are reading this post. The action? Let someone in power know that you want — no, that you DEMAND equality for LGBT people NOW.

The easiest thing for most of you will be to call, write, fax, e-mail or send a squadron of skywriting planes to your elected officials, telling them that you want marriage equality NOW. For some of you, the most powerful thing you can do will be something else. Maybe it's contacting your HR department and telling them that you want the company to start offering domestic partner benefits or transgender healthcare. Maybe it's calling your kids' school and telling the principal that you are appalled that they haven't adopted an LGBT nondiscrimination policy yet. Maybe it's calling your Senator and telling them that you want them to be the most outspoken leader in favor of passing the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).

It's less important what action you take and more important that you take action TODAY. That goes double (or triple) if you are straight and cisgender (aka "not transgender"). You, my straight allies, have more power to make change than you realize. When an elected official hears from an LGBT person about LGBT equality, many of them think "well, of course...this is pure self-interest." But when they hear from you, a straight ally, they realize that ALL voters are getting sick of LGBT people being treated as second class citizens.

DO NOT BE SHY about telling whoever you contact that you are straight. You get a certain amount of extra power (aka "privilege") from your straightness. USE IT! We need our allies — like the many thousands who voted to preserve our rights in Maine, Washington and Kalamazoo — to be out and proud that they are straights who love the geighs. (and lesbians. and bisexuals. and transgender folks, too.)

I'm including a few specific suggestions for people in the areas where most of my friends are, but seriously, ANY action will help. Do not let fear of doing the wrong thing stop you. Do not let any lack of knowledge about the issues stop you. Do not let ANYTHING stop you. We need you support. You. The one in your seat right now, reading this post. The one who just thought "oh, he doesn't mean me." Yes, YOU! Take action. Right now.

When we finally win, we'll have a fabulous party, and buy you a drink. You don't want to miss THAT, do you?

Suggested Actions:

For New Yorkers
Call, write, fax or e-mail the leadership of the New York State Senate and demand that they hold a vote on same-sex marriage NOW. Due to the craziness in Albany, this means three men. They are:

Senator Malcolm Smith
Senate President
Office of New York State Senator Malcolm A. Smith
909 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518) 455-2701 / Fax: (518) 455-2816
Email: masmith@senate.state.ny.us

Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.
Majority Leader
420 Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518) 455-3395
Fax: (518) 426-6858
Email: espada@senate.state.ny.us

Senator John Sampson
Democratic Conference Leader
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518) 455-2788
Fax: (518) 426-6806
Email: sampson@senate.state.ny.us

For New Jersey
 Call, write, fax or e-mail your officials in Trenton and demand that they vote on same-sex marriage NOW. You can find their contact information here.

For Illinois

Call, write, fax or e-mail your officials in Springfield and demand that they pass civil unions NOW. You can find their contact information here.

For California

Call, write, fax or e-mail your officials in Sacramento and demand that they put a measure on the ballot to repeal Proposition 8. You can find their contact info here.

If you have suggestions for other states/areas/actions, please put them in the comments!