Equality Texas Blog

We can demand change. Or, we can create change.

 

 

We want change.
We can demand change.
Or, we can create change. 

EQTX is offering you the chance to create change by meeting with lawmakers face-to-face.

Sometimes, standing on the street corner with our bullhorns and signs is an appropriate and effective way to advocate.

Other times, a constructive, heartfelt conversation with those who actually write the laws creates major change. EQTX Lobby Day is your opportunity to have that heartfelt conversation.

In the videos above from our YouTube Channel, EQTX Executive Director Dennis Coleman and EQTX Operations Manager Allison Jones share with us why they plan to attend EQTX Lobby Day on March 7th. 

We'd like for you to share with us why you want to attend EQTX Lobby Day. We invite you to make a video, send it to us or Skype with us. EQTX would like to share your story with others. Email me at Andres@equalitytexas.org for more details.

EQTX Lobby Day is Monday, March 7th.  The day will start at 7:30 a.m. with check-in and breakfast at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center (FUMC), located at 1300 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701.

EQTX Lobby Day is free of charge to participants. By registering in advance you will receive breakfast, lunch, a personalized lobbying packet, and a great day of advocacy. The deadline to register is Friday, March 4, 2011.  EVERYONE MUST REGISTER!!! 

Register online now at:

www.EQTXLobbyDay.com

 

Posted by Andres Araiza
EQTX Communications Strategist
Andres@equalitytexas.org 

Equality Texas Lobby Day - Share Your Story

Texas changes. People change. Everything changes.

Change can come slowly or it can come quickly. We at EQTX prefer the latter, especially when dealing with inclusive policies to make the great State of Texas fair for all Texans. We can accelerate change in Texas if we engage our lawmakers in face-to-face conversations.

So far, Chuck, Will and I have told you why we plan to attend Equality Texas Lobby Day on March 7th.

Now it's time for you to tell us why you want to attend Lobby Day. We invite you to make a video, send it to us or Skype with us. EQTX would like to share your story with others.

Email me at Andres@equalitytexas.org for more details. 

EQTX Lobby Day is Monday, March 7 starting at 7:30 a.m.. Check-in and breakfast is at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center (FUMC), located at 1300 Lavaca Street,  Austin, TX 78701.

Lobby Day is free of charge to participants. By registering in advance you will receive breakfast, lunch, a personalized lobbying packet, and  a great day of advocacy. The deadline to register is Friday, March 4, 2011. 

Register online now at  www.EQTXLobbyDay.com. 

 

Posted by Andres Araiza
EQTX Communications Strategist 
Andres@equalitytexas.org 

Bullied to Death: Jon Carmichael

 

I didn't personally know Jon Carmichael, but his story is becoming all too familiar.

What Jon experienced should not be considered a rite of passage or in the realm of normal adolescent behavior. Bullies pushed Jon to take his own life. 

Jon was small for his age and subsequently became a target of bullying. He grew up in Joshua, Texas. Friends of Jon admitted larger students bullied him for years. Those same friends indicated school staff members were aware of the behavior. School officials have acknowledged one incident in which students stuffed Jon in a school garbage can.

In March 2010, Jon hung himself in a barn near his home. 

I want to share with you what one of Jon's friends recently posted about this video: 

Jon Was My Bestfriend, Still Is, I Watch His Videos Cause They Remind Me Of Him, Give Me A Since Of Security That He IS Still Here, But He Is Watching Over Us, I Know He Is... R.I.P JON :"(

Common sense solutions to address bullying can be found in Senate Bill 245 by Senator Wendy Davis of Fort Worth.  SB 245 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education. This bill would amend the Education Code to develop policies and programs to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying, provides for parental notification and the ability to transfer a bully to another classroom, and provides for broader accountability within school districts.

Click here for more information about SB 245.  

On the EQTX website, you can track the progress of a number of bills that have been filed to bring more inclusive policies to Texans. Click here for our Daily Bill Tracking Report.  

Finally, come to Austin on March 7th for Lobby Day and have face-to-face conversations with those elected to represent you. Click here for more information and to register for Lobby Day or visit www.EQTXLobbyDay.com 

Posted by Andres Araiza
EQTX Communications Strategist 
Andres@equalitytexas.org 

Bullied to Death: Tesia Samara; Extremists Oppose Anti-Bullying Laws

Watching Tesia Samara's story should remind us why Texans must demand that we protect all children from bullies, and why we must confront extremists who would deny kids like Tesia safe schools. 

Tesia was a transgender teen who lived in Rockdale, Texas. She was harassed and teased by classmates as she made her transition from male to female. The bullying culminated in an incident where two Rockdale High School football players reportedly assaulted and urinated on her. That day in November 2004, Tesia hung herself at home. 

According to Right Wing Watch, extremists at Focus on the Family warned of "activists who want to promote homosexuality in kids".  David Barton of the Aledo,Texas-based WallBuilders dismissed accounts of bullying and condemned alleged "homosexual indoctrination", and the Minnesota Family Council blamed the LGBT community for bullying by endorsing an "unhealthy lifestyle".

The simple fact is: the only people to blame for Tesia's death are the bullies who drove her to suicide.

The simple fact is: the only agenda to anti-bullying policy is to help ensure the safety of every student.  Every student.

Every student must be valued.
Every student must be safe.
Every student must be protected. 

Texans must rise above political ideology, dismiss the fanatics, and face the fact that Texas children continue to die for being perceived as different. 

Common sense solutions to address bullying can be found in Senate Bill 245. Last week, SB 245 was assigned to the Senate Education Committee. Senator Wendy Davis is the author of SB 245. This bill amends the Education Code to develop policies and programs to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying, provides for parental notification and the ability to transfer a bully to another classroom, and provides for broader accountability within school districts.

At this point, we cannot estimate when SB 245 will receive a committee hearing, especially with legislators working to solve a $27 billion budget deficit. However, you can help by contacting your State Senator and State Representative and asking them to support Senate Bill 245.

Click here for more information about SB 245.  On the EQTX website, you can track the progress of a number of bills that have been filed to bring more inclusive policies to Texans. Click here for our Daily Bill Tracking Report.  Finally, come to Austin on March 7th for Lobby Day and have face-to-face conversations with those elected to represent you. Click here for more information and to register for Lobby Day.

Posted by Andres Araiza
EQTX Communications Strategist 
Andres@equalitytexas.org 

This is LOBBYING! And you can do it.

Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his 2-mom family in the Iowa House of Representatives.

We need people like Zach to share their story with Texas legislative staffs.
We need YOU to share your story.

You won't be at a microphone, and you won't be in front of the entire House of Representatives, but you will have meaningful, memorable and effective face-to-face conversations with legislators and/or their staff members.

BE HEARD!
:) 2 :)
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  

EQUALITY TEXAS LOBBY DAY IS MARCH 7TH AT THE CAPITOL IN AUSTIN.

Register now at http://tinyurl.com/eqtxlobbyday2011

 

Lobby Day is free to participants and includes breakfast and lunch. Advanced registration is necessary in order to prepare constituent-matched legislative packets.

 

Posted by Chuck Smith,
Deputy Executive Director

The Story of Montana Lance; New Developments at the Capitol

The story of Montana Lance is just one example of the hundreds of Texas children who face painful bullying every day in our schools.

In the past, these experiences were relegated to “rites of passage” or a “learning experience.” But through the stories of children like Montana, Texans must acknowledge the potential deadly consequences of bullies tormenting kids because of their perceived “differences.”

Over the course of the next few weeks, Equality Texas will produce and distribute short Internet videos to highlight why Texas Legislators must pass comprehensive anti-bullying legislation during the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature.

Equality Texas cannot fight alone. Legislators and the general public must hear from those who have experienced bullying to convince state leaders that this problem must be addressed.  

If you would like to share your experience, please email me at Andres@equalitytexas.org 

New Developments:

Lawmakers are beginning to make progress on our legislative agenda.

One of the biggest developments this week is the assignment of Senate Bill 245 to the Senate Education Committee. Senator Wendy Davis is the author of SB 245. This bill amends the education code to develop policies and programs to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying.  

At this point, we can'’t estimate when SB 245 will receive a full hearing, especially with legislators working to solve a $27 billion budget deficit. On the whole, education is expected to take a huge financial hit because of the budget crisis.  The Austin American-Statesman published an interesting article Tuesday morning about how 2006 school finance reform is actually causing significant trouble for Texas’ long-term financial stability. These fiscal problems could prove to be a major roadblock to passing SB 245, but Equality Texas will work especially hard this session to ensure lawmakers don'’t forget about securing the safety of all Texas school children. 

Posted by Andres Araiza
Andres@equalitytexas.org