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Equality Day: Chance to educate people

• Published March 07, 2009

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It's time to come together.

So, mark your calendars: Thursday is Equality Day at the Capitol.

The biannual event, now in its fourth year, is organized by Equal Rights Washington, the Religious Coalition for Equality and a host of other groups.

In past years, the event has drawn 1,000 to 2,000 people, said Josh Friedes, advocacy director for Equal Rights Washington.

So far this year, more than 600 people have registered to attend.

"We're trying to build deeper relationships between legislators and their constituents," Friedes said. "We want legislators to get to know the lives of gay and lesbian people."

The Rev. Monica Corsaro, co-convener and co-founder of the Religious Coalition for Equality, also wants to broaden legislators' views on GLBT issues.

The goal of Equality Day is "to bring people together — from all over especially — to let Olympia know that religious people care about civil rights for all people," she said.

"We need to let our legislators know that there is not just one view on glbt issues," Corsaro added.

This year's Equality Day includes workshops teaching GLBT-rights supporters how to be advocates and lobbyists.

"They learn how to speak to their legislators about the three specific bills and how they will protect families in Washington state if they are passed," Corsaro said.

The three issues in the Legislature she is referring to are:

• Expansion of domestic-partner rights: The bill in the Legislature, commonly referred to as the everything-but-marriage bill, would expand domestic-partner rights to include all of the roughly 450 state rights afforded by marriage.

• Expansion of hate-crimes legislation: This bill would add "gender-identity" protections to the hate-crimes bill, giving transgender people equal protection under the law.

• Anti-bullying: This bill would strengthen the anti-bullying laws in schools.

"They learn about what is effective advocacy," Friedes said of the workshops. "The importance of talking in deep personal terms about their lives, their loves, their aspirations, how to be an effective advocate."

Later in the day, people can meet with their individual legislators to emphasize the importance of equal rights for the GLBT community.

"Everybody's personal story is unique and legislators have very often not thought of these," Friedes said. "They may not of have heard of the problems of a gay couple taking care of an elderly parent. What happens when the nonbiological child rushes a sick parent to the hospital?"

We are part of a new empowered GLBT movement, and Friedes stresses it is important to take advantage of that.

"This is an incredible time to educate the legislators about the breadth of issues," he said. "What we want is, when legislators take a vote, they are picturing LGBT people."

Equality Day is a great opportunity for everyone to stand up and ask for fair laws for ALL people.

That means you, me and the neighbor next door need to stand up and be counted.

And Friedes reminds that it's not just about educating lawmakers.

"Equality Day can be an incredible good start," he said. "Just going to the (legislators') office and being there is an incredible act in and of itself. But, it's not enough to lobby your legislators. You have to lobby your friends and neighbors as well."

Equality Day

•What: A chance to bring advocates from across Washington together in Olympia to educate state lawmakers on GLBT equality

•When: March 12

•More information: Register and find more information at www.equalrightswashington.org.

Schedule

•9 to 9:45 a.m., registration: In the tents on the lawn in front of Capitol Stairs

•10 to 11:15 a.m., advocacy workshops: Location will be assigned by district at registration.

•11:15 a.m. to noon: Lunch will not be provided, we suggest you pack a lunch or visit food locations on or near campus.

•Noon to 12:45 p.m. rally: Capitol Stairs

•1 to 3:30 p.m. legislator meetings: Times and locations will be assigned at registration.

Ruth Schneider has already registered for Equality Day. Have you? Contact her at rschneider@theolympian.com or call 360-704-6873.