
THE EQUALITY PLEDGE NETWORK is a nationwide campaign alliance of LGBTQ groups and grassroots taking action to end homophobia and transphobia in America by demanding full and equal federal LGBT civil rights protections - in one comprehensive bill.
Organizing to win, our one-bill approach unites the many separate LGBT nondiscrimination bills for employment, housing, credit, etc. - each long-filed but never passed - in order to build a critical mass-movement for shared success. The strategy was initiated by eQualityGiving.org, a group of veteran movement donors who crafted the first comprehensive bill with Karen Doering, Esq., former Senior Council for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The Pledge for Full LGBT Equality is became the populist reflection of this strategy, and the Equality Pledge is now supported by over 240 groups from 44 states.
This diverse line-up represents a broad cross-section of our community from veterans to the vanguard, with Pride Organizations from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Hawaii, Community Centers from Palm Springs to Vermont, Democrat Clubs, PFLAG Chapters, People of Color groups, Faith groups including the United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist Association, Media outlets, Student groups, Trans* groups from Tennessee to Maryland, Social groups from Seattle to New York, the LGBT Bar Association in Washington, and Human Rights Centers from Florida and California. (All listed here)
Building on this success, LGBTequalityNOW.org is a new veteran-led organization created specifically to build a nationwide action campaign to get a full equality bill filed and passed, via The Equality Pledge Network. The Board members, listed below, all have a deep commitment to grassroots empowerment and have been activists in the trenches and boardrooms for decades. Putting principles in activism, the By-Laws emphasize transparency, community empowerment, and mutual support.
LGBTequalityNOW.org will facilitateThe Pledge Network Campaign managed by J. Todd Fernandez, LLM, who has guided this project post its inception at eQualityGiving by popularizing the one-bill strategy as The American Equality Bill Project, and now the Equality Pledge, which was co-authored in community with Marriage Equality USA, Out4Immigration, GetEQUAL, eQualityGiving, and other groups and grassroots activists.
Nationally united and volunteer driven, the Pledge Network Campaign is designed to empower local organizers and groups to take the lead to educate, agitate and liberate. The campaign will leverage a cadre of volunteer professional advisors to orchestrate media support, coordinated actions, and coalition building. And, importantly, a diversity of tactics, strategy and messaging is encouraged, working from a shared intention of one-bill and full equality.
UPDATE: In 2019 The U.S. House passed The Equality Act. And in 2020, The SCOTUS held that "sex" includes "sexual orientation and gender identity" thus extending many of the CRA provision to LGBT Americans. In 2020 we expect to Pass The Equality Act adding "sex, sexual orientation and gender identity" to the remaining big provisions of All Federally Funded Programs (Title VI) and Public Accommodations (Title II). VICTORY IS COMING SOON!
All are welcomed.
Your commitment, passion and creativity is our real power.
TAKE THE PLEDGE &
VOLUNTEER NOW
Organizing to win, our one-bill approach unites the many separate LGBT nondiscrimination bills for employment, housing, credit, etc. - each long-filed but never passed - in order to build a critical mass-movement for shared success. The strategy was initiated by eQualityGiving.org, a group of veteran movement donors who crafted the first comprehensive bill with Karen Doering, Esq., former Senior Council for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The Pledge for Full LGBT Equality is became the populist reflection of this strategy, and the Equality Pledge is now supported by over 240 groups from 44 states.
This diverse line-up represents a broad cross-section of our community from veterans to the vanguard, with Pride Organizations from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Hawaii, Community Centers from Palm Springs to Vermont, Democrat Clubs, PFLAG Chapters, People of Color groups, Faith groups including the United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist Association, Media outlets, Student groups, Trans* groups from Tennessee to Maryland, Social groups from Seattle to New York, the LGBT Bar Association in Washington, and Human Rights Centers from Florida and California. (All listed here)
Building on this success, LGBTequalityNOW.org is a new veteran-led organization created specifically to build a nationwide action campaign to get a full equality bill filed and passed, via The Equality Pledge Network. The Board members, listed below, all have a deep commitment to grassroots empowerment and have been activists in the trenches and boardrooms for decades. Putting principles in activism, the By-Laws emphasize transparency, community empowerment, and mutual support.
LGBTequalityNOW.org will facilitateThe Pledge Network Campaign managed by J. Todd Fernandez, LLM, who has guided this project post its inception at eQualityGiving by popularizing the one-bill strategy as The American Equality Bill Project, and now the Equality Pledge, which was co-authored in community with Marriage Equality USA, Out4Immigration, GetEQUAL, eQualityGiving, and other groups and grassroots activists.
Nationally united and volunteer driven, the Pledge Network Campaign is designed to empower local organizers and groups to take the lead to educate, agitate and liberate. The campaign will leverage a cadre of volunteer professional advisors to orchestrate media support, coordinated actions, and coalition building. And, importantly, a diversity of tactics, strategy and messaging is encouraged, working from a shared intention of one-bill and full equality.
UPDATE: In 2019 The U.S. House passed The Equality Act. And in 2020, The SCOTUS held that "sex" includes "sexual orientation and gender identity" thus extending many of the CRA provision to LGBT Americans. In 2020 we expect to Pass The Equality Act adding "sex, sexual orientation and gender identity" to the remaining big provisions of All Federally Funded Programs (Title VI) and Public Accommodations (Title II). VICTORY IS COMING SOON!
All are welcomed.
Your commitment, passion and creativity is our real power.
TAKE THE PLEDGE &
VOLUNTEER NOW
OUR ACTIVISTS & ACTIONS
CAMPAIGN TEAM & ROLES
Campaign Manager, J. Todd Fernandez, Esq
Entertainment Committee Lead: Marchino Savant
State Pledge Leads: See State-by-state List.
Core Media Team Lead: TBA
Grassroots Media Team: TBD
Fundraising Team Lead: Joey Pons
Allied Outreach Lead: Veronica Eady
Community Relations/Activist Support: Pablo Colon
Grassroots Committee Leads: TBA
Group Committee Leads: T BA
City Council Resolutions Lead: Tom Tierney
Join our Media Committee.
Join our Media List.
Join the Campaign.
Contact the Campaign.
LGBTequalityNOW.org By-Laws & Principles.
Entertainment Committee Lead: Marchino Savant
State Pledge Leads: See State-by-state List.
Core Media Team Lead: TBA
Grassroots Media Team: TBD
Fundraising Team Lead: Joey Pons
Allied Outreach Lead: Veronica Eady
Community Relations/Activist Support: Pablo Colon
Grassroots Committee Leads: TBA
Group Committee Leads: T BA
City Council Resolutions Lead: Tom Tierney
Join our Media Committee.
Join our Media List.
Join the Campaign.
Contact the Campaign.
LGBTequalityNOW.org By-Laws & Principles.
ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES BY-LAWS (ARTICLE VII)
Section 1. Principles. The Board of Directors and all employees, partners and associates undertake to adhere to these Principles while organizing together.
Section 2. Community Empowerment. A central tenant of EQUALITY NOW’s mission is to empower the LGBT community, both groups and individuals, to participate in and take action toward their own liberation from oppression and discrimination, as a core human right.
Section 3. Coalition Building. EQUALITY NOW’s core activity is develop a nationwide network, by facilitating state coalition building and grassroots teams in all 50 states, seeking public input and consultation with the LGBT community at all times.
Section 4. Autonomy. LGBT Equality NOW will support the right of every group and individual to organize and take autonomous action to secure their human rights consistent with the mission of the organization, as they deem appropriate, ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of speech and association.
Section 5. Strategic Diversity. LGBT Equality NOW will support a diversity of messages, strategies and tactics, and operate in an inclusive and open manner, geared toward encouraging maximum creativity and freedom of action.
Section 6. Transparency. LGBT Equality NOW will work to ensure transparency of organizational deliberations and decision-making process to the public, and appoint an ombudsperson to advise on and promote maximum transparency, consistent with the needs of confidentiality for pre-event and pre-action planning.
Section 7. Mutual Cooperation and Support. In order to maintain association with LGBT Equality NOW in good standing, the Coalition Groups and Coalition Partners (individuals) are requested to work in deference to, and cooperation with, others in their state, consistent with these principles, and in a positive spirit of mutual respect and support.
Section 8. Intersectionality of Oppressions. LGBT Equality NOW embraces as one the intersectionality of all oppressions and liberation causes, and acknowledges that “equality under the law” is only the first step toward true and full social justice for all.
Section 9. Scope of Agenda. The focus of this organizing is outlined in the Equality Pledge, which, due to the "all federal funds" provision (CRA Title VI), reaches deeply to all programs and social services, such as blood drives, adoption agencies, police departments and schools and bullying. This scope includes both repeal of any existing pro-actively discriminatory law, and securing equal civil rights protections against discrimination.
Section 2. Community Empowerment. A central tenant of EQUALITY NOW’s mission is to empower the LGBT community, both groups and individuals, to participate in and take action toward their own liberation from oppression and discrimination, as a core human right.
Section 3. Coalition Building. EQUALITY NOW’s core activity is develop a nationwide network, by facilitating state coalition building and grassroots teams in all 50 states, seeking public input and consultation with the LGBT community at all times.
Section 4. Autonomy. LGBT Equality NOW will support the right of every group and individual to organize and take autonomous action to secure their human rights consistent with the mission of the organization, as they deem appropriate, ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of speech and association.
Section 5. Strategic Diversity. LGBT Equality NOW will support a diversity of messages, strategies and tactics, and operate in an inclusive and open manner, geared toward encouraging maximum creativity and freedom of action.
Section 6. Transparency. LGBT Equality NOW will work to ensure transparency of organizational deliberations and decision-making process to the public, and appoint an ombudsperson to advise on and promote maximum transparency, consistent with the needs of confidentiality for pre-event and pre-action planning.
Section 7. Mutual Cooperation and Support. In order to maintain association with LGBT Equality NOW in good standing, the Coalition Groups and Coalition Partners (individuals) are requested to work in deference to, and cooperation with, others in their state, consistent with these principles, and in a positive spirit of mutual respect and support.
Section 8. Intersectionality of Oppressions. LGBT Equality NOW embraces as one the intersectionality of all oppressions and liberation causes, and acknowledges that “equality under the law” is only the first step toward true and full social justice for all.
Section 9. Scope of Agenda. The focus of this organizing is outlined in the Equality Pledge, which, due to the "all federal funds" provision (CRA Title VI), reaches deeply to all programs and social services, such as blood drives, adoption agencies, police departments and schools and bullying. This scope includes both repeal of any existing pro-actively discriminatory law, and securing equal civil rights protections against discrimination.
The LGBTequalityNOW.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS