The ACLU is calling North Carolina’s House Bill 2 “the most egregious, sweeping, hate-filled anti-LGBT legislation in this country’s history.” Sadly, with it’s passing, we are once again reminded of the typical path our country takes towards justice: two steps forward, one politically motivated, manipulatively hate and fear driven step back.

If that wasn’t bad enough that the new law forces transgender individuals to use bathrooms marked for a gender they do not identify with, it also prevents municipalities from creating new LGBT protections — whether in bathrooms, in public accommodations or at the workplace — and may even make it difficult to sue for discrimination. Now other southern states are trying to follow suite. 

The only way to fight this is to join the growing wave of pressure from citizens, businesses and other state governments, that are calling for the North Carolina General Assembly to reverse the bill when the new legislative session starts in April. 

Businesses and investors are threatening to pull money from the state. Hollywood is saying they will film elsewhere. Activists are calling for a tourism boycott. And $4.5 billion in federal education funding is at risk, since the new law conflicts with the federal non-discrimination law.

So, here are actions from the ACLU and Equality North Carolina that you can and SHOULD take...right now: 

• Sign the ACLU’s petition to “Repeal the country’s worst anti-LGBT law” at ACLU.org/action
• Get involved in supporting the campaigns for progressive candidates running for North Carolina’s state legislature and governorship this November. 
• Tweet at North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory with your disapproval at @PatMcCroryNC
• Like and retweet selfies that transgender people are tweeting at @PatMcCroryNC demonstrating how out of place they would be in the wrong bathroom. If you are transgender, consider Tweeting one of yourself.
• Use the hashtags #NoHateinMyState and #WeAreNotThis on social media. 

And if you live in North Carolina and need LGBT support and resources, call the Campaign for Southern Equality Western North Carolina Trans Support Hotline at 828-237-1323. You can also access Southern Equality’s Google map of all-gender bathrooms across the state of North Carolina on their website at SouthernEquality.org under “Hometown Organizing Project - Fighting back against HB 2.”

So, if fighting institutionalized governmental bullying is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about the actions to fight HB 2 in North Carolina.

And remember, North Carolina is just one of many places where anti-LGBT legislation is being passed. So, stay vigilant and keep your ear to the ground so that you can take action to stop ignorance and fear from determining the law. 

Sign our petition to repeal the extreme, discriminatory, anti-LGBT #HB2: https://t.co/vsgsPldGRx #WeAreNotThis

— ACLU-North Carolina (@ACLU_NC) March 30, 2016

TAKE ACTION: 

North Carolina

Sign the ACLU petition to “Repeal the country’s worst anti-LGBT law”: ACLU.org/action

While you're at it, sign the Human Rights Campaign petition to “Veto Mississippi’s HB 1523 ‘Religious Liberty Accommodations Act’

Tweet at Gov. McCrory to voice your concern: @PatMcCroryNC

Reply to Gov. McCrory’s tweet about passing HB 2

Read about how this bill could hurt Republicans in November & then get involved to make sure it happens!  

Use the hashtags #NoHateinMyState and #WeAreNotThis  

LGBT Resources: 

Campaign for Southern Equality Western North Carolina Trans Support Hotline at 828-237-1323

Campaign for Southern Equality’s map of all-gender bathrooms in North Carolina

Campaign for Southern Equality’s “Everything You Need to Fight HB 2” page

Further Reading: 

Following Backlash From Across the Country, Georgia Gov. Will Veto Discriminatory Anti-LGBT Bill (via Human Rights Campaign)

In Meeting with North Carolina Gov. McCrory, LGBT Equality Advocates Demand Repeal of Anti-LGBT Law (via Human Rights Campaign)

North Carolina Starts to Face Real Economic Consequences for Anti-LGBT Law (via Think Progress)

After a Big Loss in North Carolina, LGBT Leaders Explain What's Next (via Vox)

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #1004: "Understanding the 2016 Election Conservative Wedge Issue" 

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman 

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: the Justice For Flint livestream alternative to the Oscars.

April Reign’s #OscarsSoWhite hashtag criticism is getting a reboot this year. All 20 acting nominees are, AGAIN, white. This year’s awards are even more egregious. The movie “Straight Outta Compton” received a lot of industry support at SAG-AFTRA as well as a Best Picture nomination from the Producers Guild — but its only Oscar nod went to the white screenwriters for Best Original Screenplay. “Creed” has been praised basically everywhere also only received one nomination: Sylvester Stallone for Best Supporting Actor.

In response, the Oscar backlash has gone well beyond Twitter. While they aren’t exactly calling it a boycott, Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith aren’t attending amidst the demand to diversify nominees and the industry in general. In a country where people’s exposure to those outside their communities and understanding of what’s “normal” and “acceptable” often comes from the entertainment industry, it’s important to support the efforts to fund and produce films that better represent our population and experiences.

So, this year, instead of watching the Oscars, tune in to the #JusticeForFlint fundraiser taking place in Flint, Michigan and live streamed at Revolt.TV. “Creed" director and co-writer Ryan Coogler, Ava Duvernay, director of “Selma,” singer Janelle Monáe, Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams and others are putting on this guaranteed-to-be-entertaining, free event presented by Coogler’s org Blackout for Human Rights. You can get the full line-up at the BlackOutForHumanRights Tumblr, then tune in at 5pmEST Sunday night.

During the broadcast you can text JUSTICE to 83224 to donate to the victims of the ongoing Flint Water Crisis and follow the #JusticeForFlint hashtag. Exclusive event announcement rights were given to Buzzfeed; so in addition to posting the Black Out For Human Rights Tumblr page on social media, Buzzfeed’s article "The Director Of “Creed” Is Throwing A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night” has all the correct info.

For those who listen to This Week in Blackness, but may be behind on podcasts, they’ve nixed their Oscar broadcast so as not to draw anyone away from the #JusticeForFlint fundraiser.

TAKE ACTION:

#JusticeForFlint from Blackout for Human Rights

Additional Activism/Resources:

"How to help people hurt by the poisoned water in Flint” via Mashable

Sources/further reading:

”Meet April Reign, the Black Woman Behind #OscarsSoWhite"

"The 17 Biggest Surprises Of This Year’s Oscar Nominations — #OscarsSoWhiteTheSequel” via Buzzfeed

"These 10 Actors, Directors & Executives Can Reverse #OscarsSoWhite” at RevoltTV

"Creed Is The Rocky Film 21st-Century America Needs” at The Establishment

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #994 "Who gets a seat at the table (Culture)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Vote to End Hunger.

Vote to End Hunger is a coalition of organizations that includes Bread For the World, Feeding America, and the Food Research and Action Center. They joined together ahead of the 2016 election cycle to — in their words — "make hunger, poverty and opportunity a higher political priority, so that the next President and Congress take action that will put our nation and the world on track to end hunger by 2030.”

This is an ambitious, but important goal as debates come and go with numerous references to the middle class, but virtually no questions from moderators or pivots from candidates to the 14.8% of the country — 46.7 million people — living in poverty. If we can’t even talk about it, how are we ever going to to anything to address it?

At VoteToEndHunger.org you can sign and share this pledge:

"I believe we can end hunger in America and worldwide by 2030. Ending hunger is not a partisan issues and requires public policies that expand opportunity and reduce poverty. This election, I will Vote to End Hunger and to make hunger, poverty, and opportunity a higher political priority, so that the next President and Congress take actions that will put our nation and the world on track to end hunger.”

The website also has videos from ten of the presidential candidates explaining what they would do to address systemic poverty and hunger — giving us an easy way to hold them accountable as the primary season progresses. For those who want to engage candidates at town halls and other events, Vote To End Hunger has a well-done webinar with tactics and talking points. During debates, you can follow their twitter feed as they encourage moderators to ask questions about poverty and hold candidates accountable for their answers.

Primary season is the perfect time to demand issues that matter become part of the national conversation and legislative priority because candidates are the most movable. Use the tools at VoteToEndHunger.org to let those courting your vote know that you don’t accept poverty as an inevitability and you expect them address it.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN & SHARE: Pledge to end hunger by 2030

GET INVOLVED with Vote to End Hunger

Sources/further reading:

"Pathologizing the Poor Reinforces Stigma While Deterring Advocacy and Public Policy” via Truthout

”Hunger is a Significant But Solvable Problem, Both in the United States and Internationally” via Vote to End Hunger

”Presidential Candidate Videos” via Vote to End Hunger

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #986 "The trouble with extreme wealth inequality (Economics)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Restore CDC Funding to Prevent Lead Poisoning.

Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence has called for Governor Snyder will to appear under subpoena before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee next month to answer for the water crisis in Flint. Snyder is denying his office received anything, but they did release more than 270 pages of emails related to the toxic water and he finally apologized this week to the people of Flint for poisoning their water with lead.

“I’m sorry, and I will fix it,” he said, before spreading the blame around with, "No citizen of this great state should endure this kind of catastrophe. Government failed you — federal, state and local leaders — by breaking the trust you place in us.”

GOP Leadership is resisting issuing the subpoena, but activists and organizations are continuing to push for accountability.

Color of Change is using the Flint water crisis to remind us and our elected officials that Flint is far from the only community dealing with this issue. In a petition at ColorOfChange.org titled "Tell the US government to restore funding for the Center for Disease Control Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention program in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget” they point out this widespread problem.

From the petition:

"Across the US, predominantly Black and low-income communities are at dire risk of severe health problems caused by lead poisoning. Despite this, federal funding for the CDC’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program has been reduced by more than half. It’s unacceptable: the federal government needs to take action to ensure that Black and low-income communities are protected from environmental hazards that negatively affect their health and livelihoods.”

Congress is working on this budget right now, making this the time for action. We have the money; as usual, it is simply a matter of priorities. Sign and share the petition at ColorOfChange.org and let your representatives know that safe drinking water should be the highest priority.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN and share: "Tell the US government to restore funding for the Center for Disease Control Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention program in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget.” via ColorOfChange.org

Sources/further reading:

"Michigan Governor Rick Snyder To Be Called Before Congress” via The New Civil Rights Movement

"Snyder hasn’t been invited to testify before Congress” via Detroit news

"Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan Apologizes in Flint Water Crisis” via The New York Times

"Flint water crisis: EPA regional administrator resigns” via CNN.com

"Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Releases Emails Tied to Flint Water Crisis” via ABC News

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #985 "A conservative policy showcase (Flint’s poisoned water)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: tell RNC chair Reince Priebus to denounce his party’s Islamophobia.

Islamophobia is hardly new in this country, but it has intensified courtesy of a Republican party whose presidential candidates are unified in their blame and bigotry.

Linda Sarsour, on behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has a petition at Change.org titled "The Republican Party must denounce the dangerous Islamophobia of candidates and officials” that is comprehensive and yet to the point. She writes:

"I am a mother of three, a working woman, and a civil rights activist. I am also a Muslim. Since the November terror attack in Paris, we’ve seen an unprecedented rise in acts of discrimination, intimidation, and violence targeting American Muslims across the country. It makes me worry about my family, and our country. But, instead of calling for all Americans to rally together, a number of Republican presidential candidates and elected officials have been spreading baseless fear of Muslim Americans.”

It doesn’t seem to matter how many studies are done that prove the real threats to American lives are guns and white, Christian-identified men. “Othering” minority religions and ethnicities is too easy for a party heavily invested in stoking fear to win votes. Sarsour makes the parallel between these individuals and ISIS who is attempting to start a religious war by making non-Muslims fear the peaceful Muslims like her living and working in their communities. She asks that you join the more than 30,000 who have already added their names to the CAIR petition to show the GOP and its leading presidential candidate Donald Trump that Americans will not be provoked into giving ISIS what it wants.

"Hate-filled rhetoric and anti-Muslim attacks put American Muslim families like mine in real danger, and play right into Daesh’s (ISIS) plans,” Sarsour writes. "If such Islamophobic hatred and bigotry is not rejected outright by the GOP, it will be a part of the party’s legacy, and a part of our nation’s legacy for generations to come. That isn’t a legacy I want my children -- or anyone’s -- to have to live with.”

Take one minute to sign and share CAIR’s petition and urge the Republican Party to denounce Islamophobia.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: "The Republican Party must denounce the dangerous Islamophobia of candidates and officials” via Linda Sarsour with The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) at Change.org

Additional Activism/Resources:

SIGN: Tell The News Media: Stop Obsessing Over Donald Trump via Media Matters For America via MoveOn.org

Sources/further reading:

"It’s Not Just Trump – Islamophobia Is Widespread In the GOP Field” — round-up of articles on GOP Islamophobia in Election 2016 via HillaryClinton.com

"Who Will Stop Republican Islamophobia?” via The New Republic

Book: "Terrified: How Anti-Muslim Fringe Organizations Became Mainstream”

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #982 "Trouble at the old pharm (Health Care)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Ending the federal ban on gun-related violence.

With 89 people dying every day because of gun-related violence, experts now estimate that guns may soon pass vehicle accidents to become the country’s leading cause of death. The president has repeatedly urged Congress not to let this become “the new normal.”

The biggest impediment to finding viable solutions is the National Rifle Association sponsored Dickey Amendment — named for its author, Former Rep. Jay Dickey of Arkansas. For almost two decades, the Center for Disease Control has been prohibited from researching the effects of firearms ownership on public health.

Despite Dickey now publicly and repeatedly declaring, “I wish we had started the proper research and kept it going all this time,” the NRA is a major spender at election time— to pro-gun candidates in both parties. So, it’s hardly a surprise to continue hearing sentiments that echo former House Speaker John Boehner’s “a gun is not a disease” defense of the governmental research ban.

With the recent high profile mass shootings dominating news coverage right before Monday’s Sandyhook anniversary, a new effort to end the ban and find a way to end gun violence is being lead by Doctors For American and Everytown for Gun Safety.

The segment notes include the Doctors For America letter in support of reinstating research funding for you to pass on through your networks to ensure that as many medical professionals as possible can sign on. Then sign and share the public letter to the House and Senate telling them to #EndTheBan on gun violence research through Everytown's Change.org petition — also available at DrsForAmerica.Org/Act and Everytown.org. The update to the petition includes links to automatically tweet your support using the #EndGunViolence and #EndTheBan hashtags as well as to connect directly to your senators and tell them to take action.

TAKE ACTION:

SHARE: "Doctors and Public Health Professionals: End the CDC Gun Violence Research Ban” from Doctors For America

SIGN, Tweet, & Call your senators: #EndGunViolence, #EndTheBan via Everytown for Gun Safety

Sources/further reading:

"Gun violence research: History of the federal funding freeze”

"Congressman Whose Amendment Ended Federal Gun Research: 'I Have Regrets’” via Talking Points Memo

National Rifle Assoc Funding Stats via OpenSecrets.org

"Ex-Rep. Dickey Regrets Restrictive Law On Gun Violence Research” via NPR

"Physicians Demand End To 20-Year-Old Ban On Gun Violence Research” via ThinkProgress

"A Lot of People Are Telling Congress to Repeal Its Gag Order on Gun Violence Research” via MotherJones

"Over 2,000 Physicians Urge Congress to End the Ban on CDC and NIH Gun Violence Research” from Doctors For America

"Why So Few Scientists Are Studying the Causes of Gun Violence” via The Smithsonian Magazine

"In First Post-Charleston Gun Vote, Congress Preserves CDC Research Ban” via The Trace

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #976 ”Another day in America"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Tell the Department of Justice to investigate clinic violence as terrorism.

Our legislators and leaders seem obsessed with terrorism — the kind that comes from a scary, foreign threat from overseas. But a mass shooting at a reproductive health clinic or the assassination of a doctor at his church on by sniper rifle while standing in his kitchen? Those are isolated incidents.

The FBI’s shorthand definition of “domestic terrorism” reads: “Americans attacking Americans based on U.S.-based extremist ideologies.” This should easily apply to the decades-long, religious extremism-based movement to end abortion by any means necessary in this country.

The Colorado Springs shooting wasn’t a surprise to the clinic, which has a safe room, a stash of Kevlar vests, and thick bullet proof glass. And it wasn’t a surprise to the staff of the other clinics — both Planned Parenthoods and independent providers. 68% of reproductive health clinics nationwide experience frequent and regular anti-abortion activity.

For their book "Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism, “ lawyer/authors David Cohen and Krysten Connon interviewed abortion providers around the country. They report that provider targeting has included:

assaults; threats in person and by mail; targeting of private practices and other places of employment; bombings; home picketing; stalking of providers’ young children; kidnappings; Internet attacks; and intimidation of extended family and neighbors.

NARAL and other pro-choice groups have delivered a petition to the Department of Justice asking them to investigate these attacks as terrorism — a special distinction legally that allows the coordination of law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions as well as federal resources and support. Through the magic of the internet age, you can still add your name to their petition through the link in the segment notes.

There is also a petition at CredoAction.com in support of the campaign. Get updates and read about the thousands of attacks on abortion providers on the #InvestigateClinicViolence thread. You can also get involved with clinic defense volunteer work by contacting The Clinic Vest Project through their website, ClinicVestProject.org.

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN: Tell the Department of Justice to #InvestigateClinicViolence as terrorism via NARAL

SIGN: "Tell the Department of Justice: Investigate attacks on Planned Parenthood clinics for what they are — domestic terrorism.” via @CredoAction

Additional Activism/Resources:

Donate/volunteer with clinic defense: contact The Clinic Vest Project

Follow: #InvestigateClinicViolence

Sources/further reading:

WATCH: ReproAction’s webinar: "Stop Anti-Abortion Terrorism and Harassment”

"Targeted Attacks On Abortion Providers Is Domestic Terrorism” by Katie Klabusich at The Establishment

"‘Living in the Crosshairs’ Puts Human Face on Grim Clinic Violence Statistics” by Katie Klabusich at RH Reality Check

"Activists renew calls for abortion clinic attacks to be labeled domestic terrorism” by Molly Redden at The Guardian

"I Used to Confront Abortion Doctors—Until One Got Murdered” at Time

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #975 "Terrorism and the war on reproductive rights (Planned Parenthood shooting)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: supporting the Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015.

No matter your conspiracy or frustration-level with Big Pharma, everyone who’s ever filled a prescription knows the medication part of our health “care” system is seriously jacked.

To address several of the factors that spike drug prices in the U.S., Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Elijah Cummings introduced legislation last month, aptly and simply named “The Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015.”

The bullet points include:

• Allowing U.S. residents to import lower-cost medications from Canada
• Encouraging Medicare to negotiate medication prices with drugmakers — something private insurance companies do regularly, but Medicare does not
• Requiring drug manufacturers to disclose prices for treatments they sell in other countries
• Requiring drugmakers to submit annual reports detailing how drug prices are set — including research and development costs and such
• And eradicating any existing market-exclusivity periods for medications that should never have been granted — i.e. that asshole you’ve heard about a ton in this episode.
• And eradicating any existing market-exclusivity periods for medications that should never have been granted — i.e. that asshole you’ve heard about a ton in this episode.

This legislation is better than spending-neutral; it would save the federal government money and provide better access to life-saving and life-improving health care. It should be a both-sides-of-the-aisle winner. Of course, that sort of thing is mostly a pipe dream these days without significant public pressure. And that means your voice is needed.

You can click “support,” contact your legislators directly, & track the House and Senate bills through GovTrack.us. Progressive direct action group Demand Progress also has a petition in support of the legislation through the link in the segment notes — also posted on the Demand Progress social media feeds.

It’s long past time people weren’t choosing between food and medication or housing and medication or doing without treatment with the power to vastly improve every aspect of their lives. There will be plenty left for the drug manufacturers after these reforms; we’re simply asking for them to conduct their business ethically.

TAKE ACTION:

Sign the Demand Progress petition to Congress: "Tell Congress to pass Bernie Sanders's bill to rein in prescription drug costs!”

Track the legislation & contact legislators: in the Senate & in the House via GovTrack.us

Additional Activism/Resources:

Send your legislator a letter through OpenCongress.org

Episode #958 "Where the market should not be allowed to tread (Health Care)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: Protect Thy Neighbor.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State don’t just run around telling people to take “In God We Trust” off our money and waging war on Christmas. The majority of their work protects the 80% or so of people who believe in one higher power or another. Keeping “church” separate from state fosters acceptance and prevents persecution.

The Protect Thy Neighbor campaign was launched in response to increasing legislation and legal cases using religion to discriminate and deny people their rights. From ProtectThyNeighbor.org:

"We are expanding our work in the state legislatures, Congress, and the courts so that no one is allowed to use religion as an excuse to refuse you service, deny you healthcare, or threaten your safety. We are protecting our neighbors.”

They’ve put together legislative and legal teams, field and faith organizers to help do community organizing training, and a new communications department where you can opt in to receiving alerts tailored to your ZIP code.

At ProtectThyNeighbor.org you can add your name to their pledge to “stand up to those who harm others in the name of religion,” get legal help, and contact your legislators directly about state and national issues. You can also download a Protect Thy Neighbor shield to sign, finish the sentence “I want to protect my neighbor because…” and then post it to their tumblr and social media. They even have suggestions for folks unsure what to write.

With people like Richard Dawkins and Bill Mahr out there making those who advocate for the separation of church and state look like intransigent jerks, now is the perfect time to get involved with a positive campaign like Protect Thy Neighbor.

TAKE ACTION:

Add your name to the Americans United or Separation of Church and State> Protect Thy Neighbor Pledge

Download and post The Shield

Tell your legislators: Protect My Neighbors!

Get Legal Help<?p>

Additional Activism/Resources:

"You Can Now Donate to the Ahmed Mohamed STEM Scholarship Fund” via Mic

"MacArthur High School and Irving TX police: Apologize to Ahmed Mohamed for criminalizing science” via Change.org

Sources/further reading:

The official feed of Ahmed’s family: @IStandWithAhmed

Muslim teen behind #IStandWithAhmed encourages others to follow their dreams: "Go for it!" http://cbsn.ws/1KgQcbI via CBS News

"‘It’s A Trap!’ Paranoid FRC Head Buys Into Ridiculous Ahmed Mohamed Bomb Plot Scenario” via Americans United or Separation of Church and State>

< a href="https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/pope-problems-papal-visit-incurs-significant-taxpayer-expense">"Pope Problems: Papal Visit Incurs Significant Taxpayer Expense” via Americans United or Separation of Church and State>

"Once More, With Enthusiasm: Texas Attorney General Again Refuses To Recognize Marriage Equality” via Americans United or Separation of Church and State>

'God And Government' - Barry Lynn Discusses His New Book on Thom Hartmann's "Conversations with Great Minds” via Americans United or Separation of Church and State> and Thom Hartmann

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #956 "Religion seen through fear (Islamophobia) "

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

You’ve reached the activism portion of today’s show. Now that you’re informed and angry, here’s what you can do about it. Today’s activism: the Every Child Deserves a Family Act.

Kim Davis’s claims that she could prevent same-sex couples from becoming state-recognized family to protect her personal religious beliefs may have been illegal, but around the country adoption agencies are allowed to claim such conscience clauses apply to them. Mississippi has the last outright ban on same-sex couple adoption — and it’s currently being challenged in court by the Campaign for Southern Equality. However, only a handful of states outright protect LGBT people from being discriminated against in the fostering and adoption process. And others have laws — like the one Michigan passed just this summer — specifically to allow faith-based groups to refuse to serve same-sex and unmarried prospective parents.

All the leading national child welfare associations universally agree: children raised by LGBTQ parents have the same social and emotional development and the same outcomes as those raised by cis, hetero parents. But we can’t ask the 400,000 children in our nation’s foster system to wait for agencies and officials to put their welfare above personal bias.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative John Lewis have each introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act to end state-level discrimination and give those kids a shot at finding loving, permanent homes. The Family Equality Council is supporting this legislation and has a fill-in form at FamilyEquality.org under the “Connect” tab. The letter will go to your national legislators asking them to sign on as co-sponsors and to local and state officials depending on the specific legal landscape in your area.

In the meantime, if you or someone you know need help establishing a legal parent-child relationship, the ACLU has a confidential help form you can fill out at ACLU.org through the “LGBT Rights” Issues page.

TAKE ACTION:

Tell your elected officials to SUPPORT The Every Child Deserves a Family Act through the Family Equality Council

Additional Activism/Resources:

FOLLOW the challenge to the final complete ban on same-sex couple adoption through Campaign for Southern Equality

Free Resources: Establishing Legal Parent-Child Relationships via ACLU National

Sources/further reading:

Adoption and Foster Care Federal, State, Local Landscape via Family Equality Council

ACLU may challenge newly-signed law on adoption by gays” via Detroit Free Press

"Anti-gay adoption bill another shameful moment for Michigan” via Detroit Free Press

"Preliminary Injunction Filed in Lawsuit Seeking to Immediate Relief From Mississippi Adoption Ban” via The Campaign for Southern Equality

“Discriminatory Treatment In Foster Parenting and Adoptions” via ACLU National

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #953 "Beyond Marriage Equality (LGBTQ Rights)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich