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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Brad Luna 202/216.1514 Cell: 202/812.8140
Trevor Thomas 202/216.1547 Cell: 202/250.9758

Human Rights Campaign Calls on the LGBT Community and Allies to Participate in National, Grassroots Push to Lobby Congress Face-to-Face

“No Excuses” campaign demands equality through in-district visits

WASHINGTON

The
Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today launched a
national, grassroots campaign called "No Excuses" to demand action from
Congress on key issues of equality. Designed to take advantage of the
congressional summer recess, when members are in their local offices
and meeting with constituents, "No Excuses" will mobilize HRC's 750,000
members and their allies to meet directly with lawmakers and push for
federal legislative change. Members and supporters can get involved by
visiting: https://noexcuses.hrc.org.

"While we salute
and acknowledge the heroic members of Congress who have worked
tirelessly on our behalf, far too many have dragged their feet on basic
matters of fairness and equality that have lingered too long and hurt
too many LGBT people and their families," said Human Rights Campaign
President Joe Solmonese. "Yes, there are many challenges facing this
Congress and this president. But LGBT people often face additional
hardship protecting their families, their loved ones and their jobs,
and too few in Congress are willing to champion these issues of basic
fairness. Now, more than ever, members of the LGBT community need to
make their voices heard face-to-face and in the districts where they
live."

Using innovative
online tools, one-on-one trainings and staff and volunteer
follow-through, HRC members will press lawmakers to end discrimination
in the military, treat all legally married couples equally, pass
immigration reform that recognizes and honors LGBT families, outlaw
workplace discrimination for LGBT employees, and treat all federal
employees' compensation equally.

The interactive
"No Excuses" website allows supporters to download a meeting toolkit,
schedule a meeting and report back on how it went. To take action, visit: https://noexcuses.hrc.org.

The in-district meetings will focus on the following key legislative priorities in the 111th Congress:

--Repeal the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies legally married lesbian
and gay couples more than 1,000 federal protections;

--Prohibit workplace discrimination for the LGBT community by passing an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA);

--Repeal "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" to ensure that service members who contribute to our
nation's security are no longer summarily discharged for who they are;

--Pass immigration reform that recognizes permanent same-sex couples and ends the painful separation of families;

--And provide
health benefits equally to the nearly 3 million federal government
employees, including same-sex domestic partners.

The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.