Coalition for Equality

The Campaign for Southern Equality continues its series of free Community Law Workshops (CLW) about Amendment One with two upcoming workshops in Charlotte and Asheboro.  CSE also has a new webpage dedicated to ongoing updates about Amendment One, now that it has gone into effect. Upcoming CLWs are listed there as well. Equality NC is a lead sponsor of these workshops, joining a number of other partners in this effort.

All the details for Charlotte and Asheboro are below:

Topic: What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family (Charlotte)

Led by: Attorneys Meghann Burke, Connie J. Vetter and Diane Walton

Date: Friday, July 27, 2012 | 7 – 9 p.m.

Location: ReBirth Church | 1825 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC

Childcare: Free childcare provided

Lead Sponsors: ReBirth Church and Equality NC

Co-sponsors: Center for Participatory Change, Western NC Citizens to End Institutional Bigotry, Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., Walton Law Office, Aaron G. Walker of the Dameron Burgin Law Firm, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Southern Poverty Law Center, Lambda Legal and ACLU of North Carolina

You can download a flyer for the Charlotte workshop here.

Topic: What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family (Asheboro)

Led By: Meghann Burke, Attorney

Date: Saturday, July 28, 2012 | 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

Location: Asheboro Public Library meeting room | 201 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC

Lead Sponsor: Equality NC

Co-Sponsors: Center for Participatory Change, Western NC Citizens to End Institutional Bigotry, Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., Walton Law Office, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Aaron G. Walker of the Dameron Burgin Law Firm, Southern Poverty Law Center, Lambda Legal and ACLU of North Carolina

Neighbors for Equality Launches New Push in Calling for Updated Policies in Cleveland County Schools

On June 11, Neighbors for Equality (NFE) put forth action for Cleveland County Schools (CCS) to update their School Board policies to protect vulnerable populations, such as the LGBTQ community. Many NFE volunteers pressed for action on behalf of CCS to build safer learning environments for students and employees. NFE received responses from two school board members (Kathy Falls and Dr. Jack Hamrick), Superintendent Dr. Bruce Boyles, and Director of Administrative Services Dr. Stephen Fisher. The School Violence Prevention Act (2009) advocated for terms including “sexual orientation” and “gender identification” to be included in school board policies. Dr. Fisher noted that Policy 4415 included the language from that act; however, NFE believes that CCS needs to do much more in regard to policy to protect LGBTQ students, as well as other vulnerable populations noted in the School Violence Prevention Act. (more…)

Blue Ridge Pride is hosting the 2nd annual Gay 5 Kat 8:45 a.m. on Saturday July 14, 2012 at Carrier Park in Asheville.Says BRP, “you don’t have to be gay to run! Learn more here and register here!

Pre-race registration fee: $15

Day of registration: $20

The Campaign for Southern Equality is hosting a free legal workshop titled, “What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family,” in Asheville on Wednesday, July 11 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The purpose of the workshop is to provide clear, accessible information to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals regarding their legal rights now that Amendment One has gone into effect. Led by volunteer attorneys, it is designed for LGBT folks, couples and families with kids.

The workshop will be led by Asheville-based attorneys Meghann Burke and Diane Walton and will take place at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Free childcare will be provided during the event. Here’s the Facebook invitation!

Visit CSE’s Community Law Workshops page to find info on other “What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family” workshops that will take place across North Carolina this summer and fall. CSE is proud that many of its partners are sponsors of these events, including: Pisgah Legal Services, Equality NC and First Congregational UCC, Center for Participatory Change, Western NC Citizens to End Institutional Bigotry, Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., Walton Law Office, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Lambda Legal

You can also check out CSE’s Amendment One & Your Rights (NC) webpage, which serves as a clearinghouse for Amendment One information.

Just Us For All (JUFA), a Coalition partner, has launched an initiative calling for more gender-neutral bathrooms in Asheville in order to be more accessible to trans and gender queer folks. You can check out their video about the project through this video: Gender-Neutral Bathroom Initiative. To learn more or get involved, contact jufa.asheville@gmail.com.