Coalition for Equality

The Campaign for Southern Equality, a member of the Coalition, expanded its WE DO Campaign to South Carolina, as 6 LGBT couples requested and were denied marriage licenses across the state from January 17 to 19, 2012. Sample media coverage can be viewed at this link. CSE produced this video telling the story of the South Carolina actions.

On the heels of this action, Rev. Kathryn Cartledge and Elizabeth Eve were convicted of 2nd degree trespassing in Asheville, NC on January 24. These charges were issues when they conducted a sit-in in the Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office after being denied a marriage license during the first stage of the WE DO Campaign.

The WE DO Campaign will be expanding to other communities across North Carolina and the South in 2012 and beyond. To get involved, click here.

Join Neighbors for Equality as we host singer-songwriter Mieka Pauley for Coffee & Conversation on February 2 at 5pm at Amelie’s in Charlotte’s NoDa Arts District.

No stranger to Charlotte as a past performer at Charlotte FemmeFest, Mieka will spend time with North Carolinians working to defeat the anti-equality amendment by offering a free, live performance and participating in discussion surrounding the amendment. The evening will also consist of opportunities to register to vote, the distribution of resources about the amendment, and time to sign up to volunteer for various spring initiatives for equality.

This event is free to the public and will take place prior to Mieka’s 10pm performance at The Evening Muse (more information and tickets at www.theeveningmuse.com).

A native of Boston and Harvard alumnus, Mieka won the grand prize in both Cosmopolitan’s StarLaunch and the New York Songwriters Circle Songwriting Competition in 2008 and was nominated for a Boston Music Award. In 2005, she won the grand prize in the first Starbucks Emerging Artist competition. She has appeared on Daytrotter, PRI Mountain Stage, BBC London, and Fox25 Boston and has toured with Citizen Cope and Edwin McCain.

The Coalition to Protect NC Families has launched its website to defeat the proposed anti-LGBT amendment to the NC Constitution, which will go to a popular vote on the  May 8, 2012 ballot. The Coalition, which includes NC and national organizations, will begin campaign activities in mid-January 2012. RACE TO THE BALLOT, an outreach arm of the campaign that promotes voter registration and turnout among college students, will launch on January 27 at Western Carolina University.

The Asheville Citizen Times covers growing efforts in Asheville to oppose the anti-gay amendment currently under consideration by the NC Legislature. Equality NC is running a statewide campaign to defeat the amendment, focused on voters in key districts contacting their legislators and urging them to vote against the amendment. Coalition for Equality members are taking a leadership role in Western North Carolina efforts, reaching out to voters in Rep. Tim Moffitt and Rep. Chuck McGrady’s districts.

Equality NC is running phonebanks every Wednesday (5 – 8:30 PM at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak Street, downtown Asheville) and every Sunday (4 – 7:30 PM, location varies) as well as postcarding at public events. If you’d like to get involved, please email Lee@equalitync.org and/or check out actions listed at: http://equalitync.org/news1/news/news1/amendment.

Join Equality NC and other members of the Coalition for Equality to make calls to defeat the anti-gay amendment. We’ll be calling voters in Rep. Tim Moffitt’s district, urging them to contact Moffitt with a simple message: HB 777 is bad for business and at odds with our mountain values. Here are all the details about our July 28 phonebank:

Facebook listing: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146508685428493

When: Thursday, July 29, 5:00 – 8:30 PM

Where: Fellowship Hall; First Congregational Church, 20 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Directions: Go down the driveway and enter through the rear door. Follow signs to the Fellowship Hall

Bring: 1) Your phone, 2) your charger and 3) a friend.

Questions: Lee@equalitync.org or Jasmine@equalitync.org