From Equality Advocates and the Value All Families Coalition

I hope this reaches everyone in high spirits.  Session is underway in
Harrisburg and we expect over the coming months several issues
important to the LGBT community to be discussed and moved forward.  A
co-sponsorship memo has already been distributed in the House for non-
discrimination legislation, and we expect both the reintroduction of
hate crimes protections, as well as a potential anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment to find its way through the legislative
process this session.

There is an exciting and palpable desire for change within the LGBT
and allied grassroots, and I am working as hard as I can, along with
countless other organizations, activists and lobbyists committed to
these issues, to see positive legislation move forward this year.

This year we will hold regional Value All Families Coalition meetings
to bring more organizations and people into the process and sign-up
new faces and allies to join our effort.  Please try to send a
representative of your organization or come as an individual to learn
more about upcoming legislation, events, strategies, and issues we see
coming up over the coming year.  Myself, Stacey Sobel, Andy Hoover (of
the ACLU), and Steve Glassman will be attending and speaking at most
of these meetings.  Additionally, PLEASE feel free to forward this
announcement to any other organization you think would like to join
the coalition; that's why we're having regional meetings!   Please
RSVP to myself (jkaskey@equalitypa.org) just so I can get a better
idea of who will be attending each meeting.

Western PA Regional Value All Families Coalition Meeting

Saturday, February 7 from 1:00 - 2:30pm

Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh

5808 Forward Avenue, Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh


Additionally, we will be holding an LGBT advocacy workshop next
weekend in Pittsburgh.http://eqfed.org/center4civilrights/events/pghadvocacyworkshop/details.tcl
(Pittsburgh Workshop)

Also on Saturday, February 7 from 3:00 - 5:00pm

Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh (5808 Forward Avenue).

This is a good opportunity to get more involved in advocacy efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ community.  I realize that four days advance notice is not particularly useful, but let's face it -- the room for improvement should motivate you to want to get involved.  That is one of the reasons I started a Google Group for LGBT Advocacy and a Google Group for LGBTQ bloggers. Unfortunately, it seems like we need a lot more practice to get those running smoothly so your new social media folks can get the good information out to you.