John – Pride month is here, and we are definitely celebrating. But this year, our hearts are also heavy as it becomes clear just how much work we have left to do.

Ever since the first time I came out in 1992, I have been continuously engaged in activism for LGBTQIA+ rights. From organizing against DOMA and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, to my work to stop the Prop 8 campaign in California and with marriage equality groups across the country, I have been deep in the trenches in the fight for queer liberation.

Me with my clipboard at San Jose Pride in 2009.

We’ve come a long way in the last 30 years – particularly the last ten. But there are days it feels almost like we’re back where we started.

Florida is making schools unsafe for LGBTQ kids and employees by forcing a “Don’t Say Gay” gag order onto teachers.

Texas is threatening parents with charges of child abuse, and the very real possibility of losing their kids, if they support their trans child with gender affirming healthcare.

And Republicans in Ohio just passed a bill that gives ANYONE the right to question a student athlete they “suspect” of being trans. Worse? If this bill becomes law, it will force the accused to undergo invasive medical tests before they can continue playing.

It’s an open invitation to discrimination, and all the bigots are coming out to play.

We could shut all of this down right now by passing the Equality Act, which enacts explicit protections from discrimination on the basis of sex or gender identity.

And John, we NEED the Equality Act. Right now, the only federal protections from discrimination for LGBTQIA people rest on court precedent. And we’ve seen how weak those court precedents can be under this extremist right-wing court.

The House passed the Equality Act last year along strict party lines, and the bill has been stuck in the Senate ever since. Currently, 49 Democrats are co-sponsoring the Senate bill waiting for it to be brought to vote.

The only Democrat who hasn’t? Joe Manchin, of course.

These are the 51 Senators who are NOT currently supporting the Equality Act. Brand New Congress is launching a pressure campaign to get another 11 of them on board – a filibuster-proof majority.

The clock is ticking, John. While Democrats are dithering away their majority, Republican lawmakers across the country are aggressively targeting LGBTQ people – and they have no intention of slowing down.

Will you join BNC in pressuring these Senators to act with a $25 contribution?

If you see your Senator’s name on this list, tag them on social media and ask them to support the bill.

Let’s get this done before the midterms, and before SCOTUS can further gut our rights.

Chris Riley
Director of Campaign Engagement
Brand New Congress