Equality Circle

One of the most important projects Atticus Circle takes on every 2 years in Texas involves straight allies advocating for LGBT issues during the Texas Legislative Session.  We call it Equality Circle.

The 81st Legislation Session was our second time to partner with Equality Texas for their Lobby Day.   The turn out this year was great - we more than doubled 2007’s participants!  Thank you all for coming out in support of our LGBT friends.

In the past, the most prominent advocacy for LGBT issues in the Texas Legislature had come from within the LGBT community. Today, Atticus Circle, in partnership with Equality Texas, will change the nature of these conversations by providing a strong contingent of straight people to demonstrate to the Texas Legislature that issues affecting equality concern all Texans.

We hope to use as a template for future advocacy nationwide. Our goals are to introduce new people to the lobbying process and to increase the diversity and visibility of advocates for LGBT rights.

To achieve these goals, we are encouraging our members to form teams of gay and straight families/individuals who will be lead advocates for LGBT issues for the 2011 session.

We encourage you to get involved. Join the Equality Circle.  To sign up for the Equality Circle, fill out the Biographical Profile and email it to [email protected]

Equality Texas had the following bills on their agenda for 2009.

House Bill 197, relating to prohibition of insurance discrimination based on sexual orientation;
House Bill 353, relating to health care rights of domestic partners;
House Bill 538, relating to the prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression;
House Bill 616, relating to a study regarding the effectiveness of the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act; and
House Bill 861, relating to the authority of certain university systems to provide benefits to certain qualified individuals.

To learn more about these bills, visit Equality Texas' website.