Every day, someone you care about crosses the street, takes the long way to class, or wonders if this is the day the taunts turn to blows.


Every day, somewhere in this country, an LGBT person confronts the real threat of violence. Yet even though anti-LGBT hate crimes are on the rise, there are no federal protections against these attacks.

  But that can change, if we all act urgently. The Matthew Shepard Act would finally cover LGBT people under our nation's hate crimes laws.Hundreds of HRC activists will be on Capitol Hill Thursday talking with their lawmakers about this bill – will you back them up with an email? 
Tell Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard Act – take action before our big lobby day Thursday! 

A battle is brewing in Congress over hate crimes. Two years ago, the House and the Senate both passed this bill. If George W. Bush's veto pen hadn't stood in the way, it would surely be law today. 2009 marks our best chance yet to get this bill signed into law. But this is far from a done deal.


  Our opponents will not be silent and they will try to drag this debate into the gutter. At this very moment, they're gearing up to bombard Congress with bald-faced lies about the Matthew Shepard Act. They will claim that the bill will criminalize pastors and their sermons, endanger Christianity, and end free speech – yet the bill expressly protects speech and only applies to physical violence.

  (Stay tuned for a big new campaign we're launching later this week to combat the lies of anti-LGBT groups.) We can't let lawmakers be intimidated or misled by this despicable propaganda. 

   We will lose votes unless YOU make sure Congress understands the truth about this bill.Take action now >> The manipulative campaign to pass Proposition 8 was a bitter reminder: opponents of equality are well-funded, well-organized and they fight dirty – especially when their backs are to the wall. 

   By flexing our grassroots muscle today, we'll give America's leaders the support they need to stand strong on our full 2009 agenda: a fully inclusive hate crimes bill, a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), benefits for same-sex couples, increased HIV/AIDS funding, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and more. 

   The hate crimes debate will set an important precedent for those debates as well. And it all starts Thursday, when we lobby Congress face to face. The road to full equality starts here. It starts today. And we need you on board. Tell Congress: you can't leave LGBT people out of hate crimes protection. 

  Then send a quick note to friends and family asking them to take action, too. We must create a groundswell by Thursday when we will be meeting with representatives and senators about the bill. Thank you so much. I hope this is the first of many 2009 legislative battles we will win together. Warmly,  
Joe Solmonese 
President