Matthew Shepard Act passes - thank your senators

Please make this call. My experience is that most of the time people who step up and take risks for our community do _not_ hear thank you. For those of you who live outside of Colorado, you can find your senator's phone number at : http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please pass this on to anyone you know who might care or be effected. Be aware that things like a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, immigration rights, or marriage even, could be more easily passed if our supporters see that we are organized and support our supporters.

Colorado Senators are: 

Sen. Mark Udall (202) 224-5941 and 

Sen. Michael F. Bennet (202) 224-5852, both of whom voted yes to pass the Matthew Shepard Act.

BACKGROUND ON THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT:

The Matthew Shepard Act will strengthen existing federal hate crime laws in three ways:

1) Expand the law to authorize the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Current law only includes race, color, religion or national origin.

2) Eliminate a serious limitation on federal involvment under existing law which requires that a victim of a bias-motivated crime was attacked because he/she was engaged in a specified federally-protected activity such as voting, serving on a jury or attending school.

3) Add "gender" and "gender identity" to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act

Boulder Pride Says Goodbye to Jeanne!

Boulder Pride is sad to say goodbye to office manager and Pride Czar, Jeannie!  Jeannie will be missed by many as she moves forward to pursue her professional dreams and aspirations.  Please stop by the B-Side Restaurant and Bar in Boulder on July 21, 2009 at 5pm for an old fashioned roast.  Great food, fun people and good music.  Don't miss it!