Pennsylvanians Rocked the Dome!

A Report on the Rally and Lobby Day for Equality in the State Capitol

by Kathleen Czarnecki

Harrisburg, Pa., March 17, 2009— From start to finish this was a really exciting and educational experience.

The bus ride down to Harrisburg was a really good opportunity to network with other people from Pittsburgh and Mercer.

Once we arrived, we were greeted and welcomed by the staff of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church who provided a great lunch and a chance to stretch from the long ride down state. While there, we received a brief introduction to the rally, and how to lobby our local representatives once the rally was over. There were about 300 people from all over the state who came for the day. Once inside the Capitol, we were asked to gather on the steps in the middle of the building. Media from the paper, television and other local social service agencies were everywhere. The steps were completely full, many holding signs representing where they were from and what organization they represented.

Jake Kaskey from Equality Advocates of Pennsylania spoke on how important it was for House Bill 300 to finally pass. He introduced several speakers at this point, many representatives who supported and/or sponsored the Bill. The speeches were all very powerful, many referencing past civil rights movements as an example of what perseverance and belief in equality can do. Just to be standing on the steps was an empowering feeling. To know that as the Bill passes, our showing up in person will be part of the reason it does. To be a part of living history is an amazing feeling.

After the rally, we were instructed on where to find our local representatives within the Capitol. We were to provide them with a packet of information provided by the staff at Pennsylvania Equality Forum if they currently do not support House Bill-300 to let them know how this personally affects them, and to encourage them to vote for the bill. If they did support it, we were to go and personally thank them for their willingness to recognize all gay and lesbian citizens as equal. Our representative, Flo Fabrizio, was currently in session, so we left a note for him to read, and made plans to visit him in the Erie office.

I e-mailed the staff that coordinated the event to thank them for providing such a great experience, and to let them know we are looking forward to participating in any future trips to Harrisburg, Washington, or wherever the ride to equal rights might take us. It would be a great statement of our support and encouragement if we could fill our own bus for the next rally. I would ask that each of you think about attending. If we get to experience equal rights in the future, it will be because we put a name and a face to this most personal issue. Log on to www.equalitypa.org to learn what is happening in the state, and when the next rally might take place…and then please, take the time, and take a stand.

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