MassEquality.org

Equality In The News

Apr 30, 2008

House Passes Pro-Equality Amendments

MassEquality Staff

Great news from the State House! Just a little while ago, the Massachusetts House approved several amendments to increase funding for programs supporting LGBT youth, seniors, victims of domestic violence and those living with HIV/AIDS:

- Funding for the LGBT Aging Project, which provides services and support for our seniors, increased by $20,000 to $80,000, a 33% increase over last year's funding.

- Department of Public Health funding for school safety for LGBT youth was increased by $100,000 to $450,000, a 28.5% increase over last year's funding.

- Department of Education funding to support LGBT youth was increased by another $100,000.

- Funding to support LGBT victims of domestic violence was increased by $100,000 to $350,000, a 40% increase over last year's funding.

- And an additional $500,000 was included to help reduce disparities in HIV/AIDS funding.

To win these funding increases in so many programs in this extremely tight fiscal year is an incredible first budget victory -- and the credit belongs to you.

Over the past few months, MassEquality members have sent more than a thousand emails, logged hundreds of phone calls, and held dozens of in-person meetings with key legislators. You've taken the time to tell your personal stories and talk about why these programs are important to you and to people you care about. You've made your voice -- the voice of LGBT and allied people in Massachusetts -- heard, and it's having an impact.

Our team of lobbyists, led by political director Matt McTighe, met with more than 100 legislators one-on-one to explain our Equality Agenda and our legislative priorities.

But we're not done yet. This is a powerful first step, but with the Senate yet to begin its budget deliberations, there's still a ways to go in this process.

MassEquality will continue our non-stop pace of organizing and lobbying on behalf of the LGBT community - but we need your help to keeping going.

Please contact your Senators today to ask them to support the full budget increases in the Equality Agenda.