PLEASE HELP!! It's important.
This is mostly for my American LJ friends since those of you overseas won't be able to help too much. Though I appriciate comments and caring all the same from you! And if you could repost for American friends you may have that I don't.
I got this email from the Human Rights Campaign website (wikipedia entry), so it is completely legitimate. They're the largest LGBT civil rights group in the United States. The email is about how the Matthew Shepard Act (the bill that will make it federal law to protect LGBT people from violent hate crimes) is once more coming before Congress, and how to help urge Congress to pass the act.
The reason for the hate crime legislation can be found well written on this page, about why there is a need for this bill, what the bill is set up to do, general opinion of the bill by Americans, and what its current status is. Basically, any questions you can possibly have about it. And for those who want a less biased source, here's the wikipedia entry.
And for those who care, but are confident that it will pass without sending an email--don't forget what happened with Prop 8. Since then, I'm not taking anymore chances, especially since here all you have to do is fill out some info so they can figure out which person to send the letter to. You don't even have to know your district lawmaker's name! They do it all for you. So please take the time to check it out.
Hi,
Have you heard that the hate crimes bill is coming before Congress again?
I hope you'll join me in sending a message to Congress: we can't wait any longer for a federal law to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans from violent hate crimes. Take action here.
Ordinary people are living in fear for their safety and their lives every day, in small towns and big cities. Hate crimes against LGBT people are on the rise, but the federal government has no direct authority to investigate, prosecute or help local law enforcement crack down.
We can't let this continue. We can't let friends and neighbors become targets for violence simply because of who they are.
Congress passed the hate crimes bill in 2007, but because of George Bush's veto threat, it never became law. And now, right-wing extremists are once again making outrageous claims that the bill would criminalize preachers, end free speech, and so on.
Will you help make sure their lies aren't the only things members of Congress are hearing about this bill? Please click here to send a note urging Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard Act.
Thanks for your help.
So please, I again ask you to take the time to just check this out (and possibly repost this on your journal so more people can know about and participate). Thank you.