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| eNewsletter archives: - February
2007
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| For
Immediate Release New Organization Will Advance Equal Rights
for all Ohioans Columbus, OH - Equality Ohio is a new organization dedicated to equality in law and opportunity for all Ohioans including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Ohioans. “Our vision is an Ohio where everyone can feel at home,” said Tom Grote, board chair of the Equality Ohio Education Fund. The organization began forming last November after the passage of Issue One, a constitutional ban in Ohio on the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. As a result, a statewide coalition of community leaders and others met and established Equality Ohio as part of a long-term strategy to gain and protect equal rights for all Ohioans. Since June, combined funds for Equality Ohio and the Equality Ohio Education Fund now total nearly $100,000. Most of the funds so far are from organizations and foundations including the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). “The generosity of these organizations means a stronger future for Ohio, and this is just the beginning,” Grote said. The goal is to raise $200,000 before an official kick-off in the Fall. To do that, statewide fundraising campaigns are under way including home gatherings and an online membership drive. Elliot Fishman, the Legacy Fund's Administrative/Program Officer, touted the impact Equality Ohio Education Fund will have. “The Legacy Fund's board quickly comprehended the importance of this organization to the quality of life for all Ohioans,” he said. HRC President Joe Solmonese said Equality Ohio is off to a strong start. “They are engaging Ohioans and bringing key people together to plan intelligent strategy,” he said. “They are moving in the right direction and HRC is glad to be able to help.” According to Sarah Reece, Senior Field Organizer at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (The Task Force), Equality Ohio Education Fund’s commitment to local organizing is the right strategy. “As we at the Task Force have witnessed, from Maine to California, it is when people work together, from the ground up, that we succeed in attaining our rights. Winning is more than possible, and empowering people in their own communities is the place to begin,” she said. Jeannette Birkhoff, chair of Equality Ohio, said these investments are a great beginning, but that additional supporters and resources are vital. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. Groups who pushed for Issue One continue signing up volunteers and fundraising,” said Birkhoff. “That means each dollar and every member is crucial to Equality Ohio’s continued success.” She said anyone interested in supporting Equality Ohio or the Equality Ohio Education Fund can visit www.equalityohio.org. Equality Ohio’s mission is to serve as
an advocate and champion for fair treatment and equal opportunity for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens; to facilitate a greater
understanding of our common humanity through education and outreach efforts;
to engage and empower individuals, families, organizations, businesses
and institutions in Ohio's urban, suburban, and rural areas; and to collaborate
with local, regional, statewide, and national organizations and government
agencies. See http://www.equalityohio.org. |
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| For Immediate Release
Equality Ohio, a new statewide organization championing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil equality, is beginning a public competition for the logo that will best define their identity. Submissions will be accepted through 11:59pm on April 30, 2005. Designs by the finalists will be posted on the Equality Ohio web site and the public will be able to vote for their favorite. “One of the basic tenets of Equality Ohio’s formation is to be inclusive of all of the fair- minded people that we represent in Ohio,” said Lynne Bowman, one of the organizers of Equality Ohio. “This competition is just one more opportunity to include as many people in our development as possible.” Full details and guidelines of the competition process are available on the organization’s web site. Finalists will be chosen between May 1st and 7th by a small group of coalition partners from around Ohio and posted for public view and public vote during the latter half of May. The group plans to announce the winning design by June 1, 2005. “We’re looking for a logo that truly represents who the organization is; a statewide coalition of fair-minded people who are trying to make Ohio a better place for all of its citizens by working for equal treatment of the state’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens. We are real people with real lives, real jobs, real loves, real families and very real concerns about how we can equally protect everyone’s lives, loves and families,” Bowman said.
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| For Immediate Release
Fueled by the passage of Issue 1 last November, grassroots activists, organizational leaders and business representatives from around Ohio are coming together to form a new coalition named Equality Ohio. The group’s purpose is to make the Buckeye State a place that treats each citizen equally in its interpretation of the law. Ohioans from all areas of the state began meeting within days of the passage of the constitutional amendment. To date, there are over 90 coalition partners from diverse areas of the state such as Wooster, Athens, Youngstown, Yellow Springs and Toledo, as well as Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. “When Ohio voters approved an amendment banning civil marriage equality, it energized the fair- minded people in the state who understand that access to the state’s civil rights should be granted equally to all its citizens,” said Lynne Bowman, one of the organizers of the coalition. “Now these Ohioans are coming together to gain momentum from each other and impact a change of direction for the LGBT community.” The coalition is in the forming stages and will be holding a planning session in the coming weeks to define a vision and identify the strategic steps towards implementing the vision across the state. In preparation for the meeting, the group is looking for input from any person who cares about civil equality. To share your opinion, visit the coalition’s website at www.equalityohio.org and take the community survey. The survey will be available between March 11th and April 8th, 2005. “To really be a statewide effort, we must include people from every part of Ohio,” said Eric Campbell, an activist from Toledo, Ohio. “For too long, grassroots activists who care about these issues have felt that they didn’t have a way to help guide the fight for equality. This is that opportunity.” The group plans to release further information about its vision, strategies and partners after the planning meeting. To get involved, visit www.equalityohio.org. |
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Equality Ohio | 50 W. Broad St. Suite 1970 | Columbus, OH 43215 | 614.224.0400 contactus@equalityohio.org | privacy policy | All text and images Copyright © 2008 Equality Ohio. |