NEAT
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • News / Blog
  • Our Work
    • Phone Banks
    • Town Halls
    • Canvasses
  • Take Action
    • Equality Act Call In Day
    • Virtual Phone Bank >
      • EqualityTime - 2021
    • Host a Virtual Calling Party
    • Virtual Town Halls
  • Connect
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Contact
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • News / Blog
  • Our Work
    • Phone Banks
    • Town Halls
    • Canvasses
  • Take Action
    • Equality Act Call In Day
    • Virtual Phone Bank >
      • EqualityTime - 2021
    • Host a Virtual Calling Party
    • Virtual Town Halls
  • Connect
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Contact

Join the Music Industry on June 24 for “Music In Action for the Equality Act”

6/22/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
This Thursday, June 24, you won’t want to miss Music in Action! -- a livestream event in support of the Equality Act! This virtual house party with surprise music guests begins at 4pm PT / 7pm ET and is open to all. Grab a drink, a snack and your besties and tune in for an immersive and interactive experience featuring special guest artists throughout. As part of the event, attendees will learn and take easy, fun actions that provide powerful support not just for the Equality Act - but also for other issues you care about. RSVP at: EqualityTime.org/Music.

Music in Action! Is the culmination event of the launch of a letter to Congress in support of the Equality Act by over 300 artists from around the globe including Elton John, Ariana Grande, Cardi B., and Taylor Swift. These prominent music luminaries have signed on as a sign of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.

“It is amazing to see such a broad, diverse coalition of artists and activists coming together to support the LGBTQ Community,” noted Geoffrey Morrissey, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at The Ally Coalition, one of the co-sponsors of Music in Action. “Trans Youth have been under attack for all of 2021, and the LGBTQ Community as a whole has been neglected by the law for too long. The momentum behind The Equality Act is encouraging, and I hope that during Pride and throughout the year, music fans will lobby their Senators to pass this piece of landmark legislation.”

Music in Action! is just one in a series of events happening during It’s Time, a week of action from June 24-29. Dozens of groups across the country are organizing events proclaiming "It's Time" to pass federal protections for LGBTQ+ people, and expand existing protections for women, people of color and people of faith. With events ranging from virtual game shows to canvassing at faith events, there is something for everyone to get engaged with. 

To learn more about the It’s Time Week of Action and to sign up for Music in Action and other events visit www.EqualityTime.org/ItsTime.
0 Comments

Spotlight of the Month: Helena Clark (NY)

6/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Spotlight showcases the work of NEAT supporters who are the backbone of what we do every day for LGBTQ+ Justice.
Picture
       
    NAME:  Helena Clark

    PRNOUNS:  She/Her/Hers

    AGE:  21

    LOCATION:  Pearl River, NY

Tell us about yourself outside of NEAT volunteering! (e.g. work, family, hobbies)
I am going into my senior year at Hunter College in New York City, having transferred from my local community college, where I am studying Political Science and Human Rights. I have been learning a great deal about various human rights concerns, and how I can help to make impactful change in both our society and on a global-scale. Due to the pandemic, I am currently living with my family in the small town I grew up in and am looking forward to moving into the city this fall! Outside of school, I volunteer to tutor kids in my town who are learning English and I am also studying Spanish. As far as hobbies, I really enjoy reading, especially autobiographies/memoirs, and books regarding politics and human rights issues. My absolute favorite thing to do is travel! 


What's your connection to LGBTQ+ justice work?

My connection to LGBTQ+ justice work is a strong one. I grew up in a very conservative town, where homophobic and transphobic rhetoric and attitudes were a norm in my high school and throughout the community. I witnessed first-hand how such beliefs dangerously impact the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals by diminishing their basic freedoms and damaging their mental health. Many of my friends in high school were LGBTQ+, and were never able to be who they were because of the backlash they would receive both in school and in their homes. I strongly believe that justice does not exist if there is not justice for all, and so I started getting involved with LGBTQ+ justice work. 


As an ally, I work to educate myself on the realities LGBTQ+ people experience nation-wide, and world-wide, and how the constructs of race, economic class, religion, citizenship status, and other divisions create multiple layers of oppression for many LGBTQ+ individuals. In recent years, it is apparent that anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is rising across the United States, fueling immense amounts of LGBTQ+ hate crimes that often result in severe physical harm including death, as well as horrific mental, and emotional traumas. This reality cannot be ignored which is why  I started actively supporting LGBTQ+ justice work through NEAT. 


What is your volunteer role(s) at NEAT? What inspired you to get involved?

At NEAT I do a variety of different volunteer roles, and I love them all! I am currently working on a research project for various Pride events. I am learning a lot about how NGOs and other organizations can work together to advocate and advance LGBTQ+ justice through collaborative actions. I also do phone banking shifts, which has been a very fun experience. I love talking to registered voters in our target states about the importance of the Equality Act, and hearing about their support for LGBTQ+ rights. 


In the near future, I will begin training volunteers on how to canvas for the Equality Act at Pride events, and look forward to attending some Pride events as a canvass volunteer myself! When I started researching non-profit organizations in NYC where I might intern, I came across NEAT and immediately loved everything about the organization! I was really inspired by the fact that NEAT is a grassroots organization that focuses on the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ justice. I truly believe that grassroots activism is the most effective way to make nation-wide change and that the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ justice is critical to acknowledge in order to improve the lives of all members of the LGBTQ+ community. 


Share a memory from volunteering that sticks out in your mind.

I have so many memories that stick out to me! Many of them come from phone banking because the majority of the voters I talk to always have something funny to say about their Senator(s) or something really supportive to say about the LGBTQ+ community. It has been great connecting with people to help fight for LGBTQ+ justice. Phone banking has introduced  me to a network of people who want to see LGBTQ+ individuals live equal, safe and dignified lives. 


​What would you say to anyone considering volunteering with NEAT?

DO IT!!!! I cannot emphasize enough how much I love being a part of NEAT’s team so far! All of the work that NEAT does is really inspiring, and has taught me so much about how everyday individuals can work together to progress towards a world where everyone can live equally. 
0 Comments

Monday, June 14: Join NEAT & Bishop Megan Rohrer for “Faith In Action for the Equality Act”

6/8/2021

0 Comments

 
As part of the Colors of Pride faith week for the Equality Act, NEAT is proud to host an interactive virtual event on Monday, June 14 with Bishop Megan Rohrer, the first openly transgender minister to be ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Sign up here to attend.

The event, “Faith in Action for the Equality Act,” is being held on Monday, June 14 at 7pm ET. Grab a drink, a snack and friends and be prepared for a fun, interactive event filled with lively discussion while learning simple tricks to better advocate for the Equality Act and other important legislation. 

“Many people don’t realize that the Equality Act actually increases protections for people of faith from discrimination, especially those in minority faiths,” said NEAT Founder & Executive Director Brian Silva. “‘Faith in Action’ is a fun, exciting opportunity - especially for people of faith - to see how they can join the thousands of faith leaders and organizations working in support of this issue.”

The event is just one in a series of events happening during the Colors of Pride week. "Colors of Pride” is an opportunity for congregations to take a public stand of support for equality during Pride month and commemorate Juneteenth. Activities are focused on the intersectionality of queerness, racial justice and religious identity with the goal of creating opportunities for allyship with the queer community, Black and Brown communities. Organizers hope to engage at least 300 congregations nationwide to agree to participate. 

To learn more about Colors of Pride and to sign up for “Faith in Action” and other events visit www.equalitytime.org/colorsofpride.
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

The Home of Collaborative Action and Partnerships for LGBTQ+ Justice
Picture
Privacy Policy