As we move into August, and into a new (hopefully shorter) phase of this campaign, here are a few things you can do to bring Equality to Anchorage:

Call or E-Mail Mayor Sullivan and Write a Letter to the Editor – Mayor Sullivan needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. If he doesn’t want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance.

Please call or e-mail Mayor Sullivan mayor(at)muni(dot)org or call (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100. Be respectful. No one responds positively to insults, accusations, or anger. And if you’ve already contacted the mayor, revise your letter accordingly and send it to the Anchorage Daily News. [Note: feel free to send a copy to Bent Alaska for posting on the blog.]

Call or E-mail your Assembly members and ask them to support the New S-2 version of the ordinance – An S-2 version of the ordinance has been submitted for consideration by Patrick Flynn. (Read the .pdf HERE.) We believe that this is a strong revision that acknowledges the concerns of some in the religious community by broadening the religious exemption, but does not weaken the original intention of the ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination. It includes employment protections for our entire community–including transgender individuals. Please call or e-mail your Assembly members and tell them to put their support behind the S-2 version.

Attend the August 11th Meeting – The next Assembly meeting is August 11th. While the agenda has not been officially set, this may be the day that Assembly members get to a debate and vote on AO 64. It would be great to have as many supporters as possible inside the Assembly Chambers so that they can see how many people care about this issue. You know the drill: Blue shirts, Equality Works buttons. We will keep you posted once the agenda is set and/or if plans change. Thanks & Remember: Equality Works!