No matter someone’s gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation, they should be paid equally, but across the country, that is not the reality. This Pride Month, we remember that LGBTQIA+ workers face substantial pay disparities, and those disparities are compounded when combined with race, immigration status, disability, and other marginalized identities. As 530 bills that attack the rights of LGBTQIA+ people have been introduced across the country, it is critical that we exercise our right to civic engagement.
But there is a history of hope and the power that we all have– according to the Movement Advancement Project, advocates have consistently defeated an average of 92% of proposed anti-LGBTQ bills every year over the past 15 years. That means that people like you, organizations, and allies are holding legislators accountable for their actions and showing up to stand against hateful attacks.
9to5 National Organizing Director, Shanda Neal Green, said, “It’s never felt safe to be a Black queer working woman in America, but the past year and a half has felt like the walls were closing in from all sides. I find so much hope in holding on to the many communities I belong to, knowing that when we work together, love and community win.”
This is what civic engagement is all about– holding our officials accountable and advocating for what we need. Download our zine now to learn more about Civic Engagement and spread the word in your community:
This LGBTQIA Equal Pay Day, talking about civic engagement is critical. While legislators work to eliminate the rights of queer people, they fail to pass common-sense legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act and meaningful support for women in the workplace, such as paid leave, affordable child care, and higher minimum wages. In recent years, extremists in government have banned initiatives that supported the advancement of women of color and have actively worked against rights that ensure we can live our lives freely, like restricting abortion, dismantling climate protections, and making housing unaffordable.
We’re not powerless. We all hold the power to show up and hold our government accountable through contacting legislators, voting, volunteering, and showing up in our communities. It’s going to take all of us, that’s why I want to share our pocket guide. Let’s talk about Civic Engagement with you. You can download and print or request copies from us (while supplies last) to share with your community.