Senate Judiciary Committee: ‘Do Pass’ on SB 2278
February 16, 2009 by admin
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-0 ‘Do Pass’ on SB 2278, the bill to add sexual orientation & gender identity as a protected class in North Dakota. This is an encouraging victory, but we have more work to do.
The full Senate will likely vote on the bill this Wednesday or Thursday. This leaves a short window for all of us to contact our state senators in support. Every last vote counts.
Please e-mail your Senator right now and ask her or him to support the passage of SB 2278, the bill to add sexual orientation as a protected class in North Dakota. Locate your Senator here.
Also, please make a point to ask for support for the bill “as amended”. The current bill has been amended to include separate definitions for sexual orientation and gender identity. It remains inclusive.
Enlist five friends to e-mail their Senators by the end of the day on Tuesday. We must show the legislature what kind of support is behind this bill. We must show them that North Dakotans want a fair, inclusive state to call home.
SB 2278 committee vote postponed
February 11, 2009 by admin
The Judiciary Committee has postponed the vote on SB 2278 until Monday, February 16. The full Senate vote will also occur that same week.
If you haven’t already, please contact Senate Judiciary Committee members (http://tinyurl.com/9thgq7) or your local Senator (http://tinyurl.com/damrk8) and ask them to support SB 2278.
Letters to your local newspaper are helpful too.
Ask three friends to do the same!
NDSU Student Senate & Staff Senate support SB 2278
February 9, 2009 by admin
Both Student Senate and Staff Senate at North Dakota State University have voted to support SB 2278, the bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class in North Dakota.
We applaud those groups for stepping forward in support. It speaks volumes that students and those responsible for students’ education take such a clear stance on this legislation.
ND Student Ass’n votes to support SB 2278
February 8, 2009 by admin
The North Dakota Student Association just voted unanimously to support SB 2278, the bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class in North Dakota.
The North Dakota Student Association (NDSA) is a statewide student organization composed of student representatives from each of the 11 state-funded institutions of higher education also known as the North Dakota University System.
This sends a message loud and clear that young North Dakotans are in full support of equal treatment, fairness and opportunity for everyone.
Contact your senator today and let her/him know why you support SB 2778.
Hearing scheduled for SB 2278
January 28, 2009 by admin
The hearing for SB 2278, a bill that will add sexual orientation as a protected class, will be held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 10:15 a.m. in the Haugland Room at the Capitol Building in Bismarck.
We need a big push going into this hearing in order to be successful. Please consider doing one or all of the following:
• E-mail your state senator: Locate senator or submit a letter from the HRC page
• E-mail *Senate Judiciary Committee members
• Testify at the hearing
• Attend the hearing in support
• Spread the word to your family & friends
Ask your state senator to support the passing of SB 2278, a bill to add sexual orientation as a protected class in North Dakota.
*Senate Judiciary Committee
Dave Nething: dnething@nd.gov, Chairman
Curtis Olafson: colafson@nd.gov, Vice Chairman
Tom Fiebiger: tdfiebiger@nd.gov
Stanley W. Lyson: slyson@nd.gov
Carolyn Nelson: cnelson@nd.gov
Mac Schneider: macschneider@nd.gov
SB 2278: Full text available
January 28, 2009 by admin
If passed, SB 2278 will add sexual orientation–including gender identity–as a protected class in North Dakota.
Read the bill sb2278 (PDF). Track it on nd.gov here or return to www.ndhrc.org for updates.
SB 2278 : Aims to add sexual orientation as a protected class in ND
January 22, 2009 by admin
E-mail your senator today and tell them support SB 2278. Tell them why you support equality in housing and employment for all North Dakotans.
Or submit a letter from the Human Rights Campaign’s page for SB 2278! (NEW)
More info below
Bill to add sexual orientation as protected class in ND announced at press conferences across state
January 22, 2009 by admin
A bill to add sexual orientation—including gender identity— as a protected class in North Dakota was filed Monday, January 19, 2009. That same morning, the Coalition and partners across the state held simultaneous press conferences in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot.
Announcement of the bill was followed by brief comments from local community members including students, professors, legislators, police officers, parents and grandparents, and faith leaders.
The bill seeks to amend the North Dakota State Human Rights Act and Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation as a protected class. If passed, it will prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, credit transaction and use of public accommodation.
View the resulting press coverage here.
Tell Us Your Story and/or Testify at ND Legislature
January 6, 2009 by admin
Whether you’ve experienced or witnessed discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, we want to hear about it. Your stories will help spread the message that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender North Dakotans do in fact face discrimination. If you’re willing to testify at the state legislature, we’ll help get you there. Just fill out the quick and easy form below, and we’ll contact you.
cforms contact form by delicious:days
Legislative Tracking Grid
January 5, 2009 by admin
Fair Housing of the Dakotas provides a great tracking grid for human rights related legislation. You can find it online here.