We now know the NSA has secretly decided they can wiretap anybody without the oversight of a court. This means that any NSA analyst can read your email, listen to your phone or Skype conversations, and watch what web searches you make. I myself work in the data analysis industry and am appalled that the kinds of tools I am building are being abused by the government to spy on ordinary citizens without public oversight. This overreaching behavior by the NSA is part of a larger trend where the call for strengthening national security since 9/11 has been eroding the rights of ordinary citizens. Although there will always be a balance between national security and people's rights, right now that balance is out of alignment. It seems that every month we learn about more things the NSA is doing to vaccuum up more communication. Most recently the NSA was exposed as trying to insert backdoors into new encryption systems used to protect sensitive information on the internet, including online banking. What will they be doing next? Now is the time to let Congress know that we don't approve of this. Sign this petition to prevent NSA analysts from abusing their power and make your voice heard. An email will automatically be delivered to your Representative and Senator in Congress. --- More information about the NSA's capabilities can be found on my blog here: http://bit.ly/nsainfo

My name is Brad and I live in Seattle, Washington. Here in Washington State we have laws that protect Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender people from workplace discrimination. However, In 29 other states, including my home state of Tennessee, people are fired everyday simply because of how they identify or who they love. In Congress the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has been proposed every year since 2007, but for nearly 7 years now Congress has failed to act. It’s time to put an end to workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Currently, there is a bill in both houses of Congress, and it's already out of committee and ready for a vote in the Senate. That's where you come in! Not every bill actually makes it to the Senate floor for a vote, but with your help, we can demand that this bill gets a vote. Please stand with me and millions of LGBT Americans in asking Congress to pass the Senate Bill S. 815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act today. Great News! The Senate Listened, and passed the Employment Nondiscrimination Act on November 7th, 2013. Here's a link to my new petition asking John Boehner to let the House vote for ENDA: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/speaker-boehner-protect

I'm starting this petition because the evidence is there that provides justification and clarity that this is simply not a state's issue. In time, all states will have marriage equality for all loving couples. The federal government is already recognizing same-sex couples by way of the benefits it has already authorized. States or people living in those states are being given the power to choose for others for what is already a constitutional right. It is appalling to me that unreasonable people are being given this power. It's time to recognize that a constitutional right should not be in the hands of unreasonable public officials or unreasonable citizens who don't agree with someone else's definition of love and marriage. Thank you, Jimmy - National Coalition for Marriage Equality.

Many of us have married friends or family who are impacted by federal and state tax laws and other benefits. Same-sex couples can legally marry in 14 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. ALL families should be able to have access to the same benefits. This is coming up for a vote in November. Please sign this petition urging our legislators to do the right thing. Vote for marriage equality.

This document was reviewed during the Reagan administration and signed by President Clinton, but never ratified by the U.S. Senate. One hundred ninety-three members of the United Nations have ratified this treaty. Only Somalia, South Sudan and the United States have not! What an embarrassment for our country -- the country of the document’s origin! Join the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) in support of assuring rights for every child.

Women and African Americans have never been declared legally "equal to white men". The Declaration of Independence (1776) does not even mention them. In the Pledge of Allegiance (1892), liberty and justice do not mean equality. We still had to fight for the right to vote (1920), sit on juries, and we still don't get equal pay. It won't take away the harms done, but it is a step in the right direction. School children will learn that we are all equal and should be treated accordingly.

Vermont Tech has a large tobacco-using population, whether that be smoking, chewing/dipping, or other means. This proposal restricts our personal freedoms and cultural values, as well as those of our peers. We are also concerned that if this proposal were passed, future enrollment at Vermont Tech would decline.

I miss my parents & can't visit my homestate of Iowa because I chose years ago to become the change I wished to see int he world & SPEAK UP FOR ANIMAL FREEDOM & I don't want to come to Iowa & have be in fear of being called a “terrorist” by some bullies who put a toxic law into place that victimizes whistleblowers & treats American citizens like they treat animals.

Once it became public that my son was gay; the manager made his life a living hell. Before that time, he was advanced to pricing lead for the store. After becoming public, he was belittled in front of co-workers and the public; and was coerced into signing early release papers after giving a 3 weeks notice of leaving. I respectively request other members to abstain from shopping at this establishment.

Too many people have been victimized by the court's, too many have been denied "Due Process" and the Pope's "Decree" has opened the door; thus, eliminating immunity and status of Limitations.. It is now time for the people to be restored, too many years have gone by; whereby, Human Rights Violations, were being bestowed upon the people..

I'm Haitian-American and have family living in the Dominican Republic who are affected by this ruling. We want the world to know how unjust this is.

After the shutdown, the U.S. Senate will take a vote on the LGBT Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) for the first time in 17 years, and this commonsense proposal already has 55 Senate supporters and counting. ENDA simply says a corporation can’t fire you just because of who you are or who you love. But Florida’s Senator Bill Nelson is still waffling. He’s 1 of only 3 hold-out Democrats who has not made up his mind. We think 100% of Democrats should support basic fairness for LGBT Americans. Floridians understand that Americans should be judged on the job based on their skills and hard work, rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity. In fact, a recent poll showed that 73 percent of Floridians support ENDA. Nationwide, so do more than 81 percent of Democratic voters, a majority of Republican voters, 61 percent of senior citizens, and 72 percent of Latinos. Sen. Nelson - You already support marriage equality, and the Democratic Party of Florida platform calls for all people to be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. There’s no reason to keep stalling on workplace equality. Now is time to announce your support and publicly pledge to vote Yes for the LGBT Employment Non-Discrimination Act.