In a couple of weeks the City Council will vote on two major police reform bills, banning racial profiling and creating an Inspector General to provide oversight for the NYPD. But Mayor Bloomberg is threatening to veto this important legislation. In his time as mayor, Bloomberg has increased the number of “Stop-and-Frisks” six fold—mostly targeting young Black and Latino men and boys. And now he is accusing the New York Times, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and City Council Members of putting the city in danger with these reforms. In a political move we’ve seen time and again over the last decade, he used the tragic deaths in Boston last month and on 9/11 to justify policing practices that violate our civil liberties, saying “God forbid terrorists succeed in striking our city” because of these laws. Both bills are cosponsored by at least 32 City Council Members—a majority of the City Council—but we need 34 votes to overcome a veto from Mayor Bloomberg. Policies like Stop-and-Frisk and the widespread spying on Muslim mosques and college Muslim Student Associations (which the NYPD admits has never produced a single lead), degrade the police-community relationship that is needed for a safe city and turn some New Yorkers into second class citizens. We all need safe communities -- for our kids, our parents, our friends, and our loved ones. But we can't make our neighborhoods safe by violating the fundamental civil rights of our neighbors. Take action now for a better NYPD and a safer New York. Please sign this petition, and then forward it to your friends.

After Sen. Johnson's announcement that he supports marriage equality, we would like to thank him for continuing his legacy of fighting for doing what's right.

Marriage equality is not a Republican issue, a Democrat issue, or an Independent issue; it is simply a human rights issue. We believe every American has the right to marry the person he or she loves. As the majority of United States Senators now supports marriage equality, we respectfully request U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to publicly support marriage equality.

Vote yes on SB 237, The Fair Employment Act. By ending employment discrimination based on gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation, we will promote a welcoming and competitive workforce for all Texans, fostering diversity, innovation and spurring economic growth throughout Texas.

The Fair Employment Act (SB 237), will end employment discrimination based on gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation.

This week, five more United States Senators came out for Marriage Equality for same sex couples. In the House of Representatives, every Democratic Member from Pennsylvania supports Marriage Equality. Unfortunately, no Pennsylvania Republican Members of Congress are openly supporting equality. Rep. Jim Gerlach (PA-6) is one of those Members who remain opposed. Please send Rep. Gerlach a clear and simple message--It's time to get on the right side of history and support Marriage Equality.

Tennessee has a state park named for a founder of the Ku Klux Klan. This is an affront to all fair minded people. Memphis has finally renamed its confederate parks including Nathan Bedford Forrest Park. Tennessee should follow suit and rename this state park.

It appears Senator Kirk, came to this position, as a result of his recent near death experience, which resulted in, what appears to be, a physically limiting condition. I am the parent of a now, 25 year old young man, who through an injury, became disabled at the age of 10 with a C-5 spinal cord injury. Coincidentally, he was hospitalized at the same rehabilitation center, as the Senator. Although, I do not directly walk in my son's shoes, I DO walk beside him. I suspect the good Senator, like my son, myself and my family, became keenly aware of his differences, from the majority of the country, as he resumed his life, after his stroke. To be fair, society treats the disabled community differently, out of necessity, due to an individuals' physical, mental and/or emotional limitations. However, a good deal of the time, being treated as different, and sometimes even as less than, comes from a place of fear and ignorance. Indeed, Although, discrimination towards the disabled is mostly subtle, it most certainly exists. I believe all discriminatory behavior comes from a place of fear and ignorance. I am not gay, nor do I have anyone in my immediate family who is openly gay. However, I do support Marriage Equality, and have been a supporter, ever since I became aware there was a gay community, and they were seeking their civil rights, to marry the person they loved. I would like to firstly, thank Mark Kirk, for bravely, standing up, in contrast to his Republican caucus, and voicing his position to support Marriage Equality. Secondly, I would encourage the Senator, to take his support a step further. Approach his colleagues, and explain to them, the evolution of this position. He can then encourage them to look within their immediate families, and find that individual, which may even be they, themselves, who always seemed to be left out and not treated fairly, due to some perceived "difference". It is sometimes only this, when you can place your argument in favor of Marriage Equality, in an analogy that mirrors either a person's own, or a loved ones personal experience, a person will come to the understanding all Americans are endowed with unalienable rights, and the belief this truth is self-evident. Please sign my petition thanking Senator Mark Kirk for publicly sharing his position on Marriage Equality, and asking him to "Spread the Love" with his fellow Republicans. ...and then go "Spread the Love" yourself.

If a couple gets married and it doesnt work out then there is no since in them being forced to stay together. The way things are is just fine, lets stop irritating people. To make them wait two years to get Divorce is ridiculous, whose the Idiot that thought of that?

Petition Representative Jim Matheson of Utah's 4th District to support marriage equality.

UPDATE: VICTORY! James, whose story is below, personally delivered the petition to Texas' legislature. And on 4/4, this amendment was WITHDRAWN from the bill. THANK YOU for your signatures and comments! ***************************************** Growing up in Rio Grande Valley Texas, University of Houston student James was taught that being gay was wrong. "It wasn’t until I stepped into my college resource center and found other students like me that I finally found peace with myself. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center at the University of Houston changed my life." Now one Texas Representative wants to take away that center, and every other one in Texas. Rep. Bill Zedler has added an amendment to the Appropriations bill that would ban funding for all LGBT, Gender, and Sexuality centers in Texas universities. Please tell the Texas legislature to oppose the Zedler 1 Amendment!

I, like millions of other gays and lesbians, not only want but deserve the right to get married. We are not asking for an exception or special treatment, just the same treatment. This issue affects your neighbors, friends, fellow employees and family members. Please be one of the countless millions who support equality for same-sex couples.