Hello Everyone,

On January 20th, 2009 we will come together as a nation to witness an historical event as we welcome Barack Obama into the White House. Whether you voted for him or not, people around the country, and around the world will join together to participate in this groundbreaking day. As we take part in this event, we come together as one, sharing the same experience. This is something that all people can unite under regardless of race, gender, class, identity, religion, or sexual orientation. On January 20th, we will all be equal, as we find a common ground that ties us all together, and steal a moment in history for our own memories that we will share with generations to come.

A little under 1 year ago, a man named Barack Obama was running for president. He saw a hope for a stronger America. He envisioned a more unified culture. He spoke of a stronger government. He promised a celebration of diversity. He asked the country for their vote. He asked each community separately, and then the nation as a whole. He came to my community. A community filled with diversity. A community filled with family, friends, partners, and allies. A community that has its foundation in love. A community where many members do not have equal protections under the law, and those loved ones that do have these protections, want to help everyone involved obtain them. A minority community, that has felt the sting of discrimination, and held on to love to build bridges in the hope of overcoming.

He wrote an open letter to my community and released it through an organization called Obama Pride. The opening to this letter still chokes me up today: "I'm running for President to build an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all ‐ a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters. It's wrong to have millions of Americans living as second‐class citizens in this nation. And I ask for your support in this election so that together we can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans."

In this letter, Barack Obama promised to repeal the laws that discriminate against the LGBT community. He vowed to

* Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and ensure that states treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws

* Enact a fully inclusive Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity

* Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

* Enact the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes against our community

* Confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the stigma surrounding it

* Amend the Uniting American Families Act to afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system

Now, one year later, the LGBTQ community, their allies, families, and confidants have written a response to Barack Obama reminding him of his promises and vowing to work with him to achieve these promises. We will hold him accountable with his own words, but cannot expect him to listen without showing him how vast our numbers actually are. Please join us in making an IMPACT on the White House. Please PRINT OUT and SIGN the Open Letter to Barack Obama (Linked Below).

On January 10th, we will come together across the country for 100 National Rallies to gain signatures and fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA has been sited in almost all cases against LGBTQ rights and its author has even asked for its repeal. If you would like to get involved beyond signing this important letter, please find a DOMA Rally in near you: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Quick+Links+States+%3E+Cities

This is not an online petition - too many studies have shown that online petitions hold less weight. We will make a much larger impact by putting our time, love, and sweat into this. We want real signatures to provide Obama, NOT electronic ones. Please print out the letter and signature sheets, sign, get your friends & family to sign, and get strangers to join in this movement and sign. Once we receive all of the signature pages, we will get the STACK of 1 Million Signatures in Obama's hands on DAY 1! Real signatures, real people, REAL CHANGE.

If EVERYONE in this email gets 1 Page of Signatures, we WILL reach our goal! Every signature counts - If you can only get your signature, then please sign the sheet and mail it to us. Please FORWARD this to AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE. Let's exceed 1 Million! Let's show Obama just how strong and united our movement is!

JOIN THE IMPACT ON THE WHITE HOUSE:
The Open Letter: http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/ie%2BzftVKmp3UMuMQTk1A4Q%3D%3D18018
Signature pages: http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/YDxT%24bMsuG6l%24mxWtkRMjQ%3D%3D181280

Mail all signature pages to
Join The Impact
PO Box 141491
Columbus, OH 43214

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