Progressive Oasis

OMAHA, NE – Ben Gray has confirmed that February 28th will be the date that his ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes for employment and public accommodation in Omaha will be formally introduced for Omaha City Council.  So be sure and get those emails ready!  If you haven’t already sent emails about Ben Gray’s ordinance, to the Omaha City Council, please do so in the coming weeks. Please send in the email ASAP so each City Council member can have enough time so read the thousands of emails they’ll be receiving on the issue.  March 6th will be the when the public can speak on the ordinance, and the final vote will be March 13th.  I posted some information about the ordinance as well as emailing or calling the Omaha City Council back in December, I will repost that info below.

CFEP, Citizens for Equal Protection,  is launching an email campaign in support of Ben Gray’s Non-Discrimination ordinance.  Below I will have sample letter info for those council members who voted for Ben Gray’s civil rights ordinance and also a sample letter for those on the Omaha City Council who chose to vote against.  Be sure to visit the Equal Omaha site as well, they have email forms which will automatically send your email to the city clerk, making your email part of the public record. You can use the following templates there, too!  Just copy and paste, but remember to include your own words, especially any situation where you have run into problems involving sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace.

The middle part of the letter in quotes and in BOLD  is very important because this is where you tell your personal story, and why this is important to you.  There are samples in this paragraph for what to say,  but please replace the entire paragraph with YOUR words.

You can find out who your City Council member is by calling 402-444-5520.

Please email your City Council Member and remember to send a copy to: CFEPJEFF@me.com   You can do that by putting the CFEPJEFF@me.com in the CC: or BCC: spaces provided.  Be sure to tell them which district you are in as well.

Here are the email addresses for each City Council member:

Pete Festersen           pete.festersen@ci.omaha.ne.us       District 1

Ben Gray                       ben.gray@ci.omaha.ne.us                 District 2

Chris Jerram               chris.jerram@ci.omaha.ne.us          District 3

Garry Gernandt          ggernandt@ci.omaha.ne.us              District 4

Jean Stothert              jean.stothert@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 5

Franklin Thompson     fthompson@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 6

Tom Mulligan            tom.mulligan@ci.omaha.ne.us         District 7

And the email samples, First to the supporters: And please remember to use your own words, especially for the part in quotes and in BOLD.

Dear Pete Festersen, Ben Gray, Chris Jerram

Thank you very much for your vote to pass the work ordinance additions that were proposed last October , your support for the LGBT community is very much appreciated.  I look forward to your continued support as Ben Gray re-introduces this in February of 2012, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to address discrimination is a positive step forward for Omaha.

Currently, there are over 130 cities that have passed these protections including Kansas City, Dallas, Milwaukee and Salt lake City, just to name a few.  Omaha residents believe in fairness and equality, it is a big part of who we are.

“This is very important to me as a gay man, a lesbian, a brother-sister-parent-son-child-friend- because I was discriminated against for being a gay man.  Here is where you make it personal and tell why this is an important issue for you. If it is not about you, express why it is important for relatives, family, friends, or the community at large.”

I look forward to your confirmation that you will continue to support this effort to make Omaha a more welcoming place to work, live in and visit.  Omaha is truly a world class city and this is one more step into the reality.

Sincerely,

Your Name

And the email samples for those opposed: And please remember to use your own words, especially for the part in quotes and in BOLD.

Dear Jean Stothert, Gary Gernandt, Franklin Thompson, Thomas Mulligan

I am writing you today to support the job protection ordinance that will add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the city of Omaha. This is being re-introduced in February 2012 and although you previously voted against these added protections, I would urge you to reconsider and do the right thing for Omaha.

Currently, there are over 130 cities that have passed these protections including Kansas City, Dallas, Milwaukee and Salt lake City, just to name a few.  Omaha residents believe in fairness and equality, it is a big part of who we are.

“This is very important to me as a gay man, a lesbian, a brother-sister-parent-son-child-friend- because I was discriminated against for being a gay man.  Here is where you make it personal and tell why this is an important issue for you. If it is not about you, express why it is important for relatives, family, friends, or the community at large.”

I look forward to your response as to your support for this ordinance change.

Sincerely,

Your Name