Thank you for making All In For Equality 2017 such a huge success!
Visit Facebook for images from this year’s rally and media event!
You can also watch the entire video here:

This legislative session, Texas lawmakers have once again filed a raft of bills that directly impact LGBTQ Texans. Some bills target the LGBTQ community for discrimination, while others build on hard-fought gains — like the freedom to marry — and move the state’s policies forward toward full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans.

On Monday, a diverse coalition of LGBTQ equality, civil rights and religious freedom groups will gather at the Capitol to advocate for policies that would improve the lives of LGBTQ Texans and to speak out against legislative proposals that would amount to state-sanctioned discrimination.

WHAT: “All In for Equality Day” press conference to speak about legislative proposals that directly affect the LGBTQ community.

WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2017

WHERE: South steps of the Texas Capitol building

WHO: Sara Ramirez of “Grey’s Anatomy,” members of the Texas LGBTQ and faith communities, and representatives from the ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Texas Freedom Network, Transgender Education Network of Texas.

Registration for All In For Equality Advocacy Day has ended, but we invite you to join us for the day’s rally, at 12:30 p.m., on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. Come hear from Sara Ramirez of the hit show “Grey’s Anatomy” and from Texas advocate fighting for full LGBTQ equality in the Lone Star State.

Brought to you by: Equality Texas, ACLU of Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Texas Freedom Network, and Transgender Education Network of Texas.

This is an opportunity for YOU to ask state leaders to pass inclusive policies that protect all Texans, including our children; and end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

The rally portion of the program is open to the public, and will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.

Agenda
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration
Schmidt-Jones Family Life Center
1300 Lavaca St.
Austin, Texas

After registration feel free to explore the Capitol, attend a refresher training, make a poster, and grab lunch.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch and Rally on the South Steps of the Capitol

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lobbying Meetings

****Detailed Agendas will be available in your packet on the day of the event!****

Training
All training will be at the Family Life Center. Four 30 minute trainings will occur. They will be at 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 10:45 a.m.. There is still time to join us for an online webinar training as well as an in-person training in Austin. Please click here to schedule: http://bit.ly/2nAnjla

Parking
We are well over 1,000 participants for this year’s advocacy day, a record number for our coalition. There is limited parking in surrounding garages. Considering carpooling, using rideshare, or public transportation. There is no designated parking for this event. Included are a few resources:
Downtown Austin Parking Map – http://bit.ly/2nAsNwj
Capitol Parking Meter Locations Map – http://bit.ly/2nAfYC9
Capitol Visitors Garage Parking Info – http://bit.ly/2nAnAUY
(Be aware that, as this is the closest parking garage to the Capitol, it will fill up quickly!)

Dress Code
Weather forecasts show a high of 80 for Monday, March 20th. We recommend comfortable shoes and business casual attire. Ultimately, wear what you are comfortable and express your authentic self.

Bus Sign Up
If you have not done so already and would like to sign up for a bus, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/2nAcQpM Some of our great partners have sponsored buses that will be coming from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Plano, and Brownsville. Once you sign up, more information will come later in the week.

Volunteers
With the anticipated numbers exceeding well over 1,000 people we are in need of additional volunteer support throughout the day. If interested in volunteering please email sissi.yado@hrc.org.

Media Contacts
DeAnne Cuellar, Equality Texas, 210.896.9141, deanne.cuellar@equalitytexas.org
Susan Risdon, Red Media Group, 214.226.6741, susanrisdon@mac.com
Jose Medina, Texas Freedom Network, 512.804.8061, jose@tfn.org