LGBTQIA+ Take Action Check List

Printable PDF

To help ensure full equality for the LGBTQIA+ community we must all work together and speak out. There is so much you can do as activists.  

 Contact Congress 

There are vital pieces of legislation that can help us achieve our goal of ending violence against women, including: 
 

  • The Equality Act: provides non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, including in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. 
  • Customer Non-Discrimination Act: amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in public accommodations; expands public spaces and services covered in current law.  
  • Do No Harm Act: clarifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people. 
  • Fair and Equal Housing Act: adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected characteristics under the Fair Housing Act. 
  • Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act: seeks to promote better hate crime data collection and a more informed approach to hate crime prevention. 
  • Every Child Deserves a Family Act: prohibits public child welfare agencies receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating against any potential foster or adoptive family based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.  

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and be connected to your representatives in the House and Senate to tell them you support the pieces of legislation listed above and demand that they enforce and expand rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. Here is a directory of current members of Congress.   

Don’t forget to reach out to your local elected officials too. Speak out against the rolling tide of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation rolling out around the country.  

Educate yourself on the issues before you reach out. Check out some recent NOW Action Alerts, Issue Advisory, Media statements and more on LGBTQIA+ Rights:  
 

Blogs:

Become a NOW member to receive regular updates and action alerts on issues surrounding issues impacting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Attend or organize pro-LGBTQIA+ rights rallies and marches with your local chapter, especially in states that are seeking to implement anti-LGBTQIA+ laws.  Learn more with our Rally Checklist. 
 

Speak out on social media:  

  • Share your thoughts on LGBTQIA+ rights on social media — use our digital toolkit as a guide. 
     
  • Dates to highlight for social media outreach: 
    • Week after Valentine’s Day: Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
    • March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility 
    • April 6: International Asexuality Day 
    • April 26: Lesbian Visibility Day 
    • May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia 
    • May 22: Harvey Milk Day 
    • May 24: Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day 
    • June: Pride Month 
    • June 1: LGBTQ Families Day 
    • June 12: Pulse Remembrance  
    • June 15: Anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s Bostock decision expanding protections to LGBTQIA+ employees 
    • June 26: Anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s Marriage Equality decision 
    • June 28: Stonewall Day 
    • June 30: Queer Youth of Faith Day 
    • July 14: International Nonbinary People’s Day 
    • July 16: International Drag Day 
    • October: LGBTQIA+ History Month 
    • October 8:  International Lesbian Day 
    • October 11: National Coming Out Day 
    • October 15: National Latinx HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 
    • October 26: Intersex Awareness Day 
    • November 13 – 19: Transgender Awareness Week 
    • November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance 
    • December 8: Pansexual/Panromantic Pride Day 
  • Campaign, Volunteer, and Vote for LGBTQIA+ and ally candidates at the national, state and local levels   
  • Join our RUN NOW program to learn more about working for or starting your own campaign.   
  • Speak out loudly and often in support of LGBTQIA+ rights wherever and whenever you are able. Whether it is on social media, in an op-ed, letter to the editor, rally speech or even just at the family dinner table, you can educate others on why it is so vital to lift up the voices of the LGBTQIA+ communities and put an end to the polarizing and hate-filled rhetoric that is devastating our country and our culture.