Stay Informed
Sign up with your e-mail address now to keep informed about LGBT issues in South Dakota.
Become a Member Today
Join Equality South Dakota and Stay Connected to the LGBT Issues in Our State
Become a member today!
Content
State News ::
Equality SD Participates in Equality Federation Meeting
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 17:41
Equality South Dakota was one of more than 30 state equality organizations that participated in the Equality Federation Meeting in Baltimore this summer. The White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a policy briefing on LGBT issues and EqSD had a seat at the table, represented by Betty Field of Rapid City.
The Obama administration has appointed a record number of out LGBT staff and committee members who spoke. Experts provided updates on topics including: DADT, national HIV/AIDS strategy, Family Medical Leave Act, Affordable Care Act, Fair Housing Act, transgender health care, adoption, hospital visitation, and anti-discrimination protections. We learned that the federal government is beginning to track data identifying the needs of LGBT youth and seniors in order to ensure that these vulnerable populations receive adequate funding and services.
The speakers reminded us how important our state work is to the progress of LGBT equality.
You are invited to join EqSD on the ground in South Dakota to continue the work for equality. Register. Volunteer. Donate. Share your stories.
National News ::
Support for Repeal of DADT Nearly 80%
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 19:11
Posted: May 25th, 2010 10:19 AM ET
(CNN) - Most Americans say people who are openly gay should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with one in five opposed.
"Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups."
Read More...
General ::
DADT this week? Please call!
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 09:29
Friends of Equality,
We have some exciting and urgent news for all of you. Congress will have before it a bill this week to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of the United States military. The vote could come as early as Thursday and we need to make sure that Rep. Herseth-Sandlin hears from South Dakotans who support ful equality for LGBT citizens that she should vote in favor of repealing DADT! Please contact Rep. Herseth-Sandlin today! Contact information for Rep. Herseth-Sandlin below!
The Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
331 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2801
Fax: (202) 225-5823
Office Hours:
M-F 9:00am - 6:00pm Eastern
Web contact form: forms.house.gov/hersethsandlin/IMA/contact.html
General ::
Equality South Dakota gets a side of Salsa today!
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 22:43
Something good is happening behind the scenes at Equality South Dakota!
We are moving to a new database system that keeps track of EqSD's volunteers and supporters. Our tight budget requires that we have a secure way to accept your financial support and communicate with EqSD's membership across South Dakota's wide-open spaces effectively. The new system is called "Salsa" and is provided to us through our membership in the Equality Federation -- a group of allied LGBT state organizations from all across the country.
We switch over from our previous system (GetActive) to Salsa mid-day on Tuesday, May 25. Donations will be unavailable for a couple of hours. Let me thank you for consideration of any downtime that may occur, and let us know ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) if you see any problems from your end.