This week more than a dozen organizers working to secure non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans nationwide came together in Atlanta, Georgia, launching a new project dedicated to developing conversations about the importance of comprehensive non-discrimination protections.

The project – the Summer of Action – is a joint project led by the Equality Federation, Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, the Movement Advancement Project, in partnership with Equality Florida, Georgia Equality, Equality Ohio, and One Community Arizona. Coalition partners at Human Rights Campaign, the LA Leadership LAB, and SAVEare also supporting the program.

Over the course of the summer, organizers from these four states will engage hundreds of volunteers to have thousands of conversations about why updating our nondiscrimination laws to include gay and transgender people is so important.

The team will connect with residents on the values all Americans share: hard work, opportunity, and fairness. And while emphasizing these core values, the Summer of Action team will be working to increase local familiarity with transgender people and better understand why transgender people should not face discrimination at work, on the job, in any public space, or while simply trying to use the restroom. The organizers’ work will increase public support for inclusive non-discrimination laws.

Project directors Amy Mello (FFAAEF), Fran Hutchins (EFI), Amanda McLain-Snipes (EFI), and Alex Sheldon (MAP) led the training team, with support from Justin Klecha from SAVE and Steve Deline from the LA LGBT Center’s Leadership LAB. Our talented organizing staff comes from a diverse array of backgrounds, including veterans of LGBT and other progressive campaigns, a recent graduate of Tuskegee University, and a graduate of LGBT University, Reg Calcagano.