ACLU of Nevada Shines at Legislature
Dear Friends,
The 2009 session of the Nevada legislature concluded on June 2nd, and we at the ACLU of Nevada have never been prouder of our legislative efforts and accomplishments. With the support of civil libertarians like you, we made a huge difference in Carson City and helped to preserve the fundamental freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
There is no denying that our finest moment occurred when the Senate and Assembly voted to override the Governor’s veto and pass SB283, a bill mandating that the government recognize gay and straight domestic partnerships and that it extend most of the rights and responsibilities of marriage to unmarried domestic partners. Together with the passage of SB207, which bans discrimination in all public accommodations based upon sexual orientation, prevailing in the fight for domestic partnership recognition marked a watershed moment in the fight for LGBT equality here in Nevada and nationwide.
These two important victories in the struggle for full equality were the result of intensive outreach, planning, and lobbying that began long before the legislature convened and continued until the final votes were cast. The ACLU played a key role in bringing together many individuals and organizations, all of whom were integral, to collaborate at every stage of the process leading to the ultimate passage of SB283 and SB207.
As always, the ACLU of Nevada was a powerful and compelling voice in the fights for SB283 and SB207. In the media, at legislative hearings and community meetings, and in hallways and offices in Carson City, ACLU advocates argued for equality, fairness, and individual freedom. We are grateful to the legislators who supported these bills and to all of those who collaborated on the campaign for their commitment to ensuring fairness for all Nevadans, regardless of sexual orientation.
The ACLU’s advocacy also helped determine the fate of many other bills in Carson City. We advanced the cause of civil liberties on a number of fronts, including criminal justice, election law and voting rights, child welfare, free speech, privacy, immigrant rights, and government accountability. An extensive post-legislative report will soon be available on our website at www.aclunv.org. In the meantime, an abbreviated list of our legislative victories this session is available here.
None of what we achieved this legislative session would have been possible without your help and that of countless other civil libertarians. For that, the entire ACLU of Nevada board and staff are eternally grateful. When you visit our website to learn more about what happened in Carson City, consider joining our e-mail list or contacting our offices to learn how you can get involved in our ongoing efforts to protect your rights and those of everyone in our great state.
In Liberty,
Gary Peck, Executive Director
P.S. Harrah’s Entertainment will be hosting a celebration of the passage of the domestic partnership bill, co-sponsored by the ACLU, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the Human Rights Campaign, and PLAN. The event will be on June 25 at the Rio Hotel Ballroom, tentatively from 5:30 to 8:00PM. The
***Legislative Lobbying is conducted by the ACLU of Nevada, Inc., a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. For a description of the differences between the two branches of our organization, click here.***
