Equality Express 2012 To Make Stop in Cincinnati

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EqualityExpress 2012 To Make Stop in Cincinnati

For immediate release:
June 28, 2012

Columbus – The EqualityExpress 2012, a project of Equality Ohio, will visit Cincinnati from June 28thto June 30th. The Equality Express is a statewide bus tour visiting more than10 cities in an effort to change hearts and minds, register voters, andparticipate in community service projects. Equality Ohio works to make Ohio aplace where everyone feels at home, and our legislative agenda currentlyincludes bills to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and publicaccommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to preventbullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Cincinnati is thesouthernmost city the tour will visit. Being so close to other states likeKentucky provides the crew with a unique regional experience. In May of thisyear, the city passed an ordinance allowing for domestic partner benefits forcity employees, a key priority for Equality Ohio. The Equality Express hopes tobuild on this work and continue to change hearts and minds.

“This is an opportunityfor Equality Ohio to spread the message of equality and educate people on theimportance of issues like anti-bullying and making our schools safer and bringall communities closer together." says Community Organizer and TourCaptain Lee Reinhart.

The Equality Expresscrew will be canvassing and registering voters throughout the city andvolunteering at Cincinnati Pride. In addition to registering voters, the EqualityExpress crew is circulating petitions for Voters First Ohio to getredistricting reform on the ballot for 2012. Redistricting reform is importantto passing pro-equality legislation because it makes more districts competitivein the general election. More competitive districts could mean that morelegislators will move toward the political center, which overwhelminglysupports non-discrimination and safe schools legislation for the LGBTcommunity. Additionally, crew members will be volunteering with Caracole, anonprofit organization whose mission is to provide safe, affordable housing andsupportive services for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. The tourthrough Cincinnati will conclude with another volunteer project with the UnitedWay and an Interfaith Pride Worship Service

“I am honored andextremely excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Equality Expresstour as a member of its inaugural crew,” says crew member Mike Liggett of theUniversity of Dayton. “As a proud member of the LGBT community and lifelongOhioan, I am thrilled to travel across our wonderful state and spread themessage of equality.”

Thefollowing are Equality Express crew members with a connection to SouthwesternOhio:

Mike Liggett of theUniversity of Dayton

EqualityOhio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity forall Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity orexpression.

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