Successful Campaigns

In July, President Obama signed an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees – with no religious exemptions. Thank God! Share the good news: http://on.fb.me/1nARlOc

Daniel has been issued a stay of deportation! It means Daniel gets to stay with his son Carlos and wife Karla for another year without fear. After that, he'll apply to renew until his case is closed. With God's grace, Daniel and his family will be together this Father's Day. But we’re also praying for the thousands of American families – just like Daniel, Carlos, and Karla – who are torn apart by our broken immigration system.

In March 2014, West Virginia passed a minimum wage bill – increasing it to $8.75 by 2016! “I signed this bill because I believe it is a positive step toward helping more than 100,000 hardworking West Virginians earn a fair wage—including mothers, fathers, working adults, as well as teens working their first jobs,” Governor Tomblin said.

After negotiations between Corizon Heathcare and the United Steelworkers Union, Sister Barbara Finch was rehired!

On November 22nd, the Texas State Board of Education voted to approve science textbooks with climate science intact! This is a huge victory for our students, our teachers, our planet and our future. And it was a nail-biter til the end. With last-minute lobbying from monied interests and the oil and gas industry, it made a difference to have over 5,000 people of faith on record in support of climate science! Thank you to all of our amazing action takers who joined the campaign, spread the word, and showed Texas that we were watching to make sure they did the right thing. You can read more here: http://www.groundswell-movement.org/victory-for-climate-science-in-texas/

Commissioner King Jr. didn't attend our meeting, but we created enough pressure that he did the right thing and funded both Lafayette and East High Schools! Thank you to the parents, students, teachers, and people of faith in Western New York and beyond who made this win possible.

Early Saturday morning, June 22nd, the New York legislature passed a bill extending Safe Harbor to 16- and 17- year olds! The Safe Harbor laws make it so minors arrested for prostitution are treated as victims of sex trafficking and provided with the services they need to rebuild their lives, instead of jail time and a criminal record that keep them vulnerable to exploitation. This is a tremendous victory in the fight to end child sex trafficking and to help trafficked girls and boys. Thank you for being part of the voice that made this happen! Click here to read our blog post on the victory, including coverage by the Wall Street Journal: http://www.groundswell-movement.org/victory-in-new-york-in-the-fight-to-end-sex-trafficking/

In June, we delivered the petition, and the attorney was finally allowed to visit with Jahsyl – it was a fantastic day. Together, each and everyone of us made this happen and WE MADE HISTORY! Jahsyl was happy and "relieved" to read the petition and to see for himself everyone's support. It lifted his spirits. Thank you for helping to make it happen, Venus

"We made one mistake: The mistake was not being more careful with Chris Broussard, and there is a collective responsibility there." – ESPN president John Skipper. In May, Rev. Debra Haffner delivered the petition to ESPN, telling them that people of faith found it unacceptable when a sportscaster labeled Jason Collins a sinner on the air. We shared the petition directly in a conversation with ESPN's Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Wellness, who agreed that greater sensitivity is needed in handling future stories of athletes coming out. People of faith raising their voices made a difference, and we continue to work until, one day, we will live in a world where every human life is sacred and beautiful, and our sexual and gender diversities are welcome as a blessing.