LGBT legal workshop: “What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family”

Here’s the press release from the Campaign for Southern Equality:

Asheville, N.C. (July 6th, 2012) – The Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) will offer a free legal workshop titled, “What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family” in Asheville on Wednesday, July 11 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The purpose of the workshop is to provide clear, accessible information to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals regarding their legal rights now that Amendment One has gone into effect. The workshop will be led by Asheville-based attorneys Meghann Burke and Diane Walton and will take place at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Free childcare will be provided during the event.

CSE has received many questions from LGBT people and families across the state about how Amendment One impacts them. Many have expressed concerns, for instance, that Amendment One invalidates wills or health care power of attorney forms; in fact, it does not. The Reverend Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of CSE, said “LGBT people in North Carolina are second-class citizens, which makes it critical for our community to have accurate, updated information about exactly what our rights are and are not. While Amendment One is a discriminatory measure, there are still many important steps that LGBT people can take – like completing health care power of attorney forms – to protect our rights proactively.”

Another “What Amendment One Means for You and Your Family” workshop will take place in Charlotte on July 27th and additional workshops will take place during the summer and fall across the state of North Carolina.

CSE has also set-up a webpage to serve as a clearinghouse for Amendment One information – http://www.southernequality.org/amendment-one-and-your-rights/

Lead Sponsors of the Asheville workshop are Pisgah Legal Services, Equality NC and First Congregational UCC of Asheville; Co-sponsors are the Center for Participatory Change, Western NC Citizens to End Institutional Bigotry, Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., Walton Law Office, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Southern Poverty Law Center and Lambda Legal.

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Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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