Everything you need to know to lobby your legislator on marriage equality...

1. It's Easy. "Lobbying" sounds scary, but it's not. The most important thing to know about lobbying is that legislators want to hear from their constituents. Actually, they hardly ever do, so calls, letters, e-mails or postcards can have tremendous impact. You can change their minds.
    
2. You have one State Representative and one State Senator. To find out their names and contact information, go to the state website: Find Your RI Elected Officials. Follow the instructions, and you'll see all of your elected officials. Scroll down to your Representative and Senator. Click on their names find how to reach them. If you have other questions or have trouble with the above site, please call 401-463-5368.
   
    
3. Here are a few tips for communicating with your legislators:

   Phone Calls: The most effective communications is to actually talk to them personally. Most legislators have answering machines at home, and many of them just list a voice-mail box so that they can get the messages and call you back.

   We suggest calling week-days until 9:00 pm and Saturdays during the day. Here are some sample messages to leave on voice-mail:

   If you are a LGBT person, you might say something like this: "My name is _____________, and I am your constituent. I support same-gender marriage, because I simply want the chance to marry the person I love, and because marriage is one key way to make all families safer and more secure."

   If you are a straight ally, you might say something like this: "My name is ___________, and I am your constituent. I support same-gender marriage because my family members, friends, and neighbors should have the same rights I have to a safe and secure family. They simply want the chance to marry the person they love."

   Once you call, please e-mail a message to info@MarriageEqualityRI.org with your name, your legislators' names and the fact that you called.

   Most likely, the legislator will try to call you back. You'll then get a chance to tell more of your story to them. If you do hear back from them, please e-mail us again at the above address and let us know what they said, especially if they tell you how they stand on the issue of marriage equality.

   Letters: It is also extremely effective to write your legislator a personalized letter, with more of your story. Please be sure to e-mail a copy of your letter to the above address, with your name and your legislators' names. Also let us know if they respond to your e-mail.
    

4. Talking to your legislators in person: The Marriage Equality RI will be setting up Lobby Days, when you can talk with your legislators face to Face. Keep your eye open for Lobby Days scheduled by the Campaign, or just drop into the Statehouse after 3 on Tuesdays, Wednesday or Thursday.

   Please consider bringing pictures of your family or commitment ceremony, and your family members. Bring your checkbook to buy a T-shirt and make a donation to the Marriage Equality RI.

   Here as some suggestions about what aspects of your personal story to share:

   • If you have a partner, how long you have been together
   • Whether or not you have children or want to at some point
   • An experience where not being married caused problems or was a barrier. For example, were you ever denied the ability to make medical decisions for your partner in an emergency situation or denied bereavement leave?
      
5. Some Final Thoughts and Suggestions

   Obviously this is a contentious issue. Don't be afraid to show your deep commitment and passion for the issue. But it's important to the success of marriage equality that you work to stay calm and reasoned. To succeed in achieving marriage equality, it is important for legislators from throughout the state to hear our message. Look to the list of Key Legislative Decision-Makers to see which are the most important legislators to contact. Ask anyone you know in those districts to call their legislators.

   • Please send this how-to along to others
   • E-mail info@MarriageEqualityRI.org and tell us you want to help recruit others to call key legislators. Ask for the list of Key Legislative Decision-Makers

Thank you for your willingness to get involved.

We are living in a critical time in civil rights history. Years from now, when same gender civil marriage is as accepted as any other marriage, you will know that you were a part of that transformation!

NOW, PICK UP THAT PHONE!!! OR WRITE THAT LETTER! During the legislative session, Join Marriage Equality RI almost every Wednesday and Thursday at 3:15 pm at the RI State House to lobby legislators in person. Call 401-463-5368 to make sure that the House or Senate is in session and available for lobbying on a Wednesday or Thursday you choose to join us!