On a crisp mid-March morning, I set out to lobby Congress on behalf of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans-gendered rights with my fellow Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Illinois colleagues during our Board Meeting/Training Tracks/Lobby Day weekend. While some of the more experienced HRC lobbyists in our group attended a constituent breakfast with both of our Senators, Richard Durbin and Barack Obama, I attended a training and information gathering session with other first-time lobbyists at the HRC building in the heart of Washington, D.C. As we arrived at HRC's headquarters, we were greeted by HRC staffers who gave us information packets that included general Capitol Hill information, our itinerary of meetings, a talking points handout detailing important GLBT issues and a 108th Congressional Scorecard booklet (which can be downloaded on the hrc.org website). The booklet turned out to be a great resource during our meetings with members of Congress and their staffers, since it outlined where each of the members stood on our issues.

After getting my materials and touring the ground floor of the HRC building, I grabbed some fruit, yogurt and cereal from the breakfast table and mingled with other lobbyists while I ate. After the other Illinois lobbyists arrived, we determined that we should do drop-ins to members of Congress that we didn't have appointments with. I was put in charge of researching the House office locations on the handy computers in the room. As I was finishing my research, an announcement was made that training was starting.

During the training, a number of HRC staffers and other legislative experts informed us about the best ways to address the issues and what points to bring up. Although I am knowledgeable about these issues, it was enlightening to see them presented all at once, illustrating how much work we still need to do to provide equality to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.

When the training ended, those of us in the Illinois contingent gathered at a table to map out our day so we could get the message out to as many members of Congress in our state as possible. We split the list in two, and each group met with one of the Senators and about four House members. While we met with legislative aides of Senator Obama and Representatives Danny Davis, Judy Biggert, Bobby Rush and John Shimkus, the other group met with aides for Senator Richard Durbin and Representatives Melissa Bean (who attended the meeting as well), Rahm Emanuel and Jan Shakowsky (who was present during a portion of the other groups' meeting). They also dropped off a folder full of information to Rep. Mark Kirk, Dan Lipinsky, Lane Evans and Jerry Weller's offices.

After our strategy session, we hit the road and headed to Capitol Hill, armed with our materials and an open heart. Our simple goal was to persuade our Representatives and Senators to vote for the basic principles of equality for which HRC fights. We also made a point to thank everyone for their past votes and get pledges for their continuing support as these bills are again brought up in Congress. When we got to Capitol Hill, we headed straight to Senator Obama's office in the Hart Senate Office Building.

In talking with Senator Obama's aides, I felt like we were teaching them about GLBT issues since they are still new to the workings of Congress. To explain our positions, we told anecdotes that highlighted how GLBT Americans are slighted in the eyes of the law, including the inequities of domestic partner benefits which tax employees on their partner's benefits, which does not apply to heterosexual married couples. We also expressed our desire for the Senator to block any of President Bush's anti-GLBT federal judiciary nominees. The subject of ETHA (Early Treatment for HIV/AIDS) funding was addressed, and we made a point that not funding it would result in the spread of HIV/AIDS-affecting Americans of all sexual persuasions, especially African-Americans. Finally, we asked his office to help repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (The US and Turkey are the only NATO nations that don't allow openly GLBT soldiers to serve). Obama's office gave us a firm commitment to learn about these issues and to carry out his campaign promise to work with the GLBT community. With two pro-GLBT Senators representing our state, it will be interesting to see how both Obama and Durbin work together on these issues.

As our group walked from the Senate Office Buildings to the House side of Capitol Hill, we were energized because our meeting with Obama's people went so well. When we arrived at the Longworth House Office Building, we went straight to Representative Judy Biggert's office to see if we could get a meeting. When we stopped by the office, her aide was heading to another meeting but said we could come back at 1:30 to talk with her. With that meeting set, we went over to Representative Danny Davis' office in the same building.

About halfway through our meeting with Rep. Davis' aides, Davis walked in and joined our conversation. His presence gave me a sense of legitimacy, which increased when he promised his unequivocal support (he already has a 100% HRC rating) for all of the issues we raised-including the ones I outlined above from our meeting with Obama's people, plus the PPIA (Permanent Partner Immigration Act-a bill that would allow same-sex partners the chance to sponsor their non-US Citizen partners as legal US immigrants). During our discussion about reaching out to churches, I mentioned our upcoming Gospel and Soul event (in my role as the Diversity Co-Chair for HRC) and Rep. Davis pledged his help to spread the word and get the churches in his district involved in our event. I came out of that meeting feeling excited about what we were doing and was ready to relax and have lunch in the Longworth building.

After lunch, we headed upstairs for our meeting with Rep. Biggert's aide. Our group arrived at her office eager to talk about the emerging issues surrounding the GLBT community and thank her for her opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment. Her aide remarked that she fielded many calls from Biggert's constituents decrying her support for the GLBT community following her vote against the FMA. When we brought up the issues of transgendered individuals, her aide asked that we get their office more information on the subject. We also touched on the renewal of the Ryan White CARE Act and the opposition to funding cuts for Medicare/Medicaid and received a positive response. Significantly, Rep. Biggert is a moderate Republican who represents largely-conservative South DuPage County. Despite the electoral makeup of her district, she has a 77% HRC rating. This is the type of bi-partisan support that HRC strives for in its daily work around the country.

In stark contrast to our other encounters on The Hill was the reception I received when we went to Representative Henry Hyde's office. I am Hyde's constituent, and hoped that this would help me get a meeting with someone in his office. This hope proved to be futile; the receptionist informed me that no one could meet with me that day. It is common knowledge that Rep. Hyde, with a 0% HRC rating, is no fan of the GLBT community. However, his office had previously suggested that they would be willing to meet with one of his constituents to discuss GLBT issues. In October of 2004, his office said that a constituent would need to be present for a meeting to occur. In the month that preceded our lobby day, HRC made repeated attempts to get a meeting for me. HRC in D.C. was told that no one would be available to speak with me, yet there were apparently several people in his office that could have taken a meeting with us. I mentioned that I met with one of his staffers on another occasion, but that made no difference. To say the least, I was disappointed.

Following the rebuff from Rep. Hyde's office, our group went on to Rep. Bobby Rush's office in the Rayburn House Office Building. We met with Christian, his legislative aide, and discussed our issues with him. Christian promised that he would talk with Rush about co-sponsoring the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and ETHA. Christian emphasized that he is a strong supporter of GLBT equality and would work to move him from an 88% to a 100% rating with HRC. With all of these meetings concluded, we headed to the HRC drop-in room in the Canon House Office Building to rest, relax and meet lobbyists from other states.

In the drop-in room, there were a group of young lobbyists from Michigan and a young woman from Pennsylvania who was single-handedly lobbying for her state. I struck up a friendship with them in the hope of learning their perspectives. These young people-all college students-were very enthusiastic. I felt that it was important to keep that energy alive during this contentious time in our nation. After hanging out for about twenty minutes, our group went to our last meeting of the day with Rep. Shimkus' Chief of Staff.

Luckily, Shimkus' office was in the same building. We headed upstairs and were welcomed into the Congressman's office. His walls were filled with letters, cards and drawings from children in his district. I thought that added a personal touch and indicated that he cares about the people in his district. Shimkus represents the southernmost district in Illinois, the 19th, and is a Republican with a predominantly conservative constituency. He has a 33% HRC rating, which is at least miles ahead of Hyde's 0%. This speaks of Shimkus' ability to look at the issues with a critical eye and not only do what is politically expedient. His Chief of Staff told us that Shimkus regrets his vote for the FMA, due to meetings he's had with same sex couples living in his district, and probably would vote against it if it came up again.

We also found out that Shimkus might support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell due to his military background and the effect that this policy has on our national security. We also thanked him for his co-sponsorship of the Anti-bullying bill (HR284) that would protect GLBT individuals. His Chief of Staff said that personal stories are the key to keeping the dialogue open and will move his boss to action on our issues. At the end of our meeting, we expressed our desire to keep in touch and continue to bring the personal stories to his attention.

Following our lobby day, I volunteered to fill out the forms HRC provided for each of our meetings, which were created to help the staff in D.C. in any future visits to The Hill. While filling out the forms, I sensed I was helping to direct policy and possibly be the catalyst for that changes that HRC desires in our quest for GLBT equality.

The capper to the day was a 109th Congress Welcome Reception at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, with HRC members from around the country, members of Congress and their staffs. As we met with staffers throughout the day, we offered their offices invites to the reception. At the Botanic Gardens we feasted on finger food and drinks, had conversations with interesting people, and heard great speeches. In the first speech of the night, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) rallied us to continue struggling for equality. Also on hand was Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) who spoke about not giving up to the neo-conservative religious-right Republicans who currently control the country. As I wandered around the beautiful botanic gardens, I happened upon Christian from Bobby Rush's office, who was with a staffer from Senator Ted Kennedy's office. As we chatted, I mentioned that Senator Kennedy has fans in all of the Maxwells from Chicago. To cap off the reception, new HRC President Joe Solmonese introduced himself and offered a glimpse of his vision for HRC. When the reception winded down, a group of HRC Illinois members hooked up with several of Melissa Bean's staffers and headed out to dinner. It was a great capper to an already-eventful day. Bean's staffers were a delight, and their enthusiasm was refreshing. I felt like I made some great fast friends who I can call on when I go to D.C. in the future. Despite my setback with Hyde's office, it was a fantastic, enlightening day.

As a straight ally, I was eager to show my support for the GLBT community by talking about the issues with legislative aides and members of Congress from Illinois. I was the only straight ally in the Illinois contingent, but I felt that my presence as a member of HRC illustrated that the fight for equality for GLBT individuals is one we must all take on.