MIZAN RAHMAN

I’ve spent the last week in New Hampshire rallying the troops to show Senators Gregg and Shaheen that the Granite State wants to see repeal this year.
We kicked off our work at the Hampton Farmers Market, where we got petition signatures and a few new volunteers to help with our efforts across the state.
Next was Manchester, which was definitely hopping and I was lucky enough to find a great network of volunteers and supporters. State Representative Robert Thompson and his husband Mike Jacobson took me out to some of the local haunts, like Element Lounge, to rally the troops and were kind enough to host a potluck bbq at their home Saturday afternoon.
At the BBQ, we were fortunate enough to have a visit from Congressman Hodes, who voted in favor of repeal a few weeks ago. Local veterans had the chance to thank the Congressman as he enjoyed a burger and chatted with us about our work and where the legislation is now. It was a great day, a casual atmosphere, and we were able to get everything in just before the rain.

One more against DADT at the Hampton Farmers Market
We topped off the day at the Breezeway Pub, also in Manchester, where the staff was more than happy to help support our efforts for repeal. There, we met new volunteers and had many great conversations about repeal and what Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell really means.
The weekend ended with a visit to South Church, a Universalist Unitarian parish in Portsmouth. Reverend Elaine Peresluha has been working with the Human Rights Campaign to engage the faith community and was kind enough to invite me to South Church to chat with parishioners about the final push for repeal.
I’m looking forward to continuing to make my way across the state, and there will be many opportunities to lend your voice to this important movement. New Hampshire is key in this fight and we need every single supporter to be involved. Stay tuned for information on ways to be involved, even if you’re not a New Hampshire resident. I’ll be posting about upcoming opportunities, like a phonebank in Maine to call New Hampshire constituents.
We will be back in Manchester on July 10 at West Side Arena, 1 Electric Street, to watch the ManchVegas Roller Girls crush the Ottowa Roller Derby while getting support for repeal. Please let me know if you can volunteer at this event at 5 p.m. by emailing me at Christine.Sloane@hrc.org.

Congressman Hodes, Veteran M.L. Paquette and State Rep. Robert Thompson
We need your help to rally support across the state in the short weeks until the vote, so if you can host a house party, volunteer for a few hours, make phone calls, or write a letter to the editor, please let me know as soon as possible. We can’t do this without you!

The Human Rights Campaign believes that women are key to our success as a civil rights organization and essential to the LGBT movement’s ability to win equality for all. We also believe that we can and must reflect the diverse communities in which we live and work. That’s why HRC is excited to offer a Women and Leadership program.
The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for women to strengthen their leadership and to support them as visionary and courageous social change leaders who will play a critical role in breaking through the many barriers to securing justice for all.
A key component of the program is an intensive four-day leadership learning retreat. The inaugural retreat was in January 2009. The next retreat is scheduled for January 27 – 30, 2011, in Washington, DC. Applications are due October 29, 2010.
HRC invites all women-identified leaders who:
Demonstrate a commitment to social justice and LGBT equality
Currently are volunteering on HRC boards or steering committees
Are high performers who are in or intend to take on positions of leadership on HRC boards and/or steering committees
Are committed to developing their own personal leadership skills
Don’t miss this opportunity to join a group of passionate and powerful women leaders!
HRC held it’s inaugural Women and Leadership retreat in January 2009. Here is what the participants had to say:
I left feeling empowered, energized and with a renewed sense of self-awareness and purpose. This retreat helped me find my voice, focus my message and assert myself. I always knew it was in me.
This retreat and HRC’s commitment to it and the women there, really re-energized me and reminded me about the impact we (HRC) can have. It has engaged me to be an even more involved and more vocal proponent of HRC.
I also learned things about myself and my leadership style. I was always one to take on too many things and not say no – and I was so energized by my experience that I declined to take a leadership role in one organization because I want to spend more time with HRC.
Most often we are one or maybe two on a steering committee and this weekend helped us to realize we are not in it alone.
The 4 days of this retreat have added more to my leadership presence than the 8 month program I participated in with the United Way last year. The community building among the HRC women is unbelievable and I believe it will make a positive difference in women’s effectiveness in their community.

What Are Women Saying?
LaWana Slack-MayfieldCharlotte, NC"I became the change I want to see"
Gina DuncanOrlando, FL"I gained inner strength and leadership skills to truly make a difference"
Sharon WongWashington, DC"Life-changing! You will never be the same again and everyone will notice"
Susan ReyesNew Orleans, LA"I gained 22 incredible sisters from across the country, memories, strength, and courage"
Mizan Rahman
Dhaka, Bangladesh