Meg Sneed Explained
Meg Sneed |
Birth Date: | 1982 8, mf=yes |
Meg Sneed (born 1982) is an LGBT activist from Phoenix who founded the Right to Marry: Arizona campaign and cofounded the H.E.R.O. (Human and Equal Rights Organizers) organization.[1]
LGBT work
During 2006, Meg Sneed participated as a member of the first Soulforce Equality Ride.[2] She also, in 2006, attempted to enlist in the Coast Guard of the United States to protest the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.[3] [4] [5]
In 2008, Meg Sneed founded the campaign. The campaign uses the framework of pilgrimage for its outreach. Each summer a group of core Equality Walkers walk a mile for every year Arizona has been a state without full legal recognition of its LGBT citizens. The Equality Walkers utilize these miles to speak to police, city slickers, faith communities, elected officials and individuals in diverse districts. In 2008 the Equality Walkers completed 96 miles through western Maricopa County, in order to raise awareness about Proposition 102, and in 2009 the Equality Walkers completed 97 miles through eastern Maricopa County focusing their outreach to diverse faith communities. In 2010 the Equality Walkers completed 98 miles through Northern Arizona walking through some of the most rural cities in the State and putting faces and stories to the issue of Marriage Equality. In 2011 the Equality Walkers completed 99 miles in the extreme heat and desert of Southern Arizona.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
After the passage of Proposition 102, Meg Sneed vowed to continue the fight regardless and to steadily work to regain individual rights conferred by marriage, 300 by Arizona law and another 1,100 by federal law. She and others held a rally after its passage that contained over 5,000 supporters.[12]
In November 2008, Meg Sneed and other young activists formed H.E.R.O. (Human & Equal Rights Organizers). H.E.R.O. is an organization that works with the community, in order to profess the ideals of S.A.V.E. (Service, Action, Visibility, and Education) events.[13] [14]
In February 2009, Meg Sneed and friend Melissa Halverson, began to work toward removing the ban on homosexuals donating blood, which states that men who have had sex with men are permanently banned from donating. They gained the support of United Blood Services in their actions.[15]
In April 2010, Meg Sneed, Jimmy Gruender, Lee Walters, Luisa Valdez and Lonnie Allen Howard-Stidham refused to leave Senator McCain's office until McCain spoke with them about Howard-Stidham's 2007 discharge from the Coast Guard under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The five were arrested when they refused to leave.[16] [17]
In July 2010 Meg Sneed joined the national group GetEqual in Las Vegas to protest Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's inaction on bringing the Employment Non Discrimination Act to the Senate floor. Eight activists were arrested for shutting down the Las Vegas Strip for almost thirty minutes. Las Vegas Police stated that this is the first time in 15 years that a group has successfully shut down the Strip.[18] [19]
In September 2010 Meg Sneed and other members of H.E.R.O. interrupted a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Members of H.E.R.O. stood up in the middle of the hearing; where they invoked images of those who have stood in the way of civil rights progress in the past and demanded Senator McCain immediately end his threat to filibuster Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Activists held signs saying, "Senator McCain Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, Do You Want to Be the next George Wallace?" and "Senator McCain Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, It's Not Too Late to Change Your Legacy.[20] [21] [22]
In August 2012 The Right to Marry: Arizona officially was re branded as the Equality Walk. Meg Sneed lead the fifth year of the Equality Walk, and for the first time had two campaigns which covered the entire State of Arizona visiting 35 cities on foot.[23] [24] [25]
Awards
2011 Echo Magazine Readers' Choice Award "HEROIC Service by a Woman" [26] 2011 Phoenix Pride "grand marshal" [27]
City of Phoenix Martin Luther King "Living the Dream Award"[28]
Echo Magazine "2010 Woman of the Year" [29]
Echo Magazine "Hall of Fame" [29]
American University "Richard L. Schlegel Award for Visionary Leader" [30]
'N Touch Magazine "2009 Woman of the Year [31]
Writer
Meg is a columnist for Echo Magazine.[32] [33]
External links
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: "Right to Marry Arizona" - SoulForce . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414140700/http://www.soulforce.org/righttomarry . April 14, 2009 .
- Web site: 2006 Equality Rider: Meg Sneed - SoulForce . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090717081319/http://www.soulforce.org/article/1051 . July 17, 2009 .
- News: "Phoenix Lesbian to Walk Across Metro Area For LGBT Equality" - the Bilerico Project . Bilerico.com . 2008-08-08 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225024905/http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/phoenix_lesbian_to_walk_across_metro_are.php . 2012-02-25 . live .
- News: Lights out on lesbian's effort to join Coast Guard . Tucson Citizen . 2006-09-22 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070822233827/http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/27029.php . 2007-08-22 . live .
- News: Military rejects gay's enlistment try . AZCentral . 2013-12-05.
- Web site: Crawford . Amanda J. . 8 finish 96-mile walk to promote equal rights . Azcentral.com . 2008-08-17 . 2010-03-20.
- Web site: wwieder " A Different View 8/8/16 Open Mic . Wwieder.podbean.com . 2008-08-16 . 2010-03-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121210207/http://wwieder.podbean.com/2008/08/16/a-different-view-8816-open-mic/ . November 21, 2008 .
- Web site: Thompson . Peter . T Q&A | T Q&A . Tucson Weekly . 2010-03-20.
- Web site: Gay Youths Canvass Phoenix Against Prop. 102 | \ . Advocate.com . 2010-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081203125151/http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid60118.asp . 2008-12-03 . live .
- Web site: Right to Marry: Arizona . Righttomarryaz.org . 2010-03-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100307174354/http://www.righttomarryaz.org/ . 2010-03-07 .
- Web site: Optimistic lesbian's feet follow her heart . Creators . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203032108/http://www.creators.com/liberal/deb-price/optimistic-lesbian-s-feet-follow-her-heart.html . 2013-12-03 . dead .
- News: Gay supporters, activists vow to continue fight against Prop. 102 . AZCentral . 2013-12-05.
- Web site: Be A Hero . Be-a-hero.us . 2010-01-18 . 2010-03-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100324033932/http://www.be-a-hero.us/ . March 24, 2010 .
- Web site: Mankel . Geneve . "Huerilla Gay Bar Phoenix brings diversity to bars" - Metromix Phoenix . Phoenix.metromix.com . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120301180030/http://phoenix.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/guerrilla-gay-bar-phoenix/1241261/content . 2012-03-01 . live .
- News: "Equal Rights Group Calls FDA Ban Outdated" - Phoenix News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614054949/http://www.kpho.com/news/18767420/detail.html . June 14, 2011 .
- News: Joe Mirabella: Sit-In at McCain's AZ Office to Protest Don't Ask Don't Tell . Huffingtonpost.com . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160130161936/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.../sit-in-at-mccains-az-offi_b_552576.html . 2016-01-30 . live .
- Web site: http://www.azfamily.com/.../Group-arrested-outside-McCains-office-for-protesting-military-policy-92155374.html .
- News: Johnson . Chris . Choi, others arrested in Las Vegas after ENDA protest - Washington Blade - America's Leading Gay News Source : Washington Blade – America's Leading Gay News Source . Washington Blade . 2010-07-21 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131106104706/http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/07/21/choi-others-arrested-in-las-vegas-after-enda-protest/ . 2013-11-06 . live .
- Web site: GetEQUAL Stops Traffic on Vegas Strip, 8 Arrested . Wockner . Rex . July 21, 2010 . Windy City Times . July 15, 2021.
- News: Conant . Eve . Gay Advocates Take On McCain in D.C . Newsweek.com . 2010-09-16 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305000136/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/16/arizona-gay-advocates-take-on-mccain-in-washington.html . 2016-03-05 . live .
- News: Activists Target McCain at Senate Hearing . Advocate . September 16, 2010 . June 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101018231555/http://advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2010/09/16/Activists_Target_McCain_at_Senate_Hearing/ . 2010-10-18.
- Web site: Gay-rights groups protest McCain. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101024152910/http://www.congress.org/news/2010/09/16/gayrights_groups_protest_mccain. October 24, 2010. 2019-10-30.
- Web site: Equality Walk. dead. https://archive.today/20130121203618/http://www.echomag.com/archives/features/feature/equality.php. 2013-01-21. 2019-10-30.
- Web site: West Valley View. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102002137/http://www.westvalleyview.com/main.asp?SectionID=2. November 2, 2012. 2019-10-30.
- News: LGBTQ activist group walking 100 miles in Arizona to raise awareness. 2019-10-30.
- Web site: Echo Magazine April 14, 2011 Page 41 . Digital.publicationprinters.com . 2011-04-14 . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312002207/http://digital.publicationprinters.com/publication/index.php?i=66742&m=&l=&p=41&pre=&ver=flex . March 12, 2012 . live .
- Web site: Come Out for Phoenix Gay Pride April 16–17, 'Wonder Woman's' Lynda Carter, Uh Huh Her and More . Shewired . May 14, 2011 . June 22, 2023 . https://archive.today/20120709025846/http://editorial.shewired.com/events/come-out-phoenix-gay-pride-april-16-17-wonder-womans-lynda-carter-uh-huh-her-and-more . 2012-07-09.
- Web site: Current and Past Dr. Martin Luther King Living the Dream Award Winners . City of Phoenix . June 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201022010800/https://www.phoenix.gov/eod/commissions/humanrelations/mlkawards/mlk-living-dream-award-winners . October 22, 2020.
- Web site: Echo's Man and Woman of the Year . December 23, 2010 . Get Equal . June 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110803202214/http://getequal.org/2010/12/echos-man-and-woman-of-the-year/ . August 3, 2011.
- Web site: The Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100416185119/http://www.american.edu/ocl/glbta/The-Richard-L-Schlegel-National-Legion-of-Honor-Award.cfm. April 16, 2010. 2019-10-30.
- Community chooses 2009 'N Touch News Man and Woman of the Year . Luis Garcia . February 2010 . 22 . 'N Touch Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714210946/http://www.ntouchaz.com/-content/_archive/2010/NTOFeb10.pdf . July 14, 2011.
- Web site: "Walking Toward Equality" - EchoMag . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091010212053/http://www.echomag.com/opinion5.cfm . October 10, 2009 .
- Web site: Notes from the Gayborhood . Simplot . Tom . Echo Mag . June 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081026090610/http://www.echomag.com/lifestyle3.cfm . October 26, 2008.