Looking for a few local folks interested in volunteering with the NetRoots Nation conference on Wednesday, August 12 to help prepare welcome packets.  If you can help welcome 2,000+ progressive bloggers to Pittsburgh, please let me know. 

The Women and Girls Foundation is sponsoring a candlelight vigil tomorrow (Thursday).

The Women and Girls Foundation is organizing a candlelight vigil to be held in the portico of the City-County Building in Downtown, Pittsburgh, Thursday August 6th at 5:30pm to offer support and non-denominational prayers to the victims and families of the Collier Shooting.

?We are organizing this vigil so that we can join together as a community to send collective prayers to the families of the women who were killed and the women who are still in critical condition, as a result of this horrific and violent act against women,? said Executive Director Heather Arnet. ?From the murderer?s own blog and note, it is more than evident that the focus of his rage and violence was women. This vigil is intended to send strength and prayers to the families who are grieving and for those women and their families who are hoping to heal from this horrific event.?

All members of the community are encouraged and welcome to attend. Participating in the vigil will be representatives from the Women and Girls Foundation, local elected officials, the National Organization of Women, National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburghers Against Domestic Violence, local victims service agencies, and many other community organizations. All are welcome.

Also participating in the vigil will be members of Women and Girls Foundation?s Regional Change Agents, a diverse group of 15 teen girls and 15 adult women from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, who have come together to engage in civic advocacy in their communities to support women. The tragic events of Tuesday night have moved the Allegheny County team of Regional Change Agents to call attention to the inexcusable acts of violence against women within our community and beyond it.

Please help support WGF's efforts by passing this information to your friends and networks! For questions or more information, please contact WGF at 412.434.4883 or info@wgfpa.org .

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Well, here's some good news on what's been a sad day in Pittsburgh.  The Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced in the Senate (already introduced in the House.) 

Bettter news? Both PA Senators are co-sponsors of the legislation.

Even better?  The bill is trans-inclusive.

An Oregon lawmaker made history Wednesday by introducing a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. Senate, marking the first time ever that a trans-inclusive bill has been considered in that chamber of Congress.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, a first-term Democratic senator, told the Blade he?s sponsoring the legislation because ?it stems from core conviction? about his belief in fairness and equality.

?For me, one of the huge issues that I?ve cared a lot about is equality under the law and fairness to all Americans, and this was just a core part of the way I view the world,? he said.

Merkley said he was designated as the lead sponsor of ENDA because he championed a similar non-discrimination bill in Oregon as a lawmaker in the state House, as well as legislation enacting domestic partnerships in Oregon.

Progress, my friends.  Pennsylvania's Mike Doyle is cosponsoring the House version, but Jason Altmire's vote is uncertain.  Your continued calls to press for fairness and equality in the workplace are critical.