While we await more movement on LGBT issues from a Federal level, PROMO has been active throughout the year in Missouri to ensure equality happens here at home.

January 7 - The legislative session begins. MONA and Safe Schools are both introduced in the House with a record number of co-sponsors.

February - Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford is denied appointment to the Children and Families Committee. Subsequently, Speaker Richard and Rep. Cynthia Davis are presented with over 300 letters saying "Thank You" for showing Missouri exactly what discrimination looks like.

February 25 - MONA gets its first hearing in 8 years in the Senate.

March 25 - Equality Day at the Capitol takes place with over 200 attendees. Over 300 additional folks flooded the switchboards of the Capitol.

April - The Kansas City Police Commissioners vote to drop Domestic Partner Benefits. PROMO, along with a coalition of groups begin meeting to reinstate the benefits. After benefits are reinstated, the discussion continues to see how we can affect health care coverage in the state for all companies offering Domestic Partner Benefits.

April 6 - Columbia City Council votes unanimously in favor of a Domestic Partner Registry.

May 12 - The Missouri House votes 67-91, on an amendment including Safe Schools anti-bullying language. This is the first vote on Safe Schools ever in the House and was along party lines.

June - Attorney General Chris Koster appoints Joan Gummels as LGBT Liaison within the newly created Civil Rights Enforcement Division. This is the first time a statewide liaison position has been established for our community. PROMO has been meeting with Gummels on a monthly basis to discuss progress on issues affecting our community and the AG office.

June 23 - Sen. Claire McCaskill makes an unfortunate comparison between concealed carry issues and gay marriage. PROMO logged over 500+ calls and e-mails to McCaskill's DC office. This lead to a longer dialogue with staff firming up her public position on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) and Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT).

July 27 - Alderman Shane Cohn sponsors and Saint Louis City Mayor Francis Slay signs a new ordinance requiring municipal works contracts over $1 million to carry a nondiscrimination clause inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity.

July 30 - August 2 - PROMO host the Equality Federation Meeting, at which over 150 state and national equality organizations convene annually to strategize. PROMO Executive Director, AJ Bockelman facilitates a conversation with Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement for the Obama White House.

August - Missouri Housing Development Commission, under the leadership of PROMO PAC endorsed Treasurer Clint Zweifel, votes to add sexual orientation protections to funding requirements on housing projects.

September - Centralia, home of one of the few out transgender elected officials in the country, takes up debate on a nondiscrimination ordinance (this vote is still pending and will potentially be decided in December).

September 8 - Springfield City Council votes to remove an outdated anti-flirting ordinance. This sets the stage for a potential nondiscrimination ordinance in 2010.

October - Attorney General Chris Koster signs on to a national request from Attorneys General from around the country asking for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act to remain a part of the Defense Authorization Act.

November 3 - PROMO PAC endorsed candidate Stacey Newman wins her bid to be the next State Representative in House District 73.

December 1 - Governor Jay Nixon issues a Governor's Proclamation in support of World AIDS Day activities. This is an outcome from the PROMO Public Policy Project- the first of many to come.