How to Set-Up a Meeting with Your Legislator

The most effective way to influence your legislators is by meeting with them face-to-face!

First, you need to find out who your State Representative and State Senator is:

Click on the “Find Your Legislator” link on Equality Advocates website, http://equalitypa.org. When you enter your address, the site will provide all of your legislators’ names.

For state legislators, click on the state link and then click on the name of your state representative’s name. The next page provides their contact information.

Now that you know who represents you in Harrisburg, you need to call them to set-up a meeting to discuss either non-discrimination legislation or the Marriage Protection Amendment.

To schedule a local appointment, call the district office phone number. To schedule a capitol appointment, call the Harrisburg office. When legislators are not in session, it is usually easiest to schedule an appointment in their district office.

When you make the call, ask for your legislator’s scheduler. Be prepared to give the scheduler a bill number or the name of the legislation or issue you would like to discuss with your legislator. For example, “I would like to meet with Representative Smith to discuss supporting House Bill 1400, a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination,” or “I would like to meet with Senator Smith to discuss Senate Bill 1250, the ‘Marriage Protection Amendment.’”

The scheduler will try to find a time that is convenient for both you and the legislator. Please be flexible when you try to schedule an appointment. Legislators have many meetings and their availability may be limited – remember to be polite, but persistent about scheduling a meeting.

Prior to attending the meeting, you can review talking points on the bill which can be downloaded from the front-page of our website. If you want to discuss the meeting further, just call Jake at (215) 731-1447 ext. 14.

Good luck and remember, the legislator is your elected official and works for you!