“It’s completely legal in Missouri to fire someone for being gay,” Aaron Malin, class of 2011, said.

In response to the discrimination, Malin, who now attends Truman State University, co-founded Missourians for Equality with his roommate. Missourians for Equality is a Missouri Political Action Committee (PAC) dedicated to fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. The PAC has 20 people on staff and more than 40 volunteers.

“The idea just popped into my head a year ago,” Malin said.

The organization has several goals: First, pass a nondiscrimination ordinance in Kirksville, Mo., through the city council. Second, pass a statewide ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity through the initiative petition procedure.

“We expect successful results on the Kirksville law,” Malin, executive director of Missourians for Equality, said. “Our odds are really good.”

According to the PAC’s website moforequality.org, the ordinance banning LGBT discrimination needs 150,000 signatures of registered Missouri voters to be on the ballot. The people of Missouri will vote directly on the law in November 2014 if Missourians for Equality gathers enough signatures.

“Gathering this many signatures is no easy task,” Malin said. “In terms of whether the measure would pass, it’s hard to guess because we’re two years away from when they would be on the ballot.”

Still, Malin is optimistic about the chances. Malin said nearly 70 percent of people in Missouri support civil unions. The organization has even received its first official endorsement from Missouri House Representative Zachary Wyatt (Republican).

“Numerous state legislature members of both parties have privately endorsed our ideas,” Malin said. “And they will likely publicly do so in the future. We are very proud that we’re a nonpartisan campaign.”

Malin said he welcomes anybody who wants to volunteer for the effort. Interested students can sign up at moforequality.org/volunteer.

“We have plenty of jobs for anyone, even if you’re under 18,” Malin said. “Everything from advertising to fundraising to collecting and validating signatures. We will need help from hundreds of volunteers, or we simply won’t succeed.”

Missourians for Equality, however, is not Malin’s first venture into equality-related issues. At MHS, Malin founded Marquette Diversity Alliance and organized a silent counter protest of 250 students around the flagpole against a Westboro Baptist Church event that occurred near campus in 2009.

Dennis Kane, debate coach, has known Malin for five years.

“He’s passionate about the things he believes in,” Kane said. “He’s big on fairness. He takes the initiative and people naturally follow him.”

At Truman, Malin continues to work on two diversity projects through student government: the addition of sexual orientation to the Truman nondiscrimination policy and allowing the same-sex partners of Truman staff to receive the same benefits as opposite-sex partners.

“I do all this because it’s the right thing to do,” Malin said.

Malin now spends 30-40 hours per week on the Missourians for Equality campaign. The setup of Missourians for Equality included registering through the Missouri Ethics Commission, getting a bank account, increasing the social media audience, expanding the staff and volunteers, and growing the number of field coordinators. He has been invited to speak at several conferences, and the organization has been a low-level sponsor of events such as gay pride festivals.

Malin said the issue of funding is always on the organization’s mind.

“On average, it costs $1 million to get something on the ballot,” Malin said. “And to pass a law, it costs about $3 million. It’s hugely expensive to mail and ship materials. Even the 40,000 sheets of paper we’ll need for the signatures will be a significant cost.”

Those interested in donating to the fight for nondiscrimination can do so at the website moforequality.org/donate. People can also buy merchandise to support the campaign.

Maddie Kaleel, class of 2012, joined the Missourians for Equality staff as the director of merchandising.

“We sell wristbands, bumper stickers, buttons,” Kaleel said. “We’ll soon be coming out with T-shirts.”

Kaleel plans to continue her work with the PAC as long as she is at Truman.

“I believe in the cause when it comes to preventing LGBT discrimination,” Kaleel said. “You shouldn’t be discriminated against for something that’s part of who you are.”

Kaleel said Malin is a great leader.

“He’s done a really great job of organizing this,” Kaleel said. “He rallies the troops. He has a great set plan. He reinforces our confidence. He makes sure things are happening. It’s impressive to watch.”

Blake Lowe, freshman, said he’s interested in the PAC and its efforts.

“LGBT discrimination occurs everywhere,” Lowe said. “And it shouldn’t. People should have their own say in what they want to do.”

Lowe said he would vote for the measures if he could.

“The fact that an alumnus founded this organization makes me proud,” Lowe said. “Because it makes me feel like the community I live in gives back.”