We shared with you that this was going to happen in our Actions section, and here is the video to prove it. Thanks to Alan, Gabrielle, Justin, Jake and others of QueerRising for taking their activism, and that of the LGBT movement to the next level. I was honestly moved to tears, and I hope you are also touched by the bravery of these activists for full equality. Chant with them: “I am somebody who deserves full equality. Right here. Right now.”
Thanks for the update from JoeMyGod regarding the court hearing on Friday that charges were dismissed for the four that were arrested for chaining themselves to the front door.
Four members of the group Queer Rising, a group which advocates for civil rights for the LGBT community accepted pleas of ‘adjournment contemplating dismissal’ (ACD) today from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The individuals were charged with Obstructing Government Administration as well as two charges of Disorderly Conduct for chaining themselves together in front of the New York City Marriage License Bureau on February 12, 2010, in attempt to bring attention to the fact that the office denies LGBT New Yorkers the opportunity to file for marriage certificates. Justin Elzie, Alan Bounville, Gabriel Yuri Bollag and Jake Goodman accepted the offer which would allow them to dismiss all charges after 6 months assuming they are not arrested again during this time. Ted Bohn, co-counsel for the defendants, said “As long as the State of New York maintains a policy which codifies that the love between two men or two women is inferior to the love between a man and a woman, these actions will continue. This was only the beginning. We are grateful, however, to Cy Vance for recognizing that those arrested in furtherance of civil rights should not be treated like criminals.”
1. Our National Organizations and the LGBT community and its allies should demand that President Obama immediately issue a ’stop-loss’ order. “The No Excuses” campaign means no excuses from our national organizations as well and they must take a tough and uncompromising line with the President on this ’stop-loss’ order. This action can be done tomorrow by the President.
2. LGBT organizations and activists should target Congressional leadership and demand an amendment to the “Defense Authorization Bill” and repeal DADT this year.
3. If they fail to respond to lobbying and pleas from our community we should stage sit-ins at Congressional Leadership offices until there is a vote. Under no circumstances should we wait for another year for a worse Congress for a vote.
I’m down with #1, #2, and #3. Tick-Tock. Now it’s time to get busy.
Thanks to Activist Jim Lassiter from Garden State Equality for putting together this great video. We love it when our straight allies Act on Principles, and expect their elected representatives to do the same!
