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 New York City Activists are staging a daily vigil asking for one of our heroes, Sen Gillibrand to file the American Equality Bill. They are asking you to call her campaign office at 212-481-2010. These brave activists are on the front edge of the movement, and deserve our support. Watch a Granny Peace Brigade activist show you how it is done.
 Today, I heard about 3 – THREE – young gay men murdered by homophobia in America. http://www.queerty.com/shock-gay-texas-13-year-old-asher-brown-shoots-himself-in-the-head-after-horrific-school-torment-20100928/ http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2010/09/gay-teen-dies-after-10-days-on-life-support-following-suicide-attempt-over-anti-gay-bullying/ http://abcnews.go.com/US/victim-secret-dorm-sex-tape-commits-suicide/story?id=11758716 So I believe we need to have a nationwide “Homophobia-Kills Die-IN” – that demands full federal civil rights protections immediately. The Civil Rights Act is what turned the tide on racism and related deaths and suffering. It will do the same thing for homophobia. And pushing for that will FORCE the conversation about Homophobia that DADT and ENDA could NEVER(and frankly – were designed to avoid). For 3 days in a row – we have had a homophobia-kills die-in in front of Gillibrand’s campaign office – for this exact reason.
HOMOPHOBIA KILLS. Yet NO ONE is taking about it. And NOTHING we’re debating or pushing for as a movement even touches the topic. EQUAL civil rights DOES – because homophobia is the reason we have been pushed away from those laws. Homophobia is STILL being allowed to exist in groups like the NAACP that has yet to support our inclusion in those laws. And homophobia is the reason our youth are killing themselves and being taunted to death. Homophobia is why our community has yet to even demand its own dignity under the Civil Rights Act. YET ENDA and DADT DO NOT EVEN GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS HOMOPHOBIA AS A NATION and nether does the Safe Schools agenda – because they are NOT BIG ENOUGH. And they do NOT THREATEN the homophobia front and center in our nation’s non-discrimination laws, hearts and political organizations. In fact ENDA – is apart from those non-discrimination laws – PRECISELY BECAUSE HOMOPHOBIA says we can not touch our own American civil rights laws – and our own movement has accepted that answer! This is how homophobia affects its vicitms – it robs them of their own sense of entitlement, of their true since of dignity. EVERDAY it is allowed to perpetuate. There is but ONE CAUSE of our suffering and that is HOMOPHOBIA, and there is only ONE LAW that will reject Homophobia – which is still sanctioned by our government’s failure to outlaw it. That law is the Civil Right Act – America’s non-discrimination law. This is the law that says: you are equal and entitled to full equal protection of the laws. This is the law that says homophobia is unacceptable. Until we call the question on homophobia at the root of all wrongs against us – we are avoiding the issue. As long as we avoid the issue, more children will die. It’s that simple. Homophobia KILLS. How much longer must we wait? The answer is right in front of us and so obvious it is obscene that we are not yet demanding it.
But I’M IN SHOCK – that Richard Socarides is the first to undermine publicly the push for LGBTQ Civil Rights! Didn’t he work in the White House under Clinton – that resulted in DADT and DOMA? http://dnainfo.com/20100927/chelsea-hells-kitchen/gay-activists-demand-sen-gillibrand-help-amend-civil-rights-act The GOOD NEWS was that we met TWICE with Gillibrand’s staff – and her Campaign Manager Sarah Benzing invited us to use the facilities (bathrooms) as we needed, and took time to really listen to the argument for filing the American Equality Bill. It’s not all about our legislative strategy – its about a movement strategy. We DESERVE a bill that is WORTHY of our DIGNITY – that says we are equals and deserving of EQUAL RESPECT to organize around. She got it – and said she’s going to put us in contact with SENIOR STAFF in Gillibrand’s Senate Office. ONE DAY – and we’re further along than we were. She also said she FULLY RESPECTS our vigil and taking action. Of course gay people continue to be the biggest hurdle, not only with resistance, but with out-right INTERFERENCE. It’s NO WONDER with the experts crawling out of the wood work – who failed for decades to even put our civil rights in play – that we are where we are. We are our own worst enemy. Lead, follow or get out of the way Socarides. Didn’t our cause suffer enough damage under Clinton? What exactly is your basis for being a know-it-all now? What are you doing for our civil rights? IF YOU support the AEB and our effort. NOW IS THE TIME TO START TO SPEAK UP. Obviously some gay people don’t really care if we ever get Equal Civil Rights – and they are proud of speaking up! WE NEED YOUR VOICE NOW WHEN IT MATTERS!
HERE IS THE REPOSTED ARTICLE, quoting Socarides: DNAinfo Reporter/Producer CHELSEA — Ten days after Lady Gaga tried to enlist Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the fight against “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” gay activists are petitioning the junior senator from New York to help them amend the Civil Rights Act. On Monday, members of the Queer SOS! action campaign started a vigil outside Gillibrand’s Manhattan campaign headquarters, at 15 W. 26th Street, that will continue indefinitely from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The group wants to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity If Gillibrand has not pushed for a bill by Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, the activists plan to extend their vigil to 24 hours a day. If there is no movement by Nov. 2, election day, some of the activists say they will institute a water-only fast. Nearly a year ago, Gillibrand told the gay website Towelroad.com that adding gay men and women to the Civil Rights Act would “certainly [be] worth fighting for.” “We have to hold people accountable to what they say they’ll do,” said campaign facilitator and Inwood resident Todd Fernandez, part of a coalition supporting the American Equality Bill, a six-page document authored by activists. But Richard Socarides, a Chelsea-based gay and lesbian civil rights attorney and former White House adviser on gay rights to President Bill Clinton, said Gillibrand should be afforded the time necessary to draft her own version of such a bill, with an eye toward gathering the greatest possible number of congressional co-sponsors. “This is a relatively new idea that she has championed. You can count on one hand the number of members of the Senate that support this idea, ” said Socarides. “Senator Gillibrand has been probably our strongest advocate for gay and lesbian civil rights in the entire federal government. I think we’re very lucky to have her in New York working on these issues.” Standing in the rain Monday, the handful of activists that turned up outside the senator’s office stressed that there overtures to Gillibrand were meant to be friendly, especially after she showed her support for marriage equality and the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” “We’re here saying, we know you understand, we know you’re listening,” said activist and Queens resident Iana DiBorna, 30. “Start moving.” A spokesperson for Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign declined to comment.
For immediate release (9/27/10). Today, Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, NYC activists will commence a daily vigil Standing OutSide of Senator Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 W. 26th Street, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. to urge the Senator to take action for LGBTQ inclusion in the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The demand is that Gillibrand file a bill to start this process called The American Equality Bill (AEB) which would add “sexual orientation & gender identity” (SO+GI) to all U.S. nondiscrimination laws, consistent with her campaign platform announced last October, 2009 (http://bit.ly/GillibrandCRAoct09). The AEB was created by veteran activists Karen Doering, Esq. and Juan Ahonen-Jover, Ph.D., and is supported by www.equalitygiving.org and www.actonprinciples.org, as well as grassroots activists around the country. “We need a bill worthy of our dignity to organize around and we will wait no longer,” said Iana DiBona a lead SOS! organizer. “It’s been 46 years since the ’64 CRA passed, how long must we wait to start the process?” Activists maintain that it is long-past time that our community demand equal inclusion in the 1964 laws that protect everyone else in American from discrimination. It was after all, Bayard Rustin, a black gay hero who helped lead the black civil rights movement and created the March on Washington where MLK gave his Dream Speech, almost 50 years ago. “In ’64, we were shoved aside and Mr. Rustin’s civil rights and ‘sexual orientation’ were excluded from America’s non-discrimination laws,” said Todd (Tif) Fernandez, the Campaign Facilitator for The AEB Project (on FB at http://bit.ly/AEBnow). “Our time has come, our dignity demands it.” The action – called THE QUEER SOS! – will involve sentries Standing OutSide Gillibrand’s office every day, all day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) until the bill is filed. If no action is taken, on October 11th – National Coming Out Day – the vigil will go around the clock (24/7), and, as of Nov. 2nd, some members will begin a water-only fast to demonstrate the urgency. Each day at noon there will be a “Homophobia Kills Die-In” to bring attention to the fact that LGBTQ people commit suicide or are killed regularly due to this country’s on-going sanction of homophobia. “Homophobia kills,” said Alan Bounville, a founding member of Queer Rising NYC, “and each day that Congress fails to include us in the Civil Rights Act they are complicit with more of these deaths.” The Queer SOS! daily vigil and community commune will feature art, music performances and friendship, amidst steady activism. See the schedule at www.queersos.com, or just come by. PERFOMERS and ACTIVISTS can sign up for sentry duty, or to perform by emailing [email protected], or at www.queersos.com – or just show up – 15 W. 26th Street/Broadway. Follow The QUEER SOS! – on FB & Twitter. NOTE: The AEB Project is all grassroots, all volunteer. The AEB adds SO+GI (sexual orientation and gender identity) to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, giving full and equal federal non-discrimination/civil rights protections to over 30 million LGBTQ Americans in every state with one bill – covering housing, employment, credit, public places, gov’t buildings (including schools), and all federally funded programs (like HIV and health programs, homeless youth, adoption, etc.) (see bill and FAQ at: www.queersos.com).
 Coalitions are important, but not ones lacking a proper foundation or legitimate principles So far One Nation Working Together (ONWT) and the NAACP – and the Oct. 2nd March – DO NOT clearly support our EQUAL inclusion in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and this is a problem of principle. So why is this all being railroaded along as it is? For the march event, One Nation should have said this is a March-Coalition, rather than come out presenting ONWT like a permanent thing, buy-in for which has to come up front, before important questions are asked and answered. Meanwhile our community just announces their participation – our participation – with no true understanding of what is expected going forward or how we got to be once again following the bouncing ball (as we did following the Nat. Equality March, which was great, but ended in an organizational nightmare with Equality Across America). So we can support going to D.C. hopefully, without swallowing the whole premise of ONWT as a new liberal coalition “as is.” I hope this is so, but it appears that any criticism of anything “liberal” is obviously cause for a scorched earth policy for some. But before this becomes yet another run away train stealing focus without accountability, I personally intend to push up front and immediately, One Nation to stand up for full and equal civil rights – rights the lead organizers of this coalition have long enjoyed. I’ve been pushing for coalition building in the LGBTQ movement for some time and I do a lot of coalition work for UAFA with the New York Immigration Coalition. So I support the idea strongly. It’s critical. Clearly we should have created an LGBT coalition already. But as it is, we don’t have one, and so we’re joining this one, not as a block with power, but as individuals and groups, in a much less powerful position, each chasing coalition partners and status connections, but not as equals, and not on principles so far. Coalition building for the sake of coalition building is not a principle, it is an action. Who knows – maybe this will be the back-end way our coalitions are formed….but so far, the model is very messed up (top down, no process). And worst of all, it is unprincipled because it fails to include our equal civil rights up front, which is of course a foundation for any mutual respect. So for HRC, the Task Force and GetEqual to gleefully enter into coalition – a liberal coalition for justice no less – without demanding that our FULL CIVIL RIGHTS be on the table UP FRONT, is in my opinion an abdication of their responsibility. It’s fine for a March team, but not for a coalition as fully established as ONWT clearly is. If the others truly want us at this table – which they sincerely seem to – NOW is the time to negotiate our standing – going in. We should not have to RUSH this because of a March or an election. Given the vague platform – if these groups can’t even say we deserve equal protection under the CRA that is 46 years old – and as a result, put racism in its place to the point we this Country elected a mixed-race President – then we are starting in 1964 with this accord, not 2010. That is not a coalition for justice – it is a coalition for GOTV for November. We should be clear about this. Don’t forget Bayard Rustin was a leading part of the coalition that created the CRA with the NAACP – and his rights were shoved aside in 1964. This is not the first coalition or the first time these groups have met. We should not be starting at zero on a question of basic equality. If that’s where things are – then we should take a respectful step back, and should already be qualifying our participation accordingly (and selling it appropriately to our own community at least!!). Doing otherwise continues to enabled these groups to fail to live up to their own standards. It also continues to make pansies of our movement, and to send the wrong message to our community about our own entitlement to respect from ANY and ALL coalition partners. Consistent with this, the AEB will demand the respect first – before making common cause – not after. Here’s our follow up letter to NAACP on this matter: http://www.actonprinciples.org/2010/09/24/letter-to-naacp-seeking-support-for-aeb-equal-lgbt-civil-rights-now/ I should add that before asking the questions of Mr. Jealous at the One Nation event last week, we had told them about the AEB months ago, and days before alerted them to the question we were going to ask this question at the meeting. I was shocked he was not prepared for it. I get that this is a fragile step forward for the NAACP. But that is no excuse for our own people to be apologists, and particularly no excuse to attack activists who do hold them accountable to the standards some are ignoring. Generally, we can’t continue to simply believe in what we do, we have to start asking why we do it. If we are doing it for dignity, then we need to act consistently with that. Tif p.s. The video posted by One Nation staff offering the allegedly accurate picture of Mr. Jealous’ speech to the LGTQ NYC community http://vimeo.com/15268281 has CUT OUT the questions from Liz Abzug (the daughter of Bella Abzug – they cut the first part of her question where she talks about this and the 1974 Bill her mother filed to add us to the Civil Rights Act), Alan Bounville and Todd Fernandez, along with the most frustrating parts of Mr. Jealous’ answer about using “crumbs to make loafs” and joking about the “fears of civil rights lawyers” being an excuse for not including us. This makes it a highly unrepresentative presentation on this HISTORIC moment. Compare theirs to ours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcsuU1QNCSg At a minimum, One Nation should release the entire video unedited. This is OUR history and we deserve to have a copy. p.p.s. So far bloggers like Pam Spaulding have buried the entire topic, touting the historic nature of the event, rather than its deep limitations, and THREE major questions on the 1964 Civil Rights Act. http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/17438/naacps-ben-jealous-visits-manhattans-lgbt-community-center-promotes-one-nation-working-together
[On Wed, NAACP President Ben Jealous promised to consider our inclusion in the 1964 CRA. Today, his office invited us to write to set up a follow up. This is that email. Feel free to send your own, or call 410-580-5600 to ask for their support. But please be polite!] Hello Wendy, It was nice to talking with you. As you suggested, I am writing to set up a time to talk by phone with Mr. Jealous to follow up on our conversation of Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, at the LGBT Center in NYC. Our question is simple: Does the NAACP support the addition of “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the 1964 Civil Rights Act (Titles, 2, 6, 7 & 8)? As you know, Bayard Rustin, a gay hero, was part of the coalition and leadership team that secured this law, though at the time his civil rights were set aside and “sexual orientation” excluded due to societal homophobia. Forty-six years later, we still do not have basic civil rights protections for 30 million LGBTQ people in America, and it is not yet even on the table, despite having a mixed-race President, himself a living tribute to the dignity and social ethics afforded under those laws. Sadly, our own community has also embraced a 2nd class strategy seeking peace meal protections like ENDA, which rather than include us in Title 7 employment non-discrimination laws that protect everyone else, offers our community a parallel system, like the CRA, but separate, like a separate water fountain for the gays. This strategy of ’separate but almost equal’ emerged in 1994, largely because we were allegedly told then, and supposedly continue to be told by groups that already enjoy the CRA protections, that we are not welcomed to that law. The excuse given is some generalized fear that any bill to include us would open the CRA to hostile amendments that might affect the coverage enjoyed by so many for so long. Obviously, such fears can not justify our exclusion any longer. There is a proposed bill called The American Equality Bill (AEB) created by long-standing members of our movement, Karen Doering, former Senior Counsel of the Nat. Center for Lesbian Rights, and Juan Ahonen-Jovare, Ph.D, co-founder of www.EqualityGiving.org and former chair of board the Nat. Gay & Lesbian Task Force. The six-page bill is drafted with surgical precision to add “sexual orientation and gender identity” along side “race, color, sex, national origin and religion” and does not otherwise touch any substantive provisions of those laws. Clearly these traits – which go to the core of everyone’s being – straight, gay, male, female, and along the continuum – should be included in this context in order to protect our fundamental human right to exist as we are, safely and with the dignity that only equal protection of the non-discrimination laws affords. This effort is being championed by The AEB Project, an all grassroots, all volunteer effort, for which I donate my time as the Campaign Facilitator. The AEB Project is determined to get our Equal Civil Rights to the forefront of the national agenda immediately and we are commencing a daily vigil in NYC on Monday until the bill is filed to advance this conversation. If no action is taken by November 2nd, our members will commence a fast. With this great urgency, at this point, we feel the conversations need to happen internally within each organization and an answer given quickly. Like the righteous protection of the CRA of late, we feel the same degree of incredulousness at the suggestion we should have to wait another minute to be included. The NAACP, of course, is a linchpin in this discussion and unfortunately, the first excuse everyone gives as to why we should not file this bill. And while we concede no gatekeeper to our human rights, we look forward to talking with Mr. Jealous about it and getting the NAACP’s position clearly on the record as soon as possible. We are also talking to NOW and the ACLU (via the NYCLU), but nothing can replace the NAACP’s leadership on this front. If, in short order, we can get commitments from all three organizations for this idea (and hopefully the specific bill) we will finally see the dream MLK promised this country, and owed to Bayard Rustin, opened to our people. Almost 50 years later, too much time has passed and justice for our community has been too long delayed and denied. We look forward to taking bold steps together soon. Thank you, J. Todd (Tif) Fernandez, JD, LLM The Draft Bill language is attached and available at: http://bit.ly/AEBsponsorshipDraftJuly4 Project Originator: www.equalitygiving.org. AEB Public Whip Count: www.actonprinciples.org Gay & Lesbian Review Article: http://bit.ly/AEBglreview
CALL NAACP 410-580-5600 FULL REPORT FOLLOWS (9/22/10, NYC) Last night, NAACP President Ben Jealous made that group’s first appearance in history at the NYC LGBT Community Center, dedicating his speech to Bayard Rustin, the gay hero of the black civil rights movement. But in 1964 when the Civil Rights Act passed, Mr. Rustin’s rights were pushed aside by the NAACP and his “sexual orientation” was excluded from protections under the non-discrimination law he helped orchestrate. Forty-six years later, the NAACP is still denying that dream to the LGBTQ community. In this video, watch Mr. Jealous struggle and fail to answer one simple question: Does the NAACP support the addition of “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the 1964 Civil Rights Act? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcsuU1QNCSg Offering “crumbs to make bread,” he could not escape the topic from Queer SOS! activists, Todd (Tif) Fernandez and Alan Bounville – as well as Liz Abzug, the daughter of famous Congresswoman Bella Abzug, who co-filed the first bill ever to add “sexual orientation” to the CRA in 1974 — a bill that died without NAACP support. How can it be in 2010 that the NAACP – a self proclaimed leader on civil rights for ALL – still does not believe we are equal? How can they deny us the dream of full and equal protection under the laws that enabled Barack Obama to become President? WHEN do our CHILDREN get to have that DREAM? WHEN will the NAACP support EQUAL LGBTQ CIVIL RIGHTS? CALL THEM AND ASK: 410-580-5600 (The QUEER SOS! demands the immediate filing of The American Equality Bill, one bill to add SO+GI (sexual orientation & gender identity) to the 1964 Civil Rights Act NOW! www.queersos.com; http://bit.ly/queerSOSfb
Bringing urgency to the call for equality now, activists in New York City will begin a daily vigil on September 27, 2010 outside of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 W. 26th Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, demanding she introduce the American Equality Bill in the U.S. Senate. Absent action, on October 11th the vigil will go around-the-clock, and on Election Day, November, 2, 2010, a fast will begin. The American Equality Bill (AEB) adds “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the 1964 Civil Rights Act (CRA), The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and fixes discriminatory language in the American With Disabilities Act. In one motion, this simple six-page bill makes non-discrimination against LGBTQ people, as well as heterosexual and gender conforming people, the law of the land. The AEB was written by Karen Doering, former Senior Counsel for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, working with Juan Ahonen-Jover, Ph.D., co-founder of EqualityGiving.org and former National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Board chair. It has the backing of grassroots activists across the country, support from www.EqualityGiving.org and www.ActOnPrinciples.org, and was tightly drafted to garner ally support. It is time to file it and start the clock. “We need a bill worthy of our dignity to organize around and we will wait no longer,” said Iana DiBona a lead SOS! organizer. “It’s been 46 years since the ’64 CRA passed that protects every other American from discrimination. It’s outrageous that 30 million LGBTQ people are not protected and can’t even get a bill filed to start the process.” The focus in New York City is around Senator Gillibrand due to her long-standing platform that put LGBTQ inclusion in the CRA in play back in October 2009 (http://bit.ly/GillibrandCRAoct09). The SOS! activists point out that she has already shown the leadership of a veteran Senator for the LGBTQ cause, and now they need her help to get full LGBTQ civil rights to the front of the national agenda where it belongs. Looking beyond politics, the urgency is real to these activists who point to the regular murders and suicides of LGBTQ people living in the U.S. – a country where homophobia is still sanctioned by federal policy. “Homophobia kills,” said Alan Bounville, a founding member of Queer Rising NYC, “and each day that Congress fails to include us in the Civil Rights Act they are complicit with more of these deaths.” Today, the ’64 Civil Rights Act has transcended the law to become a statement of dignity for the groups it protects from discrimination. Structured already to cover traits core to our being — race, color, sex, national origin and religion – this iconic law has come to fulfill the promise of human rights itself in America. Clearly, sexual orientation and gender identity belong in this context. On a more practical level, the CRA functions like a blanket non-discrimination insurance policy covering vast areas of public life, from housing and employment, to all public places, government facilities (including schools), access to credit, and antidiscrimination in all federally funded programs (reaching into health programs, adoption agencies, homeless youth, etc.). We obviously deserve equal coverage. “These laws protect our right to exist in society as who we are, which is an inalienable human right,” said Todd (Tif) Fernandez, the Campaign Facilitator for The American Equality Bill (AEB) Project and a human rights lawyer. “In real terms, by outlawing race discrimination with these laws America provided the ethical influence that allowed a young Barack Obama to dream of becoming President. Assuming LGBTQ children deserve the same opportunity, as surely they do, it is time to file and pass this bill.” The Queer SOS! daily vigil and community commune will feature art, music and friendship, amidst steady activism, as well as a daily “Homophobia Kills Die-In” at noon, and other exciting talented performances. To see scheduled performers, volunteer to perform, to stand vigil, or to join preparations for the fast, go to www.queersos.com or email: [email protected] – or just show up. All creativity and spiritualities are welcome. Let’s get this party started! The AEB PROJECT is all grassroots and all volunteer. On FB at http://bit.ly/AEBnow The QUEER SOS!: www.queersos.com (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter: Queer SOS). The QUEER SOS! Posters (print & post): http://bit.ly/QueerSOSnycPoster The Draft AEB language (read it): http://bit.ly/AEBsponsorshipDraftJuly4 Project Originator (thank you): www.equalitygiving.org AEB Public Whip Count (get sponsors): www.actonprinciples.org “Please File the AEB” Flyer (fax it, mail it): http://bit.ly/AEBposters Gay & Lesbian Review (share it): http://bit.ly/AEBglreview MEDIA CONTACT: Iana DiBona – 718-309-8598; [email protected] ###
Why do they seem to fit together in the same news clip so comfortably? Does anyone else think the Dream Act and DADT votes were designed to do anything other than piss off (and thus energize) the LGBTQ and Immigration communities? Trying not to be cynical… but failing. I feel like a sling-shot.
From The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network: The final hour has arrived. Today at 2:15 PM ET, the full Senate will determine whether “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal will move forward this year. For repeal to happen, we need 60 votes to break Senator John McCain (R-AZ)’s expected filibuster. All supporters must call their senators now. Call both your senators at the Capitol switchboard right now and urge them to vote to end the filibuster and move on to a real debate on the Defense bill. (202) 224-3121 These senators are currently uncommitted on breaking the filibuster and particularly need to hear from us today: –Susan Collins (R-ME); Don’t let opponents of open service hold up critical funding for our troops and prospects for repeal. Supporters of open service must make their voices heard today. If you have already called your senators, call both of them again. Call the Capitol switchboard and tell both your senators to follow the lead of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) to stop the filibuster and begin debating passage of the Defense bill. (202) 224-3121 Speak up for all our service members today and spread the word to your friends: www.sldn.org/gaga We are almost out of time to contact senators before the vote today. We must call now. Thank you. Aubrey Sarvis Please pass this on and spread the word! www.sldn.org/gaga
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Rushing to get out for the QUEER SOS – Day 2. So this fast.
(What really pisses me off, is that we reached out to Socarides months ago, and more recently, and he’s probably NEVER even read the bill he’s so quick to criticize and he’s never talked directly to us about it!!).
The Queer SOS! to Senator Gillibrand: Help Put Us In the 1964 Civil Rights Act! (BY FILING THE AMERICAN EQUALITY BILL NOW)
