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   Fasting on Thanksgiving is not a new idea, but it is a powerful one. The day most people look forward to as a celebration of abundance, becomes a day of protest for those who have not. In this case, over 100 people have committed to not eating tomorrow, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., while joining family and friends to discuss the human rights atrocity that leaves 30 million Americans without. Without basic human rights protections. In taking this stand for humanity, for the decent treatment of all people, and for an end to discrimination of all kinds, these activists are being the force of change that will one day see these dreams come true. For this, the American Equality Bill Project gives its thanks to the activists leading the way. Thanks be to you. To see the activists involved, or to join this action, please see:
Tell the Senate to Pass DADT Repeal NOW! Thursday is Veterans Day. Call, Fax, Email, and send postal mail to your US Representative and two Senators today, and again tomorrow. In addition to DADT Repeal, also ask for a repeal of DOMA, and passage of ENDA and UAFA, and introduction of The American Equality Bill AEB for Civil Rights equality during the lame duck session. Then pass this on. This is a list of key Senators. Please call them if you are one of their constituents. Please feel free to share this event with others who are willing to step up and do their part. Call your senator and thank them if they support repeal. –Harry Reid (D-NV); (202) 224-3542 –Carl Levin (D-MI); (202) 224-6221…–Susan Collins (R-ME); (202) 224-2523 –Olympia Snowe (R-ME); (202) 224-5344 –Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); (202) 224-2353 –Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark); (202) 224-4843 –Richard Lugar (R-IN); (202) 224-4814 –Judd Gregg (R-NH); (202) 224-3324 –Scott Brown (R-MA) (202) 224-4543 –George Voinovich (R-OH); (202) 224-3353 –Kit Bond (R-MO); (202) 224-5721 –Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); (202) 224-6665 –The Senate Switch Board (202) 224-3121 THE MESSAGE FROM REPEAL ADVOCATES TO REID, LEVIN, GATES, OBAMA: –“Call the defense bill up in a bipartisan way to bring on a handful of Republicans who we will need to pass the bill. –“Every day that goes by with silence from the President and Majority Leader Harry Reid makes repeal tougher. –“The senate must call up the defense bill as reported out of committee and pass it before it goes home for the year. –“If the President, Majority Leader Reid, Secretary Gates, and a handful of Republican senators are committed to passing the comprehensive defense bill, there is ample time to do so. It is absolutely essential that we contact Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and the White House to let them know how important this is. Senator Reid’s number is 202-224-3542. The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414. The White House also has a comment line at 202-456-1111. Thursday is Veterans Day. Think of the service members who are required to serve in silence. Think of their families and loved ones who have to live in the shadows simply because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Does it make any sense to you that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is still a law in the USA – the land of the free and home of the brave? Take further action here: http://www.sldn.org/action
While we may not personally sanction this tactic, or the independence of this one activist in pushing the agenda this way, there is no disputing the urgent nature of our plight as 2 gay youth die daily, the failure of our movement to address homophobia and transphobia directly by seeking full non-discrimination protections, and the legitimacy of this demand for EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS NOW! In short, there is NO EXCUSE for not filng the American Equality Bill. Of course generally STRATEGY is very important, but we can NOT control it or think that only ONE strategy will carry the day. Obviously, as it stands, our movement strategy so far has failed, and the hubris that any one of us or any group has the perfect approach is out-dated and unhelpful. THE CIVIL RIGHTS FAST So, while I do not think the Civil Rights Fast was pursued with proper collaborative spirit or openness, I am nevertheless prodded by this action to ACT TODAY on the potential presented. As such, today The AEB PROJECT has sent each of the FOUR gay and lesbian Congressional Representatives a letter asking them to commit to filing the AEB and to helping to end the fast. Only ONE of them needs to commit and EACH of them has a duty to do so. Until we have a public and coordinated coalition strategy, and even after, we MUST PUSH THE ENVELOPE in every way imagainable, and sometimes that means we MUST FOLLOW others. In this spirit, for our ultimate DIGNITY and EQUALITY, please foward this letter, or one of your own, to the contacts below and let’s help END ALAN’S FAST and JUMP START OUR CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. LETTER TO GAY & LESBIAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION (copy and email): Dear Representative Barney Frank, First, congratulations on your elections! We need you more than ever! Today we face an historic turning point for our movement, one that requires vision beyond political pragmatism and leadership beyond Congressional politics. Today we ask of each of you to please file The American Equailty Bill to add “sexual orientation and gender identity” (SO+GI) to the 1964 Civil Rights Act (Titles 2, 3, 6, 7 & 8), and related laws. The filing of this bill will represent an historic statement of dignity for our people and our cause. It will at long last launch our Civil Rights movement. With its filing, we will say to America: WE ARE EQUAL and we DEMAND that we be treated so under all of America’s non-discrimination laws. It will say the same to our own community, too long relegated to begging for slices of 2nd rate redress for our historic and on-going suffering. It will also finally reject the sad notion that pieces of equality are all we should even seek. There is no substitute for this action, for nothing else can build a movement powerful enough to finally call the questions of homophobia and transphobia too long embedded in our current strategy, movement principles, personal realities and societal mentality. Indeed, filing The American Equality Bill is the least we can do for ourselves. With it, you will empower the masses to rise up and organize. You will force the NAACP, NOW and ACLU to confront their own resistance. And you will help every LGBTQ organiztion and activist to do the same. For our own respect, we need to take this righteous step and we need our own gay and lesbian elected officials to risk the political capital required to set the standard for all of Congress and the nation. Demonstrating the urgency as sixty LGBT youth die each month, an activist in New York City is today in the 4th day of a hunger strike risking his own life to demand that the AEB be filed now. This action shows the desperation and determination of a people who have been denied leadership for too long. It only takes one hero to say “no more senseless deaths” and to launch the demand for full equal civil rights now to stem this tide. The only question is who it will be and when. With time of the essence, I look forward to your leadership. Regards, AEB On FB: http://bit.ly/AEBnow EMAIL CONTACT INFO to FOWARD LETTER: 1. Representative Barney Frank (MA 2. Representative Tammy Baldwin (WI) 3. Representative Jarod Polis (CO) 4. Representative-elect David Cicilline (RI)
Voting Republican is voting against Civil Rights, against equality. A Watch this on Youtube before you vote: STUNNING – ‘I REMEMBER, SO I’M VOTING, AND NOT REPUBLICAN.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJfMPxQuiU&feature=player_embedded
Please pass this urgent message on to everyone in your address book. Democrats took over control of the New York Senate with the 2008 election after decades of obstruction, but that could change Tuesday if we do not get out the vote. On December 2nd, 2009, by a vote of 38 Nays to 24 Yeas, The State Senate Voted Against Marriage Equality. Every single Republican and eight Democrats voted for discrimination. Our need is to defeat and remove all 38 from office, especially Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr, and GOP Minority Leader Dean Skeltos. The United States House of Representatives and the US Senate are ibn similar jeopardy, with Republicans trying to regain the House and Senate and return to the failed Bush policies that caused the economic collapse. We must prevent this from happening. This is URGENT! Please get out and vote Tuesday, bring people to the polls, and vote Democrat! New York Empire State Pride Agenda 2010 Endorsements and Voters Guide From The Empire State Pride Agenda: The Empire State Pride Agenda is the statewide, bi-partisan civil rights and political advocacy organization dedicated to winning equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and our families. We are committed to seizing all opportunities in the political and legislative processes to advance our public policy goals and pursue our public policy agenda. Electing and appointing LGBT supporters at all levels of government, educating political candidates and endorsing and providing campaign assistance to those who support our public policy agenda are important tools we use to achieve our goals. We believe that by supporting candidates for elected office, we can increase the number of allies in government, solidify the commitment of current allies and hold opponents accountable. Statewide Race New York State Senate New York State Assembly Please pass this urgent message on to everyone in your address book. Download and print copies here: http://prideagenda.org/CampaignsandElections/2010ElectionCenter/2010Endorsements/tabid/570/Default.aspx
Get Voters out to the Polls and Pass This On. Election day is Tuesday. We have very little time left to make this This year is a midterm election, so there is a great deal at stake. The way to get the change we need is to elect the Every vote counts, and your vote and participation in this voter If you are registered to vote, please get out and vote Tuesday. If you Registering to vote is easy and free. You simply fill out a card and Educate yourself. Learn who and what is on your ballot before you go Rock The Vote has made voting easier with the information you need. Please join in and make your plans to vote, help get other voters out, Click Here to see how you and help http://rockthevote.org/ Dear Rock the Vote Friends, Recently, Rock the Vote joined with Live Earth as its partner. On Don’t be left behind! Join the millions of people across the world who Together, we will solve the climate crisis. Remember to register to vote because you can’t vote if you’re not - The U.S. president inherited a country that makes up less than 5% - Legislation regarding environmental issues is crafted by the - Congress appropriates the funds for the development of clean - The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has Register now at and tell your friends to register as well. The future is now. We cannot wait. Together we will make a difference. Get Ready Rock The Vote: Tuesday 11-2 is Election Day This November 2nd is Election Day in The United States of America. It I urge you to get ready to vote Tuesday, November 2nd. Voting is one Tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to vote. Remind Rock The Vote! Tuesday, November 2nd http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html November 2nd–Election Day 2010–is just around the corner. Click Here to Rock The Vote: http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html Please forward this message on to everyone. http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html Polling Place Locator Here: http://www.barackobama.com/pollingplaces/?source=GOTV_fb_CT04
From The Empire State Pride Agenda: The Empire State Pride Agenda is the statewide, bi-partisan civil rights and political advocacy organization dedicated to winning equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers and our families. We are committed to seizing all opportunities in the political and legislative processes to advance our public policy goals and pursue our public policy agenda. Electing and appointing LGBT supporters at all levels of government, educating political candidates and endorsing and providing campaign assistance to those who support our public policy agenda are important tools we use to achieve our goals. We believe that by supporting candidates for elected office, we can increase the number of allies in government, solidify the commitment of current allies and hold opponents accountable. Statewide Race New York State Senate New York State Assembly Download and print a copy here: http://prideagenda.org/CampaignsandElections/2010ElectionCenter/2010Endorsements/tabid/570/Default.aspx
Video: If The Tea Party Wins, America Loses You have the Power, Use it Tuesday! Vote! Vote! Vote! Bring people to the polls. Please forward this on to everyone! Watch here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39880604#39880604
TAKE ACTION: Election day is Next Tuesday. We have very little time left to make this This year is a midterm election, so there is a great deal at stake. The way to get the change we need is to elect the Every vote counts, and your vote and participation in this voter If you are registered to vote, please get out and vote Tuesday. If you Registering to vote is easy and free. You simply fill out a card and Educate yourself. Learn who and what is on your ballot before you go Rock The Vote has made voting easier with the information you need. Please join in and make your plans to vote, help get other voters out, Click Here to see how you and help http://rockthevote.org/ Dear Rock the Vote Friends, Recently, Rock the Vote joined with Live Earth as its partner. On Don’t be left behind! Join the millions of people across the world who Together, we will solve the climate crisis. Remember to register to vote because you can’t vote if you’re not - The U.S. president inherited a country that makes up less than 5% - Legislation regarding environmental issues is crafted by the - Congress appropriates the funds for the development of clean - The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has Register now at and tell your friends to register as well. The future is now. We cannot wait. Together we will make a difference. Get Ready Rock The Vote: Tuesday 11-2 is Election Day This November 2nd is Election Day in The United States of America. It I urge you to get ready to vote Tuesday, November 2nd. Voting is one Tell your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to vote. Remind Rock The Vote! Tuesday, November 2nd http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html November 2nd–Election Day 2010–is just around the corner. Click Here to Rock The Vote: http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html Please forward this message on to everyone. http://www.rockthevote.com/home.html
A Letter From our friend Chuck: VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Although voting is always important, this November’s election is an unusual one. It has become the thinkers vs. the ignorant. Many ignorant Americans have simply been duped by big oil, big insurers, big banks and Wall Street, who want to return to the “Wild West,” of no regulations, help the rich get richer, status quo. The GOP/corporate think tanks supply paranoid fearful images of socialist takeovers, Nazi/African plots and push for doing away with things that HELP Americans; like Social Security, the minimum wage and unemployment comp. THINK about how having no regulations will allow the return of the same predatory banking and Wall Street games that almost destroyed our economy. THINK about if there were no regulations, we would have no guarantee of clean water, safe food or reliable electricity. If no regulations were in place how safe would flying be? THINK about the recent SCOTUS ruling that gives incredible power to corporations to flood the media with support for their greedy agenda and drowns out our individual voices. THINK about the growing gap between the wealthy and the rest of us as jobs and wealth are shipped offshore… as the middle class withers, so to does the american dream. THINK about the suffering of americans who have lost jobs and health insurance through no fault of their own if the ‘every man for themselves’ agenda of the GOP prevails. All we have heard from neocons for the last two years is complaining…No ideas, no solutions – just lies and paranoid fear-mongering. THINK about it! The GOP created the meltdown, ignored the American people, started unwarranted wars, took us from a $236 billion dollar surplus to $1.3 trillion dollar deficit, and now tells us they are the ones to fix it! Even though they have no plan! THINK! We now have GOP candidates who believe mice have fully functioning brains; some believe that if a father rapes his daughter, the child should be forced to give birth; they actually claim there is no climate change; they are obsessed with subjects like masturbation and make absurd claims like Sharia law is taking hold in America! In short, the amazing level of ignorance and intolerance in conservative camps is frightening. Like the tea party zealots, most neo cons are only too willing to scream unfounded lies and even when those lies are disproved, they simply continue to repeat the lies… truth, honor, morality, all the things they give lip service to are in truth, completely absent from the new GOP. These tea party types have vowed to undo the modest changes that have begun and to tie up Congress with partisan investigations. Their tactic of obstruction will continue as they play politics and simply ignore the needs of Americans…just as they have been doing for almost two years. THINK. The choices are stark. The GOP wants to return to the status quo. They believe we should remove any safety net for struggling Americans, take away insurance coverage for 30 million Americans and help insurance giants maximize profits. They are anti-gay … anti-immigrant … xenophobic … and all too often racist. So, if you are one of those who have thrown in the towel already and been cowed by the arrogant boasting of neocons and the doom forecast by most of the media … THINK! When you say, “Let them win, they will eventually pay a heavy price!” consider that “they” is really “us!” And, if a heavy price is paid, it won’t just be by “them!” It will be all of us! LET’S PROVE THE TEABAGGERS AND THE MEDIA WRONG!!! Speak up! Work! Contribute! Most of all, VOTE NOVEMBER 2nd!!! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Go Here and Rock The Vote: http://www.rockthevote.org/
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Today, Nov. 5, 2010, activist Alan Bounville is on DAY 4 of a hunger strike to demand the filing of a civil rights bill for our community.
