-HEY #p2! (Progressives).
We can't do this alone.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have been fighting for over half a Century to have basic Civil Rights. We have so much to do, and we are such a small group. Without an army of Progressive allies, we can't win. Our rights as American citizens are constantly being compromised, despite life-time service to our nation as good, contributing citizens. We can't wait any longer. We need our Progressive allies to step up and go to bat for us TODAY.
We must demand Progressives have got to make LGBT rights a top priority in 2010, or we will keep being put on the back-burner.
There will ALWAYS be something more important than LGBT equality affecting America--issues like Health Care Reform and the Economy effect LGBT people too! However, when we are discriminated against under the law every single day, we can't give our all to fixing these problems. We are long overdue to be counted as equal citizens. That's why we need to stop compromising and get laws guaranteeing LGBT equality passed in THIS CONGRESS.
We must Pass:
- The Employment Non-Discrimination Act [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (overturning the military ban on homosexuality, putting the economic livelihood of thousands of LGBT soliders in jeopardy every day) [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- The Uniting American Families Act (allowing me to sponsor my partner for citizenship) [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- The Respect for Marriage Act (repealing the Defense of Marriage Act) [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- The Domestic Partnerships Benefits and Obligations Act (allowing Federal recognition of my state-sanctioned or holy union) [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- The Safe Schools Improvement Act (bullying) [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
- A yet unwritten adoption rights bill [HOUSE/SENATE] [how to help]
You can do this by setting up a face-to-face meeting with your local, state and national law-makers and tell them how you feel about these bills. Tell them that most of their constituents feel the same as you--and recruit your Progressive friends to come with you and make this a priority too. You can get talking points for specific bills from the "how to help" links above.
You can also write to your local newspapers often and try to convince others in your community that LGBT Civil Rights are LONG overdue, and we can't let another year go by with NO action from the Federal Government. We need to make 2010 the year Progressives finally went to bat for LGBT Civil Rights and WON THEM.
You can also join these causes and help us grow our numbers so that we can make real change. These are organizations mostly interested in legal policy rather than social service. There are many others that focus on serving those in need in the LGBT community.
Human Rights Campaign - LGBT Legislative advocacy organization
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force - LGBT political grassroots organization
Equality Federation - National alliance of state and local organizations
Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays - National public advocacy organization
National Center for Transgender Equality - Transgender advocacy organization
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - Media watchdog
Victory Fund - LGBT candidate development organization
Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network - Safe schools organization
Immigration Equality - Organization fighting for bi-national couple rights
Marriage Equality USA - Marriage Equality advocacy organization
Family Equality Council - Relationship recognition and adoption rights advocacy
Servicemembers United - LGBT soldiers advocacy organization
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - LGBT solider legal advocacy
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders - New England LGBT legal advocacy
Lambda Legal - LGBT-AIDS/HIV legal advocacy
National Center for Lesbian Rights - LGBT legal and public policy advocacy
-HEY #p2! Thank you for standing with me, and I promise to continue standing with you.
ALSO, CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL CAUSES YOU CAN HELP WITH! (Check back for updates)
Courage Campaign - California progressive advocacy for 2010-equality.
Wanna help? Copy and tweet this: " -Hey #p2 #LGBT people really NEED YOUR HELP NOW! http://bit.ly/HEYP2ALLY " SEND ME A TWEET @Ameriqueer !
Comments
I'd also add the Courage Campaign and Stonewall Democrats onto the list of LGBT orgs :)
I found this link on the Bilerico Project, to which I subscribe.
(Love your blogging there too!)
I'm a cisgendered straight woman - a rabid and outspoken progressive since the 60's, when I was a bit of a mascot at my CORE meetings; being white and 14 years old.
(have I just given my ancient age away?)
GLBTQ Rights, under various different names over the years, has been a huge part of my 'progressive repertoire' since before a dear friend was viciously roughed-up in the Stonewall uprising.
(I believe this friend perished in the first AIDS wave: I have been searching for him for many years to no avail.)
In recent years, GLBTQ Rights has
taken first priority by far in my progressive activities.
NOT marijuana. NOT my anti-war activism. NOT healthcare. NOT ending capital punishment.
All important - except marijuana, which started boring me 25 years ago - but none as infuriating and inhuman as permitting (advocating for!) second-class citizenship.
I belong to nearly half the groups you list on this page, and have 3-D involvement in a NY gay rights group called the Civil Rights Front, as well as lobbied NY's legislature with Empire State Pride Agenda.
I collar people at work and in supermarkets and the streets if the opportunity arises: and it does often because of my advocacy buttons:)
Anyway, you get the point.
There are progressive allies out there,and I'm on my way to post your video on a Myspace bulletin.
(No laughing now: I hate Facebook and don't tweet:)
Solidarity!
Keep it up! Just passed the vid along to everyone I know.
Its nice to know I'm not the only young person who is fired up about this. It sometimes feels that way.
And it doesn't hurt that you are adorable as well ;)
And, as long as I'm commenting, I'll give a shout out to my employer, the ACLU's LGBT Project. Getting straights to care about the geighs for over 30 years!
I believe that if we demand the Unconditional Constitutional Equality Act we will succeed.
We are behind in the battle and it is SAD! We have been fighting for the same ENDA state revision for the 4th year now. We need to educate and we need to fight. I loved this video. So simple. Cute. REAL! WHEN IS IT THE LGBT COMMUNITIES TURN? I SAY NOW! But we have to be out there and educate the masses and make people feel a little uncomfortable. This is a Civil Rights movement, so let's look to Martin Luther King, Jr for advice:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Equality-Across-America-Boise-Idaho/144879321368
Spread the word!
If you have facebook, please post it there; as well as your myspace, twitter, stumbleupon, digg, del.icio.us, friendfeed, livejournal, blog, bebo, AIM, Yahoo, webpage... You get the picture!
Let's build a strong and robust community of active LGBT allies!
Thank you so much for what you do! I'm so proud of you!
Sam,
Thank you! I look forward to cooperating more in the future.
Thanks everyone who has helped!