• Joey's Equal Rights Page 1 •
• Equal Rights - Testimonials •
• site updated on 07.11.2005 •
Are Equal Rights amongst Gays just a Dream?
I Truly Hope Not...
If YOU are Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual, or, even Straight, I hope this new page interests you.
I Really hope you can enjoy and learn from this new addition.
What I am in the process of doing is, accepting ''Letters/Emails'' from Gays/Lesbians/Bisexuals/Trans*, and even Straight folks, telling their opinions, personal struggles, and more, regarding just HOW Very Far The Gay Community has come. BUT, maybe even more importantly, what YOU and I can do to continue the work of our elders, making sure things continue to Progress.
As a 37 year old Gay Man, I'm often told, or I often ''hear'', that all we, as Gays want, is ''Special Rights''.
When, in Reality, all WE really ask for is Equality. We may not be able to change ''The World'', but one by one, We sure as hell CAN Make a Difference!
If YOU'D like to share YOUR ''story'' of what you may have seen, would like TO see, have been through, where YOU feel The Gay Community stands as a whole, Please, Feel FREE to email me at:
• joeylee.com email •
*note* - IF Your ''story'' IS used, it will be completely up to YOU, as to whether or not your name or Email address is published as well.
• Letter 1 •
Dear Joey and All,
I firmly believe that it is time that all gay people get off their duffs and start sending letters and e-mails galore to our elected officials concerning equal rights issues. The religious fanatics and others have absolutely no qualms letting the world know how they feel about us. Well, we have mouths and computers also.
I want gay people to know that if they don't start taking this stuff seriously, they are dooming us to this myth-laden, second-class status. How can anyone be complacent when all of us are denied equal status under the laws of this country? This IS the United States of America - a country founded on the premise of equality for all people in the eyes of the law. Our Constitution states exactly that, barring some sort of extreme reason for the government to deny same. It is totally appalling how we gay people, as a whole, are so laid back about not having the same rights as our very own neighbors. This isn't important to them and if it isn't important to us, then it all will just fade away. Then we could all go back to living as quietly as possible so as not to offend anyone with our presence.
We all know that the world would prefer that.
Come on, guys, stand up and let Congress know that we want for ourselves what the Constitution says is ours -- equality under the law. I once told this to my sister-in-law and she responded that the law protects everyone. She and my brother are born-again Christians. It was obvious that they only ever heard what their church tells them. Angry confrontations aren't necessary but we have to keep hammering the point of our legal inequality. All those Christian organizations keep arguing the immorality of homosexuality. We can't change that but we have to teach everyone that our Constitution wasn't written with their brand of morality in mind. It guarantees that their rights and OURS are the same regardless of how THEY feel about it!
Lecture done.
Take care.
Gianni*
• Letter 2 •
Hiya Joey and All,
I think it's great that you added a GLBT Rant and Rave page to your website, will set up a link to it. There's nothing like a good rant to help stop ones head from imploding or stroking out. They also, serve to pump up the blood pressure of others and are cause for others to do likewise. And with hope, when these rants are on issues of importance, such as promoting GLBT Rights and Equality, Condemning Discrimination, Injustice and Hatred directed at GLBT's, copies make their way to their legislators. I am a firm believer that, a voice heard, is a voice counted and of reminding the powers that be, with every voice, comes a vote, support and maybe $$$$. If ones voice remains silent, it is never heard and can never make a difference. Be assured, those who would deny us equality and promote continued discrimination against, make a point of having their voices heard loud and clear.
We can no longer allow their voices to be the only ones heard and the voices that decide our future.
In response to your, Joey that is, inquiry to sample letters or messages sent to legislators on issues, bills or pending legislation. Instead of flooding the group with ones I have sent, and trust me it would be a flood, if I don't send my legislators a few a week, I go into withdrawal. I post all the letters and messages sent on my website, in TBC's Eye on GLBT News & Headlines and/or Cyber Activist and Alert Message Board;
http://tampabaycoalition.homestead.com/News.html
or in my Cyber Activist Alerts and News Section;
http://tampabaycoalition.homestead.com/tbcaa.html
I also include many GLBT organizations action alerts, calls for action and media/press releases. I'm constantly updating and posting the latest information on proposed, pending, passed and bogged down in committee legislation, bills or laws that effect GLBT's lives and our community. I am always begging for ya'll to phone, fax, snail and email your lawmakers, but, make it easy by listing who best to contact, their contact information and links to search and find out who your lawmakers are. I tell you this, not as to plug my website, but, because there are many very important bills up for passage. Two of the most important pieces of federal legislation for GLBT's are, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA and The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001, formally titled, ("The Hate Crimes Prevention Act). No two pieces of legislation over the past years, will be of such great benefit to us then these. Support is strong for their passage, however, opponents of this legislation, are relentless in their efforts to defeat there passage and in preventing them from becoming federal law.
With this said, I'll get off my soap box, o.k. you can stop applauding, point made. I'm sure many of you were already aware of this, or surely hope you were. But, to those who were, I hope you did or will take immediate action. And, to those who weren't, now you are, so please, have your voice heard now. Now is the time, for all good GLBT's to come to the aide of your brothers and sisters. And make that positive difference, we are always talking about, you'll be glad you did. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or I can be of any help.
Speaking of rants, my latest, ''Not A Homo Bashing Catholic's, A Catholic Homo Ashamed & Angry''
Take Very Good Care My Very Dear Friends,
Zeke
• Contact Your Legislators •
To locate YOUR State Representatives, use this easy to use Government site:
U.S. State Representative Locator
To locate Your State Senators, use this easy to use Government site:
U.S. State Senate Locator
Click Here
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