“Senate hearings on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” convene in October” http://pamshouseblend.com/diar…

the Senate hearings on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” convene in October.  For LGBT veterans, NOW is the time to be visible for those who are invisible, to be heard while others must stay silent.  This is a “mandatory formation” for all vets who gave up their service because they could no longer live a lie, or who were hounded out because of who they loved, and for those who support them.

That was a fact that has been missing in some of the timing discussions in other threads that wasn’t really raised until the one where Dan Choi recently wrote about supporting the March, and it has made it into the last few discussions, so I just wanted to be sure it made it into this one too.

October 11 has been observed as “National Coming Out Day” since 1988. As well, this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. “We’re marching this October to demand action from the Federal government to protect our rights in all fifty states,” said Kip Williams, one of the organizers. “Real equality can only come from the President, the Congress and the Supreme Court.

My thoughts are the stronger the movement is overall, the stronger we are in each state.  Of course we need to be poked and prodded and reminded frequently that donations & volunteering in Washington & Maine is needed, but I can say as a 25 year old who started doing some gay rights activism in college that the more involved I get anywhere, the more involved I want to get everywhere.  And I think this rally will result in more overall pro-equality activism.

This is good newsI still have hope for the NEM.  Hopefully national HRC and NGLTF will make a concrete statement supporting NEM.  NEM has come up with a budget that looks reasonable.

HRC already has…

Statement of Human Rights Campaign on National Equality March in Washington 8/12/2009
WASHINGTON — On October 11, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists and allies will meet by the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.  The first national gathering of LGBT volunteers, community members, and supporters since the 2008 elections and the passage of Proposition 8, this event provides a powerful opportunity to harness the energy-both excitement and anger-that this historic year has sparked.
“The Human Rights Campaign considers October 11 in Washington DC to be a starting point-not a destination,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Those who join us in the nation’s capital have more work ahead of them after the crowds clear.  They need to become citizen lobbyists, ready and able to tell their Senators and members of Congress what this community needs to see:  an ENDA that protects every single one of us.  Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Repeal of DOMA.  Protections for our families.”
HRC will train march participants to initiate and carry out successful in-district lobby visits-whether they come to DC in person, or take their activism on line.  Similar to the successful “No Excuses” campaign (www.noexcuses.hrc.org), HRC’s work with the October 11 event will focus on mobilizing face-to-face meetings between community members and their lawmakers.
“With thousands of LGBT people and allies coming to Washington to make a difference, it’s our mission to help them become the citizen lobbyists that they want and need to be,” said Solmonese.  ”Cleve Jones’s vision of bringing us together at this important time is an extraordinary opportunity to capitalize on the energy and commitment of our community and achieve results.
“I’ve heard criticism about this gathering diverting resources from existing goals such as marriage equality in Maine and New Jersey,” added Solmonese.  ”It’s our intention and our obligation to ensure that in October, we amplify our energy not divert it. Will and commitment are unlimited resources.  We intend to ensure that when the event in Washington is over, many more of us will know not only the work that lies ahead, but how to turn that energy into action.”

That Saturday night happens to be HRC’s annual national dinner, so it’s reasonable to expect that a number of people who will coming to DC for that will also participate in some of the March events.

They need a NEM link on their website.  www.hrc.org.  If there is one I can’t find it.

HRC isn’t big, to say the least on promoting others….…and NEM keeps changing their name.  Here is their current Website.equalityacrossamerica.org/    e.g. EQUALITY ACROSS AMERICA…and here is their current facebook PAGE (not Group, notice)

http://tinyurl.com/msg4ev