Queer LiberAction

A note from Elizabeth Pax

Hi all! I am looking for some representatives from the different areas of DFW to help me in my task as Queer LiberAction's Ambassador!

I am looking for people who are involved in their local community (or, like me, have been looking for an excuse to become involved!) who can report back to me when things are abuzz in the LGBT community around them! Ideally I would have more than one representative from each area (because there are usually lots of groups in each area).

Join the Queer Liberaction Representatives group ( http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86557353226 )

So far I need people to represent:

* Carrollton
* Denton
* Frisco
* Garland
* Grand Prairie
* Irving
* McKinney
* Mesquite
* Plano
* Richardson
* Addison
* Allen
* Azle
* Balch Springs
* Bedford
* Benbrook
* Burleson
* Cedar Hill
* Cleburne
* Colleyville
* Coppell
* Corinth
* Crowley
* Decatur
* DeSoto
* Duncanville
* Ennis
* Euless
* Farmers Branch
* Flower Mound
* Forest Hill
* Forney
* Glenn Heights
* Grapevine
* Greenville
* Haltom City
* Highland Village
* Hurst
* Irving
* Keller
* Lancaster
* Lewisville
* Little Elm
* Mansfield
* Midlothian
* Mineral Wells
* Murphy
* North Richland Hills
* Rockwall
* Rowlett
* Sachse
* Saginaw
* Seagoville
* Southlake
* Terrell
* The Colony
* University Park
* Watauga
* Waxahachie
* Weatherford
* White Settlement
* Wylie

First, The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of marriage equality. Most importantly, this historic ruling has come from a "heartland" state such as Iowa and the court ruled in our favor on grounds of civil rights.

Vermont has become the first state in the nation to legalize marriage equality through its legislature. Strong enough to override a gubernatorial veto, the Vermont Legislature has come to its senses by declaring that back-of-the-bus civil unions provide a separate status to LGBT couples and are therefore unequal.

Most recently, The Washintong DC city council voted in favor of a measure recognizing marriage equality. Because of the district's unique relationship to the federal government, the pro-equality measure will most likely have to clear Congress.

With such a powerful week behind us, we are looking ahead to future challenges such as California's Proposition 8. Our civil rights are being thrust into the national spotlight and regardless of how the California Supreme Court rules we have got to keep up the fight. Here in North Texas we need to grab ahold of this advantage to jump start some of our friends in elected office into working more vigorously for our equality. At 7:00 pm the evening the California Supreme Court issues their ruling, we will rally at the corner of Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs.

Help keep up the momentum so that we can utilize these wins to their fullest. Please contact Queer Liberaction to volunteer for the Day of Decision rally so that we can make a huge statement to North Texans that our civil rights are human rights and that we will keep fighting until we have won every sinlge right on a federal level!

These are very exciting times in our movement. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa and with your commitment we can win Texas too! Please join us in the fight for our civil rights!

Tax Day Rally
Main Post Office
I-30 and Sylvan
Wednesday, April 15
5:00 pm

Those who line up in a last minute push to file their taxes before midnight on April 15th, 2009 will be greeted by local Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender (GLBT) activists. On Tax Day 2009 pro-equality activists will rally at the main post office, off I-30 and Sylvan Avenue, in an effort to educate the public that while LGBT people pay all the same taxes as heterosexuals they do no receive the same rights. Queer Liberaction will be present handing out informational flyers between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. This event is designed to be a very fun and visible rally while taking the opportunity to educate the general population as to exactly what rights are denied to GLBT people.

Day of Decision
???Date???
Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs
7:00 pm

Queer Liberaction is encouraging all LGBT people and allies to rally at the intersection of Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs at 7:00 pm on the evening the California Supreme Court issues their ruling on the Prop 8 case. From this point we will march to a location to hear speakers and once again rally with demands of full legal equality and protections for LGBT people.

The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Prop 8 case on Thursday, March 5. The court has 90 days to issue a ruling on this case, although it looks like we will get word sooner rather than later.

Queer Liberaction will know the justices' ruling 24 hours before the court goes public. Once QL learns of a ruling we will send out e-mails and text messages to all those who are interested in getting this advanced notice. Those who are interested in getting word before the court goes public can e-mail us at lgbtliberaction@gmail.com

1) If we’re defeated it will be important to not take it lying down and protest as vigorously as possible. The alternative in such a situation would be a numbing and debilitating depression about the defeat. There is only one thing worse than a defeat, and that’s a passive acceptance of it.

2) If we are victorious then the rally will be a celebration while taking the victory and pressing our advantage as much as possible. This can be done in such a way that the possible victory in California promotes further victories elsewhere.

Day of Silence Rally and Concert (GLSEN)
Doak Walker Plaza on SMU Campus
Friday, April 17
7:00 pm

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Each year the event has grown, now with hundreds of thousands of students coming together to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. Check out GLSEN Dallas for more info.

Milk box
Throckmorton and Cedar Springs
Saturday, April 18
5:00 pm

The Milk box is a public community forum type of event a la soapbox where we take the opportunity to talk to the LGBT community in Dallas. Named in honor of Harvey Milk, anyone and everyone is welcome to step up and speak out.

Queer Liberaction
lgbtliberaction@gmail.com
www.queerliberaction.org
214-679-6321
www.myspace.com/queerliberaction

Here are a few things that came out of last night's meeting for those that weren't able to make it.

Almost everything is in place for Day of Decision. We just need to stay out on Cedar Springs promoting the event and gathering contact info. This coming Sunday is Easter in the Park at Lee Park. This will be an awesome opportunity to collect contact info for the D Day rally. We'll meet at Buli at 2:00 pm and go from there. Please let me know if you can help out.

Our Tax Day rally is less than a week away. We'll meet at the main post office (I-30 and Sylvan) at 5:00 pm next Wednesday. Please let me know if you're able (or not) to make this as well.

We have set Saturday, April 18th at 5:00 pm as the next time to set up the Milk box. We'll meet at the usual place, Throckmorton and Cedar springs at 5:00.

We had talked about going out Saturday in the afternoon to publicize D day. I'm free but not until later in the afternoon/evening. Is there any interest in this?

Send me a quick e-mail if you could and let me know which of these things youre available for and which you arent. If you're not able to make any of this stuff, and you and to do something for the group, let me know that too and we can talk. I have a long list of stuff that would be great to get done but it's not terribly urgent.

I'll be sending out an e-mail to the whole list later today or tomorrow about this stuff plus all the other stuff we have going on. Thanks guys :)

Blake