Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says that she supports extending civil rights to all LGBT Americans, and we have to make sure that Sen. Gillibrand makes good on her support by filing legislation, which would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.
People with AIDS under attack. What do we do ? Act up, fight back !
Nine protesters were arrested during the morning of December 1 for blocking traffic outside Mayor Michael Bloomberg's World AIDS Day Bagel Breakfast at the Brooklyn Public Library, reported The New York Times.
World AIDS Day Bloomberg Bagel Boycott Protest from Housing Works on Vimeo.
''Lets not waste one more minute demanding anything; not one more minute disapproving of anyone; not a single second pouting that everyone doesn’t want to do it your preferred way. Even better ~ do it all, approve of it all, figure out a way to make everyone right. Pick your area, hold your line, stand and resist – irresistibly. Do what is in front of you and skip judging other forms of activism as those activists are doing exactly what they are called to do,'' wrote Zoe Nicholson on her blog.
Some recent perspectives about Alan Bounville's fast for LGBT civil rights :
Alan Bounville where are you? Will the people following your story hear news tomorrow re: Alan's hunger strike calling for Senator Gillibrand to put forth a bill for civil rights for all, national gay rights bill? by Suzannah B. Troy a straight woman who has been gay bashed on the streets of NYC
Not So Fast, by Jude SafeSchools Stevens (may require FaceBook login)
What Does It Mean to Demand Equality? by Thomas C. Waters
The BIG and the small of it, by Zoe Nicholson
I accuse LGBT activists of complacency, apologism, and collaboration.
This morning, I woke to this on my Facebook wall :
The blogger Suzannah B. Troy had warned me that if I was going to express myself publicly, that I should expect to be criticised. That's only fair. But I want to respond to what I see as attempts by certain LGBT activists to ''control'' the discussion about LGBT civil rights. In particular, I am writing this open letter to Melanie Nathan, but it applies to other LGBT activists, who have bought into the idea of incrementalism that never seems to happen.
Dear Ms. Nathan :
On Nov. 2, Alan Bounville began a radical water-only fast in order to stage a protest over the fact that, after over one year since Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stated that she supported extending civil rights to LGBT Americans, Sen. Gillibrand has since introduced no legislation that would accomplish that which she has said she supports. For 36 days prior to beginning his fast, Mr. Bounville and other LGBT activists, including Iana Di Bona, Joe Birdsong, and Lt. Dan Choi, to name a few, held vigil outside Sen. Gillibrand's New York campaign office. The purpose of the vigil (and now the fast) has been to hold Sen. Gillibrand accountable for her support ; if she supports extending civil rights to LGBT Americans as one way to end de jure and de facto discrimination against LGBT Americans, then what is the Honourable Senator doing to deliver on her support ?
During the year before the fast began, and particularly during the 36 days of the vigil, Sen. Gillibrand's office chose to issue no statement about how she was going to deliver on her support of LGBT civil rights. If she wants to play ignorant, today, now that it is Day 12 of the fast, then how do you account for the fact that Sen. Gillibrand had 36 days before the fast began for her staff to communicate to her about the American Equality Bill ? Futhermore, before Mr. Bounville began his fast, there were other activists, who said that Sen. Gillibrand would make a good ''target'' of an action, precisely because she was an ally. Reasonably, it shouldn't have taken too much advocacy to persuade a United States Senator to do something that she has stated that she already believes in. So, when you wrote, ''Leave her alone!!!!'', you also needed to address your criticism to other activists. Don't hold back, go find the others, too. Go on your witch hunt of LGBT activists, who don't want to wait for you or Sen. Gillibrand to get your acts together -- ''when the time comes,'' as you wrote, whenever that turns out to be, maybe someday ? -- before we see some legislation that makes good on Sen. Gillibrand's support for LGBT civil rights.
''THEY WILL NOT TALK TO HIM..''
What Mr. Bounville has done by having chosen to begin a fast, has been to create an urgency around LGBT civil rights. He has created a moral dilemma. You wrote that Sen. Gillibrand owes Mr. Bounville, ''[n]othing.....'' Yet, you hold every LGBT activist, who supports LGBT civil rights or the American Equality Bill, responsible for the moral dilemma of Mr. Bounville's fast, but you don't hold Sen. Gillibrand responsible. Instead, you wrote, ''Leave her alone!!!!'' Aren't we all responsible for the moral dilemma ? During the time that the vigil took place outside Sen. Gillibrand's office, Corey Jackson, 19, committed suicide. Who owns the moral dilemma of Mr. Jackson's suicide ? During the vigil, it was also reported that an Arkansas school official mocked the recent spree in LGBT teen suicides. Who owns the moral dilemma of that ? Also during the vigil, a Bronx gang carried out attacks against gay men. Who owns the moral dilemma of that ? This isn't all about Mr. Bounville.
The part that is unfair about Mr. Bounville's decision to begin a fast is, indeed, on the people who love and care about him. He is a radical political activist, and his choice of a political protest is undoubtedly radical. He believes in creating change now. It is uncomfortable to think that we have to work in a hurry to add ''sexual orientation'' or ''gender identity'' into the Civil Rights Act, but that is what Mr. Bounville created by chosing to go on a fast : he is forcing us to work in a hurry. He is responsible for beginning the fast. If you are feeling the effects of the moral dilemma he has created, remember that that was his intent. Meanwhile, if you are so worried now, where were you and others during the vigil, in the time before the fast began ? Were you amongst the activists, who chose to sit on the sidelines ?
''She will make her own better draft when the time comes.''
You wrote that the American Equality Bill ''would not be doing our civil rights justice.'' I'd like to know what you or Sen. Gillibrand believes would be better than the American Equality Bill ; show us the ''better'' answer. You wrote that, ''I know from inside her office.'' What do you know, and when did you know it ? If you say that you know what Sen. Gillibrand's position about the American Equality Bill is, why don't you write about it, so we can all know. If Sen. Gillibrand owes Mr. Bounville ''[n]othing,'' does that mean that Sen. Gillibrand owes me nothing, owes Mr. Jackson's family nothing, owes the victims of the Bronx gang attacks nothing, owes her voters nothing, owes LGBT Americans nothing ? In your eyes, why don't you let us know to whom is Sen. Gillibrand is accountable ?
When you wrote that the American Equality Bill ''does not even have grass root support yet,'' where do you need support to come from ? Arkansas ? Wyoming ? The Bronx ? From the Human Rights Campaign ? What Mr. Bounville has done by having begun a fast is by-pass every activist, ally, or hater, who is willing to wait it out, willing to pray that another online petition will be enough to make things better, willing to wait for after the election, willing to wait for the next Congress, willing to wait for the next President, willing to wait until the next change in the make-up of the Supreme Court. Mr. Bounville has exposed that there is an artificial social construct around the LGBT gay rights movement, namely, that a few select activists or organisations have complete ''control'' over the direction of the movement. He and other activists have caught you asleep at the wheel, and now you are angry.
''CRAZY CRAP''
Make no mistake, the moral dilemma created by the fast is real, and some notable activists do not support the fast. I sympathise with Mr. Bounville's family and friends. Nobody wants to see him get hurt. We all share their concern ; it is the only humane reaction anybody can have. The point of the vigil and the fast, as I see it, has been to see if Sen. Gillibrand shares their concern. My letter, some of my e-mails, and my call to Sen. Gillibrand's office haven't been returned or answered. You wrote, ''I know from inside her office.'' I repeat, what do you know ? What do others know ? What actions are you and Sen. Gillibrand's office taking, to prolong this unnecessary fast ?
LGBT Civil Rights Activist Calls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Office about American Equality Bill
At about 4 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2010, I placed a call to Sen. Gillibrand's New York office (1-212-688-6262). I left a voice mail, asking that the Honourable Senator please file the American Equality Bill. Just like Lady Gaga did in her famous ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' YouTube video, I invite everybody to call Sen. Gillibrand and videotape themselves, and then post their videos on YouTube.
''Alan Bounville Fasts For Inclusion of LGBT Community In Civil Rights Bill''
David Mixner, the famous gay rights activist and writer, published a post on his blog about Alan Bounville's fast for LGBT civil rights.
''The fast is to force Gillibrand and other members of the New York Congressional delegation to sponsor the American Equality Bill (AEB) which in essence would simply add the LGBT community to the 1964 Civil Rights Bill,'' wrote Mr. Mixner.
YouTube video of Day 9 of Alan Bounville's fast for LGBT Civil Rights
Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office at : 1-212-688-6262. Ask her to file the American Equality Bill.
Iana Di Bona records herself on camera as she calls Senator Gillibrand's office on Nov. 9, 2010
On Day 8 of Alan Bounville's fast for LGBT Civil Rights, Iana Di Bona calls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Please record yourself placing your own call to Sen. Gillibrand's office's.
Call her at : 1-212-688-6262. Ask her to file the American Equality Bill. Then, post your video on YouTube.
Civil Rights Fast - Day 8
Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office at : 1-212-688-6262. Ask her to file the American Equality Bill.
Alan Bounville, now in the second week of a Civil Rights Fast for LGBT rights, will visit Sen. Gillibrand's Office tomorrow.
In a news release issued last night, it was announced that Alan Bounville would return to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's legislative office in Midtown Manhattan. If you are in the area, please join us on Wed., Nov. 10, from 2 - 3 p.m., at 780 Third Avenue Avenue Suite 2601. New York, New York 10017.
Mr. Bounville began a fast for LGBT Civil Rights on Election Day, Nov. 2. For a period of 36 days before the fast even began, he and other LGBT activists were requesting that all LGBTQIA people to work locally with their own Senators and Representatives to lobby for the introduction of the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill is a landmark piece of draft legislation, which if filed and passed, would amend civil rights laws of the United States by adding ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' into the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the same news release, people in PA, CA, FL, OH are already on board with asking their local Congressional Representatives to introduce the American Equality Bill.
Alan Bounville has lost 14 pounds in his first week of the fast for LGBT Civil Rights.
In this first week of his fast for LGBT Civil Rights, Alan Bounville has lost 14 pounds, according to a news release issued last night. "Under a doctor’s care, Alan is watchful and cautious with his energy. Iana Di Bona is managing their personal needs and assisting in the overall conservation of energy. A group of people are assisting in distributing information, posting videos and accompanying Alan and Iana to their events," read the statement issued by Zoe Nicholson.
Mr. Bounville began his fast on Election Day, Nov. 2. For a period of 36 days before the fast even began, he and other LGBT activists were requesting that all LGBTQIA people to work locally with their own Senators and Representatives to lobby for the introduction of the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill is a landmark piece of draft legislation, which if filed and passed, would amend civil rights laws of the United States by adding ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' into the Civil Rights Act of 1964. People in PA, CA, FL, OH are already on board with asking their local Congressional Representatives to introduce the American Equality Bill.
In the news release issued last night, Ms. Di Bona included a public statement : "In this second week of the Civil Rights Fast, we hope that more voices will continue to rise and demand equality."
Call Sen. Gillibrand : 1-212-688-6262
Ask Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to file the American Equality Bill, or similar legislation that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Civl Rights Act of 1964. Call her office at : 1-212-688-6262 or do your own action !
A link to this new YouTube video has been added to the link list at the bottom of the Civil Rights page on The Huffington Post.
Alan Bounville releases YouTube video about Day 6 of the Civil Rights Fast.
Alan Bounville calls Senator Gillibrand's office on Day 3 of Civil Rights Fast
Alan Bounville calls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office on Day 3.
Demand that Sen. Gillibrand file the American Equality Bill or similar legislation that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Civl Rights Act of 1964. Call her office at: 212-688-6262 or do your own action!
LGBT Civil Rights Protest Becomes Hunger Strike
News about Alan Bounville's fast for LGBT civil rights has been reported by The Local East Village blog of The New York Times.
A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about the work of QueerSOS, a gay rights group that was taking part in an ongoing vigil outside of Senator Gillibrand’s campaign office. At that time, activists Iana Di Bona and Alan Bounville had slept on the West 26th Street sidewalk for nearly four weeks, vowing to continue until the senator introduced the American Equality Bill to Congress, which would introduce the phrase “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.
After 36 days standing vigil, incurring arrests and disorderly conduct summons, but no response from the senator, the activists decided that something more had to be done to bring attention to their cause. On Election Day, QueerSOS morphed into a new incarnation: the Civil Rights Fast.
Senator Gillibrand has declined to comment on the protest.
Read the rest of Hannah Rubenstein's article : ''Rights Protest Becomes Hunger Strike.''
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - Election Day Victory Party - LGBT Civil Rights Fast Protest for Gay Rights
While Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand held a victory party inside the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Midtown Manhattan, LGBT protesters gathered outside to ask the Honourable Senator to file the American Equality Bill.
Among the protesters was Alan Bounville, who began a water-only fast on the very day, November 2, 2010. Mr. Bounville has said that he would stop eating until Sen. Gillibrand would file the American Equality Bill or similar legislation, or make a public statement of her intention to file such a bill, which would add ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Almost as soon as they arrived, police asked the Civil Rights Fast protesters to change locations on the sidewalk, and then, as captured on camera, undercover security interrogated the protesters, who were outside the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, with threats of arrest, if any protesters were found to be attending the victory party.
To help end the Civil Rights Fast, please call Sen. Gilibrand and ask her to file the American Equality Bill. Call : 1-212-688-6262. For more information, please visit : http://www.civilrightsfast.com. Meanwhile, inside the Sheraton, Sen. Gillibrand once again said she supported extending civil rights. When is she going to file the American Equality Bill ?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Victory Speech (11/2/2010)
Nov. 4, 2010, was Day 3 of the Civil Rights Fast.
Alan Bounville stopped eating on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, and began a fast until Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand file the American Equality Bill or similar legislation that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the 1964 Civl Rights Act. Call her office at: 212-688-6262 or do your own action!
FULL FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS NOW !
Nov. 3, 2010 was Day 2 of the Civil Rights Fast. Alan Bounville stopped eating on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, and he has said that he will not eat until Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand files the American Equality Bill or similar legislation that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the 1964 Civl Rights Act. Call her office at: 212-688-6262 or do your own action!
TOWLEROAD : WATCH : ACTIVIST ADDS HUNGER STRIKE TO CAMPAIGN DEMANDING GILLIBRAND FILE BILL TO ADD GAYS TO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
The blogger Andy Towle has posted Alan Bounville's YouTube Video of Day 1 of the Civil Rights Fast.
Here is the video :
Here is information, which was included in the description of the video : ''Day 1 of the Civil Rights Fast. Demand: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand file the American Equality Bill or similar legislation that would add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the 1964 Civl Rights Act. Call her office at: 212-688-6262 or do your own action !''
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - Election Day Victory Party - LGBT Civil Rights Fast Protest for Gay Rights
While Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand held a victory party inside the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Midtown Manhattan, LGBT protesters gathered outside to ask the Honourable Senator to file the American Equality Bill.
Among the protesters was Alan Bounville, who began a water-only fast on the very day, November 2, 2010. Mr. Bounville has said that he would stop eating until Sen. Gillibrand would file the American Equality Bill or similar legislation, or make a public statement of her intention to file such a bill, which would add ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Almost as soon as the LGBT civil rights protesters arrived, police asked the Civil Rights Fast protesters to change locations on the sidewalk, and then, as captured on camera, undercover security interrogated the protesters, who were outside the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, with threats of arrest, if any protesters were found to be attending the victory party.
To help end the Civil Rights Fast, please call Sen. Gilibrand and ask her to file the American Equality Bill. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262. For more information, please visit : http://www.civilrightsfast.com.
CivilRightsFast.com Messages to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and LGBT Activists and Allies
Monday, November 1, 2010, was the day when activists, who had organised the QueerSOS! vigil outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office, would transition into a fast for LGBT civil rights.
One activist, Alan Bounville, was set to begin a water-only fast beginning on Tuesday, November 2, and he has said that he would remain fasting until draft legislation known as the American Equality Bill would be filed by Sen. Gillibrand.
LGBT activists and allies are supporting the American Equality Bill, draft legislation, which, if passed, would add ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The American Equality Bill would, as one legal act, end major forms of discrimination against LGBT Americans.
Some of the LGBT activists, who were present for Day 36 of the QueerSOS! vigil, shared some thoughts about the need for civil rights for LGBT Americans, based on the de jure and de facto discrimination that takes place in America each day.
In October, the city council of South Bend, Indiana, voted down a proposed ordinance that would have extended employment discrimination protection to gays and lesbians. Recently, the Obama administration appealed a court ruling that outlawed the military policy of ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' To LGBT Americans, the president's appeal looks like he is trying to keep in force a military policy that enforces discrimination against LGBT Americans who serve in the armed forces. Only a handful of states even recognise marriage between LGBT partners.
QueerSOS! Day 36 - Alan Bounville's Gay Gights Message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
After he had what was perhaps his last meal, LGBT civil rights activist Alan Bounville delivered a public message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, LGBT allies, and LGBT activists
In this video, Mr. Bounville urged activists to fight for equal rights, and Mr. Bounville questioned the practise by LGBT voters of calling some our elected officials our ''friends,'' when those officials, who are supposedly our ''friends,'' introduce no legislation that would propose to end most major forms of discimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Approximately two hours after the recording of this video, Mr. Bounville was set to begin a water-only fast until Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) or another member of Congress introduced the American Equality Bill, or similar legislation, that would extend civil rights to LGBT Americans and thereby end most major forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
’’Don’t go on the fast, Alan. You’re our hero. We need you to do all the hard work for LGBT civil rights, so we don’t have to do the work ourselves.’’
In the last 2 weeks or so, I’ve maybe had a couple of serious conversations with Alan Bounville, a gay rights activist, who plans to begin a water-only fast on Election Day, Nov. 2. Mr. Bounville plans to begin his fast if Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) fails to either file the American Equality Bill before Nov. 2, or make a public statement of her intention to file the bill.
If passed, the American Equality Bill would add ‘’sexual orientation’’ and ‘’gender identity’’ to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and thereby end most major forms of discrimination against LGBT Americans.
I had gotten to know about Mr. Bounville from all the activities I’ve read posted about him on Facebook. I remember seeing a dramatic picture of his arrest at a protest in the New York City marriage license office earlier this year. Then, I remembered reading about what seemed like a national tour of duty he undertook this summer to further equal rights for LGBT Americans. I finally met him in person about 2 weeks ago, at a rally calling for a new hospital in the Lower West Side of Manhattan.
Since having first met him, I have spent a little bit of each night, visiting a vigil that he and Iana Di Bona had organised outside of Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office. Because I have so much practise making YouTube videos about political issues, I started making YouTube videos about the participants of the QueerSOS! vigil, as it was called, and the American Equality Bill that the vigil participants were advocating. After I did my first couple of YouTube videos, I started to feel like I was now doing my part to support the extension of civil rights to LGBT Americans. I thought that doing my little videos was all that I needed to do, because I could count on Mr. Bounville and Ms. Di Bona to do all the hard work, like sleeping outisde Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office, and taking all of the criticism that they are taking from other LGBT activists and allies for mounting the vigil, in the first place.
Within the first week of having visited the vigil, I wrote and sent a still as of yet unanswered letter to Jon Reinish, who is supposed to be Sen. Gillibrand’s LGBT liaison. I followed up with an e-mail to Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign staff, who, in reply, were only able to say that the Honourable Senator was working to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the lame duck. But no response has ever acknowledged the American Equality Bill.
Mr. Bounville then showed me how easy it was to organise an action. Around this time, I asked Mr. Bounville why was he intent on following through with the fast, and I remember he said something along the lines that it would inspire other people into action. I had had a separate conversation about the fast with Ms. Di Bona, and when I said how much we would lose in Mr. Bounville if he was hurt (or worse) as a result of the fast, Ms. Di Bona said that I was making a hero out of Mr. Bounville, and that, instead, I should be looking for a way to increase my participation in the movement, to, thereby, make a bigger difference.
Here I was, increasing my participation with the vigil, precisely to avoid the need for Mr. Bounville to begin the fast, and Ms. Di Bona told me that I should be looking to myself to show leadership, instead of hanging all my hopes on only Mr. Bounville. I didn’t understand what Ms. Di Bona was trying to say. I kept thinking that, through solemn communication with Sen. Gillibrand’s legislative and campaign staff, we could use logic, reason, and persuasion to demonstrate to Sen. Gillibrand that America was ready for the American Equality Bill. And once she became convinced, then the need for the fast would be moot. But nobody in Sen. Gillibrand’s office would acknowledge anything about the American Equality Bil, and the growing number of my YouTube videos were having no acknowledged impact within her offices.
Late into my second week of the vigil, after Mr. Bounville had directly addressed the subject of the fast in at least a couple of my YouTube videos, I decided I was going to spend a night at the vigil, to experience for myself the sacrifice that Ms. Di Bona and Mr. Bounville had been making.
I arrived at about 6 p.m. on Day 34 of the vigil, this would have marked the 14th consecutive day that I had visited the vigil since the first time I had encountered it. (I will recount my evening’s experience below.) After we all woke up to Day 35, either Ms. Di Bona and Mr. Bounville again mentioned the upcoming fast. And again, I said to Mr. Bounville that I did not agree with the fast. I think I had recounted to him what I had remembered what I had heard Cleve Jones mention at his public speech in Jackson Heights last year, namely, that the movement was looking for a focus, and an upcoming rally at that time was meant to connect various activists and to build a national community to the movement. (This is what I remember him saying, so I may be simplifying or summarising his message. Watch my first video in the series I made of his speech.) I told Mr. Bounville that the LGBT rights movement was in need of leaders with a vision, that his life was worth more to be here and present, to help the movement find a focus.
Then came the moment of truth.
That’s when Mr. Bounville challenged me. He said that my argument in opposing the fast sounded more like I didn’t want him to begin the fast, because I wanted him to do the harder work (or all of the hard work) in the LGBT rights movement, so that I could do softer work, or no work at all.
That’s when it all became clear for me. I did want to go back to doing my occassional YouTube video, I did want to go back to having no vigil to visit each day, I did want to go back to watching my Netflix movies and reading my vast amounts of unread books. I wanted Mr. Bounville to be the leader, because the kind of work that he and Ms. Di Bona do and have been doing are exhausting, activists like they open themselves up to criticisms by other LGBT activists, and they draw harassment from haters.
I had to admit that I did want Mr. Bounville to do the harder work, so I could be among the ones, who did the softer work.
All along I had been complaining to Mr. Bounville and Ms. Di Bona about why there weren’t more LGBT activists participating in the vigil. I’m not just talking about average LGBT activists, I was mentioning major LGBT activits that I know about. I thought about all of my Facebook friends, who have been seeing all the links, posts, pictures, or YouTube videos that I have been posting on Facebook since Oct. 17.
They must still be waiting for activists, like Ms. Di Bona or Mr. Bounville to do all of the harder work, so that they could just do the softer work.
What it was like to spend one night on the sidewalk with the QueerSOS! vigil outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office.
I arrived at about 6 p.m. on Day 34 with 2 new, clean blankets that I had bought at a bargain shop, some basic necessities, and my computer case. I had with me my wallet, my Blackberry, and my computer. I had planned to start writing this blog post while outside, but it was too cold to type, I was visiting and talking to some of the activists, who had stopped by to visit the vigil, and then it became too late. At about 11:30 p.m., I laid down my blankets, and turned in for the night.
I spread out one blanket on the cold sidewalk for warmth and cushion, and I was going to use the other blanket to cover myself for warmth. I shoved my wallet into one of my front pockets, and, with a little string, I tied the handles to my computer case to my wrist. It wasn’t easy to lay down on my side, because I could feel the pressure and discomfort of the cold sidewalk all against my rib cage. I wanted to stay curled up like that for warmth, but I couldn’t stay like that for long. Eventually, I settled for that curled position and laying flat on my back, even though I felt more exposed and vulnerable laying on my back. I woke up many times during the night to change between these two positions.
I also woke up many times during the night, because of all of the pre-Halloween parties. There were many people out in their costumes on Saturday night, going to Halloween eve parties, drunkedly expressing themselves in their loud, young ways. When I woke up, at about 7 a.m. on Day 35, I had an urgent need to go the bathroom. My hands felt frozen, and I couldn’t find my gloves. One of my plastic bags (in which I had brought my blankets) was missing. I quietly gathered myself and went to a local Starbucks to use a public bathroom. As casually as I could, I pretended like the only reason I was there was for a short double soy latte.
Between two visits to the bathroom, I checked Facebook. I couldn’t really focus on the LGBT civil rights aspect of having just spent one night at the vigil outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office, because I was more focused on what it was like to be homeless. As I wrote on Facebook, I was angry that we just awoke to Day 35 of the vigil, and still the Honourable Senator had yet to issue any public statement either about the vigil or her support for the American Equality Bill. It was unbelievable and a shock to the conscious of any reasonable man. After I returned to the vigil, that was when the convesation leading up to the moment of truth happened. Sleeping outside Sen. Gillibrand’s office is certainly not easy work, and it is not pretty. It is hard on the body, and I could see how it could be frustrating if you keep expecting some kind of honourable communication from Sen. Gillibrand’s office, one that hadn’t yet come in 35 days. She claims to support LGBT civil rights, but expressing empty words of support mean nothing if she is incapable of showing leadership to introduce legislation that would do something about actually extending civil rights to 30 million Americans. It is almost always in the news that some municipality or state has passed another law that codifies de jure discrimination against LGBT Americans. Sen. Gillibrand, with friends like you ….
The shocking thing is that after midnight tonight, Mr. Bounville plans to begin a water-only fast. I only hope that Sen. Gillibrand does have an honourable conscious, because she is going to have to do a lot of soul searching to discover her capacity for integrity, courage, and leadership. All we are asking is that she file the American Equality Bill today, so that we can start mobilising to make sure that it passes tomorrow. It is a very simple request to made of an ally. I invite you to call Sen. Gillibrand’s office, and ask her yourself when is she going to file the American Equality Bill. Dial 1-212-688-6262.
Flyering in Union Square ; batch of flyers at the LGBT Center on West 13th Street
As I gathered my belongings to leave the vigil and return home, I found myself shifting some things out of some bags and into others. I’d seen homeless people do this before, and I realised what the importance of shifting your things is all about. It is a way to take an inventory of what you still have, and it is also a way of keeping track what is in what bag. After I came home and showered, I went to Union Square, where I was passing out flyers about Sen. Gillibrand’s gay rights record. I was accosted by two people, one who said that biology made it unnatural to be gay, and she should know, because she studied biology. And the other person told me that he new how to fix the gay problem in American. « The cure for gays is hate » he said. After some time, I walked across town and left some flyers in the news room of the LGBT Center on West 13th Street. On my way home, I stopped by briefly at the vigil, to check in. Ms. Di Bona had found my silver ring, which had apparently slipped off my cold and numb hands during my visit on Friday night. I kept my visit as brief as possible, because the fast is practially here. I am completely uncomfortable now, out of my safety zone, and I feel like I am all of a sudden having to do some of the harder work, and as of midnight tonight, I won’t have Ms. Di Bona or Mr. Bounville to turn to for guidance. Once the fast begins, they are going to limit communication with everybody.
The only communication that will make any difference at all, as it well it could have or would have during the last now 36 days (as of this morning), is any communication to come out of Sen. Gillibrand’s office. Mr. Bounville will begin the hard work of his fast, I will continue with the harder work in my Where is Kirsten ? campaign, others will continue to do the hard work that they are doing, and still yet others will be moved by the fast to do other harder work. And the whole world will be watching.
This post is in the process of being re-edited for clarity and typos, I rushed the post for the sake of trying to make a difference today.
Sen. Gillibrand at a recent campaign event.
An anonymous LGBT ally sent us this photo today of a recent speaking event, at which Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was photographed. Please send us spy reports to : americanequalitybill@gmail.com
Remember to call the Honourable Senator's office at 1-212-688-6262. Record yourself using a digital camera, and post your video on YouTube. Follow the style of Lady Gaga's famous Don't Ask, Don't Tell video. Then, e-mail us the link, so we can post it on Facebook and on our blog. americanequalitybill@gmail.com
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says that she is an ally of LGBT Americans. Really ?
On November 2, the Civil Rights Fast will begin.
This is an escalation of the QueerSOS vigil, which was started on September 27 by a group of New Yorkers, who have been standing/sitting/sleeping outside of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office. The LGBT activists have been waiting for Sen. Gillibrand to file an LGBT civil rights bill, which adds "sexual orientation and gender identity" to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Gay Rights Rally outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's NYC Legislative Office - American Equality Bill
On October 26, 2010, Iana Di Bona and others gathered outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Legislative Office in Midtown Manhattan for a demonstration to support the American Equality Bill. Since September 27, the Honourable Senator has been avoiding LGBT civil rights activists holding vigil outside her campaign office, so we decided to hold a direct action outside her legislative office.
Sen. Gillibrand has said that she supports extending civil rights to all LGBT Americans. The American Equality Bill would amend civil rights laws, for example by adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This evening's demonstration was themed a "Chalking Party," and its intention was for participants to write messages in support of the American Equality Bill on the sidewalk outside the Honourable Senator's office building. However, police had warned demonstrators that using children's chalk on a public sidewalk would be considered an act of graffiti.
End Homophobia and LGBT Dislocation Message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - QueerSOS Vigil Day 33
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is asked to do her part to end each of homophobia, de jure discrimination (which means discrimination that is legalised and written into law), the geographical dislocation of LGBT Americans. In rural and small towns, and in Red states, LGBT Americans feel unwanted, unwelcome, and unsafe.
Sen. Gillibrand, file the American Equality Bill today, so that all LGBT Americans can have the same civil rights. We all deserve to enjoy the amasing beauty of this country ; LGBT Americans shouldn't have to run away from beautiful states like Indiana or Kentucky.
If Sen. Gillibrand makes no public statement before November 2 (''Election Day'') about her plans to file the American Equality Bill, then Alan Bounville has said that he will begin a water-only fast, to pressure the Honourable Senator to file the American Equality Bill.
This video was made on Day 33 of the QueerSOS! vigil outside of Sen. Gillibrand's New York City campaign office. It was about 50° outside on a windy Friday night when this video was made.
A message from Lady Gaga to the Senate Sept 16 2010
''Our fight is a continuum of the ever present equal rights movement,'' said Lady Gaga in her YouTube video (at 1:40).
In this video, Lady Gaga calls her United Senator to ask him to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Just like her, you need to call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to file the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill would extend civil rights to everybody in the LGBT community.
Call Sen. Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Call : 1-212-688-6262.
Vigil for LGBT Civil Rights - Outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
On October 18, 2010, Alan Bounville was celebrating his birthday by continuing a vigil for LGBT civil rights.
Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.
