Occupy NYC LGBT Center Video

Activists #Occupy the New York City LGBT Community Center to protest the censorship of the Palestinian LGBTQS solidarity group, Siegebusters.

Since March 2011, the NYC LGBT Community Center has banned Palestine solidarity activists (queer and non-LGBT) from meeting at the Center and imposed a "moratorium" on any discussion of the Palestinian struggle. This censorship, in response to pressure from wealthy supporters of Israel's anti-Palestinian policies, flies in the face of our community's commitment to diversity and offering safe space for discussion of "controversial" issues. Petitions, appeals to meet with the Center's board of directors, calls and letters have not succeeded in winning back our right to free speech and assembly.

LGBT Activists Arrested Protests

Since 2009, 329 LGBT Americans and their allies have been arrested in protests in the United States for LGBT civil rights, marriage equality, and an end to all forms of de jure discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In what can reasonably be described as a giant "wave" of political protests in connection with the LGBT liberation movement, several acts of civil disobedience and other forms of direct action have taken place since 2009 to end the U.S. government's and the American culture's oppression of LGBT Americans.

Following below, is a brief summary of known protests, which resulted in the political arrests of activists. Not only are LGBT activists fighting the de jure discrimination embedded within the laws of the United States, but, in cracking down on political dissidents, the United States can also be seen as further violating the human rights of these freedom fighters.

DATE *	DESCRIPTION OF PROTEST AND ARREST(S) **
May 26, 2009	211 arrested for shutting down freeway in SF over Prop 8 ruling. [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
February 12, 2010	Four people were arrested at the NYC marriage Bureau : Alan Bounville, Jake Goodman, Justin Elzie, and Gabriel Yuri Bollag.
March 18, 2010,	Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo were arrested after they chained themselves to the White House fence in a protest of the Military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy (DADT) ; Robin McGehee was also arrested.
March 18, 2010	Ten arrested (4 in DC and 6 in SF) : [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
April 20, 2010	Six military activists were arrested at the White House fence during a subsequent protest against DADT : Those, who were arrested, were identified to be : Lt. Dan Choi, Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, Petty Officer Larry Whitt, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cadet Mara Boyd and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas.
April 26, 2010	Five arrested in Phoenix at McCain’s office over DADT. The names of the people, who were arrested, are : First Class Petty Officer Lonnie Allen Howard-Stidham, Meg Sneed, Jimmy Gruender, Luisa Valdez, and Lee Walters.
May 2, 2010	Six civilian activists were arrested at the White House fence during still yet another protest against DADT : Anne Tischer, Nora Camp, Alan Bounville, Natasha Dillon, Iana Di Bona, and Mark Reed.
May 20, 2010	13 arrested in Chicago at Durbin’s office over the draft congressional bill known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
May 26, 2010	Kip Williams arrested at Obama Fundraiser over DADT.
July 21, 2010	13 arrested in Las Vegas for shutting down the freeway over ENDA. [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
July 28, 2010	Eight people were arrested at the Rotunda because of their support of ENDA. The people, who were arrested in this act of civil disobedience, were identified to be : Orelia Busch of D.C.; Charles Butler of D.C.; Sean Carlson of Hyattsville, Md.; Shannon Cuttle of D.C.; Robert Diesu of D.C.; Erika Knepp of Edgewater, Md.; David McElhatton of San Francisco, Calif.; and Zack Rosen of D.C.
October 8, 2010	Alan Bounville and Iana Di Bona were arresting during a ''die-in'' at Grand Central Terminal in New York City; the protest was staged to bring attention to the lives that are being lost due to homophobia/transphobia/bullying against LGBT people
October 14, 2010,	Alan Bounville was arrested while he and Iana Di Bona were holding a vigil for LGBT civil rights outside Sen. Gillibrand's New York City campaign office.
November 15, 2010	13 activists were arrested, after they had handcuffed themselves to the White House fence in protest of DADT. [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
November 16 2010,	Audrey Smith was arrested after she refused to leave a sit-in that she and Tyson Daniels and Caryn Winters had organised at the office of Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Carney.
February 14, 2011	Six activists were arrested in Chicago during a Valentine's Day protest. The names of the people, who were arrested, are : Cassandra Avenatti, Lindsey Dietzler, Corrine Mina, Noa Francis Shayden, Judy Heithmar, and Danelle Wylder.
February 14, 2011	18 arrested in San Francisco following a marriage license protest. [A forthcoming link with follow to a link with a list of many names as publicly available of the people, who were arrested.]
March 1, 2011	Eight members of Queer Rising were arrested in New York City following a protest in support of marriage equality. The people, who were arrested, were identified to be : Kevin Beauchamp, blind gay activist; Nora Camp, queer activist; Natasha Dillon, lesbian activist; Frostie Flakes (aka Adam Siciliano), drag queen activist; Jake Goodman, queer activist; Honey LaBronx (aka Ben Strothmann), drag queen activist; Eugene Lovendusky, gay activist; Kitten Withuwip (aka Caldwell) drag queen activist.
March 9, 2011	Five people were arrested at House Speaker John Boehner’s office over the Speaker's plan to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The names of the people, who were arrested, are : Sean Watkins, Morgan Bonney, Jesse Bonney, Liz Mills, and Karay Miller.
April 4, 2011	Five LGBT activists were arrested following a series of coordinated political protests in New York City. The activists, who were arrested, were identified to be : Natasha Dillon (26, lesbian activist); Kevin Donohue (51, gay Jewish activist); Melissa Kleckner (31, straight ally); Ali Lozano (20, lesbian student activist); and Robert Moore (30, gay Mormon activist).
June 6, 2011	Three arrested in North Carolina over proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage between man/woman. Those, who were arrested, were identified to be : Angel Chandler, the North Carolina organizer for GetEqual; her partner, Nancy Counce ; and Jim Neal, an Asheville city councilman who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Barack Obama LGBT Protest Sheraton NYC

UPDATE : Videos from #EvolveAlready Demonstration outside President Obama's first ever LGBT campaign fundraiser

When will President Obama's position on marriage equality evolve into a policy of "equality" ?

President Barack Obama is heading to New York City for a big LGBT fundraiser, but has not yet even declared support for one of the most basic human rights -- the freedom to marry. GetEQUAL is organising a protest outside the President's fundraiser at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Date : Thursday, June 23, 2011
Time : 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where : Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 811 7th Avenue (at 53rd Street), NYC

1996-02-15 Obama Marriage Equality Questionnaire

White House aide lies : 1996 Obama gay marriage questionnaire is a fake, even though Obama signed it.

Members of Connecting Rainbows will be joining members of GetEQUAL and other activists at the fundraiser on Thursday to demand that President Obama change his position back to one of support of marriage equality and that, before he collects a single campaign contribution check from our community, he publicly declare his support for marriage equality.

Will you join us? RSVP at the Facebook Event Page.

President Obama's LGBT fundraiser is coming off the heels of a very public flip-flop on marriage equality. At last week's Netroots Nation blog conference, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told conference participants that President Obama never supported marriage equality.

Some final, wise observations from Pam's House Blend : "The Empire State is on the cusp of passing full marriage equality and the President is parachuting in to pull out cash from the gAyTM this week. It's kind of hard to ignore what is happening in New York, but Team Obama will count on the gayz who like access not to press him on the obvious civil rights matter in the state's legislature."

Queer Rising Activists Arrested In Demonstration Supporting Marriage Equality

5 Activists Arrested Today For Blocking Traffic In Front Of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Office In Political Demonstration To Support Marriage Equality

NEW YORK - In a bid to raise political pressure on the passage of a marriage equality law in the state of New York, members of the LGBTQ activist organization Queer Rising held a series of coördinated protests in New York City, culminating in the arrest of 5 of the group's members.

A Trio of Actions for Marriage Equality from David Wallace on Vimeo.

In one phase of the protests, balloons were released inside Grand Central Station and floated up to the iconic ceiling. The balloons were attached to a large sign, which called on New Yorkers to put pressure on their government to demand marriage equality, according to a press release issued by Queer Rising.

In another phase of the protests, several activists blocked traffic near the intersection of East 41st Street and Third Avenue during rush hour ; the location was just outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. Once they blocked traffic, the activists unfurled a huge 75-foot banner that read, ''Marriage Equality NOW ! Call Cuomo : "518-474-8390 !!!'' Five members then handcuffed and chained themselves in the middle of the street. The activists, who were arrested, were identified to be : Natasha Dillon (26, lesbian activist); Kevin Donohue (51, gay Jewish activist); Melissa Kleckner (31, straight ally); Ali Lozano (20, lesbian student activist); and Robert Moore (30, gay Mormon activist).

In still yet another phase of today's protests, approximately 10 drag queens from a separate group calling itself Drag Queen Weddings for Equality organised a ''drag wedding'' at Grand Central to publicise the need for marriage equality in New York State. The drag queens then invited commuters to march in solidarity to Gov. Cuomo's office.

''Unwilling to wait any longer for equal rights and protection from the state of New York, Queer Rising is calling on all the New Yorkers to call the governor’s office and voice their support for marriage equality,'' the press release stated.

The Queer New York blog has published the text of the Queer Rising press release.

Activists Arrested After Blocking Traffic In New York City ; Activists Demand Marriage Equality

Members of the LGBT equality advocacy group called Queer Rising blocked traffic near Bryant Park on March 1, 2011, in an act of civil disobedience, demanding marriage equality in New York.

Eight activists from the were arrested after the group had unfurled a 75-foot banner and blocked traffic on 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas in New York City. The activists were later released by police, according to a statement issued by GetEQUAL.

The marriage equality demonstration was reported about by a network-affiliate news program on WPIX 11.

Following is the full statement from GetEQUAL, followed by additional links to other Internet coverage of the protest and the arrests.

Earlier this morning, eight activists were released from a NYC jail after they took action to stand up to our politicians' unceasing cowardice to do what's right for the LGBTQIA community. After years of waiting for marriage equality in New York and countless broken promises, members of the direct action group Queer Rising, allies of GetEQUAL in New York, demonstrated their growing frustration by sending a clear message to our elected officials.

At 8:30 this morning Kevin Beauchamp, Nora Camp, Natasha Dillon, Frostie Flakes (Adam Siciliano), Jake Goodman, Honey LaBronx (Ben Strothmann), Eugene Lovendusky, and Kitten Withuwip (Caldwell) blocked traffic at the intersection of 42nd Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, where they unfurled a 75-foot banner that read "NY DEMANDS MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW!" and chanted "I Am...Somebody! I Deserve...Full Equality! Right Here, Right Now! I Deserve...Full Equality!"

We know the courage these eight activists showed today is the same courage that lives inside many who are reading this email right now -- that the hunger for full equality that drives these activists is the same hunger that drove the suffragists to keep fighting for their right to vote; it's the same hunger that drove our civil rights fighters to keep fighting for their constitutional guarantee of equal protection, equal opportunity, equal access and equal justice; it's the same hunger that drives our fellow LGBTQIA brothers and sisters to keep fighting for the day when our dignity will be recognized, our love will be revered and our humanity will be respected.

Today's action is just the beginning of a sustained campaign that Queer Rising will be organizing in the months to come, in partnership with GetEQUAL and other civil rights activists in New York. If you're hunger for equality is pushing you toward taking up the fight, whether occasional grumblings or unrelenting pangs, today we invite you to take action for what is rightfully ours -- full equality!

If you want to get more involved with equality organizing in New York, email GetEQUAL.NY@gmail.com and we'll get you connected with opportunities in your area!

Every moment is one more opportunity to change your world...

Read More :

• Next Magazine : Queer Rising protesters clash with police on 42nd Street
• Pam's House Blend : Queer Rising NY marriage equality protest; live Tweeting by Village Voice's Steven Thrasher
• The Advocate : Activists Arrested in N.Y. Marriage Protest

AIDS Activists Arrested at Bloomberg Protest on World AIDS Day

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.

Gillibrand Election Victory Party Protest

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.