September 20, 2011
Hometowns in US to Hold Protests for Full Federal Equality
Robert Doyle READ TIME: 2 MIN.
WASHINGTON, DC - On Sept. 20, GetEQUAL - a national civil rights organization fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality - will mobilize organizers across the country to hold a "Day of Discontent." In more than a dozen cities across the country, local groups will stage rallies, protests and community meetings to call attention to the need for full federal equality for LGBT Americans on the same day the long-awaited repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy takes effect.
To view the complete list of participating cities, as well as additional information on each of the actions, please visit GetEQUAL's "Day of Discontent" map, here
Spanning from Norfolk, Virginia to Huntsville, Texas to Moscow, Idaho, the national "Day of Discontent" features over a dozen individual actions across the country, designed to serve as a reminder that the LGBT community is not equal in the eyes of the federal government and in most state laws. Each group will gather to urge their locally-elected officials to take the fight for full equality far beyond the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"It has taken 17 years of hard work to remove this discriminatory policy, and still our community faces discrimination and intolerance on a daily basis that this one important victory won't fix," says Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. "Tomorrow's collaborative effort by LGBT organizers across this nation will show lawmakers that we will not be content until we have full federal equality in all matters governed by civil law. We cannot and will not accept anything less - for ourselves, our families and our communities."
GetEQUAL is a national direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit www.getequal.org
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.