LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Equality Begins at Home: A Program of ACLU-DE |
by Beth Dewson Flying back from the July, 1998, meeting of the Federation of the States (sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force), I made a list of all of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) organizations and allied organizations in Delaware. I was amazed at the number of organizations working for better health care for people with HIV/AIDS, working on or supporting statewide legislative efforts, organizing on college campuses, supporting family and friends of LGBT persons, focusing on decreasing violence, and organizing new groups. As small as Delaware is, there is progress to be made towards establishing an effective system of communications, networking, and coalition building among all these groups. "Equality Begins at Home" provides us with the opportunity to do this, and the ACLU-DE (American Civil Liberties Union, Delaware chapter) is taking the lead role in organizing this effort. "Equality Begins at Home" (EB@H) is a national campaign to strengthen, unite, and promote equality for LGBT communities at the state level. During the week of March 21-27, 1999, communities in each state and territory across the country will engage in an unprecedented week of nationally coordinated actions designed to draw national attention to the critical need to organize effectively at the state level to fight the stepped up attacks from the right and to achieve equality. Political momentum has shifted to the states. Civil rights, health care access, school safety, and adoption are only some of the issues facing our community at the state level. Stronger statewide LGBT groups are necessary to face the challenges from the religious right, to move forward, and to make public officials, both state and national, more accountable to LGBT citizens and our allies. The Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Project of the ACLU-DE is the recipient of a $5000 grant with which we will be sponsoring a Lobby Day at Legislative Hall in Dover on Thursday, March 25, 1999. There is a Lobbying Workshop scheduled in the morning to be followed by an afternoon of meeting with legislators to discuss issues that impact all of our daily lives. Please mark the date! Our vision for the First Annual Lobby Day is to provide transportation from each end of the state to all who are interested in joining us. Educating everyone on effective ways to lobby legislators, and outreach to under represented communities is a priority as we want to bring all LGBT Delawareans to Dover. Come join us for a piece of apple pie in YOUR state capitol! Events will be planned leading up to the EB@H week. The participation of all organizations and interested people will be critical to mobilizing the community, building our strength and visibility, and having a record turnout for Lobby Day. Please plan to join us for this historic event. For more information or to join our mailing list, visit our website: www.equalitybeginsathome.org; e-mail: EqualityDE@aol.com ; write: P.O. Box 700, Montchanin, DE 19710; or call the hot-line at 800-292-0429. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 5, 1999 |