LGBT groups take stand against war
By Leslie Feinberg
A number of leaders of lesbian, gay, bi and trans groups
across the United States have announced their plans to hold a
media conference on Nov. 8 in Portland, Ore., to "address the
impending war against Iraq, the Bush administration's continued
infringement on civil rights and civil liberties in the United
States, and their implications on the wider LGBT
community."
The news conference will take place at the opening of the
annual Creating Change conference, sponsored by the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).
An impressive list of confirmed speakers at the press
conference includes: Faisal Alam, founder and director of
Al-Fatiha Foundation for LGBT Muslims; Surina Khan, executive
director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission; Dayo Gore, chair of the Police Violence Working
Group, Audre Lorde Project; Lorri L. Jean, executive director
of NGLTF; Craig Bowman, executive director of the National
Youth Advocacy Coalition; Joseph DeFilippis, coordinator of
Queer Economic Justice Network; Mandy Carter, long-time
anti-war activist from Durham, N.C; Katherine Acey, executive
director of the Astrea Lesbian Action Foundation; Susanna
Fried, co-chair of Amnesty International OUTfront Steering
Committee; Kay Whitlock, special representative for LGBT
Programs of the American Friends Service Committee; YK Hong,
organizer and activists, Freedom Trainers; and Carmen Vasquez,
long-time LGBT activist from New York City.
In the news release, Faisal Alam stated, "The Bush
administration continues to violate domestic and international
law by its continued aggression in the name of a 'war on
terrorism.' We must stand united as a progressive LGBT
community and speak out for peace and justice.
"National Gay and Lesbian Task Force should be applauded for
creating an opportunity for progressive LGBT people to discuss
the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policies and
their impact on our communities," Alam added. "We urge NGLTF
and other justice-seeking LGBT organizations to take a firm and
vocal stance against war, while standing firm in its commitment
to social justice."
News conference organizers said they plan anti-war
mobilizing actions, including leafleting, distributing buttons
and stickers, petitioning and holding a community-wide dialogue
about the war, the Bush administration's post Sept. 11 policies
and how they have impacted on LGBT people and
organizations.
Those supporting the news conference and anti-war organizing
include the Out Against the War Coalition, the Fairness
Campaign of Louisville, Ky., African Ancestral Lesbians United
for Societal Change, Queers Against the War, Queers for Racial
and Economic Justice, the Queer Economic Justice Network and
the Lavender Green Caucus of the U.S. Green Party.
Kevin Weaver, spokesperson for the Out Against the War
Coalition, urged the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex
communities, "including national and international
organizations, to take a clear, visible and vocal stand
opposing all wars, especially the Bush administration's unjust
war against the Iraqi people."
The news release listed LGBT and allied organizations that
have issued or will soon issue statements "opposing the Bush
administration's (current and past) war plans and its continued
infringement on civil rights and civil liberties since Sept.
11."
These groups include: Al-Fatiha, the Audre Lorde Project,
the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, The International Gay
and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Astrea Lesbian Action
Foundation, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the United
Church of Christ, the Christian Church-Disciples of Christ and
the American Friends Service Committee.
In addition, the AFL-CIO labor federation's Pride At Work--a
broad organization of LGBT union members--issued a resolution
Oct. 3 "against U.S. preemptive attacks and war."
The Out Against the War Coalition news release concluded
that since Sept. 11, hundreds of thousands of people have
rallied and marched in cities across the U.S. and around the
world to protest the domestic and foreign policies of the Bush
administration.
The International ANSWER coalition--Act Now to Stop War
& End Racism--formed shortly after Sept.11, has invited
LGBT leaders to speak at every one of its mass demonstrations
against the U.S. war and the racist roundup of Arab, South
Asian and Muslim people in this country.
Reprinted from the Nov. 14, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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