NCOD 2005: I'm bisexual and I vote!

[yesthattom]

Today is National Coming Out Day. If you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, make an effort to tell someone today. If you know someone who is... thank them for being honest and sharing their life with you.

Click on this link to tell all your elected representatives that you are LGBTI and you vote! It takes 2 minutes and will change the world!

(NJ zipcodes only.)

Dear Friend,

As the country observes National Coming Out Day, October 11, we would†like to underline the importance of having an honest discussion about our sexual orientation. National Coming Out Day is fundamentally about promoting honesty, openness and tolerance. In our diverse society, it†is important to ensure that all Americans are treated with basic fairness and equality-nothing more, nothing less.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Interesex (LGBTI) Americans have made†great strides toward equality in the past several decades. However, there remains much work to be done. This work has always begun with simple declarations of honesty by one individual at a time. By breaking down stereotypes and raising awareness, coming out can be a transformative event both for the person sharing their story and the person receiving the information.

National Coming Out Day is also a time to recognize that LGBT Americans are a valuable part of society and live and work in every part of this country. According to the 2000 census, 99.3 percent of all counties nationwide include same-sex couples; between one and nine†million children are being raised by gay, lesbian, or bisexual parents; there are at least 3.1 million people living together in same-sex relationships; and there are more than one million gay or lesbian veterans. In Congress, LGBT employees are members of the†Lesbian & Gay Congressional Staff Association (LGCSA) or the Gay Lesbian and Ally Senate Staff Caucus (GLASS) which work to promote the welfare of LGBT employees of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate respectively. There are about 1 million LGBTI citizens in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, discrimination against LGBTI Americans is still†prevalent around our nation. In the majority of states, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people can still be fired from their jobs, simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. New Jersey still permits discrimination against transgendered and intersex people. Although the FBI indicates that the overall number of hate crimes has been declining, the number of hate crimes committed specifically against gay Americans is increasing. Other data indicate that hate crimes against transgender Americans are prevalent. It is time that we build an America where we show respect and compassion for one another in spite of our differences - and more importantly, because of our similarities.

TELL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE EXIST. There is power in numbers. They can’t represent us if they don’t know who we are.

Please take a moment to click on this link to send a brief message to your elected officials. It will automatically go to Bush, Jr, Cheney, Senators Corzine and Lautenberg, your House Representative, Acting Governor Codey, and your state representatives.
http://capwiz.com/njlgc/issues/alert/?alertid=8104311&type=ML

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Join NJLGC: http://www.njlgc.org/join
Renew your membership: http://www.njlgc.org/renew
http://www.njlgc.org

Comments

[misteropinion.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's a good thing, but it still deserves a cut, at least around the letter, especially since the link is regional. Anything more than a screenfull deserves a cut.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

STOP STARING AT MY TITS

[misteropinion.livejournal.com]

Hee, weren't you supposed ot make that be a link back to here? :-p

[pyffe.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'm really interested in telling Bush that I'm bisexual. And why have I not heard of this Coming Out Day sooner? Guess I'm not on the list.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

The first NCOD was Oct 11, 1988. It celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the 1987 March On Washington for L/G Rights and Liberation.

[lordlnyc.livejournal.com]

Since that is only for NJ I will post the subject line I would has used here.

I'm an LGBTI Supporter And I Vote!

- Larry -

copy of the email i just sent to info@njlgc.org

[geeksdoitbetter.livejournal.com]

hey, there

um, so you're website offering to let folks 'tell someone today' - you
require folks to choose a gender defining prefix

*blink*

might wanna think on that some - not everyone wants to be a varient of
mister/miss. at the very least have an option for 'blank'

Re: copy of the email i just sent to info@njlgc.org

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

You do know that I run that web site, right?

Sadly, the software we use asks Mr/Mrs/etc. and we can't control that. I've put in a request to permit other options.

Re: copy of the email i just sent to info@njlgc.org

[geeksdoitbetter.livejournal.com]

good job!