Homeland Security and the Grassroots Movement

This is not an LGBT post, per say, but I believe everyone should read this blog post from daily KOS. Richard, the blogger, is a great DFA and all around grasroots activists. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the adhoc 'Grassroots Advisory Council' he mentioned.

There was a time when I would have been shocked to learn that a meeting of Grassroots Deaniacs, like this one would be investigated by Homeland Security. But quite frankly, not much that Homeland Security does anymore surprises me. After all, the first two people investigated under the USA Patriot Anti-Terrorism Act and thrown in jail weren't terrorists at all, but rather over-zealous AIDS Activists. We simply cannot continue to let politicians manipulate fears about terrorism in order to violate basic liberties and constitutional rights of due process and fair treatment under the law.

Here is an advocates action alert, Thank you One Tree Hill for their sensitive portrayal of lesbian and bisexual women. The FCC gets complaints from the religious right all the time, but how often do they hear from you? Take P.A.R.T. provides you, an important member of the television viewing audience, with an opportunity to let broadcasters and the FCC know that you applaud their efforts to depict adolescent sexual health in an honest, accurate, and responsible manner.

The Take P.A.R.T. action alert for March 2013 recognizes ER and One Tree Hill for their sensitive portrayals of sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) youth face significant societal challenges to leading happy and healthy lives. Given the recent, homophobic legislation that passed in 11 states and the omission of the needs of GLBT youth in federally funded, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, this Take P.A.R.T. action alert encourages you to recognize ER and One Tree Hill by writing to the broadcasters and the FCC to express your support of their programming. To send a letter in support of ER to NBC and the FCC or a letter in support of One Tree Hill to The WB and the FCC, visit their website.

By now you've probably heard about the Virginia 'Affirmation of Marriage' Act. This extreme-right legislation bans civil unions, marriage equality, and goes one vindictive step further to ban any contract between gay or lesbian couples that is intended to protect their relationships and families. This bill was introduced by Republican Delegate Robert Marshall, notorious for his attacks on reproductive choice, and LGBT individuals.

Will Robert Marshall stay in the Virginia State Legislature? Well that's up to us. An excellent candidate, Bruce Roemmelt, has stepped up to the plate. He will be running against Marshall in the 13th District. Bruce, who was a firefighter for over 20 years, is running for office for the first time. He is running a strong grassroots campaign and has the support of many local Deaniacs. You can find out more about Bruce by visiting his website or reading this great article that was in a local paper yesterday. Bruce is off to a good start, shifting the focus from the extreme right's agenda to the real problems people face in his District.

Paul Yandura
Washington, DC