HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best wishes to you, your family, and the other special people in your life as many people around the world celebrate in the next few days. Regardless of your religious affiliation (or lack thereof), may we all wish for a renewed sense of hope for LGTB people in the coming year.

SEE YOU AFTER THE HOLIDAYS!!!

Student Escapes Oppression in Malaysia

It is good to read a story of someone successfully leaving behind oppression and bigotry, even though it is sad when people have to leave the country of their birth to do it.

READ STORY HERE

It is wonderful that nations like Ireland afford a place for non heterosexual people from oppressive countries.

The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland can be contacted with CONGRATLATIONS on their government's policies here:

POST A SUPPORTIVE COMMENT

The push for gay rights in Africa

The fight for lgbt human rights in Africa is lagging.

BBC Story Here

Support the LGTB Community in Russia

The international community is standing with Russian lgtb people in the face of blatant discrimination and persecution.

More Information Here

Show the U.N. you are supportive of the effort to protest these actions. Send a LETTER ---yes a good old fashioned letter---to:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Plan a House Party!!!!

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs all the help it can get in spreading the world for human rights. You can host a gathering of friends, neighbors, and members of your community.

FIND MORE INFORMATION HERE

CONNECT!!!!!!!

The best way to build a movement to eradicate the threatened imprisonment and execution of lgtb people across the globe is for people to connect with each other to affect change. If you are in a country where legal lgtb persecution is the law or in a country with greater freedoms, please take an opportunity to connect with others.

Email: emadison2011@gmail.com with your name (if you can give it) and your contact information (mail or email).

You will be matched with a person from around the globe with which to correspond.

Why do this?

* Build international relationships to further lgtb rights.
* Understand the issues facing lgtb people around the globe.
* Learn how we can help each other in our local struggles and challenges.
* Foster multicultural relationships within our global lgtb community.

SIGN UP TODAY!!!

The Catholic Crusade Against LGTB People Worldwide

The Roman Catholic Church is one of the most influential non-governmental bodies in the world. And its views of lgtb people is a major obstacle for those striving to uphold the humanity of lgtb people. The Catholic Church claims that it is dedicated to the "dignity" and "respect" of non-heterosexual people, but the doctrine that it espouses contradicts that fact. In essence, the Catholic Church proclaims to the world that:

* LGTB people are inherently broken and "defective" human beings in terms of their sexuality, a prime component of a person's existence.
* Being LGTB people is something to be ashamed of and remorseful about in all ways. In 2006, the U.S. Catholic bishops even advised gay Catholics to not even tell people in their parishes that they were gay.
* Gay and lesbian people are a threat to families and children.
* Gay people are not entitled to close, intimate relationships that non-heterosexual people take for granted.
* Gay people are "the other"--- not fully "normal".

This type of dogma not only causes significant damage to the self esteem of lgbt people worldwide, but also is the foundation to justify many types of discrimination and harrassment. People have the right to their religious beliefs, but when their religious beliefs negatively impact other members of the community it is inherently just to oppose them.

Contact the Catholic bishop in your area and let them know that you oppose the Catholic Church's anti-gay agenda.

FIND YOUR AREA BISHOP HERE