Prom is for Everyone!

Show your support for Constance by changing your profile picture on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other online sites to the ACLU's "Prom is for Everyone" logo for the weekend. Not only will you be letting all your online friends know that you support the right of Constance and other students to bring same-sex dates to prom, but you'll also be generating awareness online.

http://aclu.org/prom4all

Students - Know Your Rights!

This is for all American public school students who are Queer or allied. This is a small write up about your rights provided by the ACLU - Get Busy, Get Equal!

"If you experience any problems at school, first talk to your principal or another official. If nothing happens it's time to take action.

HARASSMENT:
If you are being harassed, or witness harassment, report it to the principal, a counselor, or another official immediately, and keep notes with dates and descriptions of all incidents and when you reported them. Being silent may seem easier but it will not end the abuse, and you have the right to be yourself and safe.

PRIVACY:
Teachers and school officials do NOT have the right to "out" you to anyone without your permission or use your sexual orientation to manipulate you in any way.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH:
Sometimes schools try to silence students who are open about their sexual orientation. If you go to a public school you have a constitutional right to be out of the closet and express your opinions.

GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCES:
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA's) are non-curricular student clubs, just like Chess clubs or Key Clubs, that allow students with a common interest to get together and have discussions and activities. The law says public schools must allow GSA's if other student clubs exist.

*For info on starting or being part of a GSA go to GLSEN or call 212-727-0135

PROM:
Public schools cannot stop you from bringing a same-sex date to prom. Federal law protects this as freedom of expression, and you cannot be barred from prom because of your date's gender."

If you are encountering difficulty, the ACLU can provide free assistance... Do not hesitate to contact them with questions about your rights or to ask for legal assistance.

getequal@aclu.org
Phone: 212-549-2627

Take Action to Pass Marriage Bill in New York

The New York Civil Liberties Union has unveiled a project called Marriage NY that gives the tools necessary to battle for marriage equality.

There are only 14 days left in the legislative season, time is of the essence!

1. Goto the site, spread the word on twitter, and email friends and family.

2. Send a letter to your senator.

3. Look up and call your senators office.

4. Send a free fax to your senator ONLINE without a fax machine!

Join the phone bank for marriage fairness.

• Thursday, June 11
• Tuesday, June 16
• Thursday, June 18

Volunteer at Pride Events!

• Brooklyn: Saturday, June 13
• Long Island: Sunday, June 14
• Albany: Sunday, June 14
• Syracuse: Saturday, June 20
• Bronx: Saturday, June 20
• New York City: Sunday, June 28
• Rochester: Saturday, July 18-19
• Pride in the City (Black Pride): Aug 7 – 8

Contact Lead Organizer Erica Braudy to get involved!
ebraudy@nyclu.org | 212.607.3361

New Guide for NY'ers Married Out of State

The Empire State Pride Agenda, the ACLU, the NYCLU, and Lambda Legal have collaborated to create a document called Your Government Respects Your Marriage: Developments in New York State Agency Recognition of Same-Sex Couples’ Out-of-State Marriages.

ACLU: "We're Losing California Marriage"

Open Forum: (Free Speech) Where do We Draw the Line?

A few interesting and controversial headlines have popped up in the news and the gay blogosphere that raise some important questions. At what point is gay activism intruding upon free speech and freedom of expression rights? Freedom of speech and expression must be protected even for anti-gay forces, because if we don't have these basic freedoms it becomes a slippery slope and eventually we will not have the right to express our opinions.

I write this in light of some stories recently, such as a student who wore a t-shirt to school saying "Be Happy - Not Gay!" at a diversity event, who got in trouble. The courts have since ruled she is entitled to wear the shirt.

What about Crystal Dixon's case with the University of Toledo V.P. of Human Resources who outside the university wrote an opinion column denouncing homosexuality, claiming it is a choice. She has been fired under grounds that she mentioned she was a worker at the school and is now suing the school.

Finally there was the case at Smith College, where the College Republicans brought in Ryan Sorba who created a book called "The Born Gay Hoax" who spoke about bogus research regarding LGBT people. Students interrupted his anti-gay speech by screaming "We're Here, We're Queer, get used to it" the student protesters overwhelmed the room forcing Mr. Sorba to leave the campus and cancel his speech.

Youtube clip of the Smith protest:


What do you think about GLBT activism and where do we draw the line to ensure free speech rights, or is it okay to intrude upon the free speech of others when they seek to intrude on our civil liberties and spread falsehoods about our community?