Join us in Anchorage this Saturday at the National Equality March support rally for Alaska's one congressional district, an LGBTA rally at Loussac Library for "Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states."
The Anchorage rally was reported in yesterday's post, 6 Things Alaskans Can Do This Week for LGBT Rights, but I want to highlight it today with another inspiring NEM video:
Why rally at Loussac, the site of this summer's attempt to gain equal protection under the law in the Anchorage Municipality? Why return to the scene of the crime, after the Assembly chair rudely dismissed us from the chambers just last week?
It's time to show Ossiander that we will not go away quietly and let them continue to discriminate against us in silence. We will not slink back to our "unacceptable lifestyle" and let religious fanatics determine our legal rights in our town. Instead, the LGBT community and our many allies will work for and gain equality under federal law. The mayor and assembly chair and local bigots are only big fish in the small pond of Anchorage, they cannot make the whole country and all of Congress bow down to their fear of us.
It's time to join LGBTA people all across this country and Rally for National Equality!
The Anchorage support rally for the National Equality March will be at Loussac Library, 36th and Denali Street, on Saturday, Oct 10 from 10 a.m. (the start time of the DC rally) until 6 p.m. Join us for an hour or stay for the whole day. Bring big (easy to read) signs, warm clothes, and all of your equality-loving friends. See you on Saturday!
Please consider having somebody from each of your events register and file real-time blog posts with our group. We want all of the solidarity events to accumulate their stories as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
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iQreport and Live Blogging Make Debut at National Equality March
In a move that could change the way in which news from grassroots journalists reaches the mainstream media, NEM organizers are supporting the United Equality New Media team as they enlist volunteer bloggers, vloggers, and podcasters to participate in spreading the word about the hopes and dreams of march attendees.
Jay Morris, the committee chairman who produces the blog “JaySays,” is most excited about the live blogging, which will allow iQreporters to stream content live from the weekend's premier events. The live blogs will utilize some of the latest advances in new media technology and allow the iQreporters to upload videos, photos, audio clips, and real-time blog posts. The one common purpose for all of the iQreports is to document how the failure to lead in issues of LGBT equality on the part of the federal government is impacting people's lives.
“Perhaps when our federal legislators see how much inequality exists from one coast to the other in this country, the need for equal protection at the federal level will become more evident,” Morris says. Fellow organizer Genia Stevens has similar feelings. "I'm excited to be a part of what I believe is the most aggressive, progressive and diverse gay rights movement of our time," she writes. Stevens is the producer and host of SistersTalk Radio. Waymon Hudson, who blogs with The Bilerico Project, is also a leader of the team.
Any new media enthusiast with a reasonable amount of blogging experience who wants to try live blogging is asked to apply for consideration by visiting the United Equality New Media registration page. Traditional bloggers may simply choose to follow the Twitter posts of user “iQreport” on their cell phones in order to be in prime locations for a good story. An iQreport is an LGBT derivative of an "iReport."
The idea of using new media was born out of necessity. Derek Washington, the NEM Director of Diversity Outreach, was struggling with how to reach a representative sampling of march attendees, and in the process was introduced to Mickey Rowe, an EEO certified investigator. Rowe's mandate was to “…create inclusion within our community as well as demand it for all LGBT people.” After Rowe and his husband, Lester Leavitt, were introduced to Morris, the idea of the iQreport was born. Leavitt is a third-year student in multi-media journalism who has more than 25 years of experience in business development and marketing.
For more information, contact:
Jay Morris
http://iQreport.usfreedomring.com
iQreport@gmail.com
210-880-LGBT