Forty years after Rep. Abzug filed Equality Act of 1974, LGBT elected officials lack such vision

40th Anniversary of the filing of the proposed Equality Act of 1974

From Queer Nation NY :

Forty years ago today, Bella Abzug quietly introduced legislation in the House that would have added sexual orientation to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. With a single reference in the Congressional Record reading “H.R. 14752. A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary,” Abzug made the very bold statement that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are entitled to the same rights and protections that are extended to every other American. That statement is as bold and as true today as it was 40 years ago.

• RELATED : On 40th Anniversary of the filing of the proposed Equality Act of 1974, Queer Nation NY reiterates its demand for comprehensive federal LGBT civil rights legislation (Facebook)

The next year, Abzug took to the House floor to introduce the legislation again.

“This bill would insure that gay individuals would be entitled to jobs, to housing, to education, to utilization of public accommodations, to participation in federally assisted programs, on the same basis as other Americans and would be provided with a legal remedy if such rights and opportunities were denied to them,” the New York Democrat said in 1975.

"What is at issue here is equal rights for all Americans,” she said. “Equal protection of the laws and respect for the rights of individuals are fundamental principles of our Constitution. I have long been a proponent of measures which would insure that these principles are guaranteed for all individuals -- women as well as men, married individuals as well as those who are unmarried, people of every nationality, ethnic groups, race, or religion. Likewise, sexual orientation should be no barrier to equal treatment under the law."

In 2014, our political leaders lack such a vision. They consider only what they believe can be won using focus group-tested rhetoric and slick ad campaigns. Their views are driven by polling and what the Democratic and Republican parties will tolerate. And so they will spend millions to enact legislation such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that only bans employment discrimination and has religious exemptions that are so broad that our leading legal groups have refused to support it.

What remains true, whether any poll produces this result or not, is that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are equal in every way and in all things to every other American. The sole exception to this principle, which is rooted in the founding documents of this nation and in the founding of our community, is that we are not equal before the law.

ENDA will not make us equal before the law. On the contrary, its religious exemption will enshrine discrimination in federal law and guarantee that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people will continue to experience discrimination in employment.

Only comprehensive federal civil rights legislation will make us equal under the law. It is time for us to seek that and to win that.

Outside GLAAD Awards, LGBT activists demand the equal civil rights that ENDA fails to provide

ENDA is NOT equal

At the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, activists from Queer Nation NY held a peaceful "educational leafleting" early Saturday evening, handing out flyers with messaging that demanded equal LGBT civil rights. The flyers, distributed to guests attending a fundraiser to benefit GLAAD, marked a turning point in grassroots LGBT activism in New York City.

GLAAD is a well-funded non-profit group that promotes the positive images of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans individuals (LGBT's) in the media, and GLAAD is one of many LGBT organizations that support a Congressional bill, known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, that proposes to prohibit employment discrimination based on the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity. Some activists, including activists from Queer Nation NY, believe that religious exceptions to the proposed ENDA bill would provide a loophole, enabling any religiously-affiliated employer to legally discriminate against LGBT employees. Furthermore, the ENDA bill fails to prohibit discrimination in the realms of housing, public accommodations, education, and other federal programs.

• RELATED : ENDA is NOT Equal (Queer Nation NY)

Activists from Queer Nation NY estimated that they had distributed 250 flyers to guests of the GLAAD fundraiser, informing GLAAD supporters that grassroots LGBT activists were seeking "comprehensive civil rights legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes" instead of "piecemeal stopgap legislation." Among the GLAAD guests receiving Queer Nation NY's ENDA-themed flyers were author and political operative David Mixner, gossip personality Perez Hilton, and members of The Imperial Court of New York.

While activists were distributing ENDA-educational flyers outside the storied Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a man with visible health issues pushed a cart up Park Avenue and collected recyclables from a public garbage can near the main entrance to the hotel.

Support for ENDA, with its religious exemption shortcomings, has been a source of controversy amongst LGBT groups. Last year, a leading LGBT grassroots activism group, GetEQUAL, raised concerns about the religious exemptions to ENDA. But big money LGBT groups, like the Human Rights Campaign, support ENDA with its broad religious loopholes. ENDA has been passed by the U.S. Senate, but it has not been able to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Since the House is controlled by rightwing Republicans, the likelihood of ENDA passing is remote, leading some activists to press President Barack Obama to adopt ENDA by executive order. In spite of President Obama's support for ending employment discrimination, he has balked from standing by his principles, creating a pause in ENDA-centered organizing that has allowed grassroots LGBT activists to see how imperfect ENDA really is. That activists from Queer Nation NY are now peacefully leafletting outside big money LGBT group fundraisers points to a new expectation amongst grassroots activists.

Instead of settling for imperfect legislation, activists from Queer Nation NY, along with other activists, are making another push for a comprehensive federal LGBT civil rights bill. Prior to Queer Nation NY's recent demonstrations, activists with the grassroots group QueerSOS undertook a more aggressive effort in 2010 when they occupied the public sidewalk outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office, demanding that she express support for a bill to update the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that would extend equal civil rights protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The 2010 activism, which would later motivate an activist to fast, was insufficient to move Sen. Gillibrand to stand up for full LGBT federal equality. Prior to that, the entrenched big money LGBT groups, sometimes derided as "Gay Inc.," have essentially controlled the LGBT narrative in Washington.

The modern-day idea for a comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation can be traced back to when U.S. Reps. Bella Abzug and Edward Koch introduced in 1974 in Congress a "federal bill to ban discrimination against lesbians, gay men, unmarried persons and women in employment, housing and public accommodations," according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. That bill, known as the Equality Act of 1974, originated as a project of the Task Force, but the bill failed to garner enough support to ever pass Congress.

Grassroots LGBT civil rights groups are now trying to raise the consciousness of big money LGBT groups like GLAAD and HRC on the importance of introducing draft Congressional legislation to codify comprehensive equal LGBT civil rights laws.

Alan Bounville is Fasting for LGBT Civil Rights

Call Sen. Gillibrand : 1-212-688-6262

A link to this new YouTube video has been added to the link list at the bottom of the Civil Rights page on The Huffington Post.

Mr. Bounville began a water-only fast on Election Day, November 2, 2010, and he has said that he will continue fasting until Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) or another member of Congress introduced the American Equality Bill, or similar legislation, that would extend civil rights to LGBT Americans and thereby end most major forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mr. Bounville, Iana Di Bona, Joe Birdsong, and other activists kept a vigil for 36 consecutive days outside Sen. Gillibrand's New York City campaign office before Mr. Bounville began his fast. During that time, the Honourable Senator did not acknowledge the LGBT activists.

For more information, please visit : http://www.civilrightsfast.com

''Where is Kirsten ?'' asks new gay rights blog

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand must make good on her support of LGBT civil rights by filing the American Equality Bill.

A new blog called Where is Kirsten ? is asking people to record yourselves using a camera phone or digital camera when you try calling the Honourable Senator's office, just like Lady Gaga did in her famous Don't Ask, Don't Tell YouTube video. Only this time, ask Sen. Gillibrand when is she going to file the American Equality Bill, legislation that would add ''sexual orientation'' and ''gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Then, send your video or YouTube link to : americanequalitybill@gmail.com. Help us find find where Sen. Gillibrand stands on the American Equality Bill.

Call Sen. Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. Call : 1-212-688-6262..

Chalking Gillibrand American Equality Bill

Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Please contact: Louis Flores (646) 400-1168 louisflores@louisflores.com

October 24, 2010 -- New York, NY – On Tuesday, October 26, at 6 p.m., LGBT New Yorkers and allies will gather outside 780 Third Avenue in Manhattan, to write chalk messages on the sidewalk outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s legislative offices.

Date : Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time : 6:00 p.m.
Location : 780 Third Avenue, btwn. 48th / 49th Streets

Register to attend at : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101087546628080

Bring Your Own Chalk.

October 26 will mark the 30th day that a vigil called QueerSOS! has been continually held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street. In the month that has passed, the Honourable Senator has not said when she will introduce the American Equality Bill. Tuesday night’s chalking party at 780 Third Avenue is to encourage Sen. Gillibrand, who supports the extension of civil rights to LGBT Americans, to introduce the American Equality Bill.

Other actions sprouting up in support of the American Equality Bill :

* Since September 27, 2010, a vigil called QueerSOS! has been held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street in Manhattan. The vigil participants have been requesting that the Honourable Senator file the American Equality Bill. For more information, please visit : http://www.queersos.com/blog.html

* The East Village blog of The New York Times published photographs of the activist, Iana Di Bona, writing chalk messages in support of the American Equality Bill on St. Mark’s and First Avenue. See : http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/spreading-a-message-of-equal-rights/

* LGBT Americans are turning to social media power of FaceBook and have created a group, which people are joining to learn more about the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=278882199073

* Another American Equality Bill group has been organized in San Francisco. See : http://www.aebnow.com/

* A group of LGBT Americans in Ohio has been formed, and they have created a page on FaceBook to organize support for the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Equality-Bill-AEB-ColumbusOhio-Team/118120201581299

About the American Equality Bill :

The American Equality Bill would amend all existing civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” It would end de jure discrimination in vast areas of life, such as : employment, housing, credit, public places and facilities, and all programs operating with federal funding. It would also cover school discrimination and bullying, adoption, and all federal health programs.

About Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand :

Sen. Gillibrand has said that she supports the inclusion of sexual orientation into the 1964 Act. To view Sen. Gillibrand's statement on this topic, listen to the following video at minute 7:43 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZWFfwx4mg

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Wear Purple Day DIE-IN at Sen. Gillibrand's Campaign Office

Oct. 20 Wear Purple Day HOMOPHOBIA KILLS DIE-IN Outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Campaign Office

Alan Bounville and Iana Di Bona hold a DIE-IN demonstration on West 26th Street, across the street from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office. Alan and Iana read some of the names of LGBT Americans, who have died because of hate, bullying, and discrimination.

Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

Waiting for Sen. Gillibrand's Leadership on LGBT Civil Rights

American Equality Bill Message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and to all LGBT People and Allies

Our message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand : file the American Equality Bill to add ''sexual orientation and gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. File it today -- so we can start organizing to pass it tomorrow.

Call Sen. Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

Sen. Gillibrand Ducking the American Equality Bill

Solemn LGBT Civil Rights Message to Sen. Gillibrand - Introduce American Equality Bill

Alan Bounville talks about his plan to begin a water fast, set to begin on Election Day. Alan's demand, which he is making on behalf of QueerSOS and on behalf of LGBT persons, is that Sen. Gillibrand introduce the American Equality Bill or similar legislation, that will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Sen. Gillibrand - Vigil for LGBT Civil Rights

Vigil outside Kirsten Gillibrand's Office in NYC for LGBT Civil Rights - QueerSOS

Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

In this video, made on October 18, 2010, Alan Bounville was celebrating his birthday by continuing a vigil for LGBT civil rights.Three days before this video was made, Mr. Bounville, was arrested for holding vigil outside Sen. Gillibrand's campaign office. All Alan was doing was holding a vigil for LGBT civil rights. Please call Sen. Gillibrand, and ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. Dial : 1 (212) 688-6262.