After a Week of Upsets Activists Demand Inclusion of LGBT People in The Civil Rights Act
New York, NY (August 3, 2009) – After a week of upsets for opponents of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org), an online campaign to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, announced new endorsements from Justin Elzie and David Mixner, two major figures in the debate over the policy. They join Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a vocal critic of DADT, who last month also endorsed The Power’s campaign. The endorsements come after reports that the White House pressured Congressional law makers to table legislation that would have suspended enforcement of DADT and continue a pattern of LGBT activists, thwarted by White House delays, demanding full equality now.
Justin Elzie was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps in 1993 when he became the first soldier ever investigated and discharged under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. Said Elzie, “I was deeply saddened to hear that both Rep. Alycee Hastings and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have withdrawn their amendments to stop pending DADT investigations and discharges until a permanent repeal is passed due to pressure from the White House and Democratic congressional leadership. But even when we repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, under current law, LGBT service-members will return to civilian life as second class citizens. This is why I am giving my strong endorsement to The Power’s petition to expand the Civil Rights Act to include “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.” I served as a Marine to defend the civil rights and liberties that make our country great. Today I am now denied those same liberties as a civilian gay man. As a civilian and a proud American I urge my LGBT sisters and brothers in the armed services, and all who support our troops, to demand an immediate repeal of DADT and to sign The Power’s petition to expand the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT Americans.”
David Mixner is a major donor to Democratic candidates who was arrested in front of the White House in 1993 after his friend, President Bill Clinton, broke a personal promise to him to lift the ban on gays in the military. Emphasizing the need for grass roots efforts such as The Power, Mixner said, “With the ear of the president, his goodwill towards LGBT Americans, and the quick stroke of his pen, I thought we could open the door to full equality by ending the ban on openly LGBT people serving in the military. Alas, we weren’t organized as a movement like Dr. King was. Our civil rights movement was overly reliant on the newfound inside influence we had.
“If you want to realize the dream of an LGBT Civil Rights Act in your lifetime, look not to Washington insiders, but to your own backyard. Look to your family, neighbors, co-workers, parishes, LGBT friends and straight friends. Tell them to stand with you and put their names on The Power’s petition to expand the Civil Rights Act to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation.’ Standing together, we are a movement. We have the power. Now is our time.”
The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org) launched a nationwide petition on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall calling on Congress to expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections for LGBT people. The petition has already been signed by people from all fifty states and thirty-six countries. The petition’s launch moved Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to announce his intention to draft legislation that will include LGBT people in all federal civil rights laws.
Tags: Alcee Hastings, DADT, David Mixner, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Justin Elzie, Kirsten Gillibrand, LGBT, Obama