Thursday, February 5, 2009

Tell 3: Coming Out Isn't Enough

Why It's Important -- and Why Diane Gramley of the American "Family" Association of Pennsylvania & Jane Richey of radio station WAWN Work So Hard to Make Sure that LGBT People Remain Invisible in Venango County.


Pledge to Tell 3 or more people what it's like for you or your loved ones to be LGBT. Because we used to think coming out would win us our rights. Now we know it takes more than that. Take a step toward equality.

Why is this important?

It's important because California voted to get rid of marriage rights for our community. It's important because 29 other states have done the same. It's important because LGBT people get fired from their jobs just for being who they are, kids get beat up in school for seeming "queer" while school administrators do nothing about it, and same-sex couples can't foster or adopt while children in need go without homes.

Isn't it getting old?

The good news is that equality is coming into style. We don't have as many supporters as we need (yet), but the community of straight allies is growing. LGBT visibility has brought a lot of progress, but the research we've seen says that being out and visible is not enough (read it here if you don't believe us).

What changes people's hearts and minds and gets them to support equality is having had personal, close relationships with gay people. Relationships where – through conversations – straight people learn what it's like to be LGBT.

Yes, the fifteen-year-olds of this country are overwhelmingly supportive of our rights. But if we don't want to wait around for today's teenagers to become middle-aged before we get equality, we're going to have to get more people to support us.

And the best way to do that is by Telling 3.

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