Breaking News: Rallies against homophobic violence tonight and tomorrow

?Homophobia Kills Die-In? Flash Mob Tonight (New York , New York)

An estimated 400 gay rights activists will stand up against homophobia by laying down in New York?s Grand Central Terminal tonight at 6 p.m. These advocates are playing dead in hopes of keeping members of the LGBT community alive.

By lying on the floor like corpses as the names of recent suicide [1] and murder [2] victims of homophobia in the U.S. are read aloud, the protesters hope to, quite literally, make the point that homophobia kills.

Banners will hang to inform commuters at a glance:

?END HOMO/TRANSPHOBIC APARTHEID in AMERICA?

and will urge them to find out more about The American Equality Bill [3] (AEB), a new proposed bill aiming to "secure equal civil rights protections and end the second-class citizenship of 30 million LGBTQ Americans."

The bill seeks to stop the societal abuse by adding ?sexual orientation? and ?gender identity? to the 1964 Civil Rights Act [4] (CRA)?the iconic law introduced by President Kennedy and secured through the efforts of Martin Luther King and gay hero, Bayard Rustin. It outlaws discrimination across many areas of life including employment, housing, public places, government buildings and social programs, but its most renowned for its ethical guidance as the official U.S. policy against discrimination based on ?race, color, sex, national origin and religion.?

Iana Di Borna, a full-time AEB organizer says:

?The CRA said no to racism and sexism, and our inclusion will say no to homophobia and transphobia as it should have long ago. This is the law that allowed a young Barack Obama [5] to dream of becoming President, and our children deserve nothing less.?

In this way, she, along with many others, believe the AEB is more than just your ordinary bill -� it?s a symbol of dignity for the LGBT community in a country that:

?Acts like homophobia is an acceptable moral opinion, when in fact it's the exact opposite.� It violates every fundamental ideal of human rights," said Todd Fernandez, the AEB?s project campaign facilitator.

[caption id="attachment_17153" align="aligncenter" width="352" caption="The New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, "Lie-Down" outside the Bronx County Courthouse in April of 2010 (Photo by A. Watkins)"] [6][/caption]

"With 400 [people] symbolically dying in Grand Central the message is clear:� We will wait no longer," Fernandez asserts.

To take part in the ?Homophobia Kills Die-In? flash mob simply arrive at Grand Central Station [7] on Friday, October 8th at 6p.m. and prepare to show the world how you?re ?dying? to turn this country?s homophobic ideologies on their heads.

�

Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons ?Stand Up to Youth Suicide? Tonight (San Francisco, California)

Rally and march at 6:30p.m. tonight at the San Francisco Civic Center, followed by a candlelight march to Harvey Milk Plaza at Market and Castro streets. Find more information at www.affirmation.org [8].�

�

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) "Protest Against 'Kill Gays' Performer" Oct. 9 (Chicago, Illinois)

A quaker organization open to people of�all faiths who are devoted to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Most closely aligned with the principles of� the Religious Society of Friends are opposing local club's decision to perpetuate anti-gay acts in its venue. afsc.org [9]

This rally [10]�is being held to protest Kinetic Playground Nightclub,�located at 1113 West Lawrence Avenue,�as it�moves forward in�booking its infamous "Kill Gays" performance, Capelton, despite Gay Liberation Network's "polite and informative" request to cancel the concert and mention of protest. Club owner Jim Gouskos replied:

�"Don't threaten me because I can get a bunch of goons outside to throw eggs at you guys."

Show your pride by attending the protest and inviting [11] your friends on Facebook.

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"Vigil to Raise Awareness of Recent LGBT Youth Suicides" Oct. 9 (Fresno, California)

On the opposite coast? Fresno Country, California will hold a candlelight Vigil to Raise Awareness of Recent LGBT Youth Suicides 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, to direct attention to the recent tragedies surrounding the wave of students that took their own lives as a result of anti-gay bullying.

The vigil will be held at the Equality California Central [12] Valley Office at 1055 North Van Ness Avenue and will feature their speakers, as well as those from Gay Central Valley [13], Marriage Equality USA [14] and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Network [15].

*Know of any protests or vigils not listed here? Please leave information and links in the comments section below.

[1] http://www.365gay.com/news/gay-teen-suicides-create-a-teachable-moment/
[2] http://www.365gay.com/news/atlanta-police-investigating-slaying-of-black-gay-pride-organizer/
[3] aebnow.com
[4] http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/civil-rights-act/
[5] http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/barack-obama/11/gay-rights/15/
[6] news-no-gay-violence-rally-lay-down-top.jpg
[7] grandcentralterminal.com
[8] affirmation.org
[9] afsc.org
[10] http://afsc.org/event/protest-against-kill-gays-performer
[11] http://tinyurl.com/capletonkinetic
[12] eqca.org
[13] gaycentralvalley.com
[14] marriageequality.org
[15] gsanetwork.org

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