Petition: Amnesty International – Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers

by Soulforce

Amnesty has spent the last 10 years campaigning for a global solution to the irresponsible and illicit arms trade that puts human rights first.

The dirty truth is that the indiscriminate transfer of guns and ammunition results in hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Many of these weapons are used to commit sickening human rights abuses.

Consider these sobering facts:

Child soldiers. Governments and armed groups in 19 countries are training children — some as young as eight years old — as to be killers. They load these youngsters up with weapons obtained via the irresponsible arms trade.

Armed violence against women and girls. Without a doubt, guns have fueled the epidemic of rape and other sexual violence in countries torn apart by armed conflict such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the DRC 48 women are raped every hour by armed groups.

How do we help civilians dodge the bullets? Rein in the flow of arms to thugs and tyrants intent on terror and repression.

The global Arms Trade Treaty won’t erase violence. But over time, it will constrain the indiscriminate export of guns and ammunition, slow down the ability of human rights abusers to arm and re-arm themselves and help prevent human rights abuses.

NGLTF Applauds Supreme Court Decision on Affordable Care Act

by Soulforce

WASHINGTON, June 28 — The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. The Task Force advocated for the passage of the historic health care reform law.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

“This ruling is a victory for millions of people — including LGBT people and our families — who don’t have access to adequate, affordable health care. Health care reform is about revamping a severely broken system to help everyone get a fair shake when it comes to keeping themselves and their families healthy and out of harm’s way. It is about making sure everyone has access to affordable health care when faced with injury and illness. It is based on the premise that no one get hung out to dry — to literally die in some cases — because they were denied affordable health care in one of the richest countries in the world.

Faith Leaders, Rights Activists Blast Uganda’s “Baseless” Raids

by Soulforce

The Ugandan police raid on a human rights meeting on June 18 not only had “no basis whatsoever in law” but also encourages violence against LGBT people, international human rights groups and faith-based advocates say.

Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director of Soulforce, has been appointed to Amnesty International’s USA Country and Thematic Specialist Program LGBT Coordination Group

by Soulforce

Amnesty International began much like Soulforce when one man’s outrage led to courage to do something about it. After learning of two Portugese students imprisoned for raising a toast to freedom in 1961, Peter Benenson, a lawyer, published an article entitled The Forgotten Prisoners in the Observer newspaper. That article launched the Appeal for Amnesty 1961, a worldwide campaign that provoked a remarkable response. His call to action resonated with the values and aspirations of people everywhere.

This was the genesis of Amnesty International.

Amnesty focuses on human rights issues around the world and convenes activists, advocates and experts with particular skills to work on Coordination Groups who raise up recommendations to the “on the ground” strategic teams to consider for action. Rev. Dr. Love was recommended to Amnesty by people familiar with her work on the Would Jesus Discrimination Campaign, the United Nations UUO Compass Coalition for LGBT Human Rights and Soulforce. Following an interview process with the Director of Programs for Amnesty, she was selected.

The issues that are addressed by Amnesty are:

• Prisoners and People at Risk – Prisoners and people at risk are those whose human rights have been violated or are under threat of violation.
• Poverty and Human Rights – Everyone, everywhere has the right to live with dignity. That means that no one should be denied their rights to adequate housing, food, water and sanitation, and to education and health care.
• Death Penalty – The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state.
• Security and Human Rights – Amnesty International insists that states must respect human rights in any actions they take in the name of national security or countering terrorism.
• Refugee and Migrant Rights – Every day across the world refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons make the difficult decision to leave their homes.
• Torture – Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment must stop. Those responsible for authorizing it must be held accountable.
• Women’s Rights – Living free from violence is a human right. Yet millions of women and girls around the world encounter rape, domestic abuse, mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence.
• Children’s Rights – Across the world, children are denied their human rights. They miss out on their right to education. They are abandoned and left to fend for themselves on the street. They are recruited into armed forces. They are subjected to the death penalty and suffer many other forms of violence.
• Censorship and Free Speech – Everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas without fear or interference.
• Business and Human Rights – Privatization and economic globalization have given companies unprecedented access to new territories, and expanded their reach across national borders.
• LGBT Rights – All people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity should enjoy equal human rights.
• Military, Police and Arms – By encouraging governments to act responsibly in this area, Amnesty International USA seeks to prevent or minimize violations or abuses of humanitarian and human rights law.
• International Justice – International justice is the cooperation between countries to hold accountable individuals accused of grave human rights abuses, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

“Holy Terror” – the Newest Release by Rev. Mel White – GET YOUR COPY NOW!

by Soulforce

From Executive Director Cindi Love… I am excited to announce that Mel’s Stranger at Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America has a sequel, Holy Terror: Lies the Christian Right Tells Us to Deny Gay Equality. Check out the review by author Chris Hedges at TruthDig, which is worth a look for the illustration alone! This new release represents Mel’s continued diligence to make all of us aware of the misinformation, untruths, manipulation and the political organizing of the Christian Right.  First released in hardback as Religion Gone Bad: Hidden Dangers from the Christian Right, Holy Terror is receiving praise from advance readers across the U.S. “Mel’s book reads like a page-turning whodunit… The book is chilling and enormously instructive.” -The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first out gay Episcopal Bishop Holy Terror has never been more relevant as we see pastors recommend beating “effeminate boys”, presidential candidates broadcasting casual, yet harmful commercials, and governments outside our borders taking up our homegrown fundamentalist evangelical oppression of LGBTQ people.  This is your guide to the inner workings of the Christian Rights’ beliefs, politics, and strategy. I’ve just talked to Mel about offering a special copy of Holy Terror with a personalized inscription from Mel to our wonderful Soulforce donors.  Here’s the plan:  Mel and Gary will provide the first 100 copies at their expense to the first 100 donors who donate to Soulforce $100 or more during the next 100 days. Donate now to receive your copy of Mel’s new book. A message from Mel: I want you to know that the last chapter of Holy Terror, “Discovering Soul Force,” gives me a chance to tell the world again how committed we are to the ‘soul force’ principles of relentless nonviolent resistance and to our Soulforce family.   As you read the dramatic true stories driving this book, you just might see yourself in them. We faced the holy terrorists then, as YOU are facing them now, under the leadership the current Soulforce Team. Together we continue to learn of the tragic consequences of the hateful rhetoric and, more importantly, how Soulforce can bring hope and healing to those who suffer and those who oppress. We celebrate Mel’s success and thank Gary and Mel for their offer.  “We love Soulforce,” Mel said quietly. “This is just one small way of showing our support!” This is our thank you to our faithful Soulforce friends! - Rev. Dr. Cindi Love Other News… Free CeCe Movement Gains Even More Notice with Conviction     I sat next to Leslie Feinberg and Mara Kiesling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, on the steps of the Minneapolis courthouse last week where we heard the results of a year-long court case for CeCe McDonald.     If you haven’t heard of her case, CeCe was attacked in 2011 outside a bar where white patrons hurled racist and transphobic slurs and then attacked her physically.  She fought back in self-defense, a larger fight ensued with many parties, and the white man who initiated the attack ended up dead.  CeCe has endured charges of manslaughter for the last year, and on June 4th, she was sentenced  to a 41-month prison term after taking a plea deal.     Worse yet, the prison system, not known for its racial or gender equity has decided to place CeCe, a young transwoman of color, in a men’s facility.  Given the incidence of physical abuse in prisons, in addition to the violence faced by transwomen of color in and out of the prison system, the injustices continue.   More reads:   Here is a brilliant article in Ebony Magazine by Eric Lamont Hill that explains the staggering murder rates of transgender women of color, and the issues of racism, gender, and misogyny so evident in the life of CeCe McDonald.  From the blog My Feet Only Walk Forward, authored by Co-Executive Director of Queers for Economic Justice Brandon Lacy Campos, here is an article (fair warning: strongly worded, irreverent, honest, and insightful) that puts this case into good context.    If you want to learn more about CeCe, transgender and racial justice, and how you can help, visit their wordpress site here.     Follow up on the “North Carolina Fund Against Fundamentalism”   Over 40 of you donated to the “Fund” that will help us continue to challenge fundamentalism and all that it spawns: calls for beating “effeminate boys,” appeals to ends women’s suffrage, and the Tea Party.  Thank you for your support. Please know that both Pastors Sean Harris and Charles Worley received a postcard for every one of your generous gifts. We raised over $1,500 in just a few days!     Connect With Us Online     Donate Today One Time Gift | Monthly Contribution  Send checks payable to Soulforce, Inc to PO  Box 2499 Abilene, TX 79604