___________________________________________________ To Contact And Justice for All Contact: David King, Communications Director Jonathan Zucker, Executive Director Phone: (202) 298-9362 Internet address: justice@clark.net America Online: AndJst4All@AOL.com Address: P.O. Box 53079 Washington, D.C. 20009 WWW: http://www.vive.com/connect/aja/home.htm ___________________________________________________
Washington, DC - And Justice for All (AJA), a newly formed organization dedicated to involving heterosexuals in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement, today urged l/g/b/t people to actively encourage heterosexual allies to attend National Coming Out Day events and festivities.
National Coming Out Day (NCOD), help every October 11, is a day for celebration of identity. AJA does not believe that the audience for this celebration should include only the l/g/b/t community, but also supportive heterosexuals. An active effort to diversify the audience at NCOD events would not only allow heterosexuals a chance to stand by their friends, but also act to involve them in the ongoing struggle for l/g/b/t civil rights.
"There are a lot of straight people who are, or would be, interested in participating in NCOD activities if they only knew about them," said AJA Executive Director Jonathan Zucker. "By inviting heterosexuals to join in NCOD celebrations, we take an important step in opening another closet door, one that keeps straight people from learning and caring about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues."
AJA also calls upon the people and organizations sponsoring NCOD events to make an effort to reach out to heterosexuals and get them involved. NCOD is a day celebrating diversity. Encouraging straight allies to attend NCOD events provides an opportunity for the l/g/b/t rights movement to show its true strength.
"I have always found that, with only a little effort, I have been able to bring at least one, and usually three or four, other straight people to l/g/b/t events," said Zucker. "Imagine what would happen to our numbers if everyone planning to attend a NCOD event were to do the same."
And Justice for All is grass-roots membership organization founded in mid-1995. Annual membership is $20 ($5 for students and those with a limited income). Members receive our quarterly newsletter to keep them apprised of our efforts and informed of major events in the struggle for l/g/b/t rights. Members who are on the Internet will receive more frequent updates and action alerts. Larger donations are always welcome.
