VERSION #2
 
     I was asked to come up with some suggested text for
Pierre Sane to use in a recorded video for SW25.  I asked
the best speech-maker I know, Magdaleno, to help, and he
gave me some basic H.R. lines that I've included in what
you see below.  let me know what you think.
 
--abe
 
 
     Today you are making history.
 
     Today you take your message of freedom to the world by
 
reminding the world that governments cannot define or limit 
 
human rights.  The standard for human rights is the Universal 
 
Declaration of Human Rights, but until the promises of the 
 
Universal Declaration are fulfilled for ALL people, EVERYWHERE, 
 
then it is up to all of us to continue this struggle and walk 
 
down this road together.
 
 
     Because YOU are human, YOU have human rights that NO
 
person and NO government can take away.  The very fact 
 
that today we are marching to assure Human Rights for 
 
homosexual people is a testament to how far we have come 
 
in the struggle, and how far we have yet to travel together on 
 
this road to freedom.
 
 
     Governments typically DENY human rights to the POWERLESS 
 
parts of their society that they identify as being "OTHER."  It 
 
is the "OTHER" people, the POWERLESS, who are those that get 
 
tortured, jailed, even killed.  Sometimes they are indigenous 
 
people, or people with a different skin color, language or
religion.  Sometimes it is those who dare to love who become the 
 
targets of human rights abuses. 
 
 
     Common in BOTH the POWERLESS groups of people, 
 
and ALSO in the groups of the people IN POWER, are Gay 
 
Men, Lesbians, and Bi-Sexuals.  And it is precisely 
 
because of these "OTHER" people that are part of the fabric of
 
every society, in every race, class and political ideology, 
 
that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights speaks to 
 
them - for them - and ABOUT them.  ABOUT YOU and ABOUT ME!
 
 
     Even ten years ago this march would have been UNthinkable!  
 
But, because the public is now beginning to understand that ALL 
 
people, including Gays, Lesbians and Bi-sexuals, have human 
 
rights, today governments are de-criminalizing homosexual 
 
identity and practice.  New constitutions are being written that 
 
expressly protect people who are sexual minorities.  A PRECEDENT 
 
has been set in international law and by the United Nations that 
 
moves us beyond the dark ages when there was always one easy 
 
group of "OTHER" people who could be targeted by governments 
 
with impunity! 
 
 
     YES, we have come a long way my friends.  But the 
 
STRUGGLE is not over - we have a long and hard road ahead of us. 
 
The promise of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - of a 
 
vision of human rights that is INCLUSIVE and not EXCLUSIVE - has 
 
not been fulfilled for many of our brothers and sisters who are 
 
our neighbors in other countries - in our own countries!
 
 
     I CONGRATULATE you for being here today to stand up for the 
 
promise that is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  BUT I
 
must CHALLENGE you to be here tomorrow, and next week, and next 
 
year if need be, until we can all walk down a road together in a 
 
world where the human rights of ALL people are respected and 
 
honored.  
 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL is fighting with YOU -
 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL will NOT forget YOU -
 
We will NOT forget your struggle, and WE will NOT STOP until we 
 
have won justice and human rights for EVERYONE!
 
thank you,
 
 
(Written by Abe Bonowitz, AIMLGC, AIUSA)