Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 09:56:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Gerald Pilz <Germic@compuserve.com>
Subject: Campaign: Amnesty International and Gay Rights

Please support this very important campaign for the acknowledgement of
sexual orientation as a human right. At its upcoming International Council
Meeting (ICM) in Capetown December 12-19, Amnesty International (AI) will
decide after twenty years of debate whether to include sexual orientation
in its mandate.  Additional resolutions for consideration are the
integration of its work on human rights against homosexuals into AI's
research, campaign, action, and publications; and AI's support for a
meeting of the AI networks of members for gay and lesbian concerns.
Please write a letter to the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International in London. These are your human rights, and it is your life
and your future, make sure that Amnesty International will include sexual
orientation in its mandate. I thank you very much.

International Secretariat of Amnesty International
Email: amnestyis@amnesty.org

Example letter (feel free to change it and to add your own ideas and
proposals):

Dear members of Amnesty International,

I would like to draw your attention to the rights of sexual minorities. I
want you to acknowledge and to support these rights and to include them in
your mandate  because we are proud of being gay and because we think that
homosexuality is an unalienable human right. The International Gay and
Lesbian Human Rights Commission in San Francisco states: "The integration
of AI's work on homosexuality into all aspects of AI's work is probably the
most important resolution in terms of AI's capacity to
do more work on these abuses." I want you to address all kind of violations
against sexual minorities as a very important case for Amnesty
International.
According to the statistics of the International Gay and Lesbian
Association (ILGA) homosexuality is illegal in 44 countries for lesbians
and in 83 countries for gay or bisexual men. Homosexuality is legal for
lesbians in 49 countries (not mentioned in 98 countries) and legal for gay
and bisexual men in 59 countries (not mentioned in 49 countries). Gays and
lesbians are often exposed to prosecution, severe torture, ill-treatment
and diffamation. In some countries they are sentenced to death. 
Even in nearly all western countries gay people are denied equal democratic
rights. They face serious discrimination at workplace, in military
services, in housing and public accomodation. They are disadvantaged by
unfair laws treating them like second class citizens. They pay higher taxes
because their partnership is not acknowledged by the state for joint
taxation. They are not covered by social insurances (health insurance,
pension programs, support and custody regulations). Gay issues are not
taught at school, and so prejudices and homophobic attitudes can grow. In
several countries gays have no access to a military career. Immigration
rights are often not available for same-sex partners. Several states
extradited and deported gay asylum-seekers to countries, where their life
was in danger. 

Proposals:

1. Amnesty International should officially acknowledge that homosexuality
is a human right.
2. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals (transgendered people) and
transvestites deserve the same civil rights like the majority, and they
must be treated as equal citizens.
3.The category of sexual orientation should be included in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights on the occasion of the 50th anniversary.
4. The Geneva convention for refugees should include sexual orientation as
a reason for granting asylum.
5. Amnesty International should support lesbian and gay organisations,
which want to receive a consultative status as a non-governmental
organisation.
6. Human rights violations against sexual minorities should be considered
as a high priority issue for Amnesty International.
7. Amnesty International should make it possible that individuals being
violated because of their sexual orientation should have the possibilty of
filing a complaint to an international human rights commission.
8. The denial of basic civil rights (like the right of marriage and
adoption) should be regarded as a cruel and inhuman form of discrimination.
9. Amnesty International should support and initiate a diversity training
combatting homophobia and discrimination in schools, authorities,
organisations, media and other institutions as a part of a human rights
education. 

I thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,