Date: Thu, 28 Jul 94 22:51:47 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu

			ACTION ALERT!  CRISIS AT JACL!

    (Reprinted without permission from the July 1994 issue of GAPA's
newsletter)  On May 24th, the National Board of the Japanese American
Citizen's League (JACL) voted to support the concept of same-sex
marriage.  As a result of this courageous stand, an intense internal
dialogue is now taking place within the JACL.  The issue threatens to
divide the membership and wreak havoc throughout the organization.  On
May 26th, JACL's legal counsel, Allen Kato, resigned in protest, saying
``I cannot support the National Board's recent endorsement of same-sex
marriage laws.''  Many others are in agreement with him and threatening
to resign.

    (continuing from GAPA's newsletter)We have reviewed the last four
issues of the ``Pacific Citizen'', JACL's newsletter, and are dismayed
at the negative response and numerous letters written by JACL members who
feel that same-sex marriage is not a civil rights issue, but a more
religious issue.  However, here and there we have found letters and
editorials by (presumably) heterosexual supporters who are speaking out
in support of the right of lesbians and gays to marry.

   (continuing ...)This has become an emotional hot button for the JACL,
one of the largest Asian American civil rights organizations in the
country.  It will be hotly debated at the upcoming JACL national convention
to be held the first week of August [in Salt Lake City; oh s..t--TR].
A movement is now underway to force the JACL Board to reverse its decision.
GAPA must raise a power, collective voice in support of the JACL resolution.

   (skipping some GAPA efforts ...)Please write letters in support
of the resolution.  Write to:

		Randy Senzaki, National Director
		JACL 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
(more stuff.....)
			(end of quotation from GAPA)

	The convention takes place in Salt Lake City, MONDAY, August
1.  May we suggest these actions?
       (A)  Please contact your JAPANESE friends to urge them to
            support the same-sex marriage issue at the JACL.  In
	    the very short run, contact people at the convention
            or going to the convention.  THERE IS ONE WORKING DAY
            IN WHICH TO DO THIS.
       (B)  Longer term, ask your JAPANESE friends to write letters
            and editorials for JACL publications, supporting same-sex
            marriage.  Ask them to support JACL in other ways, and
            reach out to all JACL members in an effort to win them
            over.
       (C)  Thank the folks at GAPA for following this closely.

       Please do not post this message to gaynet, etc., and thereby
alert the religious right as to our suggested actions.

					Aloha!

					Tom Ramsey
					Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project
					(808)944-6742 (phone)
					(808)956-4666  (office)