From: MPetrelis@aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 19:29:23 EST Subject: CA's Davis kills, QW demands NGLTF ends silence on death penalty PLEASE REPOST WIDELY!! SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS!! Friends - The clock is ticking and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is still silent about the death penalty. We sent this letter today to elicit a response - they have not responded to our January 21, 1999 letter. NGLTF describes itself as a group that is "part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality." As their failure to oppose the death penalty continues, a man was executed yesterday in California. NGLTF might have added its voice to the many that called for clemency. We will update you soon about Queer Watch's anti-capital punishment campaign. Best, Bill Dobbs Michael Petrelis --------------------------------------- Rachel Rosen and Jerry Clark, Co-Chairs National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Board of Directors 2320 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-2702 Dear Ms. Rosen and Mr. Clark: We recently sent a letter to you as co-chairs of the NGLTF Board of Directors. That January 21, 1999 letter constituted a formal request to the entire NGLTF Board of Directors for action: that NGLTF immediately oppose capital punishment, and further that you make this opposition widely known inside and outside Wyoming. That letter was sent on behalf of Queer Watch, a grassroots group opposed to capital punishment that has called on g/l/b/t organizations to join its campaign against the death penalty. (Please note: We would be sending this letter to each of NGLTF's board members directly but we do not know how to contact all of them. Please share this with everyone on the board.) To date Queer Watch has not received a reply from the board. Given the delay that has already occurred - Kerry Lobel told us in November at Creating Change that the Task Force had a position against the death penalty, which is apparently not the case - Queer Watch is anxious to know current Task Force policy regarding capital punishment. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, we would like a written response from you as to what action the board took on this matter. In addition, we would appreciate an explanation as to the reasons supporting that action. NGLTF describes itself, "As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality..." As gay political influence grows, the failure to exercise it on important issues becomes more conspicuous. Jaturn Siripongs was executed yesterday in California. NGLTF might have added its voice to the many that called for clemency. Instead NGLTF continues to have no position on capital punishment and remains silent. We know you are both probably very busy, but we would like a response by 5:00 p.m. Friday February 12, 1999. You can either email Bill Dobbs at duchamp@mindspring.com, or send me a fax by calling in advance at (212) 966-1091. We will make sure to share your response with the other members of Queer Watch. As many members of the Ad Hoc Committee to Open the Process have an interest in this issue, I will also pass along your response to them. We look forward to hearing from you. At the same time, we will have to assume that the NGLTF Board has failed to respond to this request if I have not heard from you by the end of the day on Friday. Best Regards, William K. Dobbs New York, NY Michael Petrelis San Francisco, CA Email: MPetrelis@aol.com