WHEREAS:

The United States justice Department has reported that violent attacks against gay and lesbian Americans are the number one form of hate crimes committed in the United States; and

WHEREAS:

The same Justice Department report indicated that violent crimes directed at lesbian and gay Americans surpass other violent attacks in their level of brutality; and

WHEREAS:

Psychological studies have reported that gay and lesbian teenagers face a risk of suicide up to ten times greater than other teenagers because of homophobic public attitudes; and

WHEREAS:

Anti-gay rhetoric and verbal attacks create a climate which fosters acts of anti-gay violence; and

WHEREAS:

All Americans deserve the right to live their lives free from the threat of attack and unjust public demonization; and

WHEREAS:

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is a leader in assuring full civil rights for its members; and

WHEREAS:

The national organization of PFLAG — Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has developed Project Open Mind as a nation-wide educational outreach program to combat hate speech by reaching mainstream Americans with the truth about minorities, including gay and lesbian persons; and

WHEREAS:

Project Open Mind has already been introduced in Atlanta, Houston, Tulsa, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, with other viewing areas soon to follow, and included the costly use of hard-hitting ads on prime-time television; and

WHEREAS:

The Washington Federation of State Employees, Council 28, AFSCME has committed $5,000 toward the campaign goal of $1,000,000 and recommends a generous gift from AFSCME International.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME publicly support PFLAG in their conduct of Project Open Mind; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME denounce anti-gay rhetoric as contrary to traditional American values of freedom and fair treatment; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That in seeking justice for all persons in the workplace and in society that AFSCME commit a generous gift to PFLAG's national campaign of Project Open Mind.

SUBMITTED BY:

Liz Larsen, President and Delegate
Faye Lee, Secretary
AFSCME Local 443, Council 28
Washington