How to Become a Gay Activist

Gay people are your sons, your daughters, your fathers, your mothers, your aunts and uncles, your nieces and nephews, your teachers, your doctors, your lawyers, your ministers. Accepted studies show that at least 10 percent of America's population is gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered. Gay activism in America has grown into a well organized effort in the past decades. There are political, social, religious and legal organizations who lobby local, state and federal governments to pass gay friendly bills. Others convince corporations to recognize gay couples with insurance and other benefits for gay partners. Gays, the last minority that people can hate out loud, are telling America that it's not right to suppress 10 percent of the population by denying them civil rights that the rest of the country is accorded without even thinking about it. If you wish to become a supporter of equal rights for everyone, it's easy to lend a hand in a gay rights organization.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A realization of injustice
• Time for participating in an organization

Becoming a Gay Activist

1. Join PFlag. PFlag, Parents and friends of Lesbians and Gays, is a nationwide organization with a chapter in most major cities. If there is not one near you, contact the national organization for help in founding one. PFlag promotes a world where youngsters can grow up without fear of violence or discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation or that of their families. If you can't find PFlag in your local phone book, you can find a chapter on-line. Gay people are not in the closet anymore.Find a PFlag organization and join it. You don't have to be gay to join PFlag.

2. Find the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The task force is identifying particular problems of the gay community. Baby boomers are aging and are in need of health care and often assisted living arrangements. Because a gay couple is not recognized as such, assistance offered to straight couples is not even thought about for gay couples. Medicare and Social Security do not recognize gay couples so, if one of the partner dies, the other is not eligible for any Social Security benefits accrued by the other. If you've never thought of that before, it's time for you to get involved.

3. Read about gay and lesbian organizations. There are hundreds of studies and books about gay people and there are associations for gay people. Find gay and lesbian dentists, doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, nurses, lawyers, politicians, federal employees, judges and more. Most every profession has an organization of gay employees fighting for equality for their members. You will probably find you agree with most of their goals..

4. Go to your church or temple. Start a special program for the gay and lesbian members of your congregation. You do have gay members even if you are not aware of it. Gay people are just as religious as straight people and want to be recognized as such by their own religions. Follow the beliefs of your religion and include everyone who wishes to be included.

Tips & Warnings

• Expand your life. You will enjoy the people you meet. After all, they are just like you.