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Civil Rights Fast is Premature and Off Target

Melanie Nathan- November 10, 2010 - When Senator Gillibrand was asked  by activists “do you support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the 1964 Civil Rights Act NOW? “  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, a champion for LGBT equality of course answered “yes.”

However what happened to the Senator thereafter was literal political incorrectness at its worst.  Instead of pursuing the establishment for a strong base traction of the newly drafted grass roots piece of legislation, The American Equality Bill, (AEB) promoters hounded the Senator, pre-election, for an immediate introduction of the grass roots drafted Bill into Congress, not only prematurely in the best interests of the potential legislation, but also aggressively, in a manner that spat in the face of the Senator’s unwavering commitment to LGBT equality.

After some activists had protested outside the Senator’s office, another activist  Alan Bounville decided to step up the ante and stage a fast,  as asserted by press releases and action videos sent out by his press contact-  in the hope that they would garnish interest amongst the LGBT blogger community and of course main stream press:

Last week, Zoe Nicholson, a proponent of Political fasting, and the appointed National press spokesperson for the fasting  Bounville, issued the Press Statement on their behalf:

“The Civil Rights Fast is an escalation of the QueerSOS! vigil that began on September 27, 2010, outside Sen. Gillibrand’s New York campaign office.  Activists, including Mr. Bounville, Ms. Di Bona, Joe Birdsong, and others, kept vigil for 36 consecutive days before Mr. Bounville began his fast.  During all that time, the Honourable Senator has acknowledged neither the LGBT activists nor their demand that she file the American Equality Bill.  For more information, please visit : http://www.civilrightsfast.com/”

What I found strange about the strategy of premature protests upon Senator Gillibrand was that the Senator in fact had nothing to do with the BILL that they were asking her to introduce and the Senate was not even in session at the time. She had merely commented that she would be supportive of full equality such as an  CR amendment.

There were many reasons why I believed the protest should not take place and I sent a letter and spoke to the initial protesters about my standing on the issue, especially that I was the person who had birthed the BILL, so to speak, together with another Activist.  I also informed the Senator’s office that I disassociated myself from the strategy of the Protestors and we never gave any publicity to it here on LGR.

So when I heard that it had morphed into a fast, I immediately called Zoe Nicholson, and in interviewing her also expressed my concern, firstly about the strategy with target being Senator Gillibrand, who is a great champion of LGBT equality and who assured the gay community in her victory speech on  election day just a few days back, that she would do all she could in support of full equality for LGBT people.  I also asked Ms. Nicholson if she knew that the Senator has not even read the Bill.

She said that was not relevant to her position representing the faster, Alan, but that she believed the fast was a worthy endeavor to bring people’s attention to the LGBT quest for a civil rights amendment.  My question was – well why are you pushing one Senator to introduce something she has yet to read, and is so new to the public – where it has no traction at all?  Whatever happened to building support and negotiating before taking extreme measures at the risk of alienating our best ally and at the cost of someone’s life?  In doing so, one is actually closing the door on negotiations that have not yet happened.

While Nicholson kept reminding me I was interviewing her and that I should not opine – as it was inappropriate, I had informed her of my other hats, as activist and as having bloggers license.

I asked Ms. Nicholson questions about the well being of Alan Bounville . She said he was doing great and that he had just seen the doctor that being the 8^th day of the fast. The doctor, according to Nicholson, was pleased with Alans well being.

The Gillibrand office is not at all involved in the issue. Alan is fasting at a hotel in Manhattan and will not release his whereabouts. Even Zoe says she does not know where he is staying.

Zoe Nicholson said that she has no power to stop Alan’s fast, and that she had made sure that before starting the team had fully complied with the check list which she had provided.   She asserted that Alan had obtained a doctor, setting up regular appointments , and that he had a lawyer on the team, who had drawn up the necessary documents – a living will -  with instructions of how to deal with him if he need life support etc.

She also informed me that all the messages she has been receiving from other activists asking Alan to stop the fast have not been conveyed to him.  Her tone was clear – she said fasting “is a beautiful way to protest”  if done properly and she was assured that it was so in this case; even though she has not ever met Alan in person, either before or during this fast.  She has seen videos; she will not stop the fast.

Zoe said that Alan had been through the worst part of the fast – when the body is getting rid of its dependence on sugars etc.  The headaches were unbearable and he has passed that phase. Now it is all about preserving his energy.  Even going to a mail box is a major exertion.  I asked if the doctor is coming to see him at the hotel – but apparently not, Alan is being taken to the doctor and is also planning to attend the events that are displayed on the current press release; perhaps somewhat of a contradiction to the idea of conserving energy. But Nicholson asserts he will probably continue to go out even in a wheelchair when necessary.

That evening  after the interview, I received yet another Press Release from Zoe Nicholson, which prima facie, seems to now REFRAIN from using Senator Gillibrand as a target or perceived reason for the fast:- as follows-

“At midnight, November 2, the Civil Rights Fast team of Alan Bounville and Iana Di Bona began a fast.

“They have made a simple demand that in accordance with the successful passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (CRA), assuring full equality for all Americans, now explicitly include LGBTQ people by adding, “sexual orientation and gender identity.”

In this first week, Alan Bounville has lost 14 pounds.  Under a doctor’s care, Alan is watchful and cautious with his energy.  Iana Di Bona is managing their personal needs and assisting in the overall conservation of energy.  A group of people are assisting in distributing information, posting videos and accompanying Alan and Iana to their events.”

Calling for National Action

They are encouraging all LGBTQIA people to work locally with their own Senators and Representatives to lobby for the introduction of the AEB.  People in PA, CA, FL, OH are already on board with asking their local Congressional Representatives to introduce the American Equality Bill.

Unlike previous press releases there is no mention of Senator Gillibrand as being the reason for the fast and that the group has now assumed a broader approach to the fast.

At the end of our conversation I asked for a direct quote from Alan Bounville – I said I had one simple question even though Alan had just come in from seeing the doctor who thought he was doing great –  and it was “Alan how are you feeling right now?”  The perplexing  answer came back:

“I feel tired, restless, annoyed that my uvula is twice the size as normal from vomiting and I can’t talk. Since I never shut up, people are probably happy I can’t talk. Alan .”

That was a day ago!

NOTE: I support an Amendment to The Civil Rights Act of 1964- It was my Idea in the PINK PLAN as a one stop GOAL/ Benchmark for LGBT Movement to attain full equality.

I do not support the AEB/ SOS/ or Alan Bounville Fast Team  in  its strategy  though I do in its principal.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda