#Pride #Pride2024
The following comments, with the exception of direct statement quotes, are RantWoman's views and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization mentioned.
RantWoman has decided to open Pride Month with discussion of questions of conscience when a national event gets scheduled in a state a couple years before the state legislature and governor go bananas and enact legislation which makes any thought of travel to the state by anyone who might be pregnant, any member of the #LGBTQ+ communities.suddenly very stress-filled, so stress filled that one's options become either "Just don't go there" or make some bold public statement in solidarity with people who live there.
The following comments, with the exception of direct statement quotes, are RantWoman's views and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization mentioned.
Blind Pride International chose the latter option. Moving this year's American Council of the Blind national convention out of Jacksonville FL on short notice was not feasible. At the same time BPI planned to host a speaking event in support of human rights for all during the ACB convention. That was the plan. Several steps were taken to make that a reality including credible collaboration with local human rights groups and law enforcement.
Along the way, lively and sometimes vitriolic discussion arose on several organizational email lists about lots of things to do with Diversity Equity and Inclusion. RantWoman had no time to wade into anything that smacks of a realm she has sometimes inhabited herself, the Still Didn't Get The Memo on Email Immoderation. RantWoman has no idea whether she might have been able to contribute meaningfully to the conversation. RantWoman simply did not participate until...until a couple of 5-hour Zoom calls. RantWoman is not prepared to characterizec all the organizational ins and outs behind the calls except for one point: people who are not used to thinking about how to conduct safe public outdoor events seemed in a few cases to be cowed by fearmongering before all the relevant logistics had been fully discussed.
The statements below are the result of the 5 hour Zoom calls and other discussions.
Perhaps by the time this item posts, the Florida "Don't Say Gay Bill will have been banished for the assault on the First Amendment that it is; that does not diminish the organizational work still ahead.
Blind Pride International Statement.
For Immediate Release:
Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) Affirms Commitment to Human
Rights by Opting Out of Jacksonville Convention
The American Council of the Blind (ACB), the parent organization of
BPI, will hold their annual conference and convention in Jacksonville,
FL, in July 2024. Amid Florida's divisive and hostile political
climate towards marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community,
BPI initially sought to collaborate with ACB to ensure a safe and
inclusive convention experience. This effort included a human rights
speaking demonstration at Jacksonville's City Hall Park on July 8th,
developed in conjunction with the Jacksonville Mayor's office, the
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer, and the Sheriff's
Department, to showcase Jacksonville's commitment to human rights for
all.
However, following actions taken by the ACB Board of Directors on
January 30th, 2024, which retracted endorsement and support for the
planned demonstration, BPI found it fundamentally critical to
reassess its participation. The Board's decisions signaled a departure
from standing with marginalized members and advocating for collective
human rights.
"In choosing to opt out of the Jacksonville convention, we assert our
dedication to protecting and uplifting the rights of our transgender
siblings, pregnant individuals, people of color, and everyone impacted
by Florida's unjust legislation," stated Tristan Snyder, co-chair of
BPI’s Advocacy committee.
After thorough discussion and reflection, BPI chooses to prioritize
the well-being and rights of all marginalized communities by repealing
our participation in this year's ACB convention. This decision stems
from a position of strength and a deep commitment to our core values.
"We encourage our community and allies to join us in this decision to
stand in solidarity for human rights, demonstrating through our
actions that we demand safe and inclusive environments for all."
"BPI has been a proud affiliate and supportive partner of the American
Council of the Blind since 2000," says BPI President Leah Gardner.
"However, the recent actions of the ACB Board convey a message that
the safety and dignity of all attendees do not hold as much importance
as its relationships with grant and corporate sponsors. It is with a
heavy heart that BPI must withdraw all programming and participation
from ACB's annual conference and convention. We will select a delegate
to vote virtually at the conference and convention as the democratic
process remains the best way to secure human rights. While we are
deeply
disappointed by the recent decisions of the ACB Board, we remain
hopeful for a future where the dignity and safety of all convention
attendees is paramount."
For more information about Blind Lgbt Pride, please visit:
https://www.bpi.gay.
--
Leah Gardner
Blind Lgbt Pride President
president@blindlgbtpride.org
Statement by Guide Dog users International
GUIDE DOG USERS, INC.
3603 MORGAN WAY
IMPERIAL, MISSOURI 63052
Toll Free: 1-866-799-8436
March 23, 2024
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) stands in solidarity with Blind Pride, International (BPI), who has chosen not to attend the 2024 American Council of the Blind (ACB) conference and convention in Jacksonville, FL, because of ACB’s lack of tangible support for BPI’s concerns regarding the status of human rights protections in the state. We urge any of our members who may feel vulnerable in a state which has adopted legislation that makes members of marginalized communities feel unwelcome or unsafe, to pay attention to travel advisories promulgated by the NAACP the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida, the ACLU of Florida and others, and, if you feel anxious about traveling to Florida, to forgo in-person participation at this year’s GDUI and ACB convention events. The safety and comfort of our members is just as important to GDUI as our mission of upholding the civil rights of guide dog users and all people who are blind and low vision. Civil rights are human rights, and we share with BPI a strong commitment to civil and human rights for all people.
GDUI has been proudly affiliated with ACB since 1972, and we fully believe that the American Council of the Blind’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of people who are blind has led to significant advancements in civil rights protections and improvements in opportunities for many Americans who are blind, including those of us who rely on guide dogs for independence and safety. . We are disappointed that ACB’s board seems to have lost their way when they refused to endorse a rally that would have promoted and celebrated human rights in the city of Jacksonville.
Plans for GDUI’s summer convention continue to evolve. No matter what individual members decide about whether or not to attend our convention in-person, we want to assure everyone that virtual convention programming will be available in real time and online to all GDUI members and friends who register, and that GDUI will post contact information for a delegate whom members can easily contact to facilitate voting for ACB candidates and resolutions during convention plenary sessions.
We welcome opportunities for collaboration with other ACB affiliates who, like GDUI, stand in solidarity with Blind Pride International, and we urge our parent organization to make a firmer commitment to promote and safeguard diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, which are core principles for all of ACB and its committees and affiliated organizations. We applaud BPI for their courage and strength of conviction, and we are proud to join in solidarity with them.
Sarah Calhoun, President
Penny Reeder, Immediate Past President
Maria Hansen, First Vice President
Cheryl McNeill Fisher, Second Vice President
Lynn Merrill, Secretary
Maria Kristic, Treasurer
Directors:
Liz Bottner
Cynthia Hawkins
Vickie Kennedy
Lolly Lijewski
Kay Malmquist
Olivia Norman
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