(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Oh my God, I am so embarrassed. One of Neil Gaiman's readers in Australia, Katharine (hi, Katharine!) sent me a link from his journal to a news story on al.com that y'all have all probably heard about by now. I mean, it's bad enough that our state legislature wants to ban any book referring to gay people or gaiety in general, if you will, from federally funded libraries, schools, and universities:

If the bill became law, public school textbooks could not present homosexuality as a genetic trait and public libraries couldn't offer books with gay or bisexual characters.

When asked about Tennessee Williams' southern classic "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," [Rep. Gerald Allen, the writer of the bill] said the play probably couldn't be performed by university theater groups.

[...] Allen said no state funds should be used to pay for materials that foster homosexuality. He said that would include nonfiction books that suggest homosexuality is acceptable and fiction novels with gay characters. While that would ban books like "Heather has Two Mommies," it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as "The Color Purple," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Brideshead Revisted."

[...] Aside from the moral debates, the bill could be problematic for library collections, said Jaunita Owes, director of the Montgomery City-County Library, which is a few blocks from the Alabama Capitol.

"Half the books in the library could end up being banned. It's all based on how one interprets the material," Owes said.

But on top of that, I heard about it from someone on the other side of the world. Not only is this a totally backwards thing (again) for Alabama to do, but everyone knows about it. I am sick and tired of hearing nothing but sad, bad, and embarrassing news coming out of my state. So here's what we're going to do. If y'all are with me on this, we're going to fight back. I don't know what the most effective way to do this is--internet petitions are a joke, so those are right out, but if anyone has a suggestion, leave it in the comments. I suspect it will involve writing letters to Rep. Allen or possibly a more powerful politician, but if there's a larger group protesting this, we might be able to throw our weight--you, me, and everyone who reads this journal who wants to fight--behind them.

Actually, scratch that--Rep. Allen is probably a lost cause, and it would just turn into a giant snail-mail flame war. We probably need to write to the other representatives who would vote on this. If you're in Alabama, you would need to write to the representative for your district; for example, my zip code is splits five districts, leaving me with five people to write. I don't know if emails or typed/handwritten letters are more effective.

I don't know how far the opinion of a non-Alabamian would go--I'm thinking here of the British newspaper that had its readers write letters to the citizens of that town in Ohio, begging them to vote for Kerry, and the don't-tell-us-what-to-do outrage it provoked--but I would not underestimate the power of embarrassment on the other representatives. Meaning, "You don't actually want to vote for this, do you? Do you realize how awful it makes Alabama look to the rest of the world? And they do know about it, by the way."

That said: I know the Alabama mindset. We're not going to get them with the gay rights angle. If they're this narrow-minded, arguing on behalf of gay rights is not going to get us anywhere or change any minds. No, the angle we have to push is the Censorship Is Un-American and Rilly, Rilly Bad, Shame on You angle, because that's the only one that could possibly make them back down. Keep that in mind as you think of things to do.

However, I would highly, highly encourage anyone who wants to protest this to cast a vote against this bill in a positive light. As in, "This is a chance for Alabama to prove that it's not as backwards as everyone else believes. This is a chance to prove everyone wrong and show that we are living in the 21st century," rather than berating the other representatives for a bill they didn't come up with in the first place. I truly believe we'll catch more flies with honey, so flaming is not the order of the day here. What we need to do is promote the possible defeat of this bill as a positive and desirable thing, rather than focus on the alternative and antagonize.

So: Any ideas?


ETA: On the off chance that he might get back to me quickly, I've emailed the representative closest to me to ask for advice on how we should proceed. If I don't get a reply, he'll still get a formal, handwritten letter like the other representatives.

You know how we all bitched and whined on November 3rd that this country is going to hell in a handbasket? And then we all wrote inspiring posts about rolling up our sleeves and actually doing something? This is that something. I'll report back with a guide to writing a good representative letter if I hear anything.

ETA 2: I've written a couple of more emails to booky people in high[ish] places, you might say. Please pass this entry to anyone you know in Alabama, or anyone who could possibly help us or advise us how to make our opinions heard.

Comments

[aliaspiral.livejournal.com]

this kind of thing just pisses me off. its makes Southerners look bad, and as i am a Southern, and not stupid, it annoys me.

that said, email messages will get you nowhere. hand written all the way. not typed, handwritten!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

That's what I suspected. I'll probably compose my letter on the keyboard first, though.

[kohler.livejournal.com]

Eurgh.

[ladyaurora1ca.livejournal.com]

you could point out that the Bible would probably be banned as a result of the law. That, or a violation of the first amendment.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hee!

I half suspect that Allen's thought of this, as I think the exact wording of the bill specifies that the banned material "promotes" homosexuality. As such, the Bible is way mondo exempt from the ban. I would hardly say that "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" promotes homosexuality, as it's actually a pretty tortured look at a closet case, but that's specifically one of Allen's examples. Sigh.

[riney.livejournal.com]

have they ever taken a college english course? there's homosexuality in EVERYTHING! but the point made about the Bible (above) is a good one.

i don't even know what to say about this law. i mean .. wow! this world ..

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

The really scary question is, how deep does this guy intend the bill to reach? Would he ban a book like The Harlot By the Side of the Road, a book of Bible scholarship that discusses some gay themes? Would he ban any biographies mentioning homosexuality? Will this effectively "erase" gay people from history, if you're reading library books in Alabama?

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

Mentally, I agree with you that flaming is not the order of the day here. Emotionally, I saw this and went "AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE".

::sigh::

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

This will never get passed.

Not because it's appalling as far as civil rights go, but because it's not well thought out at all. When asked how this bill will go into effect, Representative AsshatAllen says he 'guesses' this or that. Like, he 'guesses' they'll dig a big hole and bury all the books deemed OMG GAY.

But still, this is Alabama, so it's best not to take chances. I'm not just writing a letter to my representative, I'm going to show up in his place of business and talk to him face-to-face. I know him personally. He's a Democrat. Maybe he'll actually listen.

Of course, the last time I talked to him was about the sex toys ban, so he'll probably think I'm sex-crazed, but hell, half the town made fun of him over that one!

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Oh--I failed to mention. My representative is the House Majority Leader.

[comedownstairs.livejournal.com]

I wish I could come up with something that I can do from another state, but I don't know that it would have anywhere near the right effect.

This is the kind of thing- especially given a lot of the "homosexuality bad!" "God good!" mentality that's working its way into the legislation of the entire country- that makes me want to FIX it, and if I can't, I want to go sleep on Australia's doorstep and tell them how great I'd rock their economy if they would just let me in...

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, I know a lot of people outside Alabama are upset about this and would like to do something, but at the same time I know how I'd feel if I were a House rep and I got tons of email from people I did not actually represent. "Who the hell are you people, and why do I care?" Which is why I was hoping that someone with more protest experience ("ATTICA! ATTICA!") could pop up with a few ideas.

[laizeohbeets.livejournal.com]

I lurk your LJ for your Lost recaps and love the movies in 15 minutes, but I'm going to speak up on this.

I'm from your neighbor state, the ever so tolerant Georgia. I voted for Bush (Don't hurt me! I had other issues in mind!), but I still support gay books, etc. It's really sad that Alabama wants to ban "gay" books or books with gay characters. They're eliminating some of the best literature around. I absolutely LOVE the Picture of Dorian Gray. It's definitely one of my favorite books, if not my favorite. I'd also love to be able to put on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It's a brilliant play.

Don't they realize that by eliminating "gayness" in books, they're not necessarily hindering someone's choice to be gay? It's common knowledge that you ban a book/cd/movie, you instantly make it more popular. While a book is not likely to inspire someone to be gay, stranger things have happened.

It really does depend on the subtext the people are using to read the books. I mean, some people think that because Harry and Draco are enemies in HP, they're going to be shagging in the last book. If someone takes that mindset to an extreme (particularly a bad extreme), you could just about ban any book. What about Lord of the Rings, with its Christian undertones? Would they ban it because Sam kisses Frodo's hand, and would likely die for Frodo?

This is just stupid, but I don't have a suggestion what to do. I feel I'd be willing to write to Allen, but I doubt it would do anything to change his mind. I'm passing this around to all of my friends from Alabama, and hope everyone gets the word around. This is just stupid.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

For real. And thanks for spreading the word. I'm hoping to find something that people outside Alabama can do, because I know there are tons who'd like to speak up about it.

(And thanks. : )

[girlandetc.livejournal.com]

i can't even begin to express my disgust. this is just horrible - it should never go through. gah.

in other news, i had no idea you were from alabama!? *boggle* i'm from daphne/mobile area. spend a lot of time in birmingham, though, w/ grandparents. mind if i add you, just out of sheer.. coolness? :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Sure thing--I love running into fellow Alabamians. Particularly fellow Alabamians who agree that this is bullshit. : )

[syvia.livejournal.com]

Well... this past summer, my father and all the people at his company nearly lost their jobs because the holders of their contract didn't want to renew- they were angry that dad's company won a court case against them.

*grins* I place emphasis on 'nearly'. My father still has his job.

They fought back thusly:

Everyone in the company sent copies of the same letter (each with their own name on it) to... I think five or six of our state big-wigs.

The idea is not to send A letter or A petition to A state representative.

SEND A LOT OF THEM TO MANY OF YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

Hopefully if you send enough, SOMEONE will read and care about it.

Just as one person standing outside of the White House protesting doesn't do much good- one letter sent is easily ignored.

Get a million-man march going on down there. Oooh- go Harry Potter on them! Send letter after letter after letter after letter... well, you get the idea, and again- send them to many people.

Hope that helps.

[syvia.livejournal.com]

*grimaces* It may seem like a lot of stamps, but if you choose five state Reps to whom you send your letters, and get a ton of people who don't mind paying for the postage to send them, it'll add up.

[pride4u2.livejournal.com]

That's pathetic. And really scary.

[pride4u2.livejournal.com]

and also against the first amendment, I believe. *sigh*

[alecto-chan.livejournal.com]

Yea, playing the Censorship is un-American would be your best bet. Good luck to all your efforts. People in other states are standing behind you too. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help your state not make an asshat out of itself with this. For now, I can just mock it in my own LJ. *wonders exactly how many books would fall under this ban*

[syvia.livejournal.com]

Scary to wonder about it. I knew a Lit student in college who could find homosexual refrences in anything.

[majormeg7.livejournal.com]

Um...you don't know me, but I read this entry through galynthia's friends list. Anyway...this kind of thing just makes me mad. I live in Massachusetts; is there anything I can do to protest this bill?

[majormeg7.livejournal.com]

Dear Alabama asshat trying to make unconstitutional law,

Don't make me come down there.

Sincerely, Masshole

[green-screen.livejournal.com]

I'm another Lost-lurker but this just scares me too much not to say anything. I grew up in Mobile and I have young family members growing up there now. I don't want them to learn the hateful ignorance that inspires this sort of thing. I don't want them to not have anywhere to turn if they start questioning their sexuality or are even just curious about how other people live. I don't want them to miss out on all the beautiful literature. Heh, my room mate and I just went through our bookshelves to see which ones would still be available and there wasn't much left.

Sorry, this has turned into a rather unhelpful and emotional response from me. I'm no longer in AL, but I will be contacting my old friends and relatives. Thanks for bringing this up, I probably wouldn't have found out about it until it was too late (and that's how a lot of these things get by, isn't it?).

[fox-gloves.livejournal.com]

As a neighboring southern state person, I can agree with you on this. However, I offer far more alarming news. My home state, South Carolina, has a cult moving in that essentially wants to secede from the union and start up a new and more morally enhanced state (Read - Happy Nazis).

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2587218&nav=0RaMTJJ5

AND

http://www.christianexodus.org/

Don't worry you're not alone in the embarrassment category.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Oh, Jesus.

[trinag.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read about this yesterday. You're so right, it's just one more thing that makes Alabama look backwards (not to mention the fact that the amendment to take the segregation language out of the constitution looks like its not going to pass).

Thanks for the link. Since I'm in Alabama, I'm defenitely going to write to my representative. I need to think hard about a way to make sure they read it. The last time I wrote to a state representative, about voting no on the gay marriage ban, I got some form letter about how they appreciated my support and how they would fight to preserve family values. It was completely obvious they barely glanced at what I had to say.

Hopefully enough people around here will agree that this is a silly, unrealistic bill and will make enough noise so that it will never get anywhere.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I asked my mom for an update on the segregation language thing, and she says that after a recount, it looks like it'll pass. Whee!

[outinthestorm.livejournal.com]

I'm actually wondering what constitutes the "homosexual agenda". Does he think that OMG the Gay People are trying to convert our children! With Literature!
*snark*

[ashanta.livejournal.com]

...I guess I finally have a good reason to use this icon now.

Wow. I'm at a lost for words. Every once in a while, I have to remember that (unfortunately), yes, there are a lot of people out there who sadly think like this. It still just boggles my mind.

Let me know if this Californian can do anything to help stop this bill from passing.

[arielchan.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know if they've mentioned anything about this on the NCAC website?

[pescivendolo.livejournal.com]

Your icon. Is love.

I've been trying to explain this movie to someone who hasn't seen it. And since I always call Bowie an alien with a pompadour, this rings so true. Beautiful.

[pescivendolo.livejournal.com]

I found this last night and posted it on my journal (which I don't expect you to read, given that you have about 8,000,000 friends).

Do the Democrats still have control of both houses? I'm hoping this thing will die quickly and quietly and never reach a vote by the public. After all, the public just voted AGAINST removing racist segregation-era language from our constitution.

My biggest fear is that Roy Moore will get behind this. For some unholy reason he still holds clout in this state. I blame him for the failure of the aforementioned Amendment 2.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

It's looking like Amendment 2's going to pass after the recount.

I know the Democrats still control the House. Don't know about the Senate.

[highlystrung.livejournal.com]

*is determined to shoot someone, even if it is only self*

ACK! What really pisses me off is I'm in an even worse postition than those who at least live in America. Because if interstaters want to write letters and get the 'WTF?! STAY OUTTA MY BUSINESS' response, then at least you can say something along the lines of: "But if we don't stop it here, it'll spread. Like the Domino Effect. Don't you see, man? It's the heterosexual agenda!! They're out to get us!!!" (With tongue in cheek, of course. ^.^) But I'm living in Australia! It really is none of my business! ... Then again ... we have been recently annexed via cultural imperialism ... so maybe ....


Still, if there is anything us horrified international readers can do, drop us a line. Even if we just say 'Dude?! What are you doing?!" Or something. *sigh*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I emailed the closest representative to say, basically, "Between my two journals, I've got 10,000 angry readers both here and abroad. What should we do?" I'm hoping the numbers alone catch his attention, if nothing else.

[ponygirl118.livejournal.com]

Someone offered helping him bury the books. Send him some dirt. Preferably u ed. Such as the used catbox dirt. Maybe send some "disgusting" literature along with it. Then again, this guy is lower then my cats shit.

F

[scarolinagrl.livejournal.com]

de-lurking a little here *waves*
Not sure how the public school thing would work, but I can offer this much. As for the public libraries, I feel certain that the ALA would step in. As a public librarian in a southern state (NC), I hear of things like this occasionally and they're usually just media frenzy and have no true chance for passing. It's just to get attention to that person. (this is just my opinion of course). If you want to offer support, you might consider contacting the ALA. (American Library Association)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

That's actually a really good idea--that's a large enough group that they might have some practical advice as to what we can do.

[butch-lebeau.livejournal.com]

You live in Alabama?
...
I'm sorry. (No offense... just sorriness)

[thelovehater.livejournal.com]

Well this is disturbing to say the least. I'm not from Alabama but I wanted to try and help brainstorm ideas.

You could always appeal to them by using the common denominator that links jerks around the world: money.

It will cost millions to go through libraries across Alabama and remove books with a homosexual agenda. They'll have to set up a team of people to figure out just what equals a homosexual book. People to collect the books from the libraries. Police to stop the protests that will no doubt ensue. Lighter fluid since these seem like the book burning sort of folk and of course millions more to replace the books once the law is rightfully deemed unconstitutional. Universities will loose money if they ban gay themed plays because lets face it I've never happened upon a play that didn't involve at least homoerotic undertones. But yes point out that the state stands to loose money doing this, money that could surely be spent on other things. Better things. Things that will help everyone instead of alienating one group.

I think the best bet would be to mobilize the fight. Get others and have a protest the day the bill goes up. Notify the news media about your protest and raise hell. I'm sure lots of people will come, let people in other states know the date and they'll come too I'm sure.

Perhaps mention in the letters the history of civil rights offenses within the state and how this kind of legislation only serves to highlight the shameful past wherein another minority group was discriminated against.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Great ideas. I actually just emailed my local representative to see if he has any advice--the subtext of email was basically, "What can we do that y'all WILL listen to?" I don't know if physical protests do any good, but then--historically they at least cause national embarrassment, which may be good enough.