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Organizations in our community where you can make a difference

The right to marry is a fundamental civil right.  Defenders of racism fought long and hard to stop interracial marriage.  61 years ago, 90% of Americans thought interracial marriage was immoral and should be illegal (as it was in much of the country); in 1948, people reacted violently when the California Supreme Court legalized interracial marriage.  20 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court made interracial marriage legal throughout the U.S., and today only a minor fringe think race should prevent two people who love each other from getting married.  The fight for equality for our LBGT brothers and sisters will also be difficult, but it is a fight that we will win.

New York State has a good chance to be the first state in the country to give LBGT people the right to marry without a court order.  The New York State Assembly has passed marriage equality; Governor Paterson has said he will sign marriage equality into law; the last stumbling block is the Democratic-controlled New York state Senate.  Right now, a small number of Senators are standing in the way of civil rights.  One of those Senators is George Onorato.  If you live in Senator Onorato's district (Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside Queens), please send him a letter asking him to support marriage equality. Click here for some sample letter ideas.

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During these difficult times, we are grateful to the heroes in our community who volunteer to help those in need.
Please consider giving your time, money or food to some of our neighborhood's best organizations:

*If you know of a charity that should be in next year's calendar, please email me at Jeremiah@JeremiahFP.org.