For Immediate Release

PRESS ADVISORY

CONTACT: 

Pauline Park  

(718) 662-8893 (c); (718) 424-4003 (h)

paulinepark@earthlink.net

OCCUPY THE CENTER!

Protest censorship by New York’s LGBT Community Center

WHO:  Queers Against Israeli Apartheid and other groups (list below)

WHEN:  Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 4-6 PM

WHERE: LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13^th St. between 7^th and 8^th Avenues

WHY: One year ago, amidst great controversy, the LGBT Center banned groups opposing Israeli apartheid. Protesters will confront the Center’s censorship policy and its secret closed-door board of directors meetings. 

It’s been a year since NY’s LGBT Community Center banned Siegebusters, the anti-occupation organizers, from using space at the Center. Since that time NYC Queers Against Israeli Apartheid has also been banned from the Center—and a “moratorium” has been imposed on ANY discussion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (meaning “discussion” of support for Palestinian rights).  The Center’s board promised, but never delivered, a policy revision clarifying their rental/access/programming guidelines.

On Saturday, March 3, as part of Israeli Apartheid Week, protesters will enact an end to the ban on Palestinian-related organizing at the Center, and re-institute the Center’s original access policy of full inclusion for all queers who organize for liberation. The “moratorium” is over!

The wealthy and powerful 1% should not be allowed to silence the voices of the 99%.  Queers Against Israeli Apartheid will defy the ban on March 3 -- Occupy the Center!

DEMANDS:

1. End the ban on Palestine solidarity organizing at the Center

2. Open the Center to all who respect its stated mission.

3. Open the Center's board meetings and decision-making process to the community.

ENDORSING GROUPS:

          Queers for an Open LGBT Center (QFOLC)

          alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society

          Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel

          Jewish Voice for Peace-NY                                                                                                                            

          International Socialist Organization

          Brooklyn for Peace

          International Action Center                                                                                                                    

          Palestinian Queers for BDS

          Jews Say No!

          Metropolitan Community Church of New York                                                                                               New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)                                                           Sylvia Rivera Law Project

          Workers World Party

          Young, Jewish and Proud

          FIERCE 

For more information:  www.queersagainstisraeliapartheid.blogspot.com

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