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EvilGeoff -> An Appeal For Your Help (9/13/2005 9:36:49 PM)
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Leather Friends and Family,
I've returned from my recent trip to Baltimore and the NCSF annual meeting
with a renewed sense of purpose and a fire in my belly. I also have mixed
feelings of desperation and hope. Desperation because until this weekend I
did not realize how close to the financial edge that the NCSF is operating,
hope because there is a light at the end of the tunnel, which I will explain
later.
With a humble heart I come to you this evening to ask a huge favor of you.
Not for myself, not for the families who have lost everything in the recent
hurricane disaster, not for a leather family in need.
I'm asking for your help on behalf of a nation that doesn't even realize it
needs help.
I'm asking on behalf of the millions of our leather brothers and sisters who
remain silent about their desires and lifestyle choices out of fear of
reprisal.
I'm asking on behalf of the millions of poly-family members who can't insure
the partners they can't legally marry.
I'm asking on behalf of the millions of swingers who have their clubs raided
and shut down and their members arrested because of over-zealous prosecutors
looking to make a name for themselves.
I'm asking on behalf of YOU, my brothers, sisters, friends and family in
leather.
In the United States today we live in a social climate that is increasing
conservative and with federal and sometimes state and local agencies that
are finding it easier and easier to cave in to pressure from ultra
conservative, religiously based special interest groups. Because of the
great strides our gay and lesbian friends have made in their struggle to
have their rights recognized, to get out of the closet and achieve
mainstream tolerance, we, the leather, poly and swing communities, have
become the new "boogeyman". We who practice alternative sexuality are "the
enemy". We, who have done nothing more than decide for ourselves who and
what makes us happy and whole, are the next big target because we are
"different".
Folks, the NCSF, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, stands as both
sentinel and voice for our alternative lifestyle communities. In 2004, the
NCSF responded to over 740 requests for assistance. To date in 2005, NCSF
has responded to well over 300 requests, ranging from the highly public
lawsuits against the Communications Decency Act and the increased
restrictions of U.S.C. Title 18, Section 2257 (the record keeping
requirements extending to secondary providers of sexually explicit content),
to child custody, divorce, and domestic violence cases that never make the
paper. So far this year, the NCSF has performed 46 Educational Outreach
presentations to swing, poly and BDSM groups, and civil authorities.
The NCSF has always operated on a shoestring budget but this year, expenses
have increased while income has decreased. Two of the NCSF's _MAJOR_
fundraising efforts this year (including BR!) aren't happening. That's a
loss of over $20,000 dollars in 4th quarter income alone. Using current
budget figures and what's in the bank, NCSF has just a wee tad more than 1
month's operating capital. Yes, it's that bad. NCSF has helped our
community until there is nothing left to help with.
There _is_ a light at the end of the tunnel. There are exciting plans
underway now for some major changes that should provide additional funding
AND additional opportunities to build bridges within our diverse
communities. I don't have much more information than that, but this won't
happen until mid-November at the earliest. And NCSF needs our help NOW to
get through the next few months.
How can you help? There are several ways:
1) JOIN THE NCSF AS AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER. As a member of T3WD or other
Coalition Partner group, you can join for as little as $10.00 a year. Go to
the NCSF web site, http://www.ncsfreedom.org/membership/CP_Indiv_app.htm and
fill out the application. Be sure to list T3WD as the Coalition Partner you
are a member of, unless you are the member of another NCSF Coalition
Partner. If you do not belong to a group that is a Coalition Partner, go to
http://www.ncsfreedom.org/membership/Indiv_app.htm Membership is $25/year,
but remember, this goes almost entirely to education, outreach, and
services. The NCSF only has 1 paid employee, EVERYONE else is a volunteer!
2) Donate directly to the NCSF. Donate to either the General Fund or to the
Communcations Decency Act Defense Fund. The attornies fighting that battle
are doing it pro bono (for free), but there are still filing fees, document
fees, court costs, expenses for expert witnesses, etc. that HAVE to be paid.
Supreme Court battles are EXPENSIVE. Go to
http://www.ncsfreedom.org/howtopay.htm to make an online unrestricted
donation.
3) Come to the T3WD Vendor's Fair and stop by the Fund Raiser Table. We'll
be raffling off items, a scene with ME (and yes, I'll bottom for a good
cause, or Top you, winners choice, negotations will follow!), and I will
have some NCSF bumper stickers, window clings, and PINS (I have 10 pins, buy
'em all and I'll get more!). ALL PROCEEDS TO GO TO NCSF. T3WD will send
the check, but you will have something nifty to go home with and the
knowledge that you have done a great good.
4) If you can't come to T3WD's Vendor Fair, get to some event that's doing a
fundraiser like the Folsom Street Fair or Folsom Fringe. Or even better yet,
encourage YOUR group to hold it's own NCSF fundraiser.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wouldn't ask you for this if it wasn't important.
We all need to pitch in and get the NCSF over the hump or we may lose the
most effective voice we kinksters have ever had in our corner.
Yours In Kink,
- Geoff
T3WD - http://www.t3wd.org
NCSF - http://www.ncsfreedom.org
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