Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 18:44:33 -0500
Subject: [gpac-mass] Membership 
From: owner-mass@gpac.org

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			 GenderPAC
		 332 Bleecker Street, #K-86
		  New York, NY 10014-2980
			212-645-2686
			www.gpac.org

December, 1999

Dear Friend,

My name is Dana Rivers and you probably have read about my
story in the New York Times, Time Magazine, People or have
seen it on CNN or Good Morning America.

I am an award-winning teacher of 8 years at Sacramento's
Center High School. However, four complaints from a
community with over 5500 students has prompted a move to
dismiss me just weeks ago simply for being transsexual.

It's a truly stomach-wrenching feeling to be told that a
career you love is being taken away from you. You know that,
if it's ever happened to you or a loved one. As
gender-different people, it is an all too common
occurrence. That's why I've chosen to make my situation
public. It is time for the discrimination to end.

My students, bless them, are standing by me. And so is
GenderPAC.

GenderPAC invited me to Capitol Hill so I could tell my
story to my representatives in Congress.  As a result of
those visits, congress members from my state of California
offered to make a public statement regarding my right to
work, and others expressed their shock over my firing and
pledged their support.

Some Congressmembers have even offered to publicly change
their own office's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy
to include gender, like Congresswomen Janet Schakowsky of
Illinois (D-IL) has done. For the first time, we now have a
handful of sitting Congress members willing to make public
statements about gender discrimination.

By itself, this would be historic. But if we can get 100 or
200 Congressmembers to make the same announcement -- that
discrimination based on gender will not be tolerated within
their office -- it will send a powerful message to America
and to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) sponsors
that employment protection for gender is an issue whose time
has come.

But visiting 200 Congressmembers takes money. So I'm asking
you to help.

I am proud to say that I just became the newest
card-carrying member of GenderPAC. If you're not a member,
or you haven't rejoined yet for 2000, please join me in
supporting GenderPAC. It is an important organization
working every day to improve the quality of all our lives.

I chose to make my situation public because I believe it is
time to act now. I urge you to do the same and support
GenderPAC now, while this letter is in your hand. With your
commitment, we can work together to end the discrimination
that affect our lives.

Yours,

Dana Rivers

PS: If you wish to speak to someone at GenderPAC, email Riki
Wilchins, Executive Director at riki@gpac.org. If you would
like to talk to me, please email me at Rivers@foothill.net.


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Membership Form:

Thanks for your interest in GenderPAC!  Sometime in the last
few months you either signed our mailing list or attended
one of our events.  Please take a moment and mark all of the
items below that apply and simply "reply" to this message by
email. If you want to join or give a contribution, please
send this form with a check payable to "GenderPAC" at 332
Bleecker Street, #K-86 New York, NY 10014-2980.

Thanks!

__ Please sign me up to become a member of GenderPAC!
    (members automatically get our monthly online
     newsletter and action alerts)

___$35  ___$50  ___$100   ___$500  ___$1000  ____Other

__ I am already a member, but would like to give an
    additional Contribution

___$35  ___$50  ___$100   ___$500  ___$1000  ____Other

Name: _____________________________________________________

Preferred E-mail address: _________________________________

Mailing Address (Street): _________________________________

(City, State, Zip): _______________________________________

Phone (optional): _________________________________________

Congressional District:____________________________________

(All of this information is kept strictly confidential.)

___ I cannot join at this time, but please put me on your
    mailing list [please put your address on the form - see above]

___ Please add me to the InYourFace, GenderPAC's online news
    service for national gendernews. (@2 press releases/Mo.)

___ I'm especially interested in events or information that
    comes up on:
     ___  Hate Crimes
     ___  Employment Discrimination
     ___  Feminism & Gender Theory
     ___  Racism
     ___  Child Custody Discrimination
     Other ___________________

Please contact these three people who are committed to
building a national movement or gender civil rights
(optional):

     Name        Address        Phone Number      Email Address
1.
2.
3.

__ Please don't contact me at this address again.

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