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Letters to GayToday The Director of Human Rights Watch Reflects
For me, the key to hope is realizing that even in distant corners of the world, there are things we can do to curb suffering and end atrocities. That's hardly self-evident. Most people never see past the horror stories. But one of the great privileges of working at Human Rights Watch is seeing what a small group of people, combining their voice, talents, and financial generosity, can do to address even seemingly intractable problems. Americans are particularly handicapped when it comes to understanding this power. We tend to look at human rights issues through "litigation blinders." Living in a society with a strong and independent judiciary, we tend to think that the solution to rights violations is always to sue the bastards. Since most repressive countries don't have functioning court systems, we despair. The dictator-rattling innovation of the human rights movement is its development of ways to defend rights even in the absence of functioning courts. We begin with a moral universe in which most people view human rights violations as wrong. That's why they tend to occur in the shadows. Human rights investigators operate in violent and repressive countries to document abuses, expose them to public opprobrium, and generate pressure for change. These exposés raise the cost of abuse - in terms of the reputation, pocketbook, and liberty of those responsible. Because human rights reports receive broad press coverage, they tend to stigmatize abusive forces, depriving them of the legitimacy they need to maintain power. Because influential governments and institutions can be convinced to condition aid and loans on an end to abuse, atrocities can be financially costly to the perpetrators. And because venues area increasingly available to prosecute the worst human rights criminals, abusive leaders must now worry about their freedom. The emotionally difficult part of this work is that we usually can't offer immediate relief to the victims whose plight we record. But we can deploy their testimony to protect others from a repetition of their suffering. And we are moving closer to the day when their persecutors will be reliably punished. Whether paramilitary leaders in Colombia or rebel groups in the Congo, whether the dictators in Beijing or the Russian generals in Chechnya, even the most recalcitrant abusers feel the heat. Indeed, when America's own legal system fails - as it often does for prisoners, immigrants, gays and lesbians, terrorist suspects, and victims of the drug wars, to name a few - the tools of the human rights movement can be an essential supplement to litigation at home as well. Does this mean we are moving toward a day when there will be no more human rights abuse? I doubt it. Governments will always find it tempting to violate human rights. But we are well past the day when human rights can be violated with impunity. If we keep raising the cost of abuse, there is every reason for hope. I thank you for your support of our work during the past year. If you are not yet a member of Human Rights Watch or would like to make a much-needed contribution, please visit http://www.hrwdonations.org. Best wishes for the new year,
Ken Roth Contribute to The Kentucky Gay Archives Founded in 1982 as the Kentucky Gay Archives, the Williams-Nichols Archive for GLBT Studies at the University of Louisville has since grown to become one of the largest collections of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender materials in the nation. Currently it houses about 3500 books, 17,000 print publications, over 400 videotapes, and numerous ephemera such as t-shirts, bumperstickers, matchbook covers, buttons, protest banners, and hand fans. It even has a pink frisbee with a "lambda" printed on it. The collection would not be possible without the generous contributions of individuals and organizations throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana as well as other parts of the nation. Without the funds needed to expand the collection and promote it to the community at large, the archive would remain stagnant, forgotten, unused. That's why we hope you will consider as generous a contribution as you can to the fundraising corporation that oversees acquisitions. Any amount, large or small, is welcome. Because it's a 501c(3) non-profit charitable corporation, all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by federal law. Won't you consider making a year-end contribution? Send check or money order to:
Williams-Nichols Institute, Inc. Thanks! This Way Out Combats Cash Crisis Donor Campaign Features Archival Treasures
"Not that we don't have confidence that people value the program and are willing to back it with their dollars, but these gifts should really grab their attention. Lots of non-profits can give away mugs or tote bags or whatever. Who else can give away the sounds of queer history?" The three programs chosen to entice support are: "Diminished Capacity," the story of the Milk-Mosocne assassinations and their aftermath, "The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights Radio Documentary," a chronicle of the first such demonstration in the U.S. capital, and the "AudioFile 2002 Year in Review," a look back at the year's queer music highlights. "These programs represent some of our best work," according to Chappelle, "and it just makes sense that our best skills should turn into our best hope for raising funds." ^This Way Out ~and Overnight Productions, Inc., its 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, are no strangers to the financial edge. The 14-year-old program is heard on over 125 community radio stations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe, on Radio For Peace International global short-wave, and online exclusively on PlanetOut.com. Its reach, production quality, and longevity make it seem like it must be a big-budget project, but in reality it has always been a very lean, largely volunteer-driven operation. Even at that raising enough money to stay on the air has never been an easy task, and the show has been saved from pulling the plug by a last-minute miracle more than once. One such miracle earlier this year was the award of a $5000 grant from the Arcus Foundation, a Michigan-based family foundation devoted to the promotion of diversity and tolerance with a special emphasis on GLBT visibility. "It came just in the nick of time," says Greg Gordon, Coordinating Producer of the program and CFO of Overnight Productions. "I don't know how we would have made it the last few months without Arcus. That grant and a few contributions from individuals have kept us going while 17 other requests to foundations were turned down. It was really disappointing about the other proposals -- we wrote more of them this year than ever before -- but economic slow-down and the post-9/11 effect on charitable giving made it really hard on anyone seeking funds this year." Now Gordon and his crew are anxious for another turn of good luck -- and soon. "If there's a miracle to be performed this time, it's not going to come from one or two major funders," he says. "It's going to come from a lot of individuals banding together in true community radio style with their small and large contributions." Overnight Productions is sending that urgent message out in a postal mailing of about 700 letters, to a list of supporters via e-mail, and in a posting on their website (www.thiswayout.org). Tax-deductible donations and requests for the thank you gifts can be made online or through the mail. Alive with the sounds from the streets, "Diminished Capicity" captures the tremendous impact the assassination of openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and gay-friendly Mayor George Moscone had on the gay and lesbian community. The "diminished capacity" rule made it possible for former Supervisor Dan White to receive a remarkably lenient sentence for the dual murders, a decision that sent shockwaves through the Castro District and led to what became known as the "White Night Riot." Produced in 1979 by Greg Gordon, the hour-long program includes interviews with leading lesbian and gay activists and journalists and music by the Tom Robinson Band. As rich with the music and culture of the period as it is with the politics, "The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights Radio Documentary" is an "audio scrapbook" of the October 14, 1979 march and rally in the U.S. capital. The hour-long program expresses the problems and the passion of the first demonstration of its kind, tracing the event from the initial planning conference and the cross-country trip on the "Freedom Train," to the big day itself and its coverage (or lack thereof) in the conventional media. Produced by Greg Gordon and Lucia Chappelle. It's been another dynamic year for the queer music scene! Chris Wilson, JD Doyle, and Christopher David Trentham, producers of ^This Way Out's~ award-winning monthly "AudioFile" segment, select their favorite CDs for the "AudioFile 2002 Year in Review." Artists featured in the half-hour include Jamie Anderson, The Bootlickers, Mark Weigle, Wishing Chair, and Jeremy Blue. Contributions of any size are welcomed. A minimum donation of $25 is requested for the "AudioFile 2002 Year in Review." For a minimum of $50, supporters may ask for either "Diminished Capicity" or "The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights Radio Documentary"; both documentaries can be had for a minimum $75 donation. Those contributing $100 or more may request all three gifts. Checks to Overnight Productions, Inc. can be sent to P.O. Box 38327, Los Angeles, CA, 90038. For more information, you can write to that address, e-mail TWORadio@aol.com, call 818-986-4106, or see their Web site at www.thiswayout.org. |
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It's that time of year when we reflect on the recent past, plan for the new year, and look for reasons to hope. Running a human rights organization gives one plenty of opportunities to reflect on what is wrong with the world. I encounter more accounts of slaughter and cruelty in a week than most people would want in a lifetime. But that doesn't deprive me of hope or lead me to despair, and it's not because I have one of those glass-half-full dispositions.
This Way Out radio hosts Greg Gordon, Lucia Chappelle, and Cindy Friedman © 1997-2008 BEI
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