MatthewCraffey.com - Organizations

Log Cabin Republicans
www.logcabin.org
Many of my friends have asked me over the years why I belong to the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that supports a party that has not always led the way for equal-rights for gays. I think this article from the Advocate does a good job of articulating why having two parties fight for our vote benefits all of us in the long run. In many political races all over the U.S. we are seeing the fruits of our labor, and California is our latest success story.

Also, I believe the diversity we in the gay community so often champion, should extend to our political philosophies as well. Diversity and understanding means we should support people within our own community believing and supporting whatever party or ideology best describes them. Just because I’m gay, doesn’t mean that that is the only issue that defines me, or my political beliefs. On some social issues, I support Democrats more, but fiscally, and militarily, I am generally more aligned with Republicans. I vote for the candidate that is usually the most moderate and thus most closely aligned to my beliefs and values. Sometimes that means a Republican, and sometimes that means a Democrat. Regardless, I should not, nor should other members of our community be made to feel ashamed if we don’t vote in lockstep with the Democratic Party, as is sometimes the case with those who often say they represent the gay community. When the Democratic Party believes our vote is safe, they feel no need to fight hard for us, or to take any political risks for the betterment of our community. We’ve seen this during the Clinton years with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the “Defense of Marriage Act.” We benefit when both parties will have to work for our vote, and truly fight for equality.

Human Rights Campaign
www.hrc.org
The Human Rights Campaign is a non-partisan organization that has led the fight for equality on LGBT issues, and in particular the issue of marriage equality.

ONE
www.one.org
ONE is a groundbreaking organization led by U2’s Bono, that doesn’t ask for your money to help fight extreme poverty and AIDS around the world. It asks for the amount of time it takes you to send an email. Whenever a bill relating to fighting extreme poverty is before Congress, or the President, ONE emails its supports to ask them to email their Congressman, Senator, or the President regarding that bill. The email is formatted with what is being asked of the politician, as is the email address for the appropriate politician. All the supporter needs to approve the email and click “Send”. Since ONE’s inception, G8 nations erased all the debt owed by the world’s poorest countries, and have pledged $50billion to fight AIDS, TB, Malaria and poverty in these countries. The United States has even increased its $15billion part of this pledge to $30billion. Currently, over a million people in Africa owe their lives to ONE, and countless more will over the next few years. Republicans, Democrats, Liberals and Conservatives have united on this issue, have supported ONE’s agenda, and all should be proud of their results.

Product RED
www.joinred.com
Just as ONE revolutionized web activism, RED creates philanthropic capitalism. By getting corporate America to sign on to giving a percentage of the products they sell to fight global poverty and AIDS, Americans can choose to buy products they already want, yet know that proceeds from these products will go to help those in need. Check this site out, and patronize these businesses that are helping to save lives.

Little Star Foundation
www.littlestar.org

Iraqi LGBT
www.iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com
Since 2003, 430 gay men have been murdered in Iraq. Shia dominated regions have been plagued by roving death squads that seek to murder gays, their friends, and their families. Iraqi LGBT helps provide support, safehouses, and safe passage to other countries that are more tolerant of homosexuality. Please contribute and help those in the gay community who live in fear ever day of their life.

US Campaign For Burma
www.uscampaignforburma.org
The United States Campaign for Burma is a U.S.-based membership organization dedicated to empowering grassroots activists around the world to bring about an end to the military dictatorship in Burma. Through public education, leadership development initiatives, conferences, and advocacy campaigns at local, national and international levels, USCB works to empower Americans and Burmese dissidents-in-exile to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma and raise awareness about the egregious human rights violations committed by Burma’s military regime.

Gays Without Borders
www.gayswithoutborders.wordpress.com
An informal network of international GLBT grassroots activists working to make the world a safer place for GLBT people, and for full GLBT equality in all aspects of legal and social life.