Amy Johnson's Letter to the Community
Dear Friends, January 21st, 2009
I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and to share with you the excitement and the challenges of the coming years ahead, as OutFront Minnesota moves into its third decade of working for GLBT equality.
When I came out in 1991, the issues our community faced looked quite different than today. Our desire to amend the Minnesota Human Rights Act was still a dream, hate crimes laws were not on the books, and no one was talking about marriage equality. Now, Minnesota's anti-discrimination laws are among the best in the nation, hate crimes are recognized (though, sadly, not eliminated), and we've begun a marriage campaign. OutFront Minnesota has been a central figure in these advances.
OutFront Minnesota is uniquely situated to engage the hearts and minds of Minnesotans and earn the right for all of us to live with dignity and respect. I am excited and honored to work with our talented and committed coalition partners in the marriage campaign.
In fact, it seems I have been preparing for this role my whole life. My progressive worldview began taking shape at five years old when my mother brought me to my first protest. It was a counter protest, actually, where I held up a placard supporting reproductive rights outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. My activism has never really stopped.
I am proud to be part of an organization that is committed to racial and economic justice. OutFront Minnesota is also committed to supporting the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community as we age and grow. We envision a Minnesota where all people have the freedom and confidence to make the best decisions about their own lives.
While we at OutFront Minnesota dream big, we are also pragmatists. Like everyone during this serious economic downturn, we have tightened our collective belt. We have cut our planned spending this year by more than one-third of what it was two years ago. Staff reductions, reducing our office space, and even letting go of our rented coffeemaker were part of our budget decision-making for 2009. This is why, more than ever, OutFront Minnesota needs your financial support. Many of you responded to our year-end fundraising campaign and we thank you. If you did not donate then, please do so now.
As you have heard, marriage equality is a priority campaign for OutFront Minnesota in the coming years. This campaign will be a large undertaking and can only be done with the substantial participation and support of tens of thousands of people. We anticipate that a marriage equality bill sponsored by Senator John Marty will get a hearing in the 2009 session. Given the current administration, however, there is not much chance of full marriage equality for the next three to five years. With our coalition partners, we will fight for and obtain incremental gains until we achieve equality.
We are not an "issue" but real people who are affected by real laws. Let's tell our stories to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues; to the other members of our synagogues, mosques, and churches. Our personal stories make the real case for marriage equality.
I welcome your ideas, feedback and constructive criticism. A movement like ours is fed by the tremendous diversity and energy of our fantastic community and all of our allies. You may reach me at ajohnson@outfront.org or by phone 612-822-0127 / 800-800-0350 ext. 107
It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." OutFront Minnesota plans, with your help and support, to continue carving out a path for our GLBT and allied community in 2009 and beyond.
Sincerely,
Amy Johnson
Executive Director, OutFront Minnesota