The St Louis LGBT community stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and are joining those in St. louis and across the country.
October 11, 2011 - (ST. LOUIS) Students, teachers, union workers and senior citizens have joined protesters in cities nationwide, speaking out and demanding that politicians take action. From Wall Street and now to the main streets of cities across the country, people are on their feet demanding change.
It has been widely speculated that 10% of the U.S. population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Some University studies even suggest higher percentages per capita in cities like San Francisco, New York and Chicago. Regardless of the survey results, current national news headlines remind everyone that LGBT Americans still join some of the most disenfranchised minorities in the United States. LGBT Americans are treated as second class citizens when it comes to employment, housing, and healthcare discrimination.
A lesbian woman remains at a higher risk to develop Breast cancer than her heterosexual sister. Transgender women are more likely to be physically assaulted and LGBT youth are far more likely to take their lives than their straight classmates. Something must be done and it's time the LGBTQ community Occupy Wall Street and Main Street.
A 2009 report published by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law titled “Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community” examines for the first time poverty rates within the LGB community and finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual same-sex couples are at least as likely—and at times more likely—to be poor than married heterosexual couples.
“State of Transgender California,” a 2009 Transgender Law Center report also found that transgender Californians are twice as likely to be below the federal poverty line than the general population. What’s more, one-in-five survey respondents reported being homeless since first identifying as transgender.
ShowMeNoHate is calling for all LGBTQ and allies to join the Occupy movement this Friday,
October 14 at 3:30pm at Kiener Plaza for a peaceful Rally and at 4:00pm for a peaceful March.
Wear rainbow to show Queer solidarity and please bring signs that represent our struggle and message - that we too are part of the 99%.
