The Dallas Principles and Act On Principles

The essence of The Dallas Principles is simple: Full LGBT legal equality now. No delay. No excuses. Check here how to take action using Act On Principles.

 
WHAT ARE THE DALLAS PRINCIPLES. HOW THEY WERE CREATED.

The Dallas Principles include a preamble, eight principles, goals, and a call to action. Here are the principles:

1. Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.
2. We will not leave any part of our community behind.
3. Separate is never equal.
4. Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.
5. The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.
6. Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must
   be encouraged.
7. Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or
   money raised.
8. Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

The Dallas Principles were drafted on May 15-17, 2009 in Dallas by a group of 24 thinkers, activists, and donors. The Dallas meeting was the brainchild and was organized by Juan and Ken Ahonen-Jover, the founders of eQualityGiving.

Check a couple of the videos we produced:

ACT FOR FULL EQUALITY NOW

The essence of The Dallas Principles is very simple: Full LGBT legal equality now. No delays. No excuses.

As a follow up of The Dallas Principles, we created Act On Principles, providing three free tools for individuals and organizations to accelerate achieving full legal equality:

1. PUBLIC WHIP COUNT: A wiki-like tool which allows individuals to record the position of their representatives on our legislation. This is a breakthrough on how to lobby for our rights.  


2. HUB OF ACTIONS: Lists specific actions to take now for full equality now. Now organizations and individuals can create actions for others to take.  


3. OPEN BLOG: Provides a venue to discuss strategy for full equality. Now any registered user can blog about strategy and have all of his/her posts referenced on his/her personal page.  

To start taking action now, join Act On Principles.

The Dallas Principles and Act On Principles are all about empowerment of individuals to motivate and inspire others who really want to achieve full legal equality now. So, when anybody gives you reasons for delays of our equality just ask Why Not Now? and remind them of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote: "A right delayed is a right denied."

HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER

eQualityGiving's strategy has five components:

1. Explaining in plain English what we want to accomplish in terms of legal equality. This is done through the Equality Goals.
     
2. Presenting in legal terms what we want. This is the Omnibus Equality Bill.
     
   
3. Measuring the progress in legal equality. This is the Federal Equality Index and the States Scorecard.
    
4. Empowering individuals to ask for full legal equality now. This is The Dallas Principles.


5. Providing the tools (for free) for individuals and organizations to accelerate achieving full LGBT legal equality. These tools are Act On Principles.

PRESS COVERAGE

There has been lots of coverage of The Dallas Principles in the press as well as in blogs.  Here we highlight some of the initial coverage in main stream publications.

• The Washington Post: "In 'Dallas Principles,' Gay Group Calls Obama to Action
   
• Associated Press article: "White House says 'don't ask' policy under review" Mentions The Dallas Principles directly despite that the topic is about DADT
   
• Frank Rich's Op-Ed: "La Cage Aux Democrats," which clearly talks about equality now. It quotes extensively Evan Wolfson. The article starts with: "The most potent word in our new president's lexicon - change - has been heard much less since his inspiring campaign gave way to the hard realities of governing."
   
  
• Air America, video by Joel Silverman: "I Am Very Gay When My Civil Rights Are Attacked"
   
• The Hill article: "Activists see window closing for gays in the military" Talks about The Dallas Principles as a way to prod President Obama
   
• The Detroit News: "Democratic inaction frustrates gay equality activists"
   
• South Florida Blade: "The Dallas Principles: how two Miami men started a movement"
   
• Metro Weekly: "Principles and Pragmatism"
   
• OpEd News: "Introducing Act On Principles, a new tool for LGBTQ grassroots activism"
   
• Equality California: "Act On Principles offers new tools for netroots action"
   

Home >> The Dallas Principles and Act On Principles (top)