Petrelis Files

July 19 = Dublin & Death Penalty Focus in S.F.

Top o' the mornin' to all you fine lads and lasses out there endorsing and planning on joining July 19's actions.

The good people at the Death Penalty Focus organization here in San Francisco, who were very supportive of our vigil in 2005 for gay Iranians and against the death penalty, are again helping us.

The group's executive director, Lance Lindsey, will speak at our rally on July 19 at 5 pm at Harvey Milk Plaza. Not only that, but the organization will again loan us their enormous anti-death penalty banner, calling for an end to executions. As you probably recall from photos of San Francisco's gay Iran vigil in August 2005, the signs and anti-death penalty message of Lindsey's group look great in snapshots and on videos.

So come hear Lance Lindsey talk on July 19!

And the number of cities participating in this international day against homophobia and an end to executions, added one more to the list. This bit o' good news comes from Doug Ireland:

Dublin, Ireland just became the 21st city to schedule an event on July 19, the International Day of Action Against Homophobic Persecution in Iran. The rally, to take place in Dublin City Centre, is organized by the BeLonG To Youth Project, an Irish gay youth organization.

"We hope that these events will draw much attention to human rights abuses of LGBT young people in Iran and elsewhere," BeLonG To Youth Project's Michael Barron said in an e-mail to the Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization (PGLO). "At the demonstration LGBT groups from throughout Ireland will gather with banners and placards and will be addressed by some very high profile public figures, including Senator David Norris," Barron added, concluding: "We want you to know that we are standing in solidarity with you and all Iranian LGBT people."

For more details on the Dublin demonstration, BeLonG To Youth Project can be contacted at belongto@eircom.net or telephone 01-8734184 in Dublin.

In the U.S., the July 19 Day of Action has also just been endorsed by the Campaign for Peace and Democracy.

For background information and an up-to-date list of cities worldwide participating in the July 19 Day of Action, click on Doug Ireland.

Of course, the updated list of July 19 cities is here. If your city or town is not on this list, please consider organizing a vigil. Join us!