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We just sent out this message to our Advocates for Youth/Amplify community. It's a great story about the power of grassroots activism.
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Dear Advocate-
My name is Ernesto, and I have a story to share with you.
In May 2011, a close friend of mine was attacked by two men for holding hands with his boyfriend while crossing the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon. Although a few folks saw it happen, no one stopped to help.
Outraged by this hate crime, I wanted to create a way to fight back. I wanted to show support for this couple — but I also wanted to prove to the greater Portland community that we refuse to be defined by homophobia and violence. Instead, we will define ourselves through empathy, respect, and love.
Through Facebook, I asked people to email me photos of themselves holding hands with someone else. I honestly expected a moderate response, maybe a few dozen photos at most. But, when I received more than 200 photos in the first 42 hours, I knew we had an opportunity to take greater action.
Exactly one week after the attack, I partnered with several local non-profits to organize a day of solidarity. Again using Facebook, I invited family and friends to the event, and within 24 hours, we had over 1,000 RSVPs! Again, taking Facebook RSVPs with a grain of salt, I was thrilled by the prospect that we might have a few hundred people turn out for the actual event.
I've never been more thrilled to be proven wrong.
On the day of the event, 4,000 people held hands across the Hawthorne Bridge. Hands Across Hawthorne, as the event has come to be known, was one of the most amazing displays of respect, solidarity, and love that I have ever seen.
As a result, the Portland community came together and national media attention was finally given to this hate crime and to discrimination against LGBT people in general.
Why am I sharing this story with you?
I would never have known that I could have such an important role in my community if it weren't for the organizing skills provided to me over the last five years by Advocates for Youth. The training I have received at Advocates' annual Urban Retreat — along with the ongoing support and assistance throughout the year — prepared me to step up in the wake of this attack.
As you consider your end-of-year donations, please remember to support Advocates for Youth — an organization that respects young people and includes them as partners in adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues.
Advocates' vision of Rights.Respect.Responsibility.® has not only infused my work, but many other aspects of my life as well.
Click here to donate online.
Thank you in advance for ensuring that young people like me can continue to receive the knowledge and training they need to become effective activists in their local communities.
Best wishes,
Ernesto Dominguez
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