Sample Email to Pride with Demands
Hi [INSERT NAME OF PERSON OR ORGANIZATION],
We hope you are doing well and finding ways to stay nourished in these times. We are writing to you as a coalition of Queer and Trans organizers, visual artists, drag queens, DJs, and nightlife and cultural workers to request your attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As you know, over 36,000 Palestinian people have been killed by Israel, nearly half of whom are children.
As Queer and Trans community members, we are deeply concerned that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] has thus far remained silent on the genocide. Queer and Trans people overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and recognize that the genocide is being carried out in our name through Israel’s use of Pinkwashing and Homonationalism. We are writing to demand that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] speak out to call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and condemn the weaponization of our lives and existence to justify the genocide.
We are also aware that [INSERT CORPORATIONS/CORPORATE ENTITIES SPONSORING/PARTICIPATING IN PRIDE] will be sponsoring and/or participating in [INSERT LOCATION] Pride this year. As companies profiting off the genocide and the desecration of our communities, we demand that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] bar them from participating and cut ties with them.
In honor of Pride’s roots, we cannot stay silent while a genocide is carried out in our name. We kindly request the response of [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] with a decision as to how you will address these demands by [INSERT DATE]. If we do not hear back, we will assume that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] will not be considering these demands and will act accordingly.
Here is a full list of demands, with detailed explanations (and additional resources for Pride organizations at the bottom of the page). If helpful, ACT UP NY and Toronto Pride both have modeled taking action in accordance with these demands, and their statements can be used as templates. We are also happy to meet with you to discuss further, if desired.
As Marsha P. Johnson said, “no pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” This includes queer and trans Palestinians. We look forward to your prompt response.
With care,
[SIGN HERE]
Sample Email to Pride to Request a Meeting
Hi [INSERT NAME OF PERSON OR ORGANIZATION],
We hope you are doing well and finding ways to stay nourished in these times. We are writing to you as a coalition of Queer and Trans organizers, visual artists, drag queens, DJs, and nightlife and cultural workers to request a meeting about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As you know, over 36,000 Palestinian people have been killed by Israel, nearly half of whom are children.
As Queer and Trans community members, we are deeply concerned that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME] has thus far remained silent on the genocide. We would like to set up a meeting with you to discuss these concerns and offer suggestions for how to address this issue with our community.
Members of our coalition are happy to meet [VIRTUALLY/IN-PERSON/BOTH] and are available:
[INSERT DAYS/TIMES HERE]
We appreciate your prompt response to this matter and look forward to hearing from you.
With care,
[SIGN]
Sample Petition
TITLE: [LOCATION]: No Pride in Genocide!
This Pride season, in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, we as queer and trans people in [INSERT LOCATION HERE] demand [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME HERE] divests from, and cut ties with, weapons manufacturers like [INSERT WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS] and other corporations profiting off of the desecration of our communities and environment, including [INSERT COMPANIES HERE]. We also call on [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME HERE] to stand with the radical values of Pride and not only call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, but to an end to the pinkwashing and homonationalist tactics that enable Israel and the Unites States to weaponize Queer and Trans rights to justify the genocide.
As Marsha P. Johnson said, “no Pride for some of us without Liberation for all of us.” There can be no Pride without liberation for LGBTQIA+ Palestinians.
Read our full demands here and sign below.
[INSERT FORM HERE]
Sample Letter Writing Campaign
Hi [INSERT NAME OF PERSON OR ORGANIZATION],
I am writing to you as a part of a coalition of Queer and Trans organizers, visual artists, drag queens, DJs, and nightlife and cultural workers to request your attention to demand that [INSERT PRIDE ORG NAME]:
Publicly ban all weapons manufacturers, including [INSERT WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS SPONSORING/PARTICIPATING IN YOUR PRIDE] from sponsoring and participating in [INSERT LOCATION] Pride.
Call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire.
Condemn pinkwashing and homonationalism, tools used by Israel and the United States to justify the genocide of Palestinains in our name.
Publicly ban all corporations that profit from war, detention and incarceration, environmental destruction, and individual/community displacement, including [INSERT CORPORATIONS/CORPORATE ENTITIES SPONSORING/PARTICIPATING IN YOUR PRIDE]
[CAN CHOOSE TO INSERT HERE A LINE OR TWO ABOUT HOW THE COALITION TRIED TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH YOUR PRIDE ORG AND THE ORG REJECTED YOUR DEMANDS]
In honor of Pride’s roots, I cannot stay silent while a genocide is carried out in our name. As a member of the Queer and Trans [LOCATION] community, I demand that Pride reflects the demands of our broad coalition fighting for a Free Palestine.
As Marsha P. Johnson said, “no pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” This includes queer and trans Palestinians.
Thanks,
[SIGNATURE]