Meet Our New Grassroots Organizer, Gannon Long
By Christopher Edwards on 08/04/2010 @ 11:55 AM
In July, Immigration Equality Action Fund added a dedicated grassroots organizer, Gannon Long. She's hit the ground running as we work to prepare our grassroots to meet directly with their representatives during the August Congressional Recess.
She took a few moments from her schedule to answer some questions about her previous work, what's on tap for grassroots and how you can directly advocate for UAFA and inclusive immigration reform:
Christopher Taylor Edwards: Okay. First if I haven't already said so, welcome and we're really glad you are here! So let's begin with the background information. Where are you from? What were doing before ImEq?
Gannon Long: Thanks! I'm so glad to be here. Before joining Immigration Equality, I was working for marriage equality in Connecticut at Love Makes a Family. I took some time off between the jobs.
CTE: So how did you get into grassroots organizing?
GL: I've always been an activist on my own. After college, I was lucky to find jobs that allowed me the time for it. And then when the position at Love Makes a Family opened up, I went for it — being an organizer is doing activism full time, and I love it.
CTE: So then in one sentence, what do you do all day?
GL: I work with colleagues, coalition partners, and individuals to advocate for the Uniting American Families Act and inclusive immigration reform.
CTE: So why immigration now? Why have you taken this direction?
GL: The work that Immigration Equality does brings together people from different communities, to advocate for equality for all. I have been involved in the immigrants' rights movement as well as the LGBT rights movement, and I have always worked to make those spaces more inclusive. This is a great opportunity for me.
CTE: So what's coming up this fall? What's on the horizon for our families and our allies?
GL: Right now, we're gearing up for Congress's monthlong recess — where representatives and senators will be back in their home communities. We are aiming to get more members of Congress to co-sponsor our bill, so we're working with new and seasoned activists from all across the country to meet with their elected officials and tell their stories about why the Uniting American Families Act is so important. Next week, I'm running an online training on August 11th that will go through ALL the steps -- from A to Z -- for setting up a successful meeting with your Representative. You can register at www.LGBTforCIR.org - join us!
CTE: What about people that don't have time to meet with their congressperson? Are there other ways to get involved?
GL: Meeting really is the best way to make a difference. But if that's not possible, there are many ways to get involved at here at the Action Fund site. You can send a personalized letter to your representative, email, call, or fax. It's also really important to tell your story so that other people can learn about the experiences of binational couples. We are always looking for folks to talk to the media, to help educate people on our discriminatory immigration system.
CTE: So let's back up then? Why is meeting our representatives so important?
GL: A few reasons. For one, Congresspeople are busy. Meeting with someone in person and hearing his or her story is more likely to make an impression than just getting an email or even a letter.
Another is, there are 36,000 binational couples in the U.S. (estimated by the United States Census at last count). It's a relatively small number, when you consider the U.S. population, but there are so many heartbreaking stories of families and communities being torn apart due to discrimination in our immigration laws. Telling our stories to people in power makes an impression on them beyond what sheer numbers could do.
CTE: So telling our stories in person is of major importance. So the webinar again is going to walk people through setting up a meeting, how to tell their stories, and concerns about privacy ... I assume? Or is that giving away too much?
GL: The webinar will give folks some background knowledge on the Uniting American Families Act, and then go through the steps of how to arrange successful a meeting with your congressperson. We'll help you out with planning the meeting, telling your story, and asking your congressperson to co-sponsor UAFA, and will be more than happy to answer questions you have.
CTE: Great. Thanks Gannon!
GL: Sure thanks for taking the time!
With the success of overturning the HIV immigration and travel ban and building on our 16 years experience advocating for binational couples, Immigration Equality launched the Action Fund to work for inclusive immigration reform .Gannon is just one more person in our expanding team on Capitol Hill, building a coalition for inclusive immigration reform and directly advocating for our LGBT families.
Don't forget to sign up for Gannon's webinar on August 11 to learn how you can take your story directly to your congresspersons.
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