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I am just throwing this out here as a possible form of protest and I want to hear what everyone thinks.
What would happen if LGBT Americans and our allies (and I'm sure we'd get many more non-allies on board just for the ride) refused to pay our taxes? What if we sent a list of demands to the government of the United States flat out saying: "No taxation without equal representation."
America revolves around her money. She loves it. It's her true and only love. You take her money away and she gets really, really upset and either becomes very reasonable or pissed off.
What if there was a website setup where we could pledge to participate in such a boycott of America? It could be a pledge like this:
--- Until all Americans, specifically Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) citizens are legally recognized as equal citizens by the Government of the United States of America we hereby pledge to:
1. Not pay our taxes to any local or state government or the federal government until it recognizes the equal rights for all of its citizens under the law.
2. Not to give our money to any American Corporation who supports policies that are anti-discriminatory toward the LGBT community.
3. We will not visit any city or state within the United States of America that has discriminatory policies against LGBT people.
Equal Rights is defined as:
1. The removal of any law that was put into place to discriminate directly or indirectly against LGBT people.
2. The recognition of full and equal relationship rights which are on par with heterosexuals by the federal and state governments, including civil marriage.
3. The adding of laws in which it clearly states that attacking someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity classifies as a hate crime.
Discriminatory Policies are defined as:
1. Policies in which LGBT people are discriminated against in employment, pay, job security, or partner benefits.
2. Policies in which LGBT people are treated unequally or unfairly compared to their heterosexual counterparts.
Where upon the areas of the United States of America begin to recognize LGBT people as equal citizens we will pay the balance due on our taxes. Where upon businesses reform their ways we will once again begin to patron them. ---
I hastily wrote that down as it came to me. Would this be an interesting course of action? Who thinks we could get enough people involved with an idea similar to this to make a difference? What is the likely backlash?
On the website, in addition to a list of companies both anti and pro-LGBT on the site it could also include the list of names (possibly addresses and phone numbers as well if they are publicly available) of any IRS Agents who harass anyone who is resisting. Then every time one of their names pop up they can get a flood of e-mails, letters, and phone calls. It would make them very hesitant to harass us over it.
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