Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are The Dallas Principles?
A. The Dallas Principles articulate a common set of goals and principles that we hope will inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now.
Q. What was the impetus for The Dallas Principles? Whose idea was The Dallas Principles?
A. A desire to achieve full LGBT civil rights now. The idea arose from web-based conversations about the lack of progress at the federal level in achieving full civil rights for LGBT citizens. Those involved share a desire to inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve this goal. Their names and information about them can be found at www.TheDallasPrinciples.org.
Q. Who drafted/is/was involved with The Dallas Principles? What was/is the leadership structure of The Dallas Principles?
A. A group of about two dozen diverse activists, thinkers and donors from across the United States, brought together to inspire and mobilize our community, our allies, and our leaders to achieve full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Their names and information about them can be found at www.TheDallasPrinciples.org. Our goal isn’t to create another organization or structure.
Q. What are the next steps for The Dallas Principles?
A. We will continue to share our vision, principles, and call to action to inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now.
Q. How are The Dallas Principles different than the strategies of other leading LGBT organizations?
A. We believe that no organization has clearly articulated the set of principles or framed the goals in the way we have to achieve full LGBT civil rights that we have set forth in The Dallas Principles. We seek to inspire and mobilize our community, our allies, and our leaders around The Dallas Principles so that we can take full advantage of a government that has promised hope, change, and transparency.
Q. Why did no representatives from any of the major LGBT groups participate? Were they invited?
A. The meeting grew out of conversations among like-minded individuals. We didn’t seek to turn this into a convention, with representation along organizational lines. Our only agenda was to have a candid conversation about achieving full civil rights faster.
Q. Who is in charge of The Dallas Principles? Who’s funding The Dallas Principles?
A. The Dallas Principles are a collaborative effort that welcomes everyone to be inspired by this vision, honor these principles, engage in this call to action, and mobilize to achieve full civil equality. There is no funding.
Q. How many people are part of this effort?
A. The number of people involved in The Dallas Principles continues to grow. We began with a small group in Dallas as an offer to all who believe in the vision, principles and goals outlined at www.TheDallasPrinciples.org and welcome everyone to join us.
Q. What occurred at The Dallas Principles meeting?
A. A vibrant exchange of ideas took place that resulted in the drafting of a vision, common principles, and goals, which we hope, will inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now. You can read them all at www.TheDallasPrinciples.org.
Q. Are The Dallas Principles some sort of ultimatum to LGBT groups and/or elected officials?
A. Full civil rights are not negotiable. Full equality should be afforded to all Americans regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Q. How does The Dallas Principles fit in with the other national LGBT organizations?
A. The Dallas Principles are a grassroots effort inspired by the monumental change that is possible today. Our vision, principles, goals, and call to action are appropriate for all LGBT people, allies, and advocacy organizations.
Q. So is this an attack on President Obama?
A. We’re not attacking anyone. But we do hold him accountable to his campaign promises to us, and we’re not willing to accept excuses for inaction. Our constitutional rights are being denied, and he and other government leaders must act.
Q. Aren’t there more important things for the White House/Congress to focus on?
A. We know there are a lot of issues on the national plate. But there’s no reason we can’t achieve full civil rights for LGBT Americans now. Discrimination in our civil laws runs counter to the ideals and beliefs enshrined in our Constitution and other founding documents. Fulfilling those ideals shouldn’t be a heavy lift if our leaders understand their constitutional responsibilities.
Q. What organizations are you critical of? Is this an attack on existing LGBT and ally organizations? What are current LGBT groups not doing/not doing well that you want to see done/done better?
A. This isn’t about any single organization. The Dallas Principles are based on acknowledging the urgency of capturing the unique opportunities presented to us at this moment in time. At no point in history has it been more important to aggressively pursue full civil rights. Our effort is meant to be a resource for all who share the desire to achieve full LGBT civil rights now. All organizations constantly need fresh thinking.
Q. How will you hold people and organizations accountable for not meeting your demands?
A. Full civil rights are not negotiable. Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles and will be held accountable.
Q. Is it reasonable to achieve equality now?
A. Yes. All that is necessary to achieve all of the goals that we outline at www.TheDallasPrinciples.org is for LGBT people, our allies, and our advocacy groups to accept nothing less from our government.
Q. Isn’t the requirement that all civil rights legislation include transgender persons short sighted?
A. A belief that no one should be subject to discrimination by the laws makes for a unified movement and honors the highest ideals found in our Constitution. There is nothing short-sighted about that.
Q. What are you asking individuals to do?
A. First, to go to www.TheDallasPrinciples.org and get detailed information on how they can help achieve full civil rights now. Second, to realize that a small number of people can inspire a movement, as we have just witnessed in the recent Presidential election.
Q. What are you asking elected officials to do?
A. We’re asking government officials at every level to honor the promise of our Constitution and end every instance of discrimination in civil laws and regulations. And we’re asking them to do it now. If they won’t do so, they should openly acknowledge that they are supporting discrimination.
Q. What does the collaborative and revolutionary new organizing model you call upon individuals and LGBT groups to form look like? What is The Dallas Principles role in that model?
A. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers. To achieve full civil rights will require all hands on deck and the most talented people to meet the challenges we face.
Q. With so much progress toward marriage equality in several states, why are The Dallas Principles necessary now?
A. Recent progress in several states serves only to heighten our sense of urgency, that now is the time to harness the historic change that has been embraced by our nation. Now is the time to achieve full civil rights. Nothing more, nothing less.
Q. Have you done enough education?
A. Education is not necessary to know what is right. Ending discrimination and embracing full civil rights for all people is a no-brainer. What we hope to do is inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now.
Q. Why, under The Dallas Principles, should religious beliefs not be a basis to affirm full civil rights?
A. We welcome the support of all people of faith in achieving full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. We recognize that many people of faith believe in civil rights because of their faith and religious beliefs.
Civil rights, though, are not conferred by religious institutions. Full legal equality is derived from our governing laws – our constitutions, statutes and regulations.
The United States Constitution clearly establishes a separation of Church and State, to guarantee that no religious institution denies the civil rights granted by law, and no government denies religious institutions the tenets of their faiths. Religious beliefs, whether in favor of full civil rights or against, though, cannot overrule guarantees of civil law.
To join the growing chorus of Americans speaking in unison that now is the time to provide full civil rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens, CLICK HERE.
Download The Dallas Principles Flyer and Postcard (Front and Back)
For more information, please email info@thedallasprinciples.org.
