To read the longer piece please browse the Widdershins World Wide Web page at http://www.sexuality.org/~shs/widdershins/
For more information on Pagan civil rights issues please browse the World Wide Web page for the Witches' League for Public Awareness at http://www.CelticCrow.com/
WHY ALL THIS SHOULD MATTER TO YOU
As Pagans, our position in America is somewhat precarious. Recent injustices committed against us include selective enforcement of existing ordinances (for example, the legal battle of the Church of Iron Oak in Florida) and the use of one's Pagan beliefs to argue for conviction on unrelated charges (for example, Kerri Lynn Patavino). Both these cases are examples of how people are being discriminated against because they are pagan; more information concerning these cases is available through the Witches' League for Public Awareness web site listed at the beginning of this article.
It is important for each of us to know what we can do to defend our own community and spiritual beliefs.
VOTING
In Washington state, all U.S. citizens 18 and older who are state residents are eligible to vote. Call voter information, listed below, for information and requests concerning voting. You may also call this number to be placed on the permanent absentee rolls, so that your ballot for every election you are eligible to vote in will be automatically mailed to you. This means you can always vote in the privacy of your home, and will never miss an election.
WRITING TO YOUR LEGISLATOR
According to the League of Women Voters' pamphlet How to Lobby Your Legislator, "The amount of mail on a particular piece of legislation frequently helps determine the legislators' approach to an issue. One well written letter will often prove more weighty than a formal petition with many signatures." At local levels, state legislature and smaller, all constituent letters get read by the legislator and are taken seriously.
Letters may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed, and short of physically meeting with your legislator these are the most powerful ways to communicate. Some legislators' offices print incoming e-mail and accord it the same respect as faxed letters, and some do not; if you want to use e-mail as your preferred means of political communication it's best to check first.
Be sure to include your real name, address and telephone number in all written correspondence. It is not necessary to identify yourself as a "citizen and a taxpayer" - that goes without saying. State your case clearly and succinctly, without threats. Urge your legislator to vote the way you wish on any bills in question (identified by bill number), and present the reasons and rationales for doing so. You might want to tell others in person, through internet or computer bulletin board system (BBS) postings and via posted flyers whom to send letters to and how to do so once you've sent yours. Don't include a sample letter, since "boilerplate" letters and postcards are a dime a dozen.
CALLING YOUR LEGISLATOR
When calling legislators on the phone, start by asking to speak to either the legislator him or herself or to the legislative assistant who deals with the bill or issue you are concerned with. When you get this person on the phone say "Hello," give your name, give the city you live in and identify yourself as being from the legislator's home district (thus being one of his constituents) if that is indeed the case. Say "I'd like to urge you/the legislator to oppose/support (name of bill, bill number and any subsection if one part is of particular concern)." Then give a one or two sentence reason why. Ask if plans have been made on how to vote and give your mailing address if you would like to receive notice back once a decision has been made. Then say "thanks" and hang up.
To leave an opinion, statement, or concern about Washington state government, for information on the status of bills, or to obtain copies of current bills call the Washington state legislative hotline, listed below. To facilitate inquiries be ready to provide your district number or the name of at least one legislator in your district - call voter information if you're not sure. Please note that you are only a constituent of the governor, the two state representatives and the state senator from your district. When you call the Washington state legislative hotline with a statement, this is equivalent to calling the offices of each of these people individually.
WASHINGTON LEGISLATOR CONTACT GUIDES
To receive a copy of They Represent You, a complete listing of mail, office, phone, fax, and e-mail addresses for all your local, state and national representatives including city councils and school boards, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
League of Womens' Voters - Seattle, 1402 18th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122
WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE PHONE NUMBERS
Seattle - King County voter information: 206-296-VOTE
Washington state voter information: 1-800-448-4881
Seattle city government information: 206-386-1234
King County government information: 206-296-0100
Washington state government information: 1-800-321-2808
Washington state legislative hotline: 1-800-562-6000
Washington state Governor Mike Lowry: 360-753-6780
Seattle Mayor Norman B. Rice: 206-684-4000
Washington state Democratic Party: 206-583-0664
Washington state Libertarian Party: 206-329-5669
Washington state Reform Party: 509-468-7801
Washington state Republican Party: 206-583-0664
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington: 206-624-2184
WASHINGTON AND SEATTLE ADDRESSES
The current Seattle mayor:
Norman B. Rice
600 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
The current Washington state governor:
Mike Lowry
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
All Washington state representatives:
Mr. or Mrs. (name of representative)
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
All Washington state senators:
Senator (name of senator)
P.O. Box 40482
Olympia, WA 98504-0482
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES
Letters to the U.S. President and U.S. Vice-President can be addressed:
The President (or The Vice-President)
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
The current President is Bill Clinton, and the current Vice-President
is Al Gore.
Every voter in the United States is one of their constituents.
Letters to your representatives can be addressed:
The Honorable (name of representative)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-0001
The current Washington state representatives are Rick White, Jack Metcalf, Linda Smith, Richard "Doc" Hastings, George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott, Jennifer Dunn, and Randy Tate.
Every Washington voter in their congressional district is one of their constituents, so if you are a Washington voter you have voting power with only one of these people. Learn who it is by calling voter information. It is more common for representatives to keep local offices than it is for senators.
Letters to your senators can be addressed:
The Honorable (name of senator)
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510-0001
The current Washington state U.S. Senators are Slade Gorton and Patty Murray. Every Washington voter is one of their constituents.
If you wish to leave a message for the President, dial (202) 456-1414. If you wish to call your representative or senator, dial (202) 224-3121. In person and in letters the President should be addressed as "Mr. President." The Vice-President should be addressed as "Mr. Vice-President." Senators should be addressed as "Senator (name of senator)." Representatives should be addressed as "Mr. or Mrs. (name of representative)."
WORLD WIDE WEB PAGES
Vote smart web site: http://www.vote-smart.org/
Washington state legislative information web site: http://www.leg.wa.gov/
BOOKS
The Armchair Activist, Riverhead Books, 1996.
Organizing for Social Change, second edition, Seven Locks
Press, 1995.
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