Queers and local organizations respond to catastrophe in Haiti

Please support our brothers and sisters in Haiti!

After Pat Robertson degraded himself even further by referring to Haitians as being “cursed” after entering a “pact with the devil” responses are pouring forth in support of Haiti and in opposition to religious wankers like Pat Robertson.
Also, many websites and organizations are offering opportunities to donate money and support Haitian rescue efforts, some of them local, and some of them LGBTQ specific. Please donate – these people need our help.A massive 7.2 earthquake has virtually destroyed Haiti, leaving thousands dead and missing.

Here are some ways you can donate money to aid organizations operating in Haiti.

Local:

Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.

Red Cross Oregon can be contacted through their website and donations can also be directed to their office located at:

Queer:

Rainbow World Fund is a gay non-profit organization who is collecting donations for Haiti, you can find their website here.
The Haitian Gays and Lesbians Alliance has the option to donate via paypal through their website here.

National:
UNICEF has issued a statement that “Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them.” UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call 1-800-4UNICEF.

International
Consider supporting Doctors Without Borders who operate the only free trauma centre in Port-au-Prince. You can donate to them here.

If you are seeking information on relatives in Haiti, we have the following information for you:

“The U.S. State Department Operations Center set up the following number for Americans seeking information about relatives in Haiti: (888) 407-4747. The department cautioned that because of heavy volume, some callers may hear a recording. The State Department said those interested in helping immediately may text ‘HAITI’ to ‘90999’ and a donation of $10 will be made automatically to the Red Cross for relief efforts. The donation will be charged to your cellphone bill. The department also suggested contacting agencies such as the Red Cross or Mercy Corps to help with relief efforts.”

There is now also an online database where you can report the status of missing people, called . Take a look at it here.

Please support our Haitian brothers and sisters in the wake of this horrendous tragedy.