User:Zooidu

Hello everyone. I’m Linda, and I’ll be contributing under the user name “Zooidu.”

I’m joining Wikipedia to complete a midterm project for a class I’m taking in American Political Thought at UMass Amherst. I’m excited to get started and hope to continue to contribute to Wikipedia after the class is over.

Perhaps those of you who are experienced in the Wikipedia community can find ways to help me along and suggest topics that I might like to work on. I appreciate whatever thoughts you might be able to offer.

Here’s a little bit about me.

I’m a proud member of the United Auto Workers union (UAW) and have served as a union steward and chairperson in the UAW Local 1596. I’m interested in the history and activities of unions that have led to decent working conditions and a strong middle class in the US and around the world.

You might want to check out a website that I’ve recently built to educate people about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and some other laws to protect workers. It’s at: www.lawstohelpmaworkers.zzl.org.

I’ve been very active in working for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights through the years. For many years, I was closely involved with efforts to achieve and protect marriage equality where I live in Massachusetts.

I’m deeply committed to bisexual rights and educating about bisexuality. I’ve served many terms as a board member and over fifteen years as a support group facilitator for the Boston based group the Bisexual Resource Center (www.biresource.net). The BRC works to support the bisexual community and raise public awareness about bisexuality and bisexual people. I was also an editor for a great bi community newsletter called BiWomen, which is published quarterly and available at www.biwomenboston.org.

I’ve worked as a fundraiser for numerous progressive candidates and causes throughout my life and feel strongly about many social and political issues. Besides those I’ve mentioned, I’m especially concerned about the issues of reproductive rights, civil liberties and economic justice.

I’m currently involved in founding the Rainbow Lifelong Learning Institute Boston, an organization that offers educational programs and social activities for LGBT seniors and friends in the greater Boston area. You can check out the new web site that I built for the group at www.rainbowlliboston.zzl.org. At 46, I’m their youngest member.

I live in the Boston area with my wife Maura, our Siberian Husky, Joanie, and our tuxedo cat, Tucker. I enjoy swing dancing, listening to blues and watching professional basketball, especially the Boston Celtics.