MISSION
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is an alliance whose purpose is to create and sustain a community of groups and individuals who will engage in promoting democratic values, including respect for a diverse society, separation of church and state, and individual rights as guaranteed in the Constitution.
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POLICIES
The following policies adopted by PAD are intended to further define PAD's mission and the philosophic orientation of the Alliance members in areas where there are still public disputes about what is and is not protected by our Constitution. The following policies are not intended as a final or complete set of Alliance policies.
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Civil Rights
The Pennsylvania Alliance For Democracy will work to ensure that the civil rights progress made in the last thirty years continues to strengthen and empower minorities, women, and the disabled in the Commonwealth and across the nation. We oppose any efforts that will undermine this progress.

Current Action statement - PAD, coordinating with Pennsylvani Human Rights Commission, will seek funding for speakers to educate PA communities and schools in prevention of racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, including intolerance of gays and disabled.(adopted June 18, 1999)
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Equal Rights for Sexual Minorities
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Democracy believes and affirms that everyone has the right to equal protection from discrimination, violence, and harassment, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Therefore, we are committed to working to support those organizations and individuals who seek cultural, educational, legislative, social and religious remedies to the problem of discrimination and violence against sexual minorities.

Current Action statement - PAD will work with Statewide PennsylvaniA Rights Coalition and individual gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered groups to educate PA legislators about and seek support for passage of hate crimes legislation with inclusive language.(adopted June 18, 1999)
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Intellectual Freedom
The Pennsylvania Alliance For Democracy believes that creating productive, responsible citizens requires that people be taught to think critically, to understand and respect the views of those different from them, to appreciate a broad spectrum of ideas, and to respond to controversial ideas and different views with understanding and open talk, rather than suppression and censorship. The Pennsylvania Alliance For Democracy will work to ensure that Pennsylvania schools and libraries remain uncompromised by censorship in any medium.

Current Action statements -
1.) PAD will support organizations and individuals working to guarantee free speech on the Internet.
2.) PAD will educate the public about people or groups in PA trying to remove resources and/or books from local public and school libraries. (adopted June 18, 1999)
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Non Violence
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Democracy holds that people have the right to live their life free of violence. Therefore, we are committed to and will support those who are working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, violence in our communities, capital punishment, and the use of corporal punishment in our schools.

Current Action Statement - PAD will encourage PA residents to become involved in working for peaceful conflict resolution and/or peacefully working to guarantee others' rights. (adopted June 18, 1999)
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Public Education
The Pennsylvania Alliance for Democracy reaffirms the belief that a strong public education system is necessary for a vibrant democracy; therefore we reject proposals that aim to dismantle, or drain resources and funding from, Pennsylvania public schools.

Current Action statement - PAD will work to educate PA legislators and residents about vouchers through letters to the editor; public meetings and conversations with legislators. (adopted June 18, 1999)
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Religious Liberty
The Pennsylvania Alliance For Democracy will work to educate and inform citizens about sectarian and political groups, public officials, or political candidates who attempt to impose religious ideology on community, state, or federal government and educational institutions in a manner that violates the separation of church and state.
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Reproductive Rights
The Pennsylvania Alliance For Democracy believes that every woman has the fundamental right to choose when and whether to have children. We support the limits on governmental interference in a woman's decision to have an abortion as articulated by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. We will work to expand access to family planning services and to promote reality-based sexuality education.

Current Action Statement: PAD will actively publicize to the public and legislature the need for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) legislation at the state level. (adopted June 18, 1999)
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Other Values Supported By PAD
In addition to holding these policies, PAD supports individuals and groups committed to working toward a safe environment; equal pay for comparable work; peace in our homes, communities and the world; ending hunger; and the rights of the disabled.
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