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3-2-1 Countdown for
Equality: No Bittersweet Victories
Help
Washington, Maine and Kalamazoo Win on November 3rd: Blog
About the Campaigns-Today, Make Remote
Calls, Donate |
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On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009--less than a week
away-- there will be critical votes on LGBT equality in
three states: Washington State, Maine, and Michigan.
With so much attention devoted to other issues in the political
realm, bloggers have banded together to ensure we don't forget
the ones with a firm deadline next week.
For that reason, Equality
Federation and Equality
Texas have joined with these three campaigns
to put together a summary of who, what, and how. If you haven't
heard of these campaigns, and/or haven't done anything yet to
support them, please consider helping out. If you are a blogger
please feel free to grab this content whole cloth and use it for
your blog posts.
Last year, as Obama and Democrats were winning across the
country, we lost marriage equality in California. It was a
bittersweet victory. Pitch in to make sure 2009 isn't a
bittersweet year. Take action to support LGBT equality
TODAY. |
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Washington:
Who we are: Approve Referendum 71 is the
campaign to preserve domestic partnerships in Washington State.
By voting to approve, voters retain the domestic partnership
laws that were passed during this year's legislative session,
including using sick leave to care for a partner, adoption
rights, insurance rights, and more.
What we need: We need phone bankers to
get our supporters out to vote. Washington is an all mail-in
ballot state, and we need to ensure our supporters put their
ballots in the mail. Also, youth turnout is a critical component
of our campaign, and youth turnout historically drops in
off-year elections. So we need a lot of help to turn them
out.
How you do it: Sign up here to make remote
calls for Approve 71. We'll then contact you for a training, and
you can make GOTV calls.
Maine:
Who we are: The No On 1/Protect Maine
Equality campaign is working to protect Maine's recently-passed
law legalizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Our
opponents have put the issue on the ballot for Nov 3, 2009.
Because of Maine's early voting election laws, people are
already voting at the polls, so we need help immediately to turn
out our side at the polls.
What we need: We need you to devote a few
hours to Call for Equality. Call for Equality is a virtual
phonebank set up so that you can call Maine voters wherever you
are. Much of Maine is rural, where canvassing isn't effective,
so we need to reach these voters- along with other supporters-
by phone. All you need is a phone and internet connection. No
experience required! We'll provide the training, and all you
need is a a few hours to help get a win in Maine.
How you do it: Click here to sign up for a
training and your shift. There are lots of times available for
your convenience.
Kalamazoo, MI:
Who We Are: The Yes on Ordinance 1856 /
One Kalamazoo campaign is working in Michigan to support the
City Commission of Kalamazoo's twice approved ordinance for
housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for
gay and transgender residents. Opponents forced a public
referendum on the ordinance so dedicated local volunteers, led
by former Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley,
are working to ensure voters say YES to fairness and equality
and keep Ordinance 1856.
Why The Urgency: In the final weeks, the
opposition has gone all out with aggressive disinformation and
misleading red herrings to try to defeat the ordinance. This
includes signs that say "No to Discrimination" (even
though voting No actually supports continued discrimination of
GLBT residents), transphobic door hangers and fliers, and now radio ads that falsely suggest that criminal
behavior will become legal when this simply isn't true. The Yes
on Ordinance 1856 supporters are better organized but many
voters who want to vote for gay and transgender people are
getting confused by the opposition.
How To Help:
1) Help the One Kalamazoo campaign raise a final
$10,000 specifically dedicated to fight back against the lies on
the local TV and radio airwaves and fully fund the campaign's
final field and GOTV efforts. Give by clicking here.
2) If you live nearby and can physically
volunteer in Kalamazoo sign up here. If you know anyone that lives in
Kalamazoo, use the One Kalamazoo campaign's online canvass tool to remind those voters
that they need to vote on November 3rd and vote YES on Ordinance
1856 to support equality for gay and transgender people.
Click here to contact voters
exists to help build stronger more
effective statewide equality organizations--organizations on the
ground day-after-day, year-after-year, pushing for LGBT-friendly
laws, electing lgbt-friendly legislators, defending against
anti-equality attacks, and maintaining a constant presence for
LGBT equality in nearly every state.
advocates and lobbies for the elimination
of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender
identity/expression. We envision a state where all Texans
are treated equally, with dignity and respect.
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