By any measure, 2012 looks like it’s going to be a landmark year for LGBT rights. Activists, citizens, and politicians across the US and beyond are striving for progress – just this morning Washington Governor Chris Gregoire announced her intention to push for marriage equality in her state’s legislature. But we’re in for some sobering challenges as well – we’re likely to face more anti-LGBT attacks at ballot boxes across the country this year than we have in a decade. And we know all too well from Prop 8 what that means: our opposition will be unleashing the same fear-mongering appeals to anti-gay prejudice that they’ve used against us over and over again in the past, always with heartbreaking results.

Right here in California, we’re almost certainly going to face a campaign on an issue that’s right in our opposition’s dishonest strike zone: the question of what kids learn in schools about LGBT people. The FAIR Education Act has now been state law for four days meaning simply that, eventually, every public school student here will see in their history textbook the contributions that great LGBT heroes have made to our society. But our opposition will soon begin gathering signatures to repeal FAIR at the ballot box on November 6th. They’re out to dismantle all the good that this simple measure will do for LGBT and straight young people alike, and they’ll be claiming yet again that it’s LGBT people who are a threat to kids.

If we can figure out how to counter their attacks, and win this election, we’ll have disabled the most effective weapon that our opposition has used against us on every issue, from marriage to adoption rights, for over a decade.

There’s very little time to unearth the messages and build the team it will take to win. So start 2012 off right and get involved with the fight for equality. Join VFE for our first actions of the year:

Night of Action – Thursday January 5th – 6:30-9:30PM
The Village (1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA, 90038)

Night of Action – Thursday January 12th – 6:30-9:30PM
The Village (1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA, 90038)

VFE’S FIRST CANVASS OF THE YEAR – Saturday January 14th – 9:30AM-4:00PM
Meeting at Christ Chapel of the Valley (11050 Hartsook Street, North Hollywood, CA 91601)

To sign-up, email Steve at sdeline@lagaycenter.org. Happy New Year, and we hope to see you soon!

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Defending the FAIR Education Act at the ballot box in 2012 is going to be a major battle – anti-LGBT forces have already sprung into action:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/anti_gay_groups_mobilize_against_california_law.php

We know we can count on our opposition to deploy the same homophobia, lies, and prejudice they used to bring down marriage equality to try and topple FAIR. But this time, with your help, we can be ready. At VFE we’ve already begun changing hearts and minds – since September we’ve had over 750 meaningful, heartfelt conversations about the value of FAIR with voters all over Los Angeles. We’ve learned valuable things about the concerns the opposition will attempt to exploit, and we’re starting to see how to combat those unfounded fears both face to face and with TV messaging that might help change the course of the election.

But if we’re going to learn what we need to by the time the polls open in November, we’re going to need more hands on deck than ever before. There are all kinds of ways to get involved – here’s what’s coming up soonest:

NIGHT OF ACTION
6:30-9:30 PM Thursday January 5th at The Village (1125 N McCadden Place)
This is where we gather, every Thursday night, to get ready for our canvasses and crunch our data – it’s a perfect time to meet the team!

OUR FIRST CANVASS OF 2012!! – All are welcome!
Saturday January 14th – 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM – Meeting at Christ Chapel of the Valley
(11050 Hartsook St, North Hollywood, CA 91601)

Check out our Facebook page for our full calendar -

https://www.facebook.com/VoteForEquality

Happy Holidays, and we’ll see you in 2012…

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For months, anti-LGBT forces have been attempting to collect signatures to qualify a referendum that would, if supported by a simple majority of voters, overturn California’s groundbreaking Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act.

Today was the deadline.  They didn’t file! This is a milestone for our community, but we still have to prepare.

As our movement gains momentum, our opponents will push even harder.  And as implementation of the FAIR Act begins on January 1^st, 2012, teachers and administrators will face harsh push-back fueled by opponents of the law. Our opponents have until April 20^th to go after this law in 2012.

Every day, LGBT and questioning young people are being stigmatized, isolated, bullied and kept in the dark about their history, left to wonder if there is a place for them anywhere in society.  The FAIR Education Act is a significant step toward reducing stigma against LGBT people and creating an environment where young people treat each other with respect, dignity and fairness, regardless of where they come from, who they are or how they identify.  This law will help create an entire generation of people who are not swayed by messages of intolerance and anti-LGBT prejudice.

This is exactly what opponents of the FAIR Act fear most and that’s why they won’t stop at this referendum.

That’s why at Vote for Equality, we are still firm on our commitment to take action to prepare for what lies ahead.  We’re continuing go door-to-door to talking with voters who are still susceptible to the opposition’s arguments.  We’re learning
how to combat the anti-prejudice at the source of voter opposition to LGBT rights.  That’s what will help us win future campaigns, whether on the FAIR Education Act or the freedom to marry, and that’s why we need your help.  To volunteer with Vote for Equality, email jdarling@lagaycenter.org or visit our website at www.voteforequality.org.

See you out there working soon!

Jackson Darling
Project Manager, Vote for Equality
Leadership LAB @ the Center
323-770-3605, jdarling@lagaycenter.org
www.voteforequality.org
www.facebook.com/VoteForEquality

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Wondering about the state of LGBT rights?  What’s going on with the FAIR Education Act? What about marriage?  What is VFE doing about it  all and how do I fit in?

Join Dave Fleischer and the Vote for Equality staff for

The State of Our Strategy

A briefing on the evolving 2012 LGBT political climate and how Vote for Equality and the Leadership LAB fit into that picture.

Thusday, September 29^th 6:30 – 8pm @ The Village
1125 N. McCadden Place Room 111, Hollywood 90038
Followed by VFE’s Night of Action in Room 108 to enter data and prepare for future canvasses.

At this briefing, staff of the Leadership LAB (of which Vote for Equality is a part) will give an update about the current political climate, including a discussion about the evolving battleground around the FAIR Education Act in California.  We will present on some of the findings from our 2011 research measuring the impact of ads and messages on voters in the field. We will also discuss our next steps and how the evolving climate will affect our choices moving forward.

Can you join us?  Email me to sign-up at jdarling@lagaycenter.org
Want to bring friends or a group of friends?  That’s great! Give us a heads up in advance so we’re prepared.

Don’t forget Vote for Equality’s first canvass focused on talking to voters solely about the FAIR Education Act!
Door to Door Canvass at Occidental College
Saturday, September 24th 9:30am – 3:30pm
Campus Rd & Alumni Ave, Los Angeles 90038
Email me to sign-up at jdarling@lagaycenter.org and we’ll make sure you get all the final details.

VFE, of the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, is working to protect the FAIR Education Act as part of a broad coalition, including Equality California, GSA Network, people of faith, labor organizations, LGBT groups, disability rights advocates, racial justice organizations and many more who care about equality.

Much love,
Jackson Darling
Project Manager, Vote for
Equality
Leadership LAB @ the Center
323-770-3605, jdarling@lagaycenter.org
www.voteforequality.org
www.facebook.com/VoteForEquality

• Volunteer at our Night of Actions to help us prepare for our canvasses and enter the data from our voter conversations. Every Thursday 6:30-9:30pm at 1125 N. McCadden Place #108 Hollywood, 90038
• Volunteer as part of our Video Team as a videographer, video editor, production coordinator, and more. Email jklecha@lagaycenter.org
• Invite your friends to volunteer with you when you come.
• Donate to Vote for Equality to help us reach a $20,000 matching grant from the Task Force, awarded to help us build capacity.

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