Exciting news has been coming in fast and furious from across the country: pushes to make marriage equality the law of the land seem imminent in state legislatures in Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington (http://tinyurl.com/78j96s7 ; http://tinyurl.com/6qv2973 ; http://tinyurl.com/6ojgj2u). But a more troubling story is unfolding, as well. The forces that stand for anti-LGBT prejudice are already threatening to put same-sex marriage to a public vote in these states should it get passed into law, or even before. (http://tinyurl.com/6pohlzl ; http://tinyurl.com/89jyjfd). And here in California, anti-gay forces have just this week renewed their vow to gather enough signatures to put the FAIR Education Act up for repeal at the ballot box in November.
Why are they threatening to head for the ballot box when, in many states, polling seems to indicate that marriage equality, along with other LGBT rights, have a slight edge in public opinion? Because they know as well as we do what history has demonstrated time and again: appeals to prejudice and fear can take root and change the math in popular elections in ways they can’t in other forums. Even when fear-mongering and dishonest messages can’t win in courtrooms or state capitols, they can still scare otherwise rational, good-hearted voters into thinking that LGBT rights pose a threat to their children. Every time our opposition deploys this loathsome lie, they win, and we lose our rights. It’s time to figure out how to stop them, once and for all.
At VFE, we’re working overtime to learn, in the next few months, what it’s going to take to help voters hear the truth about who we are, so we can both protect our rights at the ballot box in November and help other states do the same. But WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
Come to VFE’s FIRST LARGE-SCALE CANVASS of the year, where we’ll be teaming up to learn what it takes to keep voters on our side for good:
This Saturday, January 28th – 9:30AM – 3:30PM
Occidental College – Lower Herrick Hall
1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Our upcoming Nights of Action (our weekly canvass prep events) are also fun, great times to get involved:
This Thursday, January 26th – 6:30PM – 9:30PM
LA Gay & Lesbian Center at The Village
1125 N McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA, 90038
And every Thursday thereafter, same time and place!
Email Steve at sdeline@lagaycenter.org to let us know you’re coming or to find out more about our work. There’s no time to lose.
