Vote for Equality Canvass at CSUN
Saturday, February 11th – 9:30AM-4PM
18100 Lassen St, Northridge, 91330

Email sdeline@lagaycenter.org for more info or details. We can’t wait to see you.

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.

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!

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…

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