Vote for Equality Prepares for Next Ballot Campaign

by Karen Ocamb
This article appears in the June 29, 2009 issue of Frontiers in LA.
LGBTs and straight allies who want to repeal Prop. 8 might consider a more subtle form of street activism—the Vote for Equality education and outreach project at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

VFE has been operating since 2004 but stepped-up its efforts after the 2008 election, talking to voters to find out whether and how their minds can be changed, says project manager Regina Clemente. The project teaches volunteer leaders “the skills needed to effectively persuade voters and change minds through one-on-one conversations.”

In May, VFE canvassed the greater Pasadena area in precincts with 45-55% Yes voters. “We have knocked on over 10,000 doors, had 1,720 conversations and have been moving all voters at a rate of 7% and undecided/unsupportive voters at a rate of 15%,” says Clemente.

On July 11, VFE heads to South L.A. to talk to a key population. According to a June 19 L.A. Times poll, 56% of L.A. voters favor marriage equality, with 37% opposed. By race, whites support with 68% (27% oppose), but African American voters oppose 54%, with 37% supporting. (Latinos were more evenly divided, with 45% favoring and 46% opposing same sex marriage. Asians were not surveyed.)

Syd Peterson, formerly with Renna Communications, wrote the VFE script, which he says is continuously updated.

Clemente says VFE is being used as a model by other organizations, including the Courage Campaign, Equality Maine, API Equality L.A., and

 Equality California. “Specifically, the Courage Campaign has been using our canvass scripts, conversation tracking tools, in addition to other canvass materials and parts of our training to run their canvasses,” she says.


The Courage Campaign is continuing their inspiring Camp Courage training events—including one August 2-3 in East Los Angeles, says Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs (see couragecampaign.org). Additionally, EQCA field organizers replicate VFE for their outreach in the Inland Empire and Orange County.



“Based on the November election, we need to change approximately 300,000 minds. And since we are still learning how best to do that, we don’t yet have a way to precisely estimate how long it may take,” says Clemente. “What we do know is that having quality face-to-face conversations takes a lot of focused work—and is a relatively slow process.

“The Center is committed to using whatever time we have before the next ballot initiative campaign to learn what type of voter contact is most effective, what messages truly move voters, and how to develop strong leaders who have the necessary skills to do this vital voter persuasion work,” Clemente said.

“The Center has never stopped doing the work that is necessary to lay a foundation for ultimate victory. Our Vote for Equality project is the best example of that ongoing work,” says Center CEO Lorri Jean. “And we’ll continue to do so until full equality is won, not just with marriage rights, but across the board.”

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