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 Rock The Vote and Pass This On. The New York Primary Voter Registration Deadline is Friday. Register and Mail in Your Form Today Constituent: The primary voter registration deadline for New York is Friday, August 20th. Be sure you’ve registered to vote and mailed in your form by Friday, August 20th, so you can vote in upcoming primary elections. Remember, if you have changed your address or moved since you last registered, you need to re-register by Friday, August 20th as well. All registration forms must be postmarked by Friday, August 20th. If you have already registered to vote, then please forward this notice to all your friends. – The Rock the Vote Voter Registration Center Contact you local Board of Elections or get a form and print it out here: http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_voter_registration.html?source=NYregistration
ACTION ALERT: Homophobia Kills Die-In in Washington, D.C. Today, Sunday 8-15 This is is an open action for all to join in on who are here in Washington, D.C. today. Please pass this on to everyone. To join the Homophobia Kills Die-In, look for the Photos at noon, at Pershing Park, where the group will be preparing for the day of action. ACTIVISTS TO HOLD ‘HOMOPHOBIA KILLS’ DIE-IN Washington DC (August 15, 2010) Activists will bring the message that “homophobia kills” directly to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) with a Die-In and photo exhibit of murder-victims, including a 17th month old baby. “NOM’s work is not about marriage. It’s about rejecting LGBT people and teaching others to hate them. This leads to murder, attacks, and suicide” said Alan Bounville, a founder of Queer Rising NY. Blown up photos of four recent victims — all killed within the last 3 years — will put faces to the truth: Ryan Skipper (a gay man murdered in FL), Lateisha Green (a trans woman of color murdered in NY), and Cheyenne Williams (kidnapped and barely escaped in KY), and the unimaginable, Roy A. Jones (a 17 months old baby murdered in NY because it was too effeminate). The ‘Homophobia Kills’ Die-In will take place in two locations around the Capital: (1) Near NOM’s action and (2) Near the White House. Activist doing the die-in felt this message — homophobia kills — needed to be brought directly to the NOM protestors, not stay blocks away. “There are people protesting against marriage that don’t understand the consequences,” said Lane Hudson, a prominent blogger. “Every American needs to realize that this not about marriage. It’s about basic human dignity and being safe to live in our own country.” “We all need to face the fact that homophobia kills,” said Todd Fernandez, of The American Equality Bill Project, which seeks to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the ‘64 Civil Rights Act. “The NOM messaging is no different from hate spewed around inter-racial marriages. That wasn’t about marriage either. It was about race and hate. It killed then and it kills now.” To join the Homophobia Kills Die-In, look for the Photos at noon, at Pershing Park, where the group will be preparing for the day of action.
2 PM to 4 PM From The Big Commit Planning Team: Dear Big Commit Supporters, On behalf of the planning team, I would like to update you regarding the official location for the Big Commit Rally this Sunday, August 15. We have always known that location would be an important factor for this rally. We also were prepared for a certain amount of secrecy in regards to NOM’s announcement of their location. Weeks ago we filled out applications for two venues that we thought we good possible choices: Freedom Plaza and the West Lawn of the Capitol. NOM’s website has said Capitol Steps for the past few weeks, but by checking the public records, there has not been, and still is not, any approved permits for the Capitol Grounds for this Sunday. The Big Commit Rally will be held this Sunday, August 15, from 2 to 4 in Freedom Plaza. This location is strongly supported by our sponsors, endorsers, and the community leaders who are participating. The messaging of The Big Commit has always been focused on a peaceful response to NOM’s hateful rhetoric. We will join together with our diverse allies and show that we are a unified community that pulls together and becomes stronger in the face of hate. This will be accomplised regardless of venue or proximity to NOM’s rally. Our rally has national attention and will be well-attended. What a message we will send by outnumbering them, being re-energized by a strong community showing, and not even making an appearance at their bigoted event! We are assembling as a group and putting a positive light on something unpleasant and upsetting. All along the organizers of The Big Commit have sought to have a peaceful and organized response to NOM’s presence in our city. Freedom Plaza will ensure that this message does not get lost in a shouting match. We are so very excited about how the events of this Sunday are taking shape. We have assembled a fantastic coalition of activists and allies, LGBT organizations and grassroots supporters, and members of affirming faith communities. We need you to come and be supportive of The Big Commit and be supportive of the LGBT movement for marriage equality and full federal equality as a whole. Please, if you have any questions or concerns, contact the organizers who, however busy, care greatly about this community and are available to discuss the matter further. We also need help spreading the word. We want 1000 people at The Big Commit! Please tell your friends, share on Facebook, blog, add the event to any listserves you have membership to, RSVP and invite like-minded friends. Together we can make this day one to remember. In solidarity, From Wikipedia: Freedom Plaza, originally known as Western Plaza, is an open plaza in Northwest Washington, D.C., United States, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, adjacent to Pershing Park. Designed in 1980, the plaza is mostly composed of stone, inlaid with a depiction of parts of Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant’s plan for the City of Washington.[1] Most of the plaza is raised above street level. The western end of the plaza contains a large fountain, while the eastern end of the plaza contains an equestrian statue of Kazimierz Pułaski. The plaza was renamed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his “I Have a Dream” speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. In 1988, a time capsule containing a Bible, a robe, and other relics of King’s was planted at the site. It will be reopened in 2088.[2] The John A. Wilson Building, the seat of the District of Columbia government, faces the plaza, as does the historic National Theatre, which has been visited by every U.S. President since Andrew Jackson.[3] Three large hotels are to the north and west. Freedom Plaza is a popular place for political protests and civic events. It is also one of the settings in Dan Brown’s 2009 novel The Lost Symbol,[4][5] in part because of the Plaza’s location at the intersection of Metro lines. The Federal Triangle Metro station, which sits on the Blue and Orange Lines, is across Pennsylvania Avenue from the plaza. The Metro Center station on the Red, Blue, and Orange lines is two blocks north on 13th Street. More:
Prop 8 Day of Decision rallies, etc. MAJOR CITIES LOS ANGELES: 6 p.m. | West Hollywood Park | 647 N. San Vicente SAN DIEGO: March: 6 p.m. @ 6th & University | Rally: 7 p.m. @ LGBT Community Center | 3909 Centre St SAN FRANCISCO: 5 p.m. | Castro & Market | March to City Hall | Rally: 6:45 p.m. SACRAMENTO: 6 p.m. | Party | K & 21st | In the unlikely event Judge Walker rules against teh gay, there will be a march to the Capitol SAN JOSE: 6 p.m. | Billy DeFrank Center | 983 the Alameda LONG BEACH: 6 p.m. | Bixby Park | Junipero & Cherry @ Broadway ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA BAKERSFIELD: 5 p.m | Outback Steakhouse | Stockdale Hwy & Village Lane CONCORD: 6 p.m. | Todos Santos Plaza | Willow Pass & Grant FRESNO: 7:30 p.m. | City Hall INLAND EMPIRE (Rancho Cucamonga): 6 p.m. | Day Creek Blvd & Foothill Blvd MARTINEZ: 6 p.m. | County Clerk | 822 Main St MOUNTAIN VIEW: 6 p.m. | Caltrain Station & City Hall | 500 Castro St NAPA: 6 p.m. | Veterans Memorial Park ORANGE COUNTY (Santa Ana): 7 p.m. | Sasscer Park | 4th & Ross PALM SPRINGS: 7 p.m. | Courthouse | 3255 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way PITTSBURGH: 7 p.m. | Community Presbyterian Church PORTERVILLE: 5 p.m. | SaveMart | Henderson & Port RICHMOND: 6 p.m. | City Hall | 450 Civic Center Plaza SAN LUIS OBISPO: 5:30 p.m. | Mission Plaza Amphitheater SAN MATEO: 6 p.m. | 5th & El Camino Real SANTA BARBARA: 7 p.m. | Jill’s Place | 632 Santa Barbara St SANTA ROSA: 7:30 p.m. | City Hall | 100 Santa Rosa Ave UKIAH: 6 p.m. | Alex Thomas Plaza | 295 S. State St VALLEJO: 5:30 p.m. | Ferry Terminal | Mare Island Way & Georgia St WALNUT CREEK: 6 p.m. | City Hall | 1666 N. Main St OTHER STATES ATLANTA: 6 p.m. | 10th & Piedmont AUSTIN: 5:30 p.m. | City Hall BOSTON: 6 p.m. | Copley Square @ Copley T stop on Boylston St BOULDER: 6:30 p.m. | Pride House | 2132 14th St CHAMPAIGN-URBANA (IL): 7 p.m. | Green & Wright CHICAGO: 6 p.m. | Daley Plaza CLEVELAND: 5 p.m. | Bounce/Union Station DALLAS: 6 p.m. | Legacy of Love Monument | Cedar Springs Road & Oak Lawn DENTON (SATURDAY): 5 p.m. | Courthouse Square DENVER: 6 p.m. | Capitol | Lincoln between Colfax & 14th HOUSTON: 6 p.m. | City Hall MADISON: 5 p.m. | Johnson & State NEW YORK CITY: 7 p.m. | New York City Supreme Court | 60 Centre St PHOENIX: 5:30 p.m. | Cesar Chavez Plaza @ City Hall | March @ 6 p.m. to federal courthouse SAN ANTONIO: 6:30 p.m. | City Hall Send me your info and links (and corrections) to this disposable e-mail address rexsbc-prop8@yahoo.com that will work only until 5 p.m. Wednesday California time. More:
Call To Action: Campaign and Vote For Charlie Ramos For The New York State Senate 9-14 Primary Election Fight Back New York: Help Defeat Homophobic New York State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. What’s in Ruben’s Closet? From Fight Back New York: Let’s be clear – this isn’t a typical Fight Back NY race. Ruben Diaz has an annoying political survival instinct, but we want to set the record straight. Fight Back New York can play a unique role in this race by showing in a very public and powerful way that Ruben is not just bad for LGBT people, he’s bad for New York. In order to do this effectively, we need your help; we need more ammunition. We need to be able to show voters in his district that he does not represent their interests and is not fit to serve New Yorkers. Ruben has a murky past, but what exactly is he hiding? Here’s what we propose: Fight Back NY will hire expert political researchers to find every piece of information we can on Ruben Diaz. What he’s said, how he’s voted, what he’s done, and what he thought he got away with. We’ll post everything online, so Diaz’s opponents, the media, and voters in his district will be able to use the facts against him in the primary. But we need your help to do it. We’re only 6 weeks away from the primary election – which will be the one real shot at getting rid of Diaz. Help us fund a search into Ruben’s closet. We need to send a clear message to Ruben Diaz – and other senators who think like him: You can’t vote and speak out against equality without paying a price. Donate what you can today. We need your help to uncover the real Ruben Diaz. Take action here: http://fightbackpac.com/closet/ Call To Action: Campaign and Vote For Charlie Ramos For The New York State Senate 9-14 Primary Election, Bronx, New York Vote Out Obstructionist Ruben Diaz Sr. Please pass this on to everyone, especially to those in the Bronx, New York Countdown to the September 14th Primary Election On December 2nd, 2009, by a vote of 38 Nays to 24 Yeas, The State Senate Voted Against Marriage Equality. Every single Republican and eight Democrats voted for discrimination. Our goal is to defeat and remove all 38 from office, Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. lead the vote against equality and we must lead him out of the Senate doors by electing Charlie Ramos to fill his Albany Senate seat. In addition to leading the Senate against Marriage Equality, Diaz once suggested that the Gay Games would encourage homosexuality and spread H.I.V. In 2003, he sued the city to shut down a high school for gay and transgender students. Diaz recently joined forces with convicted felon and former Senate leader Joe Bruno to block every single piece of pro equality legislation from reaching the Senator floor. He lead the fight to block initiatives by Governor Paterson, effectively shutting down the Senate last year and affecting all New Yorkers. He threatened to shut down the Senate again if a vote on Marriage Equality was brought to the floor. When it was, he led the Senate to defeat the bill. More recently, Diaz blocked GENDA and stripped tax equality rights from couples married in other states. Diaz has also angered Teachers and workers unions, and he has used his religious Fundie pulpit to blur the separation of Church and New York State at every turn. It is time to send Reverend Diaz packing to bang his Bible elsewhere, and replace him with Charlie Ramos in the September 14th primary election in the South Bronx. I urge you to get involved and join us in this effort. Please pass this message on to everyone in your address book. Charlie Ramos 1- Join The Charlie Ramos Campaign, Volunteer, Contribute, and Spread the word here. This September, we have the opportunity to bring real change to New York State and to the South Bronx. These times demand bold and honest leadership. For far too long, we have accepted the status quo, but we deserve more, much more. It is time to put an end to the reign of politicians who do not share our values and betray our trust over and over again. We must fight to restore faith in our state government and uphold the values of our community. If you believe in real democracy and freedom for all, you know that we the people have a choice in what kind of leadership we need in 2010. We need your help to bring a true, honest, and hardworking leader to Albany. Charlie Ramos’ Vision: Reproductive Freedom: Women and men – not politicians – deserve the right to make personal decisions about their reproductive health in accordance with their own personal and moral beliefs. Health Care: Every individual should have affordable, quality health care. Education: It is essential that we invest in quality public education for all. Environment: We must commit to restoring and protecting our environment. Economic Justice: Prosperity should be accessible to everyone, not merely the few. Join the campaign and contribute here: http://www.charlieramos2010.com/ Charlie Ramos’s email is: prcharlie@gmail.com 2- Sign Up for FIGHT BACK NEW YORK This fabulous organization is dedicated to replacing the anti-equality members of The NewYork State Senate. 3- Join the Andrew Cuomo For Governor campaign. Attorney General Cuomo is a equality strong ally. He has pledged to make marriage equality in New York State a top priority. We thank outgoing Governor David Paterson for his strong pro-equality advocacy and activism. Sign up here: http://www.andrewcuomo.com/ 4- Join Marriage Equality New York MENY Organization committed to securing the right to civil marriage for same-sex couples. Blog with related news and calendar of upcoming events. http://www.meny.us/ 5- Join Tommy’s Yahoo Group dedicated to electing a pro-equality New York State Senate. On December 2nd, 2009, by a vote of 38 Nays to 24 Yeas, The State Senate Voted Against Marriage Equality. Every single Republican and eight Democrats voted for discrimination. Our goal is to defeat and remove all 38 from office, most especially Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr; who lead the vote against marriage equality. Click Here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewYorkStateSenateForCivilRights/ Charlie Ramos for Senate! http://www.charlieramos2010.com/
Time August 7 at 2:00am – August 8 at 12:00am ——————————————————————————– Location White Castle and Staten Island Borough Hall ——————————————————————————– Created By Staten Island Pride Events (SIPE), Michele Allocca Lombardo ——————————————————————————– More Info Please save the date for 3 events on August 7th. SIPE has volunteered to plan these events based on the last 2 meetings at the LGBT Community Center in an effort to address the increase bias attacks on Staten Island, most prominent the attack at White Castle on July 7th. With the support and endorsement of the Staten Island LGBT Center, Council Member Debi Rose and Assemblyman Matt Titone, we are supported by the community at… large to organize a response to senseless violence on Saturday August 7, 2010. Starting in the early hours of August 7th until midnight, the dawn of a new day, we will organize three different and unifying events. All activities times are set and we will announce a roster of participating groups as the day approaches. Please join us for any or all events and share this message with your friends, family and member groups. Recommend that community groups join us and provide us with contact information for people we should reach out to for additional support including media. Thank you. SIPE SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY AUGUST 7, 2010. Take Back Your Right! Saturday August 7, 2010 White Castle Sometimes, we all crave food in the middle of the night. No one has the right to verbally or physically attack anyone in our community. No matter what time or place a hate crime is a crime. Take back your right to gather without fear and join us at White Castle for a slider and/or sack to show solidarity with your friends and neighbors. Our message: Hate crimes on Staten Island will not be tolerated and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Tell us you will be there at 2:00 AM here and email us at siprideevents@gmail.com The Healing Garden Saturday August 7, 2010 White Castle Planting will begin before 10:00AM. You can volunteer to help plant by reservation. Contact: siprideevents@gmail.com. A press conference is scheduled during the morning’s event. Staten Island United – Candlelight Vigil and March From Borough Hall to White Castle We are a diverse community, united to stop senseless violence. All communities come together tonight so that we can begin anew August 8th with a personal mission be a conduit for education, understanding and change. Vigil starts at: Staten Island Borough Hall, 10 Richmond Terrace, Candles provided by confirmed reservation. Click “Like” On Facebook for updates: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=141393122545406&ref=mf
 (No Ratings Yet) Join forces with Equality Across America, Full Equality Now! DC, and Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Activists and Allies in a collaborative effort to send a message of inclusion, tolerance, and community support: What: The Big Commit: Exchanging Vows With Equality Click “Like” on Facebook Here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Big-Commit-Exchanging-Vows-With-Equality/
-by Tommy News The National Organization for Marriage is engaged in a month-long, nationwide “Summer for Marriage Tour 2010: One Man One Woman.” The tour is criss-crossing the east coast, mid-west and Southern states to hold a series of 20 rallies to encourage supporters to stand up against same sex marriage equality. Many of the states they are visiting are the key battlegrounds in this critical civil rights debate. NOM is the anti-gay organization that brought us “The Gathering Storm” video. They helped pass Proposition 8 in California, and they helped defeat Marriage Equality in Maine and other states. Marriage equality and civil rights for LGBT people are under attack by NOM, and we must fight back, Please get out and counter protest at the locations listed below. On Sunday the LGBT community staged a successful counter demonstration in Albany, New York. From The Courage Campaign: Courage Campaign NOM Tour Tracker http://prop8trialtracker.com/2010/07/17/do-you-see-my-love-a-beautiful-gathering-storm-rains-on-noms-parade-in-new-york/ By Eden James Wow. You’ve got to hand it to the equality movement. Our collective response to the NOM Tour just keeps getting better and better with each tour stop. First, the Equality Maine and GLAD organizers of the Maine counter-rally to NOM actually attracted more people to their event than NOM’s kickoff event on Wednesday (102 to 76 by our hand-count). Then the New Hampshire counter-rally organizers held a brilliant “silent witness” event across the street from the Manchester event on Thursday. And now the amazing Albany organizers, led by several wonderful organizations, have taken counter-protesting to a whole new level, surrounding the NOM event with one of the most brilliant actions I have ever seen. Check out the gathering storm of rainbow umbrellas held aloft by equality movement activists silenting protesting NOM while asking a simple question adorned to their t-shirt: “Do you see my love?” Photos Here: NOM Executive Director Brian Brown (above) doesn’t look too happy, does he? How could he? It’s fair to say that Albany turned into yet another NOM FAIL, due to the beauty of creative counter-protest and the paltry NOM attendance (Danny hand-counted 57 attendees). Courage staffers Danny and Robert will be writing up their reports later, but for now, take note of this Albany protest. One thing is for sure — local organizers at subsequent counter-protests are going to have a hard time topping this poignant and powerful action. Can’t wait to see what they can do. Again, here are the amazing organizations that made this counter-protest possible today (from a press release): Marriage Equality New York http://prop8trialtracker.com/2010/07/17/do-you-see-my-love-a-beautiful-gathering-storm-rains-on-noms-parade-in-new-york/ Upcoming NOM Tour Stops to Protest http://www.marriagetour2010.com/tour/ Trenton, New Jersey Annapolis, Maryland Columbus, Ohio Lima, Ohio Indianapolis, Indiana Madison, Wisconsin Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Cloud, Minnesota Rochester, Minnesota Des Moines, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa St. Louis, Missouri Atlanta, Georgia Tampa, Florida Raleigh, North Carolina Charleston, West Virginia Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Washington, DC Source: Follow the Prop 8 Tracker Blog Here: http://prop8trialtracker.com/
We had a wonderful call on July 4th for The American Equality Bill. There was a lot of excitement and it felt great. (see news below). SUNDAY CIRCLE Tomorrow, Sunday July 11th, at 8 p.m. ET, we’ll gather again by phone. We’ll have some music, share more information about what this AEB project is all about, and open it up so everyone can share their thoughts and action plans. The idea is to have a weekly call where AEB supporters and organizers can come together to touch base, share inspiration and renew. They’ll be no group decision making and everyone will be encouraged to speak, in the spirit of a radical faerie circle. Call in numbers: (805) 360-1000 PIN 435689# Everyone’s welcome. RECENT AEB HAPPENINGS The first step is finding that first BILL SPONSOR and that happens locally so that’s where the action is for now. It’s like a scavenger hunt for that ONE Sponsor that we’re all on together, but separately. To empower us so we can ALL see the TARGETS, we have a present from the kind folks at ActOnPrinciples: The AEB SPONSORSHIP HUNT Whip Count. Let’s hunt them down and sign them up! Once you’ve snagged a Sponsor – please post it and shout out. For your bookmarking pleasure: The AEB DRAFT BILL is ready to share with Sponsors and anyone you’d like at: http://bit.ly/AEBJuly4SponsorshipDraft. PLAN: Cast it to the wind and see where it leads. ASK EVERYONE. We need to report back on every district and each senate seat … so we know where we stand. If there’s a primary in play, maybe ask all the candidates? A smaller circle of folks are already working on a Target List to tackle as a group. More on that soon. Here’s a list to start with if you’re ready to go: http://www.equalitygiving.org/endorsed-candidates FACEBOOK http://bit.ly/AEBnow. It feels like this is the primary base camp for the AEB project. Please post discussions, actions, and ideas about finding sponsors there. Art. New logo versions. Your imagination. ACTIONS & BLOGS for AEB on AOP Please post your work on FB and AOP so everyone can see your AEB projects and gravitate to the one’s they’re interested in. (We’re working on an easier way to help local organizers find each other by zip code.). PLOTTING LISTSERVE Let’s get this party started. Here is a little NEWS: My post on AOP (which all can do):
The Supreme Court ruling, McDonald v. Chicago, deprives local governments of their right to decide who can carry a weapon, where they can carry a weapon and when they can carry a weapon, and, for all we know today, may lead to a time when people can carry concealed weapons without a permit anywhere. The ruling will put more guns on the streets, leading to more gun violence. The court got it wrong again. The Second Amendment was meant for the militias of 230 years ago. Those militias no longer exist. The Conservative Supreme Court, in another 5-4 ruling, will lead to more guns and more gun violence. The SCOTUS continues to see a rights reference to individuals that is simply not in the Second Amendment. People cling to their guns because they fear others with guns. It is time to pry the gun from Charlton Heston’s cold, dead fingers! Protest the Supreme Court! Please click this link, read each of these articles, and think long and hard http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=shooting
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