Thursday, January 22, 2009

Valentine's Day for All!

Like pretty much everyone else, I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day. The stampede at the florists, the crowded restaurants, the saccharine Hallmark cards that always have the word "sweetheart" or "darling", the boxes of Russell Stover's chocolates... thanks, but no thanks.

I have an alternative for you folks who live in Southern California.

How would you like to celebrate romantic love by working along LGBT folk and straight allies to persuade support for marriage equality by talking directly with voters face-to-face?

I did this last week in Pasadena and let me tell you, it was quite the experience. We talked with voters and although most of them remained fairly unchanged in their views, I was able to change someone who had previously voted YES on Prop 8 to someone who is undecided. I recognize that as a straight female, these conversations are "easier" for me. My canvassing partner would come out to people as a transgendered male even in the face of hostility. Talk about courageous.

When Prop 8 passed, so many people were outraged and baffled at the result. Time has passed since Nov. 4, but we still need to harness that energy to create some social change. Chances are this issue will be voted on again in a couple of years. This is the perfect opportunity to get involved.

Consider this your official invitation!

(below is an excerpt of an email that was sent out from VFE. If you're interested in signing up, click on the link below or send me an email. We can canvass together - it'll be fun. And I'll show up with a Valentine just for you!)


VALENTINE’S DAY is for VOTERS!



Proposition 8 passed by 600,000 votes last November.

California may see another marriage-related ballot initiative in as little as 24 months.

We have a lot of work to do to change the hearts and minds of thousands of voters.



What better way to start than a Valentine’s Day canvass for marriage equality?



Join Vote for Equality’s

CANVASS KICK-OFF

Saturday, February 14th

10:00am – 2:30pm

Location TBD




We will be going to areas of LA where Proposition 8 passed by a narrow margin – and we need your help!

There will be a full training, lunch, and you will canvass in pairs.

Bring friends – the more voters we talk to, the closer we get to winning marriage back in California!






We also need your help before the 14th!

To get involved in:

  • Canvass prep (materials, turf cutting (email me at nest.insomniac@gmail.com for Al's contact info)
  • Building a bigger team of volunteers …email Laura (email me for her contact info)



For general questions about VFE and our 2009 plan of action, email me and I'll connect you with the actual person that can answer them.



Vote for Equality (VFE) is the organizing arm of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. VFE works to advance marriage equality and build the political power of LGBT people and allies in Los Angeles County through grassroots action, leadership development, and public/voter education. VFE is currently developing organizing models and systems to persuade previously unsupportive voters in Los Angeles County to support marriage equality. With our side needing approximately 300,000 more votes statewide to win the next time around, Los Angeles will be responsible for at least one-fourth - or 70,000 - of those votes. VFE is proactively engaging voters in conversation now through door-to-door canvasses and phone banks to continue the work of changing the hearts and minds of Californians.

1 comment:

weezermonkey said...

Gah. I will be on Catalina. :(