Time for action

On Friday I  finally saw the footage of Barack Obama's acceptance speech.  And it was amazing.  I was struck at the faces of the folks in Grant Park - exuberant joy, eyes wide open with hope.  So many people.  So many different people.  All united in this one purpose.

And then when Michelle Obama and their daughters joined him on stage and clasped hands, I literally swooned. An African American First Family.  How beautiful.  You can see some candid shots of the Elect-First Family in Barack's flickr account.  Can I just say how much I love the idea that he has a flickr account?  lol  I didn't even realize it, but I caught myself grinning like a simpleton as I watched the slideshow.  I'm so enamored with them it's ridiculous.

I believe Obama when he says

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

[snip]

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America."

And I'm going to hold him to it.  It's time to get writing.  From his President-Elect transition website

An American Moment

The story of the campaign and this historic moment has been your story. It is about the great things we can do when we come together around a common purpose. The story of bringing this country together as a healed and united nation will be led by President-Elect Obama, but written by you. The millions of you who built this campaign from the ground up, and echoed your call for the change you wanted to see implemented by the Obama Administration - this process of setting up that new government is about you.

This transition is about selecting a new staff and agenda that will help reclaim the American dream and bring about positive lasting change to this country. In order to do that, we want to hear from you.

Tell us your story and the issues that matter most to you. Share with us your concerns and hopes. – the policies you want to see carried out in the next four years.

Copy and paste your message and send it to Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer if you're in California.  Or if you're not.  Or check here and send it to your own Senator.

Find your representative and send it to him/her as well.  

Drop a line to some of the companies that took a stand.  Let them know you appreciate their effort and hope that they will continue to fight.

• Google - email that's sort of related here
  
• Apple - 1 Infinite Loop / Cupertino, CA 95014 / 408.996.1010
• Pacific Gas and Electric
  
• LiveNation
  
• Clear Channel
  
• Levi Strauss & Co.

or some of the celebrities/VIPs that lent their image and/or money to the cause:

• Magic Johnson
  
• Samuel Jackson
  
• Ellen DeGeneres
  
• Jerry Yang, founder of Yahoo
  
• Evan Williams, CEO, Twitter
  
• America Ferrera, Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz (I tried my damnest to find contact info for these folks.  Failed)
  
• Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook (couldn't find an email - but she is on Facebook, so I sent my message via a friend fequest.  Sneaky... lol)
  
• Or some elected officials.  Or organizations or newspapers.  For a complete list of supporters, you can check out this page.
  

Okay, now that you're done typing and are all fired up... take to the streets.

On Saturday, November 15, there will be Prop 8/gay marriage protests in many American cities.  Check out JointheImpact.com to see if something's in your neck of the woods and go.  Be a witness to the cause and take comfort in the knowledge that there are thousands upon thousands of people who agree with you.

Million Gay March has opportunities for volunteering and has a list of events/protests in California.  

Save up money and head to Washington DC in  2010 with Means of Equality.

In the summer of 2010, we will march the streets of our nation's capitol for the advancement and protection of homosexuals rights as human beings, as indviduals, as a collective unit of persons who have been denied the fruition of marriage and equal protection under the law. It is our mission that the nation understand that it is unconsitutional for states to ratify or amend their constitution to redefine marriage as solely between man and woman. The United States of America was founded based on the principle that we are free to worship as we see fit. Therefore, we feel it is unconstitutional to base the views of one religious unit to define how other sects are to live. We as a people ask for marriage to become a possiblity and ask for equal protection under the law. We feel this could be achieved by instituting a new Civil Rights Act to include equal protection for homosexuals by prohibiting discrimination in employment, public accomodations, housing, credit, and education.

But the most important thing that you can do is to talk to the people around you.  And actually not just talk, but to listen.  Listen to their concerns, their fears, their reluctances.  And then respond accordingly.  There are some people that won't be moved... not until  they see first-hand how same sex marriage doesn't spell the end of civilization as we know it.  And even then they still might not be convinced.  But there are others that might be swayed by reason - and it's these that we need to focus on.

So let us go forth and spread the gospel.