Slog
News & ArtsFriday, October 9, 2009
Homo New PAC Plans Major Fundraising to Reject R-71
Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:45 PM
The scenario that gay-rights advocates had feared may be coming true.
Vote Reject R-71, a political action committee, registered with the state's Public Disclosure Commission yesterday to campaign against Referendum 71, thereby attempting to repeal the state's domestic-partnership law. (Read the filing paperwork here: .pdf.)
Dave Mortenson, a conservative campaign consultant who filed the PAC, says, "A bunch of individuals contacted me to see if we could raise some money really quick." He says, "I am not going to share who I’ve been talking to, but if we do get the money, we will report it." Are these religious groups, corporations, wealthy donors? "We are working them all," says Mortenson.
October 12 is the deadline for donations over $5000, according to state campaign rules.
Can the group raise a large sum of money before Tuesday? "I’m pretty optimistic, let me put it that way," says Mortensen, who has worked on Republican legislative campaigns since the 1980s.
The group running the primary campaign to reject R-71, Protect Marriage Washington, has raised $60,114. The campaign working to approve R-71, Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST), has raised $779,104. And another group in favor of approving the measure, Human Rights Campaign Approve Referendum 71, has raised $72,805.
Filing a new PAC is a "giant red flag" that anti-gay forces are about to dump loads of cash into the anti-gay Reject R-71 campaign, says WAFST campaign manager Josh Friedes. Much of the money for California's anti-gay Prop 8 came in the final weeks before the election.
"The filing of a PAC a few days before the cutoff suggests that this is a strategy to significantly fund an anti-gay campaign but have it cloaked in secrecy until such a time that that it is difficult to respond because of the state’s campaign finance laws," says Friedes.
"We won't know until how much money is dumped in until after the cut-off, so it will be hard to make it up in smaller contributions," Friedes says. "Anybody who can donate over $5,000 should do so now."
1
Apartment Glut Expands
"Signs advertise apartments for rent in San Francisco in July. Rents declined during the third quarter, usually a strong period for rentals."
http://online.wsj.com
/article/SB125479559237566623.html
?mod=googlenews_wsj
"Signs advertise apartments for rent in San Francisco in July. Rents declined during the third quarter, usually a strong period for rentals."
http://online.wsj.com
/article/SB125479559237566623.html
?mod=googlenews_wsj
5
@4: Right, okay, sure, thanks for your input.
Tell me when you're done getting stoned off defeatism <3
Tell me when you're done getting stoned off defeatism <3
6
Disgusting. Anyone who donates over $5,000 this close to October 12 is scum. What kind of sick excuse for a human being would sink so low? It's a dirty trick and I say if you didn't think to make your donation weeks ago, that's too bad. The deadline is in 3 days and that means it's too late for anyone except slimy slugs whose very presence fouls the Earth. I'm ashamed to know that such degenerates even exist.
7
Buy a book of stamps.
Take your friends out for drinks - ask them to bring their ballots.
Give them a stamp so they can mail it.
Do the same with your relatives and anyone in Seattle and all the women and non-retirees you know.
Problem solved.
Take your friends out for drinks - ask them to bring their ballots.
Give them a stamp so they can mail it.
Do the same with your relatives and anyone in Seattle and all the women and non-retirees you know.
Problem solved.
9
"Much of the money for California's anti-gay Prop 8 came in the final weeks before the election."
How much?
You keep squealing about this Dom but you never give a figure.
HOW MUCH?
How much?
You keep squealing about this Dom but you never give a figure.
HOW MUCH?
11
I hope R-71 gets approved with as much ease as possible, and I'm spreading the word.
That said, if the Mormons dump at least half a mil on Reject R-71, that would be really weird. Ignoring the bad publicity they got after funding Prop 8, R-71 doesn't have any national bellweather recognition, hence I don't see Secret Undies Inc caring. The benefits of R-71 to same-sex and senior Washingtonian couples is far less than the damage of Prop 8 is to Californian same-sex couples. Substitute Secret Undies for any other org.. Even other anti-gay org's don't like Stickney/Randall and co.
Honestly, as someone who will benefit directly from R-71 approval, I'm more worried about 1033 or Hutchison winning. How happy will same-sex couples be living in a permanent recession state in a county who will make decisions based on "intelligent design"?
I wish the same great effort Lurleen and others are making were also being made to help defeat I-1033 and elect Constantine.
That said, if the Mormons dump at least half a mil on Reject R-71, that would be really weird. Ignoring the bad publicity they got after funding Prop 8, R-71 doesn't have any national bellweather recognition, hence I don't see Secret Undies Inc caring. The benefits of R-71 to same-sex and senior Washingtonian couples is far less than the damage of Prop 8 is to Californian same-sex couples. Substitute Secret Undies for any other org.. Even other anti-gay org's don't like Stickney/Randall and co.
Honestly, as someone who will benefit directly from R-71 approval, I'm more worried about 1033 or Hutchison winning. How happy will same-sex couples be living in a permanent recession state in a county who will make decisions based on "intelligent design"?
I wish the same great effort Lurleen and others are making were also being made to help defeat I-1033 and elect Constantine.
12
you people are pathetic.
did you even read the post?
pro R71 has raise $853,000.
anti R71 $60,000.
but you cower and mutter.
did you even read the post?
pro R71 has raise $853,000.
anti R71 $60,000.
but you cower and mutter.
13
are any laws being broken?
how exactly is this so evil?
are we just trying to terrify the gays out of complacency?
how exactly is this so evil?
are we just trying to terrify the gays out of complacency?
14
#11
GLBT are recruited and put to work for EVERYTHING under the sun. This time it is our Civil Rights on the line. Have some respect.
By the way, the word is both efforest are counting on Approve 71, bit city big turnout, to help them.
Irony in light of your statement.
Send money, tell friends, buy some stamps for friends, and VOTE.
Approve Ref: 71.
GLBT are recruited and put to work for EVERYTHING under the sun. This time it is our Civil Rights on the line. Have some respect.
By the way, the word is both efforest are counting on Approve 71, bit city big turnout, to help them.
Irony in light of your statement.
Send money, tell friends, buy some stamps for friends, and VOTE.
Approve Ref: 71.
16
#11 is right. Approve ref 71, but Tim Eyman's I-1033 is far more damaging to same sex couples and everyone else. Approve R 71 has hundreds of thousands of dollars. Donate your money to anti-1033.
17
Yeah sure - mini fish can stop a tax revolt. Yeah sure.Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Will vote No, but, Eyeman's timing this year is just perfect. It will pass. The sky will fall.
And so - also - Approve Ref: 71. Vote, vote, vote.
Will vote No, but, Eyeman's timing this year is just perfect. It will pass. The sky will fall.
And so - also - Approve Ref: 71. Vote, vote, vote.
18
@16... if you think hundreds of thousands of dollars is enough to fight and win a statewide issue campaign, you've got your head in the sand. Approve 71 will need literally millions of dollars to pay for the sort of media, telephone, and in person outreach they'll need to do all over the state to win. Everyone should continue to donate to Approve 71 ( http://www.approve71.org/donate ), particularly if they have the resources to donate over $5000 before Tuesday. The fight to Approve Ref 71 is a piece the civil rights fight of our modern era, not just some lame tax freeze initiative. These are people's RIGHTS at stake.
19
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend October 10 – 11, 2009
Seattle OUTprotest has brought together a grassroots coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people and organizations to organize a series of solidarity events to coincide with the National Equality March this weekend
March and Rally
Forty years after the Stonewall Rebellion, we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and allies in Washington, DC to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and to show our public support for the Approval of Referendum 71 here in Washington state. Speakers include Jamie Pederson (43rd district Legislator Representative), Sarah Warren (UNITE HERE Organizer), NaaSira Adeeba (Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities and Sistah 2 Sistah) and other community leaders. Special performances by Jared Douglas, Youth Spoken Word Artist Landon Long hill and many more.
Sunday, October 11
2:00 pm: Volunteer Park, 10th Ave E & E Prospect
End at the Federal Courthouse, 7th & Stewart
Thinking Queerly: Community Workshops on LGBT Issues
Community organizers and activists will present a series of workshops on a range of issues affecting the LGBT community including Stonewall and LGBT movement history, homelessness, hate crimes and self defense, LGBT health, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, LGBT legal issues, Gay-Straight Alliances, marriage equality, and more.
Saturday, October 10
9:30 am to 5 pm
Piggott Building, Seattle University
HIV/AIDS Vigil
As the AIDS pandemic nears its fourth decade, we gather to educate and raise awareness about the continued struggles of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and support networks as well as to demand all resources and all funding necessary for prevention, treatment, and a cure.
Saturday, October 10
Starting at 6 pm
Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E Pine
Generation Q Mega Mixer: Leaders of Today meet Leaders of Tomorrow
Come mingle and mix with seasoned leaders and activists of the GLBTQ community at the Generation Q Mega Mixer. Young leaders (23 and under please) will have the opportunity to socialize, learn from, and quite possibly have a dance off with some of the community's most inspiring members in a relaxed social environment.
Sunday, October 11
6:30 pm - 9:30pm
The Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E Pike
(Ages 23 and under please!)
Please visit the Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend Website:
http://seattleoutprotest.org
National Equality March in DC Updates:
www.equalityacrossamerica.org
Meet Stuart Wilber, one of the organizers for the events and a community member. Hear what he has to say.
On October 10-11, 2009, we will gather in Washington, D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal
rights for LGBT people.
13 Days and Counting As we get closer to The National Equality March in Washington on October 11th it is important that we make people aware of the march and its purpose. Your visibility will help us reach the mainstream media and garner attention. A poorly attended march will almost guarantee
that you’ll not see another major GLBT demonstration for equal rights in your lifetime.
Why now? We are living in a time when armed protesters are attending town hall meetings; when talk show hosts are fomenting less than healthy dissent, creating an atmosphere of hate; the hate and paranoia that killed Harvey Milk; the hate and paranoia that makes scapegoats of someone you aren’t.
Until we have our constitutionally guaranteed rights the American dream cannot be fulfilled. Because we have a Democratic President and Congress, this may be our last chance to achieve Equality in our lifetimes. What you can do: Use your visibility to promote the march. Contact your local media and tell them why you support a march for equality and why every concerned citizen should join you. Put your face on this march and use your words and your story instead of some anonymous PR guy’s. Ask your parents and cousins and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles; your friends, your neighbors; your colleagues at work to join us in DC. And if they can’t join us in DC ask them to grab their friends and family and gather in solidarity wherever they live.
I am so tired of being treated like a second class citizen. Please help me. Please support me. Please march with me.
Stuart Wilber
Seattle Washington
Want to Volunteer at any of the events?
Email whitney@seattleoutprotest.org many
types of duties available.
Endorsed by Seattle Gay News, Pride Foundation, Radical Women, Queer Ally Coalition, International Socialist Organization, Pride at Work, Rainbow Center of Tacoma, Socialist Alternative, Freedom Socialist Party, Gay City Health Project, Entre Hermanos, Cascades Rainbow Community Center/Skagit, Seattle OUTprotest, Community to Community Development, Bellingham, Sub Pop Records, 5th District Democrats (www.5thdems.org), American Friends Service Committee, Inlaws & Outlaws and the True Stories Project, Washington Jobs with Justice - MLK, Seattle Education Association, Out in Tacoma, Queer Kidz, Temple B'Nai Torah, PFLAG Olympia, Amnesty International, Metropolitan Community Church - Seattle, Center for MultiCultural Health, Washington Marriage Alliance, The Backpack Project, A.N.S.W.E.R., Party for Socialism and Liberation, PFLAG - Olympia, The Queer Foundation, PoetsWest, Youth Against War and Racism, PFLAG - Whatcom, Dyke Community Activists, Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center (APIWFC), Triangle Club - Seattle University, Sistah 2 Sistah, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Pinay Sa Seattle, PFLAG - Bellevue
Approve Referendum 71
Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
More...
Seattle OUTprotest has brought together a grassroots coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people and organizations to organize a series of solidarity events to coincide with the National Equality March this weekend
March and Rally
Forty years after the Stonewall Rebellion, we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and allies in Washington, DC to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and to show our public support for the Approval of Referendum 71 here in Washington state. Speakers include Jamie Pederson (43rd district Legislator Representative), Sarah Warren (UNITE HERE Organizer), NaaSira Adeeba (Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities and Sistah 2 Sistah) and other community leaders. Special performances by Jared Douglas, Youth Spoken Word Artist Landon Long hill and many more.
Sunday, October 11
2:00 pm: Volunteer Park, 10th Ave E & E Prospect
End at the Federal Courthouse, 7th & Stewart
Thinking Queerly: Community Workshops on LGBT Issues
Community organizers and activists will present a series of workshops on a range of issues affecting the LGBT community including Stonewall and LGBT movement history, homelessness, hate crimes and self defense, LGBT health, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, LGBT legal issues, Gay-Straight Alliances, marriage equality, and more.
Saturday, October 10
9:30 am to 5 pm
Piggott Building, Seattle University
HIV/AIDS Vigil
As the AIDS pandemic nears its fourth decade, we gather to educate and raise awareness about the continued struggles of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and support networks as well as to demand all resources and all funding necessary for prevention, treatment, and a cure.
Saturday, October 10
Starting at 6 pm
Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E Pine
Generation Q Mega Mixer: Leaders of Today meet Leaders of Tomorrow
Come mingle and mix with seasoned leaders and activists of the GLBTQ community at the Generation Q Mega Mixer. Young leaders (23 and under please) will have the opportunity to socialize, learn from, and quite possibly have a dance off with some of the community's most inspiring members in a relaxed social environment.
Sunday, October 11
6:30 pm - 9:30pm
The Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E Pike
(Ages 23 and under please!)
Please visit the Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend Website:
http://seattleoutprotest.org
National Equality March in DC Updates:
www.equalityacrossamerica.org
Meet Stuart Wilber, one of the organizers for the events and a community member. Hear what he has to say.
On October 10-11, 2009, we will gather in Washington, D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal
rights for LGBT people.
13 Days and Counting As we get closer to The National Equality March in Washington on October 11th it is important that we make people aware of the march and its purpose. Your visibility will help us reach the mainstream media and garner attention. A poorly attended march will almost guarantee
that you’ll not see another major GLBT demonstration for equal rights in your lifetime.
Why now? We are living in a time when armed protesters are attending town hall meetings; when talk show hosts are fomenting less than healthy dissent, creating an atmosphere of hate; the hate and paranoia that killed Harvey Milk; the hate and paranoia that makes scapegoats of someone you aren’t.
Until we have our constitutionally guaranteed rights the American dream cannot be fulfilled. Because we have a Democratic President and Congress, this may be our last chance to achieve Equality in our lifetimes. What you can do: Use your visibility to promote the march. Contact your local media and tell them why you support a march for equality and why every concerned citizen should join you. Put your face on this march and use your words and your story instead of some anonymous PR guy’s. Ask your parents and cousins and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles; your friends, your neighbors; your colleagues at work to join us in DC. And if they can’t join us in DC ask them to grab their friends and family and gather in solidarity wherever they live.
I am so tired of being treated like a second class citizen. Please help me. Please support me. Please march with me.
Stuart Wilber
Seattle Washington
Want to Volunteer at any of the events?
Email whitney@seattleoutprotest.org many
types of duties available.
Endorsed by Seattle Gay News, Pride Foundation, Radical Women, Queer Ally Coalition, International Socialist Organization, Pride at Work, Rainbow Center of Tacoma, Socialist Alternative, Freedom Socialist Party, Gay City Health Project, Entre Hermanos, Cascades Rainbow Community Center/Skagit, Seattle OUTprotest, Community to Community Development, Bellingham, Sub Pop Records, 5th District Democrats (www.5thdems.org), American Friends Service Committee, Inlaws & Outlaws and the True Stories Project, Washington Jobs with Justice - MLK, Seattle Education Association, Out in Tacoma, Queer Kidz, Temple B'Nai Torah, PFLAG Olympia, Amnesty International, Metropolitan Community Church - Seattle, Center for MultiCultural Health, Washington Marriage Alliance, The Backpack Project, A.N.S.W.E.R., Party for Socialism and Liberation, PFLAG - Olympia, The Queer Foundation, PoetsWest, Youth Against War and Racism, PFLAG - Whatcom, Dyke Community Activists, Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center (APIWFC), Triangle Club - Seattle University, Sistah 2 Sistah, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Pinay Sa Seattle, PFLAG - Bellevue
Approve Referendum 71
Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
20
Great! Now something good can happen as a result of the Nobel Peace Prize whatsit: Obama can do donate some of that money he got to charities fighting for equal marriage rights.
21
1)They're not organized by someone from Washington. They're organized by someone from the suburban wasteland that is Clackamas County, Oregon. You know, shopping mall, Oregon City, etc...same place Oregon's notorious homo-hatin' Constitutional Amendment 36 came from. Oregon =/= Washington.
1a)They've been hiding their organizers and their signatories; the latter is a direct violation of Washington law, but they've gotten away with it thus far. There's a very good shot that people will vote on this without public disclosure of the slimy assholes who hate us. Oh, and given how much lying there was about it, there's probably some nice people who don't hate us and were tricked into signing it by the lying, out-of-state signature collection Hessians who make money per signature regardless of whether or not it's valid.
2)Most of these PAC donations will, no doubt, be coming from out of state. Guess we can tell those rubes in Warshington how to vote.
2a)They've already made these horrifying commercials completely lying about the purpose of R-71. They're full of Biblical imagery and occasional pandering to us annoying niggers and narrated by the world's second most annoying oreo, Ken Hutcherson. Yeah, that's why that voice sounds so familiar. Remember, the LDS Church, the people behind this mess and whose imagery is spattered all over those ads, managed to claim that we didn't count as full church members until 1978. You know, two damn years before i was born.
3)Queer apathy remains too much of a problem to forget. I'm really getting sick of "this doesn't affect me," "this discriminates against (insert blah here)," "I don't vote," and the classic "But there's no election this year." Yeah, i've heard this all in the past couple of weeks.
3a)I know that some of us are long-time Washingtonians and/or natives and tend to vote "no" out of a knee-jerk reaction to all initatives. Hell, I know that some people came here three years ago and have figured that shit out. You need to make it very plain to actual people, not just folks on Twitter, Facebook, or, God help us all, MySpace, that they need to vote YES if they support us. No more theoretical wanking, just be blunt. And remind people on Twitter, Facebook, or whatever cool social media site is awesome this week, too...don't forget it, just go beyond it.
4)It would be nice if the WAFST folks would do outreach somewhere beyond the "queer parts of town", but I'm thinking that might be too much to ask. Hey, isn't this how we fucked up in California? Oh yeah, it was. In the meantime, within the City of Seattle, i've had two door tags this week about how i need to reject R-71. As Ali G would say, "Is it becuz I iz black?" Yeah, guess there are no homos in Rainier Beach.
More...
1a)They've been hiding their organizers and their signatories; the latter is a direct violation of Washington law, but they've gotten away with it thus far. There's a very good shot that people will vote on this without public disclosure of the slimy assholes who hate us. Oh, and given how much lying there was about it, there's probably some nice people who don't hate us and were tricked into signing it by the lying, out-of-state signature collection Hessians who make money per signature regardless of whether or not it's valid.
2)Most of these PAC donations will, no doubt, be coming from out of state. Guess we can tell those rubes in Warshington how to vote.
2a)They've already made these horrifying commercials completely lying about the purpose of R-71. They're full of Biblical imagery and occasional pandering to us annoying niggers and narrated by the world's second most annoying oreo, Ken Hutcherson. Yeah, that's why that voice sounds so familiar. Remember, the LDS Church, the people behind this mess and whose imagery is spattered all over those ads, managed to claim that we didn't count as full church members until 1978. You know, two damn years before i was born.
3)Queer apathy remains too much of a problem to forget. I'm really getting sick of "this doesn't affect me," "this discriminates against (insert blah here)," "I don't vote," and the classic "But there's no election this year." Yeah, i've heard this all in the past couple of weeks.
3a)I know that some of us are long-time Washingtonians and/or natives and tend to vote "no" out of a knee-jerk reaction to all initatives. Hell, I know that some people came here three years ago and have figured that shit out. You need to make it very plain to actual people, not just folks on Twitter, Facebook, or, God help us all, MySpace, that they need to vote YES if they support us. No more theoretical wanking, just be blunt. And remind people on Twitter, Facebook, or whatever cool social media site is awesome this week, too...don't forget it, just go beyond it.
4)It would be nice if the WAFST folks would do outreach somewhere beyond the "queer parts of town", but I'm thinking that might be too much to ask. Hey, isn't this how we fucked up in California? Oh yeah, it was. In the meantime, within the City of Seattle, i've had two door tags this week about how i need to reject R-71. As Ali G would say, "Is it becuz I iz black?" Yeah, guess there are no homos in Rainier Beach.
22
The Mormons are in a tough position if they want to mobilize against R-71, because their official stated position is that they don't object to civil unions, just marriage.
I don't see the Mormons as a threat on this one.
"The focus of the Church’s involvement is specifically same-sex marriage and its consequences. The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference." -- http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/…
I don't see the Mormons as a threat on this one.
"The focus of the Church’s involvement is specifically same-sex marriage and its consequences. The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference." -- http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/…
23
@22 -- then why are LDS copyrighted images being used in their ads?
http://vimeo.com/6853620
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hi…
http://vimeo.com/6853620
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hi…
24
#23 Beware Catholic bishops - they are already putting the word out, in public and on paper.
Wonder why people think Mormons out number Catholics? Very so not true.
Catholics testified and worked against the bill in Olympia, not Mormons, if that means anything.
Wonder why people think Mormons out number Catholics? Very so not true.
Catholics testified and worked against the bill in Olympia, not Mormons, if that means anything.
25
@3, @11, @22, @23 - I would be HUGELY surprised if the Mormon Church got involved against R-71. As a Mormon, an attorney, and having read the actual statute subject to the referendum vote, it doesn't look to me like there is anything that the Church might object to. Rather it seems perfectly acceptable and compatible with the Church's official stated opinion, which @22 you correctly cite. Besides, if the Church was going to mobilize the members as they did in CA, they would have already done so. The Church, per-capita, is twice as numerous in WA as CA.
Now, as for Church MEMBERS, that is a different story. I would expect most of them to oppose the measure, but that would be based on their personal cultural beliefs that tend toward the conservative, and not because of encouragement from the Church. They simply don't understand the disctinction. This is a different measure from CA.
Now, as for Church MEMBERS, that is a different story. I would expect most of them to oppose the measure, but that would be based on their personal cultural beliefs that tend toward the conservative, and not because of encouragement from the Church. They simply don't understand the disctinction. This is a different measure from CA.
26
Now @22, as to the LDS copyrighted imagery, my guess is that a lot of LDS members are not as sensitive to IP rights as they should be. There are probably Mormons in the protectmarriagewa.com organization, though the Church does not sanction it.
Just as Mormons need to be less paranoid about the gay-rights movement, the gay-rights movement, in general, really should be less paranoid about the Mormon Church. It's not as extreme as most of the other far-right religious groups on this issue, or even the Catholics.
Just as Mormons need to be less paranoid about the gay-rights movement, the gay-rights movement, in general, really should be less paranoid about the Mormon Church. It's not as extreme as most of the other far-right religious groups on this issue, or even the Catholics.
27
Marching for equality is free and doesn't cost the campaign anything. Let's keep in mind the No on 8 campaign raised MORE money than the Yes on 8 campaign. It's not a question of how much money you raise. It's a question of what strategies you use. We've beaten previous antigay initiatives using a variety of complementary tactics (Initiative 13... know your history). In addition to reaching out to smaller communities in Eastern Washington, we need to also target King County (you know, the county with a million people) and make the case for why everyone must vote to approve Referendum 71. We can't blame younger voters for not voting if we don't argue that they should. Here's what you say: This is about equal rights and bigots in this state are trying to take away rights from people. If they win on this, they won't stop. If we don't win on this, the right wingers will go for more. Let's stop them now before they attack GSAs, all domestic partnership rights, and all equal protections.
28
Not sure how closely folks up there followed prop 8, but IMHO, the number one way that the Yes people won was by lulling the gay-friendly base into a sense of complacency early on. We (the pro gay marriage folks) were 10 points ahead in early polls. I was talking to LGBT supports on the phone bank *weeks* after we'd fallen behind in the polls and in fundraising who thought we were still way ahead. It worked once, and they're just repeating the pattern in Washington.
Also... we lost Los Angeles county. Think about that for a minute. I think a lot of people felt they needed to be in Bakersfield or Fresno to not be "preaching to the choir", but trust me, there is PLENTY to do right there in Seattle. The number one thing is getting out the vote! The number two thing is to call people you know and ask them to vote yes. A heartfelt word from a trusted friend is worth a thousand bumper stickers. And get on Facebook/Twitter/Whatever and speak your mind to your trusted circle! It's free and you don't even have to get off your butt to do it.
Also... we lost Los Angeles county. Think about that for a minute. I think a lot of people felt they needed to be in Bakersfield or Fresno to not be "preaching to the choir", but trust me, there is PLENTY to do right there in Seattle. The number one thing is getting out the vote! The number two thing is to call people you know and ask them to vote yes. A heartfelt word from a trusted friend is worth a thousand bumper stickers. And get on Facebook/Twitter/Whatever and speak your mind to your trusted circle! It's free and you don't even have to get off your butt to do it.
29
#28
Right on - it is now all about getting out the vote in our base - those who keep hoping to converts one more farmer in Twisp or Collville - too late- forget it.
GET OUT the Seattle vote - that is a formula for winning.
(also in Calif there was low voting in SFO, apparently the Queers in SFO spent all their time pissing and whining about the campaign run from LA - just how stupid was that?)
Right on - it is now all about getting out the vote in our base - those who keep hoping to converts one more farmer in Twisp or Collville - too late- forget it.
GET OUT the Seattle vote - that is a formula for winning.
(also in Calif there was low voting in SFO, apparently the Queers in SFO spent all their time pissing and whining about the campaign run from LA - just how stupid was that?)
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A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
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