There is a movement in Pennsylvania.....

[Vanessa White]

and I know that I need to get busy. We have a billboard here in the Scranton area that I saw last week, and is still up, that states "Should Pennsylvania Abandon Marriage?" and a connecting link to a website, www.youranswermatters.com. Of course, one of their heroes in the movement to save traditional marriage is James Dobson. These two attactive, well dressed women are driving across the state to rally support, stating that PA in "Ground Zero" to upset the idea of marriage between a man and woman. THey are fully advocating for a state constitutional amendment.

I am working locally with Mia to try to get our ally support up and running, and Zerbie referred me to her network in Arizona, which I need to get more details about.

My main reason for posting here is to ask any and all to check out the website, let me know your thoughts, and if you live in PA, can you please PM me and let me know if you want to get involved??

I am ready to go to battle on this one. I am finally ready for the "big one".

[keltic63]

I'm in. I love this stuff. what can I do?

[Vanessa White]

I am not sure what I need for anyone to do yet. I knew you would jump in. I PM'ed Zerbie for some tips. Have you seen this billboard at all on your end of the state?

[keltic63]

nope, haven't seen it.

[Dumbledore]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

and I know that I need to get busy. We have a billboard here in the Scranton area that I saw last week, and is still up, that states "Should Pennsylvania Abandon Marriage?" and a connecting link to a website, www.youranswermatters.com. Of course, one of their heroes in the movement to save traditional marriage is James Dobson. These two attactive, well dressed women are driving across the state to rally support, stating that PA in "Ground Zero" to upset the idea of marriage between a man and woman. THey are fully advocating for a state constitutional amendment.

I am working locally with Mia to try to get our ally support up and running, and Zerbie referred me to her network in Arizona, which I need to get more details about.

My main reason for posting here is to ask any and all to check out the website, let me know your thoughts, and if you live in PA, can you please PM me and let me know if you want to get involved??

I am ready to go to battle on this one. I am finally ready for the "big one".

I have a suggestion . Have you thought about calling Faith In America to see if they would be able to partner with you in a bill board campaign that would deal with the bigotry at the heart of the issue. Definitely worth a call. Here is the web site:

http://www.faithinamerica.info/front.html

[keltic63]

I contacted http://www.equalitypa.org/ about the "youranswermatters" site and their sponsor "Pennsylvania for Marriage" I directed them to both websites, and got an immediate response from the executive director. I'm not sure they knew about the initiative, but it looks like I may be doing some work for them!

[Vanessa White]

I forgot about EqualityPA- I even get their newsletter! Way to go, I guess we are on our way, huh Keltic? I am going to take Dumbledore's wise guidance as well, and check out faith in america and see if they would help at all. I also plan on contacting our local PFLAG chapter and see if they want to help out at all.

[mjules]

I don't have any tips, but you have my well wishes and if you come up with anything out-of-staters can do to help, just let me know! After all, we're very nearly neighbors! (And if PA goes, I don't wanna know where NY will end up.)

[Zerbie]

Okay, I'm on board and following this. I'm happy to contact the AZ folks and see what they say. Keep me posted and up to date and let me know how I can help with introductions or what-not.

[Vanessa White]

I am trying to garner support for the equal marriage issue here in PA. Mia and I have an organizational meeting scheduled for Saturday night, and I have been talking with people a bit about the issue. Interesting responses, but to my pleasant surprise, some great ally resources that have a friend who has a friend, and so on....... one at a time.

A coworker in my office came up to me yesterday, after having heard me speaking about the issue with another coworker. She wanted to offer me her support, and any assistance she might be. Of course, it is welcomed graciously. She then told me how much she admires my strength to be who I am, without reservation, and to stand up so strongly for what I believe in. I felt so grateful for her words, and then felt sad, again, because the tokens that are so genuine and full of support and hope come to me so rarely, that it is like gold falling from the sky when it does happen. I don't know how soon I may hear words like that again, and I believe that much of the reason I may not hear those words, is out of the fears that others possess about even thinking about the issue, let alone talking about it.

[Vanessa White]

I just posted a comment on the youranswermatters website, in relation to their "5 Minutes for Marriage" descriptor. I am waiting for moderation. The person whose post is there is also in support of equal marriage, which is very interesting. See what happens.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

I just posted a comment on the youranswermatters website, in relation to their "5 Minutes for Marriage" descriptor. I am waiting for moderation. The person whose post is there is also in support of equal marriage, which is very interesting. See what happens.

Yours is posted! Now let's see if they post mine.

[keltic63]

I just checked my blog stats and discovered that I had 2 hits from the "your answer matters" website. When I posted my comments, I linked my name to my blog (this terrestrial ball) in the hopes that anyone reading there might come and read another viewpoint on my blog. It appears to have worked!

[Vanessa White]

Okay, curiosity is a good thing, it might even be helpful! I downloaded copies of the revised versions of the amendment and votes from 2006, but not sure that I understand where it stands as far as what voting needs to take place before it goes to citizen vote. I need to read through again, but it seems like it made it through the house once, maybe twice, but not the Senate yet. So we do have some time, not much though......

I also invited all of my friends on Facebook to join, and so far, about 30 of them did so!! I was so happy about that, and will use that as a way to stir up some local support as well.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

I
A coworker in my office came up to me yesterday, after having heard me speaking about the issue with another coworker. She wanted to offer me her support, and any assistance she might be. Of course, it is welcomed graciously. She then told me how much she admires my strength to be who I am, without reservation, and to stand up so strongly for what I believe in. I felt so grateful for her words, and then felt sad, again, because the tokens that are so genuine and full of support and hope come to me so rarely, that it is like gold falling from the sky when it does happen. I don't know how soon I may hear words like that again,

My dear, how about RIGHT NOW?

You are a wonderful, beautiful, shining light and you are luminous with courage (a word which looks an awful lot like "heart-age.") That would describe YOU.

Instead of weeping over "when will I hear such words again," take those positive words IN, imprint them on your heart, and carry them with you. Did the sentiment die once the words were spoken? No. The sentiment is alive. Renew it by re-calling those words to mind during the innumerable frustrations you will suffer as an activist.

You ARE all those wonderful things, Vanessa. Keep re-calling that. Call upon that knowledge daily, that you ARE that courage and that light.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

and I know that I need to get busy. We have a billboard here in the Scranton area that I saw last week, and is still up, that states "Should Pennsylvania Abandon Marriage?" and a connecting link to a website, www.youranswermatters.com. Of course, one of their heroes in the movement to save traditional marriage is James Dobson. These two attactive, well dressed women are driving across the state to rally support, stating that PA in "Ground Zero" to upset the idea of marriage between a man and woman. THey are fully advocating for a state constitutional amendment.

ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I saw one of these billboards on the way home from Pittsburgh last night. It's on the turnpike just before the New Stanton exit. I can't tell you how much it made my blood boil!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zerbie]

Sorry.

sigh - so are they ever going to notice that they are the ones waging an assault?

I bet they're wondering where all these gay activists came from: we spring up in response to their behavior, duh.

Seriously, I owe the depth and breadth of my personal activism to our local anti-gay policy group. Thanks to them, I have become more involved and experienced in gay rights activism than ever before.

[Vanessa White]

Keltic, I hear you. I still see the billboard, as a matter of fact, saw it last night on my way to my private practice. I feel angry, sad, disgusted, frustrated, and probably many more things every time I see the darn thing. Statements that are intentionally inflammatory like that just totally irk me, because they don't send any real message, except a judgmental message. Nothing factual. And there are people that are susceptible to that, I know that is what they bank on. What I am banking on for the movement here in PA is those people who are potential allies, who are sick of the inflammatory stuff, and really aren't opposed to equal marriage at all, or don't have any opinion on it one way or another. That is where we can gain ground, I believe.

[Vanessa White]

Our dear keltic is on his way to his Senator's office tomorrow for a meeting about discrimination legislation and marriage equality; I just wanted to publicly cheer him on and send him good wishes. Our legislature sent SB 1250, the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would deem marriage as only between one man and one woman; and, would not allow for civil unions at any time, to Judiciary committee on 2/14/08 (how appropriate, eh??) We are garnering as much support as we can with LGBT persons and allies to send letters off to their senators and reps.

You go, keltic!!!! You can do it- cannot wait to hear the "dirty" details!!!

BTW, keltic's Senator is one of those that introduced the legislation.....

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

Our dear keltic is on his way to his Senator's office tomorrow for a meeting about discrimination legislation and marriage equality; I just wanted to publicly cheer him on and send him good wishes.

:flower :
WAY To Go KELTIC!!!!
Thank you for doing this!!





Our legislature sent SB 1250, the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would deem marriage as only between one man and one woman; and, would not allow for civil unions at any time, to Judiciary committee on 2/14/08 (how appropriate, eh??)

In Arizona, they had their first hearing on the revised marriage amendment on Valentine's Day. What a heartbreaker!
They have to be trying to be as mean as possible. Doesn't it seem that way when they do this on Valentine's Day?



We are garnering as much support as we can with LGBT persons and allies to send letters off to their senators and reps.

Thank you SO much Vanessa!

You go, keltic!!!! You can do it- cannot wait to hear the "dirty" details!!!

BTW, keltic's Senator is one of those that introduced the legislation.....

Introduced the anti-equality legislation?? Boo!!
Man, Steve, thank you for taking such a bold step. Wow - that's really wonderful! That's gotta be really hard to face a meeting with a co-sponsor of legislation like that.

Thank you so much, Steve!! We love you.