There is a movement in Pennsylvania.....

[Vanessa White]

That is very valid, I just fear it becoming a full fledged religion/what the Bible says issue. And I am so not up on that, and need to have a specific focus, but spirituality, and LOVE above all else, that I can connect with. I would like to design a logo/tee shirt that love is the focus of this issue in some way. I also visited the website for Marriage Equality USA, which is one of the supporters of the Freedom to Marry Coalition. There is a chapter of Marriage Equality in Pittsburgh, and they need Chapter liasons in the Northeast part of PA. They provide a lot of guidance and support to the chapters, and work in conjunction with Equality PA.

[Zerbie]

PA needs a broad coalition of both secular and faith-based organizations opposing the legislation/amendment. Have both. Include progressive religious leaders in your campaign. That way, you address all sides. Your expertise is secular? Run with that. Have a few clergy members on your side to express why they support your campaign out of faith-based motivations. It will be beautiful.

Before you create your tees and logos, figure out who is spearheading this effort. Research the best, most voter-resonant language that you can for encapsulating your message, and let that find it's way into heading your website and creating your logo/slogan/tee shirts.
You'll need people with money to fund your efforts - research, website, logo design, tee shirts, literature, etc.

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

PA needs a broad coalition of both secular and faith-based organizations opposing the legislation/amendment. Have both. Include progressive religious leaders in your campaign. That way, you address all sides. Your expertise is secular? Run with that. Have a few clergy members on your side to express why they support your campaign out of faith-based motivations. It will be beautiful.

Before you create your tees and logos, figure out who is spearheading this effort. Research the best, most voter-resonant language that you can for encapsulating your message, and let that find it's way into heading your website and creating your logo/slogan/tee shirts.
You'll need people with money to fund your efforts - research, website, logo design, tee shirts, literature, etc.

Zerbie is right about most of this. I think every State/region is a little different. Part of the success in Arizona, as I understand it, was the large number of retirees, many of whom cohabit outside of marriage for economic reasons. They understood that there were implications of the proposed marriage amendment that harmed them.

We were not successful in Wisconsin (where I live) despite an extremely well-run, well-funded campaign by LGBT persons and allies. Never-the-less a lot of good was done because LGBT people and their allies got out all over the state and talked to their neighbors and shared their stories. In the long run we will have advanced the LGBT cause. I believe it is now the case that a majority of persons favor at least domestic partner benefits if not full marriage. It will be a long struggle to overturn the part of the amendment that prohibits recognition of domestic partners.

We did what Zerbie suggests, there was a broad-based coalition with the participation of many religious folks. We even got the regional decision-making bodies of the Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, United Church of Christ etc. to take a stand against the anti-LGBT amendment. Unfortunately, the Roman Catholic Bishops were very much in favor of the amendment.

There was a state-wide coordinator of the campaign--someone who was hired because of his expertise in political campaigns. There was alot of organizing of door-to-door canvassing and get-out-the-vote efforts. All that one on one stuff is as important (or even more important) than doing things like billboards and advertising (you'll have to do that too).

Hey--the election is barely a year away. You guys got to get your organizing going right now!

Have you figured out the timing of this amendment yet? Can they get it on the ballot in 2008, or will the rules put it off a little longer than that?

Our Wisconsin organization is called "Fair Wisconsin" If you google "Fair Wisconsin" you'll probably find alot of information about how we were organized to try to fight this kind of thing off.

Steven Webster

[Vanessa White]

Thank you Steven. We are trying to get things moving, the friend that is most active along with me is getting together with me next week to start planning and looking at the resources that we already have here, then an organizational meeting in a week with friends and allies. We have been trying to get a community awareness group going here for a year regarding LGBTQ issues, and just need to organize a bit better. From what I understand, this cannot go to the citizens for a vote until 2009, but it does need to be voted on by house and Senate at least once more. I think it only was voted on by House in the last session.

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

Thank you Steven. We are trying to get things moving, the friend that is most active along with me is getting together with me next week to start planning and looking at the resources that we already have here, then an organizational meeting in a week with friends and allies. We have been trying to get a community awareness group going here for a year regarding LGBTQ issues, and just need to organize a bit better. From what I understand, this cannot go to the citizens for a vote until 2009, but it does need to be voted on by house and Senate at least once more. I think it only was voted on by House in the last session.

Vanessa,
Does the LGBTQ community have a lobbyist working in your State House? You guys need to fight like heck to stop the legislature from putting this on the ballot. (We worked hard in Madison, too, but we had a right-wing Republican legislature that wanted this issue on the ballot for partisan politcal reasons).

One very good argument is that placing this issue on the ballot is a divisive move (and probably unneccessary because same-gender marriages are not legal in Pennsylvania). Of course, the right wing is seeking to be devisive.

One other very good argument is that it is offensive to put a minorities rights up for a vote.

Why would they put this on the ballot in 2009? The Republicans in Wisconsin actually delayed their ballot referendum until there was a race for Govenor and national representatives on the ballot. They thought this would be a really good issue to get lots of Republicans elected---the joke was on them, the Republicans lost the race for Govenor, lost control of one house in the legislature and lost at least one more seat in Congress. The issue did not work for them like they thought--as a matter of fact, the vote turnout was very high in the college towns and the students mostly voted against the Republicans. So although we lost on the amendment, the Republican strategy back-fired on them. Point that out to legislators when you lobby them!

Steven Webster

[Vanessa White]

I don't know anything about the lobbying efforts, which I need to find out more about. I think the way that I read is that it would not be a voter referendum any time BEFORE 2009.

I will do some exploring today about lobbyist efforts. We do have statewide chapters of Marriage Equality USA, which I would imagine might have some lobbyists, also EqualityPA may have someone there.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

I don't know anything about the lobbying efforts, which I need to find out more about. I think the way that I read is that it would not be a voter referendum any time BEFORE 2009.

I will do some exploring today about lobbyist efforts. We do have statewide chapters of Marriage Equality USA, which I would imagine might have some lobbyists, also EqualityPA may have someone there.

while you were posting this, I emailed EqualityPA to find out if we have any lobbyists working for us. I'm waiting for an answer.

[Vanessa White]

Because I was just on their website and seeing if there were any references to lobbyists in regard to this issue.

I am planning on setting up internet access at home over the weekend. I am going to need it in the coming months......

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Zerbie is right about most of this.

I'm still trying to find which parts of this you don't think I was right about. In my estimate, nothing.

Your take on messaging is spot-on. Yes, here the retiree population probably helped our cause. The fact that voters knew the amendment targetted heterosexual couples also was the factor which tipped the outcome in our favor.

Vanessa, an effort this enormous needs the strength of an established organization spearheading it. One with membership and donors. Definitely connect with EQ PA. I might even suggest a phone call to someone there to introduce yourself - see what they have to say about plans to combat this amendment effort.

[keltic63]

The Executive Director at Equality Advocates PA is a registered lobbyist. I just received an email from Stacey Sobel a few minutes ago.

amazing bio for her btw: http://www.law.upenn.edu/cf/faculty/slsobel/

[Vanessa White]

Great place to start and great backing. Thanks, Keltic. What next?

[sailaway58]

I sent the two women a note. I doubt they publish it.

As an activist for equal rights for all families I hope you miserably fail in your attempt to deny the right of others. Your elitist self-righteous campaign is based on false information and innuendo. Your desire to demean others by defining them by a sexual act and refusal to understand that same sex attraction in as normal as heterosexual orientation shows lack of knowledge not only concerning human sexuality but Gods love and compassion for all his GLBT children as well.
As a Christian and a family man I stand against you and what you are doing to rob the GLBT community of the validation and recognition they so richly deserve.

Good luck with your fight. Looks like you are getting good advice and finding a good place to start.
Tim

[keltic63]

Tim,

I got inspired too! I left them the following note on their blog. Mine is in response to their Philadelphia blog entry.

Christine and Eleanor, it’s great to hear of couples like James and Rhonda who work hard at their marriage. It’s sad that so many other couples do not have that commitment. however, I don’t understand why you think that same-sex couples are unable to make the kind of commitment that James and Rhonda have made. There is no proof that Jimmy and Ronald, or Jane and Rhoda are incapable of sharing a strong loving commitment and raising children together.
I noticed that you depend on James Dobson’s information to support your idea that same-sex marriage will destroy heterosexual marriage. Did you also know that the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Counseling Association have all made statements denouncing Dobson’s theories? You might also note that Dobson funds biased research, then declares it to be independent, such as the case with NARTH. I do want you to know that I live in Pennsylvania, and I will be fighting any attempt to write discrimination into the state constitution. As a matter of fact, I’ve already been on the steps of the state capitol to protest! I’ll be there again if your endeavor gains any momentum.

my comment is awaiting moderation. we'll see if they approve it.

I also noticed that they've already been in my area. I wish I had known that! Judging on the town they were in (Latrobe) I'd say they were visiting the Catholic College that my son attends, St. Vincent College. Although, they talk about getting lost there. It's kind of hard to miss the Abbey that sits in the middle of the field, on top of the hill, and visible from the highway......

[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.

[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

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.

[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!!!!!!!!!!!!