Dear supporter,

For the first time in California, there is a historic opportunity to elect an LGBT leader of the California Assembly. A member of our community and one of our brightest leaders, Assemblymember John A. Perez, is seeking to become the first openly gay Assembly Speaker.

Although the selection of a speaker is usually an internal matter, this year the race has become public in a way never seen before. Historically, once more than half of the Assembly members from the majority party, in this case the Democrats, announce their support for a candidate, the entire caucus typically coalesces behind that candidate and the vote for Speaker is held. Not this time.

We hope that this isn’t about sexual orientation, but it is always a concern when the rules seem to be applied differently to a member of our community.
                   
TAKE ACTION NOW to support a Speaker who will provide strong leadership and direction during this critical time. California and the LGBT community face so many challenges in the coming year, especially severe budget cuts imposed on healthcare and important HIV/AIDS services and the ongoing struggle for our equality.

http://bit.ly/eqcaAction
                   
Please take just a moment to email  and call your Assemblymember. Let them know that you support the election of Assemblymember John A. Perez as California’s next Assembly Speaker.

Email>> http://bit.ly/eqcaAction
Call>> http://bit.ly/6kTAUU
                   
Let's make sure we take advantage of this historic opportunity -- email and call now.
                                       
In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
                   
********************************                                                                                                                                                          
TODAY: Online Town Hall
Hear about EQCA's 2009 achievements and plans for 2010 and beyond. Give your input and get your questions answered.

Monday, December 7
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
             
Moderated by
Matthew S. Bajko
Assistant Editor, Bay Area Reporter 

******************************** 
Sample Email
                   
Subject: John A. Perez: Opportunity for Historic Speakership
                   
Dear Assemblymember (Name),
                   
For the first time in California history, there is an opportunity to elect an openly gay Speaker of the Assembly: John A. Perez.

With California and the LGBT community facing huge challenges, including the decimation of HIV/AIDS services by the Governor, this possibility fills our community with great hope. As the first LGBT Speaker in our state, Assemblymember John A. Perez would serve as an incredible role model to LGBT youth and for every single person in our community who has faced obstacles simply because of who they are.

In addition, Assemblymember Perez is the right person for the job. In his first year in the Assembly, he has demonstrated unique leadership skills and we have utmost confidence in his ability to bring both the people of our state and the members of the Assembly together to tackle the challenges ahead.

I understand that once a majority of the members of the party in power, in this case the Democrats, coalesce behind a candidate the matter is typically settled.  As Assemblymember Perez has more than a majority of the Democratic members, we urge you to follow precedent and unify behind him.

Please seize this historic opportunity and support Assemblymember John A. Perez for Speaker.

                   
Sincerely,
                   
(Your name)
(Your address)
              

                             
Dear supporter,

There is much to be thankful for this year. On New Year's Day, new legislation goes into effect which protects married same-sex couples regardless of where and when they were married, helps LGBT victims of domestic violence and officially establishes Harvey Milk Day.

Download EQCA's 2009 Legislative Scorecard to see how your representatives performed this year and to learn more about EQCA's legislation going into effect.
                   
English Version >> http://bit.ly/legscore
Versión en Español >> http://bit.ly/SPlegscore

This year, we made history. Through partnerships with terrific legislators, smart and strategic lobbying, grassroots support including the largest LGBT lobby day in state history, over 150,000 emails and petitions signed, more than 75,000 phone calls from our field offices, and visits to the members in their districts -- we advanced equality. Thank you for making our work possible.
                   
Despite a tough legislative session and the worst budget crisis in state history, EQCA helped pass a record 11 pieces of legislation that will improve the lives of LGBT Californians. Another six bills and resolutions passed their first house or key committee and will be taken up again when the Legislature reconvenes next month.
                   
Join us for an online town hall meeting this Monday, December 7 at 5 p.m. We'll discuss our achievements in 2009 and plans for 2010 and beyond, answer your questions and seek your input.

http://bit.ly/eqcalive

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

**************************************                                                    
Online Town Hall
**************************************                                                  
Hear about our 2009 achievements and plans for 2010 and beyond. Give your input and get your questions answered.
                                                       
Monday, December 7
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
                                                       
http://bit.ly/eqcalive

Featuring:
:: Geoff Kors, Executive Director
:: Alice Kessler, Government Affairs Director
:: Andrea Shorter, Deputy Marriage and Coalitions Director
:: Ilona Turner, Staff Attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights

Dear supporter,

We have much to be thankful for this year, including the historic signing into law of Harvey Milk Day. Yet, we all know that there is much work to be done until we achieve full equality.

What better way to celebrate the holidays than by making a gift to support equality?

Please give a special, year-end gift today to help EQCA continue to fight back against the right-wing and work for full equality for LGBT Californians.

http://bit.ly/loveknows
                   
And to show our thanks, EQCA will send you a limited edition "Love Knows No Boundaries" gift so you can demonstrate your support for the freedom to marry.

http://bit.ly/loveknows               
                                                               
Please, take a moment right now to send as generous a contribution as you can.
                   
Our love knows no boundaries.
                   
Thank you,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
                   
P.S. If you would like make a donation without recieving a gift to help reduce our costs, click here:

http://www.eqca.org/donate/myspace

Dear supporter,

Remember the uproar when former MISS CALIFORNIA USA Carrie Prejean said that she opposed marriage equality during the pageant? Rather than agree to EQCA's invitation to meet with us and an LGBT family, she used her 15 minutes of fame to become the spokesmodel for the right-wing National Organization for Marriage.

Now, the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant has offered EQCA and Ms. Prejean 30 seconds each during this Sunday's broadcast. We are showing an ad featuring Mary Kate, the teenage daughter of lesbian moms, who talks from the heart about her family and how discrimination in marriage hurts real people, including children.

Watch the ad on Sunday or watch it now, and make a donation so we can tell stories like this one to millions of Californans.

It's our stories that win hearts and change minds. Give today so Californians will hear our stories on the air and door to door.

We deeply appreciate the opportunity provided by MISS CALIFORNIA USA to show Californians how denying same-sex couples the right to marry affects real people.

All families deserve to be treated equally. Help us tell our stories.

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

                              
Dear supporters,

The only way we will achieve equality is if every LGBT Californian and all of our supporters vote in each and every election.

Next year's elections are crucial—they will determine if our movement is greatly hindered or greatly empowered.

Senators and Assemblymembers will vote on critical bills related to our equality. The Governor will decide which bills are enacted into law. And the budget battle will determine whether we are able to prevent further funding cuts for critical health and human services for our community.

The best way to make sure you NEVER miss an election? Apply to vote-by-mail.
http://bit.ly/votefromhome

No more trying to track down your polling place, waiting in line, or rushing to vote.
 

Here's how to apply:

1. Download, fill out and print this form from the Secretary of State. http://bit.ly/votefromhome

2. Be sure to check the box on the right "permanent vote by mail voter."  
       

3. Mail it to your county elections official. http://bit.ly/XOzBq      
            

4. Your ballot will be mailed to you before the next election. Fill it out and return it by mail, or drop it off at any polling place. 

With so much on the line next year—and every year—make sure your vote is counted.

Apply today!
                  

Warmly,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California Institute
              
_______________________________________              

Equality California Institute educates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies. Established in 2000, EQCAI organizes and empowers individuals, communities and allied groups to work proactively for fairness, equality and justice. 

Dear supporter,

It has been a tumultuous week since last Tuesday's elections. Maine voters stripped their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends and neighbors of the right to marry. Meanwhile, Kalamazoo residents voted to preserve anti-discrimination protections, and Washingtonians said "yes" to domestic partnerships. Now that the votes are in, it's time to reflect on what is next in the push for full equality.

So now what? What does the path forward look like?

1. Federal courts are considering a challenge to Prop. 8 on the grounds that it violates the United States Constitution. EQCA strongly supports this case and has filed a powerful brief urging the court to overturn Prop. 8. The Obama Administration needs to join the fight and stop the abhorrent abuse of the initiative process to eliminate the rights of any targeted minority. I strongly encourage you to sign our petition asking the Administration to file a brief in support of this case, and ask your friends and family to sign it, too.
http://bit.ly/EQCAsaysEnough

2. We must continue to come out and tell our stories to the people that matter. We need to gain support for marriage and that means talking to people who are not yet supportive. EQCA is going door to door with our coalition partners in neighborhoods across the state.

Join our next canvass or volunteer at one of our local field offices.
http://bit.ly/WinCA

3. We must stop endorsing and giving money to candidates for office who do not
support full and complete equality. Until the politicians who take our community for granted realize that they can no longer count on our votes unless we can count on theirs, they will not change. EQCA's Political Action Committee has always endorsed only those candidates who support our equality 100 percent. We must emphasize that there is no middle ground. Either you support equality or you don't.

4. We must also make clear that there is nothing wrong with children learning that there are LGBT people. Our children should grow up in a world where they know they are safe and can fall in love and get married regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That is why we worked so hard to pass a bill in California establishing Harvey Milk Day, and we will continue to work for an inclusive curriculum. Those who oppose marriage equality are using fear and children to scare people. By working to ensure an inclusive curriculum we can take this argument away from them.

While I remain sad and angry about what happened in Maine, the results in Washington and Kalamazoo and the election of LGBT candidates throughout our nation demonstrate the progress we have made. Add these victories to the passage of federal hate crimes legislation, the signing of the Harvey Milk Day bill, marriage victories in Vermont and Iowa and the many other gains our community has made this year alone, and there is much reason for hope.

We are making tremendous progress, and while there will continue to be setbacks along the way, we will prevail.

With hope,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

Dear supporter,

President Obama has said he is opposed to discriminatory ballot measures. It's time for him to do something to stop them.

The President can do something today to prevent future ballot measures designed to take away LGBT rights by asking the federal court to rule that Proposition 8 and similar measures violate the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Join the more than 17,000 people who are already demanding that President Obama and Attorney General Holder act now. And if you have taken action, please forward this to everyone you know.

If we can just get the President to act, we can help to ensure that what happened in Maine and California never happens again.

If politicians want our support, then they must speak out and act when the rights of any minority are threatened.

Urge President Obama to have a brief filed in the federal Prop. 8 court challenge, arguing that no minority should ever have their rights taken away at the ballot box.

The case is set to be heard in U.S. District Court in early January - so please act now.

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

P.S. With emotions still raw from Tuesday, we need to make sure we turn our anger into action. Pledge to volunteer. We need help calling to get our supporters involved, office help, and people to join us in going door to door to talk directly with those who are not yet on our side.

Volunteer >
http://bit.ly/Volunteer4eqca

Dear supporter,

Maine voters have stripped away the right of same-sex couples to marry, as California voters did one year ago today.

But we didn't stop advancing our rights then. And we won't now. We always knew winning true equality and acceptance wouldn't be easy.

The truth is, people's lives should never be put up for a popular vote. Civil rights for minority groups should be decided by the sound reason of the legislature and the courts — not by the will and whims of the majority.

Enough is enough. President Obama and other elected officials cannot be allowed to remain on the sidelines any longer. And if they do, there must be consequences.

Urge President Obama to join EQCA and others by filing a brief in the federal court challenge to Prop 8, and ask the court to rule that it is unconstitutional to allow a majority to take away the rights of a minority.

The President has, at best, remained a silent player against marriage for same-sex couples.

:: The day before the election, Organizing for America — formerly Obama for America, and a part of the DNC — sent out an email to its members in Maine urging them to volunteer for the election in New Jersey instead of helping defeat Question 1.       
                

:: Despite pleas to speak out aggressively, Obama and his administration failed to take leadership, and his Attorney General refused to take a position on Question 1.       
                

:: His opposition to ending discrimination in marriage was used by anti-equality extremists in California and other states, yet he refused to denounce their actions.       
                                

The failure of President Obama and other elected leaders to actively support efforts to defeat ballot measures designed to take away our rights must end. Our community must stand together and stop endorsing and funding candidates who don't support our equality 100%. We should only stand with those who do.

Sign our petition to President Obama and his administration. Urge him to join the federal legal challenge to Prop 8. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

With hope,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

Join us!

SAN DIEGO: 301 University Ave., San Diego, 92103, 2:30 PM- 5 PM
ORANGE COUNTY: 1700 E. Garry Ave, Ste. 231, Santa Ana, CA 92701, 10 AM-4:30 PM
PALM SPRINGS: 314 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 92261, 1 PM- 5 PM
INLAND EMPIRE: 1410 3rd Street, Ste. 7, Riverside, 92507, 1 PM-7 PM
LOS ANGELES: 2801 Hyperion Ave., Ste. 103, Los Angeles 90027, 10:30 AM- 5:30 PM
HOLLYWOOD: 1125 N McCadden Pl., Los Angeles, 90038, 10:30 AM- 5 PM
FRESNO: 1055 N. Van Ness Ave., Ste. C, Fresno, 93728, 7 AM- 5 PM
SAN JOSE: 19 N. 2nd Street, Ste. 102, San Jose, 95113, 11 AM- 9 PM
SAN FRANCISCO: ACLU Office, 39 Drumm St, San Francisco, 94114, 7 AM-7:30 PM 
BERKELEY: 1528 Hopkins St., Berkeley, CA 94703, 7 AM-7:30 PM
SACRAMENTO: 1722 J St., 2nd Floor Unit 9, Sacramento, CA 95814, 10 AM-5 PM

Dear supporter,
 
A year ago we were one week away from an election where our right to marry was ripped away by California voters after a campaign led by the out-of-state group National Organization for Marriage. We were outspent until the final days, and their church networks poured in millions of dollars and thousands of ground troops.

Although we fought hard and came significantly closer than any state has come to defeating an anti-marriage amendment, we fell heartbreakingly short.
 
One week from today we can prove that we can win at the ballot box with victories in Maine on marriage and in Washington on domestic partnerships.

Our side has learned from each campaign we have fought around the country including Prop. 8, and we are now in the position to win. Let's make sure we do everything we can do achieve victory!

Sign up to call Maine and Washington voters >
http://bit.ly/Volunteer4eqca

After Prop. 8 passed many people expressed that they regretted they didn't do more.

Let's make sure we have no regrets and do everything we can. If we do, victory will be ours.

Why?

:: Because for the first time in history supporters of equality have significantly outspent the opposition.                        

:: Because the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign has been on the ground identifying voters for close to a year with a field effort to scale for their state.                        

:: Because national and state groups around the country are making these fights their top priority.                        

:: Because LGBT individuals and families headed by same-sex couples are sharing their stories and telling their friends, neighbors and co-workers why marriage equality is so important.

I want to thank each of you who has joined EQCA in donating to the campaign, in joining our Field Director Amy Mello, 10 other EQCA staff and countless volunteers who joined the effort on the ground in Maine and in making the more than 30,000 phone calls to Maine and Washington voters from our field offices around the state. You are making the difference.
 

But we can't stop now. We know it will be close. Please volunteer and help do your part — our part — to ensure victory.
 

This is your last chance to make an impact.
http://bit.ly/Volunteer4eqca

Our nine field offices around the state are running phone banks with our coalition partners every day until Election Day.
 

Fresno http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/cv
Los Angeles http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/la
Palm Springs http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/ps
Riverside http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/ie
Sacramento http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/sac
San Diego http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/sd
San Francisco Bay Area http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/ba 
Santa Ana http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/oc
San Jose http://www.eqca.org/volunteer/sv
                                                                                         
Sign up to volunteer at one of our phone banks. >
http://bit.ly/Volunteer4eqca

If you can't make it out, you can also sign up to phone from home for Maine and for Washington.

Don't let this opportunity to win a marriage battle go by without playing your role. Sign
up to volunteer right now.

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

                   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PS -- Keep the Faith for Equality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                     
On Sunday, November 2, local leaders, secular supporters, people of faith and clergy from our various organizations are helping organize this partnership between LGBT activists and LGBT-inclusive communities of faith.

Find an event near you >
http://equalityevents.ning.com/