Thursday, June 17, 2010

Via the Courage Campaign

Courage Campaign

Yes, that's essentially what Prop 8's lead attorney Charles Cooper claimed yesterday to Judge Vaughn Walker during yesterday's closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger -- the federal Prop 8 trial:

"The marital relationship is fundamental to the existence and survival of the race. Without the marital relationship, your honor, society would come to an end."

Unbelievable. Fortunately, Ted Olson, the legendary conservative attorney leading the case to overturn Prop 8, delivered an absolutely brilliant closing argument simultaneously destroying Cooper's case and moving many to tears.

As Ted Olson said yesterday, "if there was ever a trial in the history of our country that the American people should have seen, it was this one." That's why we need your help to get the truth out ASAP about the closing arguments in this historic trial through our Prop 8 Trial Tracker and "Testimony: Equality on Trial" campaign. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more before Friday's 11:59 p.m. deadline?:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker


Dear Daniel --


When I graduated from high school in East Tennessee more than three decades ago, I knew a few things for sure. One was that I cared deeply about social justice. Another was that I was a homosexual -- and desperately did not want to be.

More than 30 years later, I am live-blogging the closing arguments of the historic Prop 8 federal trial today from a courtroom in San Francisco -- a city that I had once been afraid to visit for fear that people might think I was gay.

I'm one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, many people still grappling with the ghosts and demons of self-loathing will not be able to see the trial for themselves. That's why -- when the U.S. Supreme Court banned cameras from the courtroom in January -- the Courage Campaign immediately launched into live coverage, blogging and analyzing every day of the trial for weeks.

More than 2 million views and 32,000 comments posted later, our Prop 8 Trial Tracker blog is relaunching today as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

I'm live-blogging the Prop 8 trial today because I know from personal experience that the testimony in this trial can literally change lives -- and transform America. With cameras once again being banned from the courtroom, we urgently need your support to relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more today to help us keep it going? DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker


We need to make the Prop 8 trial a part of America's heritage. The arguments being made by attorneys Ted Olson, David Boies and their colleagues at the American Foundation for Equal Rights are as foundational to our freedoms as the speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

That's why we launched Testimony: Equality on Trial, to enable Americans to reenact the trial and, soon, give their own personal testimony. Based on what I have witnessed and the reactions to our Prop 8 Trial Tracker, we knew that we had to create a long-term public engagement and education effort to get the story of this trial out to the American people.

Wednesday's closing arguments will again demonstrate the case for equality -- and the real reasons behind the opposition to equality. But it is just the start of what will be a long journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, where this case and our rights will ultimately be decided.

That's why we need your support urgently. Will you help us relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" today? Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now so we can bring this trial to the American people. DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker


Thank you for helping us tell the story of this trial so that we can shine a light on the bigotry that brought us to this point in our nation's history. We really can't do it without you.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign


Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. To get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

To get the truth out about the Prop 8 trial, please chip in what you can today:

Via JMG: NEW STUDY: All That Money Spent On Prop 8 Advertising Was For Nothing

According to a new study just released, those zillions of dollars spent by both sides during the 2008 Prop 8 advertising battle didn't actually change anybody's mind.
The warring sides in the 2008 battle over same-sex marriage in California may have spent a combined $83 million for nothing, according to an academic study released Tuesday. The study by Patrick Egan of New York University looked at polling on gay marriage and domestic partner elections in 33 states since 1998 and found that no minds were changed despite millions in spending, hard-hitting advertising such as the much-quoted "like it or not" TV spot with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and emotional pleas from both sides. By election day, voters who opposed same-sex marriage before the campaign still opposed it, and those who backed it continued to back it. "The study indicates that when all of this (campaigning) is over, the result is a wash," said Egan, who was joined by supporters of same-sex marriage at a news conference at San Francisco City Hall.
According to the above-linked story, the new study should serve as a warning to marriage proponents intent on putting the issue on the 2012 ballot. Equality California's Geoffrey Kors agrees that a majority support will be required before even considering the attempt: "We're not going in if the numbers don't make sense."

(Tipped by JMG reader Huntington)

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reposted from Joe

Tel Aviv Gay / Pride Parade 2010 - P.1 מצעד הגאווה 2010 בתל אביב

Parada gay 2010 São Paulo

Via SacBee: clic pic to follw SacBee Coverage

Via SacBee: Prop. 8 gay-marriage trial goes to judge in California

By Susan Ferriss

SAN FRANCISCO – The lead attorney defending Proposition 8 on the final day of a historic federal trial Wednesday said that gays have been subjected to a "shameful history" of discrimination but that voters had a right to limit them from marriage. - Read More

Via Bilerico: Why We Must Tell America the Truth About the Prop 8 Trial

Filed by: Cleve Jones

June 16, 2010 8:00 PM

In his most famous speech, my good friend Harvey Milk urged LGBT people to come out of the closet. "For invisible, we remain in limbo," he said.

Harvey knew that full equality would not become reality as long as the public was also shielded from the truth about who we are. The hollow arguments at the foundation of our institutionalized second class citizenship would never be challenged unless we embraced our identities publicly.

With closing arguments in the Prop. 8 trial this morning, Harvey Milk's words ring as true today as they did when they were first uttered in 1978. And all parties to the Prop. 8 trial know it.

Continue reading "Why We Must Tell America the Truth About the Prop 8 Trial" »