Every day gay and lesbian Californians are denied the freedom to marry the person they love. Let California Ring is a public education campaign to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry and the respect, support, protections, and responsibilities that come with marriage.
Comprising a coalition of more than 45 diverse local, state, and national organizations, including API Equality, Let California Ring is a project of Equality California Institute. It will forever change the way Californians feel about LGBT people and the freedom to marry.
Sadly, fueled by misinformation, distortions and lies, millions of voters went to the polls yesterday and said YES to bigotry, YES to discrimination, YES to second-class status for same-sex couples.
And while the election was close, and millions of votes still remain uncounted, it has become apparent that we lost.
Take a moment, take a day, take the time to grieve this loss. But, do not doubt, this fight is far from over.
Particularly in the API community where we have seen tensions rise and tempers flare, where over the years thousands of APIs have fallen prey to the distortions and lies of the opposition to rally against their
LGBT brothers and sisters, where the ethnic media has shirked its responsibility to objectivity, we have nevertheless achieved great strides.
During this campaign, with our partner API Equality – LA, we secured the endorsements of the vast majority of API community-based, civil rights, and legal organizations across the state and just about every statewide API elected official. But, we must continue to do this work. We must continue building bridges across our community and in coalition with other communities of color, we must continue sharing
our stories with each other and the world, and we must continue building this progressive and fair-minded movement that will one day lead us to full equality under the law.
Through all the trials and tribulations these long months and years leading up to this Election, we have persevered in the face of misinformation, unfounded allegations, and outright lies. And we are
stronger for it.
Remember how 8 years ago, we lost Prop 22 by a 23% majority. But, in that time, we were able to change the hearts and minds of millions, reaching a fifth of the electorate. Time is on our side.
Remember how just 4 weeks ago, we were down 10 million dollars in fundraising and down seven points in the polls. But, we did not give in or give up. Indeed, we have achieved what no other campaign of this
kind has ever achieved, raising more funds than any ballot measure campaign in history, mobilizing more volunteers to the field than ever before.
It is this indomitability, this faith in our selves, our friends, families, and allies that we will need to rely upon in the coming weeks, months, and years.
To all the couples who forsook their wedding celebrations and honeymoons to help raise funds for the campaign, to the many mothers and fathers who took those first steps out of their comfort zone to
stand by their children and take a stand for fairness and equality, and to the thousands of individuals who worked tirelessly night and day to heighten visibility and speak one-on-one with voters about the
true nature of discrimination, your work was not in vain. We will build upon this important foundation.
While victory is not ours today, we will emerge victorious in the end.
Beginning last night and continuing this morning a coordinated cyber attack on the No on Prop 8 website prevented some donors from being able to contribute.This attack is being investigated by federal authorities.Fortunately, there was no breach in security and we are again able to accept contributions online.
We Are Under Attack!
We have successfully thwarted a coordinated cyber attack on the No on Prop 8 website.
Fortunately, there was no breach in security and we are again able to accept contributions online.
As if that attack isn’t outrageous enough, at a recent Prop 8 rally an official campaign spokesman actually compared the right of same-sex couples to marry to the rise of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany. Watch the video.
This insanity needs to stop. Prop 8 needs to be defeated. It’s wrong. It’s unfair.The people supporting it are fanatical, intolerant and willing to do and say anything to eliminate our rights.Period.
We cannot let them succeed. Help us reach our goal of $3 million by Friday.
Beginning last night and continuing this morning a coordinated cyber attack on the No on Prop 8 website prevented some donors from being able to contribute.This attack is being investigated by federal authorities.Fortunately, there was no breach in security and we are again able to accept contributions online.
As if that attack isn’t outrageous enough, at a recent Prop 8 rally an official campaign spokesman actually compared the right of same-sex couples to marry to the rise of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany. Watch the video.
This insanity needs to stop. Prop 8 needs to be defeated. It’s wrong. It’s unfair.The people supporting it are fanatical, intolerant and willing to do and say anything to eliminate our rights.Period.
Tony Perkins, national crusader in the effort to eliminate the right to marry, has said the battle to pass Prop 8 is more important than the presidential election.The result is that they have raised $4.5 million in the last two days and purchased another $2 million in advertising.
That’s how critical this fight is to the other side.That’s how much they care.
We cannot allow this cyber attack prevent us from having the resources necessary to get our message on the air – especially when the other side is buying $2 million in ads a day.Please, donate now.
Today, we released a powerful new ad featuring U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
It will be on the air statewide tonight.
Senator Feinstein talks directly to voters about what Prop 8 really is — discrimination.
Looking straight at the camera, she says:
“Proposition 8 would be a terrible mistake for California. It’s about discrimination and we must always say NO to that.”
Senator Feinstein is a trusted and respected voice that will resonate with voters. She joins the chorus of leaders across California who are calling on voters to reject this unfair initiative.
It is easy. It is free. And it is crucial to help stop this initiative.
Choose a message that works for you—if prop 8 would directly take away your rights or the rights of someone you care about—or if you just want to make sure that no Californian loses her or his rights.
Once you’ve emailed your network and started this important conversation, there is always more you can do. We still need to raise more money so our message can reach undecided voters and we need more volunteers across the state as we approach Election Day and ramp up our get out the vote activities.
To win on November 4, everyone needs to know that Prop 8 is a bad idea. Thank you in advance for helping spread the word.
Warmly,
Amos Lim, 林明利
P.S. Thank you! We were able to meet the $1 million challenge from philanthropist Steve Bing and Equality California.
Here are 8 simple things that you could do to help us Defeat Proposition 8!
1. ORGANIZE a house party and invite your friends. House parties are critical for supporting the campaign’s strategy to win, as they raise money, recruit volunteers, and broaden awareness.
Hosting a house party is easy to do; you can hold one at your place of worship during coffee hour, at work during lunch hour, or at an organizational meeting. We have a short inspirational DVD you can play that describes the campaign and how everyone can make a difference to defeat Prop 8. At the end of the video, you or someone from your group would make a pitch for donations and volunteers.
2. JOIN our 888 Campaign against Proposition 8. We want to identify 888 new supporters with your help. Send to your friends and families across the state. We will continue to send you updates and action alerts about activities that will be happening over the course of the next 19 days to defeat Proposition 8
3. TURNOUT for our Statewide Coordinated “API Community against Prop 8” Press Conference next Thursday where Elected API Leaders, Community Leaders, LGBT Couples will stand up and oppose Prop 8. Now more than ever, we need your presence to show the world that the API Community supports Equality for All and opposes Prop 8.
When: Thursday, October 23rd at 9:30AM
Where: Community Room of Chinese for Affirmative Action
4. SPEAK OUT. We need both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers to attend the opposition’s upcoming rally in Cupertino this Sunday from 3:00PM – 5:00PM at Veteran’s Memorial Park (21267 Steven’s Creek Blvd). Please respond to Tawal Panyacosit, Tawal [at] caasf [dot] org, if you can help!
5. PHONEBANK with your friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. We have phonebanks across the state and all over the bay. Phonebanks help us both build our volunteer network by signing-up volunteers for upcoming actions and build our voterbase by helping us identify new No on Prop 8 voters. For more information, please contact Jay Lee at jay [at] noonprop8 [dot] com.
6. EDUCATE and continue to speak with your families, friends and colleagues about why they need to Vote No on Prop 8. We have now handouts available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Spanish that can be easily downloaded and printed. Use the handouts to talk to them and explain why it is important for them to Vote No on Prop 8.
7.DONATE – all this work that we are doing is only effective if we could get it out to the media. The No on Prop 8 has a matching fund campaign going on right now that will match your donation dollar for dollar from now till Sunday at midnight.
8. REGISTER to vote! The last day to register to vote in California is Monday, October 20th. Please make sure all your friends, families and colleagues is registered to vote and are Voting No on Prop 8.
Our new television ad — it’s tough, it’s strong, and it resonates. More importantly, it works.
But only if we can saturate media markets across the state.
And now we have a way to make that happen. Thanks to philanthropist Steve Bing and Equality California, we can flood the airwaves with our message.
They are so convinced of the power of our hard-hitting, new message that they are offering a ONE MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE GRANT to reach California’s undecided voters.
So, double the impact of your donation and give now.
It’s going to take everyone we know to meet this challenge! Ask your friends and family to go to www.NoOnProp8.com/challenge so we can meet our goal of $1 million by the deadline on Sunday.
Our ad gives voice to the broad coalition of organizations and newspapers that oppose Prop. 8 – from the Los Angeles Times and La Opinión to the League of Women Voters, the California Nurses Association and the California Teachers Association.
Voters need to know that these organizations – and many more – stand with them in support of equality!
Thank you to all the organizations and their members who came out to join our Truth Squad in Chinatown yesterday.
Four years ago, anti-gay extremists mobilized scores of conservative Chinese Christians to the streets in San Francisco. Back then, we were unprepared and the story was “Chinese Americans Oppose Same-Sex Marriage.” However, this time around, we were prepared. After four years, we now have a statewide organization and two on-the-ground coalitions working full-time to educate the API community on marriage equality and LGBT acceptance and inclusion. This time around, we were able to counter the lies and the misinformation.
While our opposition may have outnumbered us, we had over 50 people come out on our side to make signs, speak with the press, and share their personal stories. Because of everyone who came out, we were able to speak with every press outlet present at the event and ensure that the coverage was fair, balanced, and truthful!
Thanks goes to the following organizations and individuals who took time off their busy schedules with little notice to come out and speak out against Proposition 8:
Rev Israel Alvaran
Ms Sandra Fewer
Mr Steve Ngo
Brent Lok and Wade French
Frances Lok (Brent’s mom)
Vincent Pan
Ms Paulie Shreck, COLAGE
Rev Michael Yoshii
GAPA
APIWTC
NRJ-LGBT-API
Out4Immigration
UCSF
Pine United Methodist Church
Buena Vista United Methodist Church
API Equality
But, we still have 22 more days until Election day and to win we will need your continued support.
Some of you may have heard about another upcoming rally in Cupertino next Sunday. Yes, the rumor is true. This past Sunday’s rally was really just a warm-up to next Sunday’s rally in Cupertino. Please stay tuned for updates.
In the meanwhile, the most important action you can take today is to donate to the No on 8 Campaign to ensure we have the resources to match our opposition on the air, commercial for commercial in market for market. Please take a few moments and give whatever amount equality is worth to you. You can donate directly to the campaign by clicking here.
Thank you again for coming out – this would not have been possible without your help!!!
The opposition has raised over $25 million to “swiftboat” and smear us with television ads that tell lies — that we are attacking children and churches.
Only 30,000 people from the tens of millions of LGBT people and hundreds of millions of allies in this country have donated to protect our equality. That is not acceptable. We need anybody and everybody to do what they can. Please donate today!
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Director of API Equality and provide an update of our activities. I have engaged in this work in communities as far ranging as Boston and Cincinnati to places closer like Portland and Los Angeles, but to participate in what may be the historic struggle of our era in the city and state where I grew up is truly a homecoming.
As you may know, the fight for marriage equality is at a crucial juncture in California. The struggle for LGBT acceptance has spanned across the nation, over state borders, throughout corridors of government, and has landed now in a proverbial firestorm at our feet. For Asian Pacific Islanders (API), this is a struggle with which we have been and continue to wrestle. Just four years ago, nearly 10,000 APIs rallied across the state in San Francisco and the San Gabriel Valley of L.A. County. And, just four years ago, API Equality was founded. Since then, API Equality has and continues to play a lead role in the efforts to open the hearts and minds of Californians with a particular emphasis in API communities.
With all that hard work, we NOW have marriage! But, the battle is by no means over. An amendment to ban same-sex marriage is slated for the November 2008 ballot. And, the opposition is at it again. WeÆve recently heard wind of API religious extremists planning a repeat performance of the 2004 rallies in the coming months. We desperately need to educate our fellow APIs and take a stand for justice and equality.
With a seat on the Executive Committee of Equality for All, the statewide campaign to win marriage rights, and my recent election as co-chair of the San Francisco No on 8 Local Action Committee, API Equality is well-place to continue this work. However, regardless of the outcome on Election Day, we must remain vigilant. Throughout the years, the targeting of the API community and proliferation of discriminatory ballot measures in California virtually guarantees that our community will soon face more onslaughts on the right to marry for the foreseeable future.
Please join us by pledging to vote No on Prop. 8, volunteering with us, or hosting a house party to educate your friends and family and raise important funds for the battle ahead!
