Hey Folks,

The state legislature yesterday introduced a non-binding resolution supporting the repeal of Proposition 8 on the grounds that it was a revision of the state Constitution and not a simple amendment, similar to the basis for the current lawsuits under way. If passed, this will put the state’s lawmakers on record against Prop 8 and will be an important step in demonstrating widespread opposition to its recent passage.

You can read about it at SF Chronicle

SAVE THE DATE: Post-Election Debrief Part II – Monday, December 15^th, 2008

Our post-election debrief on Saturday, November 22^nd was a huge success. We had many new and old faces in attendance. Much of the discussion centered on how we could learn from the lessons of the recent campaign and devise new action plans to educate the API community on the importance of marriage equality. We are currently consolidating all the notes from our discussion and will be sending out a detailed summary next week. But, in the meanwhile, we wanted to notify you of a subsequent meeting planned for Monday, December 15^th to review our brainstorming from the first meeting and prioritize and finalize next steps. Your attendance at this meeting will be important in determining the future direction of API Equality.

Date:                December 15^th, 2008

Time:                7pm – 9pm

Location:          Community Room at Chinese for Affirmative Action.

17 Walter U Lum Place, San Francisco, CA

Light Dinner Provided

Agenda and notes will be send out next week prior to the meeting.

We know all of you are busy during this festive season but we hope that you will allocate some time to attend this important meeting.  Please RSVP to Amos at alim [at] caasf [dot] org and let us know if you need childcare to be provided.

After Prop 8:  Marriage Equality Community Forum

We also want to remind you that Marriage Equality is organizing a Community Forum tomorrow to discuss the next steps after Proposition 8.  We would encourage our members to attend and share your observation with the larger LGBT community.

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Milton Marks Auditorium, 455 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco

You can RSVP for the forum at http://activelyOUT.com/activeEvents/events/10534

GAPA Banquet

GAPA celebrates 20 years of A&PI LGBT History in the Bay Area with ‘Urban Jungle’, GAPA’s annual Banquet & Fundraiser on December 6^th, 2008 at the San Francisco Zoo at 7pm

API Equality, John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney are being honored by GAPA this year for their work on Marriage Equality & No on Prop 8 campaigns.  We would like to encourage members to attend the event and celebrate with GAPA on their 20th Anniversary.  Margaret Cho will be the keynote speaker and honorary guest.

Please contact Alex Baty at alex [at] gapa [dot] org to purchase your ticket to this event and support an important organization!

SAVE THE DATE: December 14, “What God Has Joined Together: Hope for All Families”

We would like to invite our members to join San Francisco + Oakland + Bay Area Faith Leaders for an evening of Healing, Affirmation & Hope for LGBT Families & Friends in the aftermath of the passage of Proposition 8

Come Join in an ecumenical celebration of LGBT families & learn about resources and organizations supporting and advocating for LGBT family needs

Date:                Sunday, December 14
Time:                4pm-7pm

Location:          Historic Sweets Ballroom
1933 Broadway Oakland

Spanish Translation will be available

Sponsors includes:

Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder
Presiding Prelate, The Fellowship
Senior Pastor, City of Refuge United Church of Christ

Rev. Darlene Garner
Vice – Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Elder, Southern Conference, MCC

Rev. Dr. G. Penny Nixon
Pastor, Congregational Church of San Mateo
United Church of Christ

Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls
Prelate, Southern Jurisdiction
Unity Fellowship Church Movement

Rev. Nancy Wilson
Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches

And Marriage For All
www.andmarriage4all.org

Freedom to Marry

Religion and Faith Program,
Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Amos Lim, 林明利, Community Organizer

Hey Folks,

Now that the election is over and the passage of Proposition 8 is sinking in, we want to let you know that we are not giving up the fight for marriage equality!

Despite last week’s loss, we have achieved great strides in the struggle for marriage equality.  We have made great inroads in building support in the API Community and have helped to amass a strong coalition of organizations and elected leaders who have stood out with us in the fight for full equality under the law.

It is time for us to regroup, evaluate our successes and challenges, and harness the energy and momentum amongst us to move strategically forward in this struggle.

To that end, we want to invite all members to join us for a API Equality Post Election Debrief.

Please RSVP to Tawal at Tawal [at] caasf [dot] org.

Other Upcoming Events include the following:

For a list of rallies around the nation, you can find them here:  http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

Show Your Support in AsianWeek

John and Belinda Dronkers-Lauretta of API Family Pride host a regular column in AsianWeek.com.  Their column last week, titled “After Proposition 8: The Path Forward” (http://www.asianweek.com/2008/11/06/lgbt-perspective-after-proposition-8/)  has attracted numerous comments on its page.  We are encouraging all members to read the article written by John and Belinda and offer your perspective on why you supported No on 8.

The defeat last week does not and will not stop us from moving forward to achieve marriage equality for all.  We will continue to fight for the day where every Californian is equal, where every person can marry the person of their choice!  Please make it a priority to attend our post-election debrief. In the interim, please come out to Saturday’s Rally against Prop 8 and show your support on AsianWeek.

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.

Find out more at www.LetCaliforniaRing.org.

Dear Friends,

There is no other way to say it.

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.

For Equality,

Tawal Panyacosit, Director
API Equality

Amos Lim, Community Organizer
API Equality

Dear Members:

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.

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.

We cannot let them succeed.

Let’s do this once and for all. Help us reach our goal of $3 million by Friday.

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.

I believe you care more. So what more are you going to do?

Call, write and talk to your friends and family. It’s vital you ask them to donate today!

Make another donation.

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.

I know we can succeed. We have to.

In solidarity,

Amos Lim, 林明利, Community Organizer

API Equality | www.apiequality.org

Dear Members:

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.

Please help us get this effective ad in front of the many voters who are still undecided on Proposition 8.

With just one week until Election Day we need your continued support to win. Donate now and get everyone you know to donate.  

The time is now. We can still buy ad time. It’s not too late. Please dig deeper and donate now.

In solidarity,

Amos Lim, 林明利, Community Organizer

API Equality | www.apiequality.org

Hey Folks,

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.

If you live in Northern California, please contact Maya Scott-Chung at maya [at] noonprop8 [dot] com work cell (510) 691-1641 or (510) 381-0876. If you live in Southern California, please contact Nick Antonopoulos nick [at] noonprop8 [dot] com (818)-468-5543 or Evan Horowitz evan [at] noonprop8 [dot] com cell: 650.823.9854

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

                17 Walter U. Lum Place

                San Francisco, CA 94108

Please RSVP to Amos Lim, alim [at] caasf [dot] org. If you live in Southern California and want to attend the Press Conference there, please contact Kathy Khommarath of API Equality-LA at kkhommarath [at] lagaycenter [dot] org, (t) 323.860.7348.

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. 

Cheers,

Amos Lim, Community Organizer 

Dear Members,

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.

For every dollar donated between now and Sunday at midnight your gift will be matched dollar for dollar.

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!

But they need to see and hear it.

This is a big, bold and generous challenge. It’s up to us to meet it.

In solidarity,

Amos Lim, 林明利, Community Organizer 

Dear Supporters and Members,

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!!!

Regards,

Amos Lim 

Please join API Equality and CAA on September 22^nd for a special screening of “Tongzhi In Love”, the new documentary by Academy Award Winner Ruby Yang. Come mix and mingle with staff and supporters at the El Rio Bar in the Mission and enjoy the documentary after sunset in the patio.

Click here for the Evite invitation.

This event will help us raise some much needed funds for API Equality to continue fighting to preserve the freedom to marry for all and raising awareness about LGBT Issues within the API Community. For more info, visit http://www.apiequality.org

In “Tongzhi in Love” (f.k.a. A Double Life), their latest and most lyrical film yet, the Oscar-winning team of director Ruby Yang and producer Thomas Lennon have captured an intimate, poignant portrait of three young men navigating the precarious dilemmas of living out and gay in modern China, torn between the lure of big city life and the powerful demands of generations of cultural tradition. Frog and his friends, Feng and Ze, live and work in cosmopolitan Beijing, reveling in a level of freedom that sophisticated urban life affords. Yet a Chinese son’s solemn duty is to produce a child and to carry forward his family’s line and name. Does their relative freedom and happiness come at the expense of their parents and centuries of cultural tradition? Can they live out and be happy and still be “good sons”? China’s laws limiting most families to a single child only compounds pressures on gay men, many of whom resort to sham marriages. – courtesy of Frameline

Fresh from its sold out West Coast premiere at the 2008 Frameline LGBT Film Festival, CAA and API Equality are excited to be able to hold another screening for our guests.

Date:                    Monday, September 22, 2008
Time:                   Doors open at 7pm, film screening starts at sunset
Location:             El Rio Bar – 3158 Mission St. (@ Cesar Chavez), San Francisco, CA 94110

Note: El Rio is a CASH ONLY bar.

Cost:                     Suggested donation of $25 to support API Equality.

Questions/RSVP:

Tawal Panyacosit, Jr.
Director, API Equality
tpanyacosit [at] caasf [dot] org
415.274.6760 ext 316

Host Committee Members:

Lenore Chinn

David Chiu

Cecilia Chung, Vice Chair, SF Human Rights Commission

Leo Chyi

Sandra Lee Fewer

Kevin M. Fong

Jane Kim, Commissioner, San Francisco Board of Education

Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis

Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA)

Robert Imada, Mr GAPA 2008

Emily Leung

Michael Lim

Eric Mar, Commissioner, SF Board of Education

National Center for Lesbian Rights

SFSU Cesar Chavez Institute’s Family Acceptance Project

Germaine Q Wong

Helen Zia & Lia Shigemura