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City Organizers, please put contact info in the JTI database

Keep Informed! Keep Involved!

Join the "Join The Impact - Napa County" Facebook group here

Support the November 2010 Gubernatorial Election ballot initiative -
the California Marriage Equality Act

PROPONENT of ballot initiative:
ORGANIZER info, time, and location:
EVENT details:
Proponent of ballot initiative: Charles Lowe

Office phone number: 1-800-778-2998

Official website: http://www.yesonequality.com/

Official Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48303085809

Secretary of State website (ballot initiative page): http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm

Learn more about the California Marriage Equality Act (.pdf file).
Host of this rally/protest:

Time of rally/protest:

Location of rally/protest (include Google map):

Contact info:
Facebook group (or website)-
Host's phone/email-

Invite as many people as you can.
Bring homemade protest signs and accessories. Buy products (yard signs, bumper stickers, banners, etc.) and donate to the 'California Marriage Equality Act' ballot campaign.
Have refreshments: Bottled water, snacks, etc.

Remember: Please be respectful and civil with people who may disagree with you. Have police authorities with you during the protest/rally. This is to help keep civility and stability. California has a huge diverse population and its up to this ballot initiative campaign to reach out and speak up for the Golden State's diversity.

What can you do to support marriage equality NOW? Speak to at least three people you know whether it be a friend, relative, or acquaintance from California. Keep up the conversation for months and don't give up.

Please note that this event is just a plan. Grassroots protests and rallies won't begin probably until the start of the 2010 Gubernatorial Election, which is next year.
But it never hurts to start grassroots conversations NOW and begin gathering supporters when the event comes. Take care!
~ADD YOUR UPDATES!
LETS PUT THE FACES OF THE REAL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE 'CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE EQUALITY ACT', please watch these two videos. Meet some of my favorite same-sex couples, who are both my friends and my heroes, and see their families---(courtesy of http://www.gettoknowusfirst.org/ )
Meet the Leffew Family!
Meet Xavier and Michael!

Keep Informed! Keep Involved! Join the "Join The Impact - Napa County" Facebook group here

Support the November 2010 Gubernatorial Election ballot initiative - the California Marriage Equality Act
PROPONENT of ballot initiative:	ORGANIZER info, time, and location:	EVENT details:
Proponent of ballot initiative: Charles Lowe Office phone number: 1-800-778-2998 Official website: http://www.yesonequality.com/ Official Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48303085809 Secretary of State website (ballot initiative page): http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm Learn more about the California Marriage Equality Act (.pdf file).	Host of this rally/protest: Time of rally/protest: Location of rally/protest (include Google map): Contact info: Facebook group (or website)- Host's phone/email- Invite as many people as you can. Bring homemade protest signs and accessories. Buy products (yard signs, bumper stickers, banners, etc.) and donate to the 'California Marriage Equality Act' ballot campaign. Have refreshments: Bottled water, snacks, etc. Remember: Please be respectful and civil with people who may disagree with you. Have police authorities with you during the protest/rally. This is to help keep civility and stability.	California has a huge diverse population and its up to this ballot initiative campaign to reach out and speak up for the Golden State's diversity. What can you do to support marriage equality NOW? Speak to at least three people you know whether it be a friend, relative, or acquaintance from California. Keep up the conversation for months and don't give up. Please note that this event is just a plan. Grassroots protests and rallies won't begin probably until the start of the 2010 Gubernatorial Election, which is next year. But it never hurts to start grassroots conversations NOW and begin gathering supporters when the event comes. Take care! ~ADD YOUR UPDATES!

Meet the Leffew Family!	Meet Xavier and Michael!

UP-COMING and ON-GOING EVENTS

UP-COMING and ON-GOING EVENTS

"Day of Decision" Rally As you know, the Supreme Court’s decision on the validity of Proposition 8 and more than 18,000 same-sex marriages is expected any day. Once the decision is announced, it will be either celebrated or protested across our state, and indeed, the Nation. After the March 5th oral arguments before the Supreme Court, many of us were disheartened and began to expect the worst. But there is room to hope! (See below for more on that!) As we await the Supreme Court’s decision, planning is currently underway for “Day of Decision – Napa Valley” – a rally that will take place at Veterans Park in Napa starting at 5:30 pm on the day the ruling is announced, regardless of the outcome. Specific details will be announced once we know the date of the announcement. There are a number of ways you can help NOW: Make a commitment to attend the event and spread the word to everyone you know! It’s easy, just forward this email to as many people as possible with a personal invitation from YOU to come out and join with the community. Whether we are celebrating a positive decision or processing a supreme injustice, the sense of community – LGBT… straight… anyone who believes in equality – will be important and powerful! Keep informed and get involved! The Court will give us 24 hours notice before they release their decision. We’ll get the word out in a number of ways: · E-mail: Keep informed and find out how you can help further the cause of equality in the Napa Valley by signing up for e-mail alerts from the Napa Valley Equality Coalition – just send an email to info@napavalleyequality.com. · Facebook: Join the Napa Valley Equality Coalition Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=93947363752. We’ll keep everyone up-to-date through messages and Facebook events. · Twitter: Follow the cause 140 characters at a time. Follow us at http://twitter.com/nvequality Help us reach any same-sex couples who were married during the all-too-brief period of freedom! Any same-sex couples who were married between June 15th and November 4th are asked to contact us and let us know if you will attend the event. Please email deb@debstallings.com and let us know your intentions. Bring VISUAL symbols! Everyone is asked to bring visual symbols of what the decision means to you. Here are just a couple of ideas. Be creative and let your message be personal. If the decision is in favor of marriage equality: · Wear bright, happy colors! · Bring large format pictures from same-sex weddings, or pictures showing happy couples and families. · Make signs thanking the Supreme Court for letting Love Reign Supreme in CA! If the decision is NOT in favor of marriage equality: · Wear all black to the rally · Bring large format copies of your marriage certificate - with a hole in it. · Bring signs that show your sadness and/or anger · Bring Candles of Hope to light Post this video to your profile on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoGAxBQgDKM Like we said, there is hope for a just and joyous decision! The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is lead council on the Proposition 8 legal challenge. Kate Kendell, the Executive Director of the NCLR said this on her blog on May 1, 2009: “With its groundbreaking marriage decision a year ago, the California Supreme Court set us on a path that — despite some setbacks — has led to one marriage victory a week in the past month: A first-ever unanimous state supreme court ruling in Iowa; a huge victory in Vermont, where there was strong enough support for marriage equality to override their Governor’s veto; and tremendous movement in the legislatures of New Hampshire and Maine, with similar progress likely in the months ahead in New York and New Jersey. The result has been a profound sea change in public opinion, including my own view of what the next month will bring here in California. . . . . . I have always believed the California Supreme Court should strike down Prop 8 because the law is so overwhelmingly on our side. But I feared that other factors might result in an adverse decision. That fear has now been replaced by hope as courts and legislatures — as well as public opinion — have moved sharply in our direction. The Court can cement its legacy by overturning Prop 8 and upholding our Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Or it can cause untold pain and hardship to our community and forever undermine the independence of the judiciary and the historic role of the courts in protecting minority rights. I now believe the Court will do the right thing.” REMEMBER – no matter the decision, be with us – your civil rights matter and the world needs to hear what you have to say! The following organizations support Day of Decision – Napa Valley Napa Valley Equality Coalition Napa Valley Unity League PFLAG - North Bay Human Rights Campaign Join the Impact Marriage Equality USA

"Day of Decision" Rally
As you know, the Supreme Court’s decision on the validity of Proposition 8 and more than 18,000 same-sex marriages is expected any day. Once the decision is announced, it will be either celebrated or protested across our state, and indeed, the Nation. After the March 5th oral arguments before the Supreme Court, many of us were disheartened and began to expect the worst. But there is room to hope! (See below for more on that!)

As we await the Supreme Court’s decision, planning is currently underway for “Day of Decision – Napa Valley” – a rally that will take place at Veterans Park in Napa starting at 5:30 pm on the day the ruling is announced, regardless of the outcome. Specific details will be announced once we know the date of the announcement. There are a number of ways you can help NOW:

Make a commitment to attend the event and spread the word to everyone you know! It’s easy, just forward this email to as many people as possible with a personal invitation from YOU to come out and join with the community. Whether we are celebrating a positive decision or processing a supreme injustice, the sense of community – LGBT… straight… anyone who believes in equality – will be important and powerful!
Keep informed and get involved! The Court will give us 24 hours notice before they release their decision. We’ll get the word out in a number of ways:

· E-mail: Keep informed and find out how you can help further the cause of equality in the Napa Valley by signing up for e-mail alerts from the Napa Valley Equality Coalition – just send an email to info@napavalleyequality.com.
· Facebook: Join the Napa Valley Equality Coalition Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=93947363752. We’ll keep everyone up-to-date through messages and Facebook events.
· Twitter: Follow the cause 140 characters at a time. Follow us at http://twitter.com/nvequality

Help us reach any same-sex couples who were married during the all-too-brief period of freedom! Any same-sex couples who were married between June 15th and November 4th are asked to contact us and let us know if you will attend the event. Please email deb@debstallings.com and let us know your intentions.
Bring VISUAL symbols! Everyone is asked to bring visual symbols of what the decision means to you. Here are just a couple of ideas. Be creative and let your message be personal.

If the decision is in favor of marriage equality:

· Wear bright, happy colors!
· Bring large format pictures from same-sex weddings, or pictures showing happy couples and families.
· Make signs thanking the Supreme Court for letting Love Reign Supreme in CA!

If the decision is NOT in favor of marriage equality:

· Wear all black to the rally
· Bring large format copies of your marriage certificate - with a hole in it.
· Bring signs that show your sadness and/or anger
· Bring Candles of Hope to light

Post this video to your profile on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoGAxBQgDKM

Like we said, there is hope for a just and joyous decision!

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is lead council on the Proposition 8 legal challenge. Kate Kendell, the Executive Director of the NCLR said this on her blog on May 1, 2009:

“With its groundbreaking marriage decision a year ago, the California Supreme Court set us on a path that — despite some setbacks — has led to one marriage victory a week in the past month: A first-ever unanimous state supreme court ruling in Iowa; a huge victory in Vermont, where there was strong enough support for marriage equality to override their Governor’s veto; and tremendous movement in the legislatures of New Hampshire and Maine, with similar progress likely in the months ahead in New York and New Jersey. The result has been a profound sea change in public opinion, including my own view of what the next month will bring here in California. . .

. . . I have always believed the California Supreme Court should strike down Prop 8 because the law is so overwhelmingly on our side. But I feared that other factors might result in an adverse decision. That fear has now been replaced by hope as courts and legislatures — as well as public opinion — have moved sharply in our direction. The Court can cement its legacy by overturning Prop 8 and upholding our Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Or it can cause untold pain and hardship to our community and forever undermine the independence of the judiciary and the historic role of the courts in protecting minority rights.

I now believe the Court will do the right thing.”

REMEMBER – no matter the decision, be with us – your civil rights matter and the world needs to hear what you have to say!

The following organizations support Day of Decision – Napa Valley

NOW Read and Distribute the "Open Letter to Napa Business Owners." If you're a Napa business owner, list your business on the Napa Valley Equality Coalition website. Here's the letter: Napa Valley Equality Coalition Equality Means Business! Dear Business Owner: On March 17th Napa’s City Council refused to vote on the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution that stated: “The City does not support discrimination and finds that all people regardless of gender should be able to enter into the legal contract of marriage and receive the same social and legal benefits and recognition as conferred by the State of California.” News of the City Council’s actions spread quickly, and prompted a Modesto couple to write City Council to say they’d planned to visit Napa on an upcoming weekend, but felt that Council’s actions sent a message that Napa doesn’t welcome LGBT and have cancelled their trip. Councilmember Inman replied to the email with a curt, “I hope you find someplace suitable.” On March 21, this story was front-page news in the San Francisco Chronicle and public reaction has been swift and strong. City Council and local businesses have been swamped with emails from visitors from all over the country as well as international tourists who say they have cancelled plans to visit Napa and are encouraging their friends to do the same. We don’t want Napa businesses to lose ONE DOLLAR because of the City Council’s short-sightedness. We are taking action NOW to ensure that not one potential visitor to Napa takes their business elsewhere. We need to let potential visitors know: Napa businesses welcome ALL visitors! Napans support EQUALITY and voted 57% against Prop.8, which took away same sex couple’s rights to marry. Napa residents and business owners will hold their City Council responsible for their actions and urge them to pass the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution! Send the RIGHT message about Napa and your business! 1) To have your business listed on Napa Valley Equality Coalition’s (NVEC) website as a business that SUPPORTS EQUALITY and welcomes all visitors, go to: www.napavalleyequality.com NVEC’S website will be linked via as many progressive, LGBT and travel websites as possible. This way progressive, pro-equality customers will know how to find your business. 2) Ask other PRO-EQUALITY business owners to join us in saying to travelers that regardless of the City Council’s actions and subsequent unfriendly comments, the residents and businesses of Napa WELCOME you! 3) Contact City Council to urge them to pass the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution! Mayor Jill Techel - at 707.258.7876 or jtechel@cityofnapa.org Juliana Inman at 707.258.7876 or jinman@cityofnapa.org James Krider at 707.258.7876 or jkrider@cityofnapa.org Peter Mott at 707.258.7876 or pmott@cityofnapa.org Mark van Gorder at 707.258.7876 or mvangorder@cityofnapa.org (Mark proposed and supported the resolution) For more information contact: info@napavalleyequality.com A copy of the Open Letter in MS:Word format can be found at the bottom of this page in the attachment section.
NOW - Wear the "White Knot" (http://www.whiteknot.org/)
NOW - "Try to engage in one respectful conversation a day in which you can plant the seed of change in an individual who is not like-minded. We have to respect every one’s rights to believe what they wish, but we can work towards asking that they keep their beliefs from infringing upon our lives." From Join The Impact http://jointheimpact.com/2008/11/what-happens-next/
More events coming soon

NOW
Read and Distribute the "Open Letter to Napa Business Owners." If you're a Napa business owner, list your business on the Napa Valley Equality Coalition website.

Here's the letter:

Napa Valley Equality Coalition

Equality Means Business!

Dear Business Owner:
On March 17th Napa’s City Council refused to vote on the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution that stated:

“The City does not support discrimination and finds that all people regardless of gender should be able to enter into the legal contract of marriage and receive the same social and legal benefits and recognition as conferred by the State of California.”

News of the City Council’s actions spread quickly, and prompted a Modesto couple to write City Council to say they’d planned to visit Napa on an upcoming weekend, but felt that Council’s actions sent a message that Napa doesn’t welcome LGBT and have cancelled their trip. Councilmember Inman replied to the email with a curt, “I hope you find someplace suitable.”

On March 21, this story was front-page news in the San Francisco Chronicle and public reaction has been swift and strong. City Council and local businesses have been swamped with emails from visitors from all over the country as well as international tourists who say they have cancelled plans to visit Napa and are encouraging their friends to do the same.

We don’t want Napa businesses to lose ONE DOLLAR because of the City Council’s short-sightedness. We are taking action NOW to ensure that not one potential visitor to Napa takes their business elsewhere. We need to let potential visitors know:

Napa businesses welcome ALL visitors!
Napans support EQUALITY and voted 57% against Prop.8, which took away same sex couple’s rights to marry.
Napa residents and business owners will hold their City Council responsible for their actions and urge them to pass the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution!

Send the RIGHT message about Napa and your business!

1) To have your business listed on Napa Valley Equality Coalition’s (NVEC) website as a business that SUPPORTS EQUALITY and welcomes all visitors, go to:

www.napavalleyequality.com

NVEC’S website will be linked via as many progressive, LGBT and travel websites as possible. This way progressive, pro-equality customers will know how to find your business.

2) Ask other PRO-EQUALITY business owners to join us in saying to travelers that regardless of the City Council’s actions and subsequent unfriendly comments, the residents and businesses of Napa WELCOME you!

3) Contact City Council to urge them to pass the EQUALITY FOR ALL FAMILIES resolution!

Mayor Jill Techel - at 707.258.7876 or jtechel@cityofnapa.org

Juliana Inman at 707.258.7876 or jinman@cityofnapa.org

James Krider at 707.258.7876 or jkrider@cityofnapa.org

Peter Mott at 707.258.7876 or pmott@cityofnapa.org

Mark van Gorder at 707.258.7876 or mvangorder@cityofnapa.org
(Mark proposed and supported the resolution)

For more information contact: info@napavalleyequality.com

A copy of the Open Letter in MS:Word format can be found at the bottom of this page in the attachment section.

NOW - Wear the "White Knot"

(http://www.whiteknot.org/)

NOW - "Try to engage in one respectful conversation a day in which you can plant the seed of change in an individual who is not like-minded. We have to respect every one’s rights to believe what they wish, but we can work towards asking that they keep their beliefs from infringing upon our lives."

From Join The Impact http://jointheimpact.com/2008/11/what-happens-next/

More events coming soon

Hothulagurlzzz	Latest page update: made by Hothulagurlzzz , Jun 30 2009, 8:17 PM EDT (about this update About This Update support California Marriage Equality act - Hothulagurlzzz 312 words added 2 widgets added view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: American Canyon Angwin Calistoga Gordon Valley Napa Oakville Pope Valley Rutherford St. Helena Yountville More Info: links to this page

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DJRottenRobbie

Who's coming?

Nov 15 2008, 1:15 PM EST by KarenMcLaren

Thread started: Nov 14 2008, 9:45 AM EST Watch

Eric and I will be there! Can't wait to see you all on Saturday!

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DJRottenRobbie

Great story on KPIX Channel 5

Nov 14 2008, 6:22 PM EST by DJRottenRobbie

Thread started: Nov 14 2008, 6:22 PM EST Watch

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=41888@kpix.dayport.com

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DJRottenRobbie

A letter from Equality California

Nov 14 2008, 6:16 PM EST by DJRottenRobbie

Thread started: Nov 14 2008, 6:14 PM EST Watch

Dear Rob:

This has been a very trying, challenging, and exhilarating 10 days. We have witnessed history that raises our hopes and defeats which almost crush our spirit. The reaction to the passage of Prop 8, and other anti-LGBT measures in Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona has been unlike anything we have ever seen in our community. The energy and commitment and vow to fight on has been awe-inspiring. In the midst of these rallies and marches—tomorrow there will be over 130 across the country—we have come back from these defeats resolved to make them a relic of the past.

In the midst of these rallies and marches, there have also been a handful of acts that can only set us further back. The most powerful antidote to hate and misunderstanding is love and compassion and dignity. The attached letter has been generated from colleagues around California. It calls on all of us to indeed fight back, to not slink away and accept these defeats, but it also, rightly, calls on us to not, in our anger or pain, drive a wedge between our future allies. The scapegoating of African-Americans in particular, has the potential to do us real damage in the long run. A sad fact is that the often-quoted number of 70%—the figure by which black voters passed Prop 8—is terribly exaggerated and the figure is likely much closer to 57%, which is consistent with all earlier polling. We are charting a course to a new day—if we show who we really are, we will have many more on that path with us.

<b>Letter to be continued in thread below</b>

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Attachments

	NVEC Open Letter.doc (Word Document - 80k) posted by napkinrick Mar 31 2009, 3:05 PM EDT Open Letter to Napa Businesses from Napa Valley Equality Coalition
	deselms-prop-8-speech.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 334k) posted by napkinrick Nov 17 2008, 12:19 PM EST Text of speech given by Gregg DesElms at Napa event on 11/15/2008
	Napa.doc (Word Document - 84k) posted by napkinrick Nov 11 2008, 2:40 PM EST Event brochure - Word Document

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