Hey Californians! Help Maine and Washington GET OUT THE VOTE!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Our success in both Maine and Washington today depends on getting our support base to the polls to vote for our equality. They need our help more than ever to call supporters and urge them to vote!

Equality California will host phone banks across the state for California volunteers, encouraging voters in Maine and Washington to vote to protect the rights of same-sex couples.

WHEN: TODAY! Nov. 3rd

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: 410 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

If you don't live in California or don't live near one of EQCA phone banks, no worries. You can still help by calling from home for Maine and Washington!

VIDEO: You Helped Maine's Emergency $25K Request Reach Over $70K! Now Help Get Out the Vote!

Earlier today, an emergency request from NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality's campaign manager Jessee Connolly for $25,000 brought in over $70,000!

Now, Jessee wants to say thank you!


(video courtesy of Adam Bink)

All money is going to ad buys! Keep the funds coming!

However, we're not out of the woods. The new poll from today shows us behind at 51% versus 47%. We really can win this, but we have to get out the vote!


ACTION: HELP CALL SUPPORTERS AND TELL THEM TO VOTE!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote! They will call you within 15 minutes of signing up or call them at 415-935-4552
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live.

Californians, here's another opportunity to help.

Equality California will host phone banks across the state for California volunteers, encouraging voters in Maine and Washington to vote to protect the rights of same-sex couples. On November 3, Mainers will vote on whether to repeal a law granting same-sex couples the right to marry. In the state of Washington, voters are being asked to re-confirm the expansion of domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

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: 410 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

Periodic Blogging Due to Volunteering

Hi UTF Readers,

Today I'll be stepping back from blogging as I will be volunteering to help our pro-LGBT campaigns protect our rights.

You can too! Tomorrow voters across the country will face three different ballot initiatives. They can strip us of our rights or vote to keep them in place. You can help us keep them!

Click on the image below and find out how today!

RED ALERT: New Maine Poll Shows Marriage Equality in Peril as Opponents Gear Up for Big Smear Ad

RED ALERT!

Tomorrow Mainers go to the polls and decide whether or not to strip gays and lesbians of their newly found right to marry in the Pine Tree State.

Those of us in favor of marriage equality are facing an uphill battle.

A new poll released today shows those in favor overturning marriage equality, or those voting YES for Question 1, beating us 51% to 47%. (See full poll embedded at bottom of the post. Also see Nate Silver's analysis of all Maine Question polls.)

THIS IS CRUNCH TIME.

And to make matters a little worse, the Yes on 1 side has just done an unexpected, major push to raise $25,000 to air one last major attack ad.

Contrary to popular belief, the NO on 1 campaign does not have a lot of money. We raised it and they used it well. But the Yes on 1 has the Catholic Church and NOM on their side, and they intend to squash us.

We need your help.

From Jesse Connolly, NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign manager.

I wasn't going to come to you to ask for money again. We've asked so much, and you've dug deep and really come through.

Honestly, I wouldn't take my time away from managing our Get Out The Vote operation to send this email if it wasn't really important.

But we just heard that Yes on 1 is increasing their TV ad buy by $25,000 today.

$25,000 buys a lot of TV ads in Maine.

With the money we have now, we simply can't counter their arguments on TV.

You and I have both invested a lot in this campaign. I won't-- I can't-- let them win this because we couldn't come up with the last $25,000 in the final 36 hours.

We can't let Yes on 1 win the airtime war with their misleading, and factually inaccurate ads.

We can't let Yes on 1 lie to Maine voters about schools and teachers and children and same-sex couples in Maine.

We need to stand up and match every one of their lies with an ad of our own, that explains that marriage equality won't do anything to families but protect all of them.

And I need you to help. Can you come through one last time and give $20 to help us finish this campaign with a win?

Seriously, this is it people. Help us avoid another Prop 8 from happening. DONATE!

ACTION: IF YOU CAN'T DONATE, YOU CAN STILL HELP!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote! They will call you within 15 minutes of signing up or call them at 415-935-4552
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live

Public Policy Poll Maine Question 1 November 09

Countdown to Equality: 1 Day Left to Help Win 3 Critical LGBT Rights Campaigns!

Washington State:

Who we are: Approve Referendum 71 is the campaign to preserve domestic partnerships in Washington State. By voting to approve, voters retain the domestic partnership laws that were passed during this year's legislative session, including using sick leave to care for a partner, adoption rights, insurance rights, and more.

What we need: We need phone bankers to get our supporters out to vote. Washington is an all mail-in ballot state, and we need to ensure our supporters put their ballots in the mail. Also, youth turnout is a critical component of our campaign, and youth turnout historically drops in off-year elections. So we need a lot of help to turn them out.

How you do it: Sign up here to make remote calls for Approve 71. We'll then contact you for a training, and you can make GOTV calls.

Washington Voters: Check here to be sure your ballot is properly counted.

Maine:

Who we are: The No On 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign is working to protect Maine's recently-passed law legalizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Our opponents have put the issue on the ballot for Nov 3, 2009. Because of Maine's early voting election laws, people are already voting at the polls, so we need help immediately to turn out our side at the polls.

What we need: We need you to devote a few hours to Call for Equality. Call for Equality is a virtual phonebank set up so that you can call Maine voters wherever you are. Much of Maine is rural, where canvassing isn't effective, so we need to reach these voters- along with other supporters- by phone. All you need is a phone and internet connection. No experience required! We'll provide the training, and all you need is a a few hours to help get a win in Maine.

How you do it: Click here to sign up for a training and your shift. There are lots of times available for your convenience.

Kalamazoo, MI:

Who We Are: The Yes on Ordinance 1856 / One Kalamazoo campaign is working in Michigan to support the City Commission of Kalamazoo's twice approved ordinance for housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for gay and transgender residents. Opponents forced a public referendum on the ordinance so dedicated local volunteers, led by former Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley, are working to ensure voters say YES to fairness and equality and keep Ordinance 1856.

Why The Urgency: In the final weeks, the opposition has gone all out with aggressive disinformation and misleading red herrings to try to defeat the ordinance. This includes signs that say "No to Discrimination" (even though voting No actually supports continued discrimination of GLBT residents), transphobic door hangers and fliers, and now radio ads that falsely suggest that criminal behavior will become legal when this simply isn't true. The Yes on Ordinance 1856 supporters are better organized but many voters who want to vote for gay and transgender people are getting confused by the opposition.

How To Help:

1) Help the One Kalamazoo campaign raise a final $10,000 specifically dedicated to fight back against the lies on the local TV and radio airwaves and fully fund the campaign's final field and GOTV efforts.

Give here: http://www.actblue.com/page/3-2-1-countdown

2) If you live nearby and can physically volunteer in Kalamazoo sign up here. If you know anyone that lives in Kalamazoo, use the One Kalamazoo campaign's online canvass tool to remind those voters that they need to vote on November 3rd and vote YES on Ordinance 1856 to support equality for gay and transgender people.

Contact voters: http://www.onekalamazoo.com/tellfriends2

VIDEO: Maine Vietnam Vet Stands Up for Marriage Equality; See 25 Year Maine LGBT History Recap

Back in April, before Maine's marriage equality bill LD1020 passed, the state's Senate Judiciary Committee held one of the largest public hearings on the bill. Thousands turned out, including the now famous Philip Spooner. And Paul and Jeanette.




LD1020 faces a people's veto on Tuesday. But it won't be the first time an LGBT rights bill faced such a challenge in Maine. Equality Maine put together the video below, a recap of the victories and defeats of LGBT rights in the Pine Tree State.



Will you help LD1020 gain a victory at the ballot? Only a couple hours of your time can make a big difference.

Got this email from the campaign:

103,817.

That's the number of calls our volunteers around the country -- folks just like you -- have made to Maine voters encouraging them to vote No on Question 1, the ballot question on same-sex marriage.

103,817 is a lot of calls -- but it's not quite enough to get all NO on 1 voters to the polls.

We know this election will come down to turnout, and we're counting on supporters like you from around the country to make a difference in this off year election.

ACTION: The NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign needs people to pick up their phones an call SUPPORTERS to remind them to VOTE. The polls are tied. It's now about who can get their support base to the polls on Tuesday.

You can sign up for a shift this afternoon after a quick training!

Help save marriage equality in your pajamas.

On November 3rd, a yes vote erases history. A no vote makes history.

VIDEO: New NO on 1 Ad Tells Maine It Has a Clear Choice

The NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign has released a new ad airing today that sums it all up - Maine has a choice, to treat some families differently and shaming them while putting them at risk, or treating all families the same.

It's a clear choice.

Now help the NO on 1 campaign remind our supporters to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 3. That's right - there's only four days left! And they really do need all the help they can get. Polls show us at a tie, and if we're to win, we need EVERY supporter to get up and go vote.

You can help remind them. I've been calling. It's easy and fun. Really. It's a clear choice to act.

ACTION: HELP GET OUT THE VOTE!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote!
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live.

Approve Referendum 71 FINAL Weekend Actions

Crossposted with Lurleen at Pam's House Blend.

There are only a few days left to vote APPROVE on Referendum 71. If you haven't already, please mark your ballot "approved" on R-71 and mail it in now (but no later than November 3rd). Don't procrastinate! In 2008 over 8,000 ballots in King County alone were not counted because they were postmarked too late! The Approve 71 campaign manager says

This race is still too close for comfort. As we've said from the beginning, this election will be decided by voter turnout. Money is pouring in from out of state to fund our opponents, and they are investing heavily in radio ads. We know the best way to counteract the outrageous lies our opponents are telling is with direct conversations with voters.

You can help us win by phone banking any night of the week between now and the election, canvassing at our Trick or Vote event, and waving signs at intersections to raise visibility for the Approve 71 campaign. It is essential that we each do all we can to get out the vote. Our state-of-the-art system is set up to only call voters who have not voted yet.

To register to phone bank in Seattle, RSVP here

To register for Trick or Vote, RSVP here

For a schedule of sign waving events you can register for, click here

Here is a link to a schedule of phone banks, canvassing and Approve 71 sign waving events going on in the Seattle area.

Thank you for all you have done to help ensure gay and lesbian families are treated equally under state law.

P.S. If you have not already joined our Facebook group, join us! Our fan base is growing by more than 100 people per hour! Join us!

Folks, be sure to print out and fill your pockets with plenty of palm cards to give to people. This is a great reminder for people when they get home and start wondering, "now what was that all about, and how can I get more information?" Make sure your signs are clearly marked "Approve Referendum 71" besides whatever other messages you wish to write. Bellevue sponsored by Bellevue PFLAG Saturday, October 31 1 pm - 3 pm At NE 8th and 112th. That big intersection at 405 and NE 8th Street. Bring signs with simple statements that drivers can read...Approve Ref 71, Protect All Washington Families, or personal messages. Keep them simple and positive. Even stop by for 30 minutes but be involved...Dress for cold/rain but bring your smiles and be ready to wave!!! Seattle - RSVP here Friday, October 30 7:00 am - 8:00 am 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Join us at the Madison I-5 overpass between Downtown and Capitol Hill to show our support for APPROVING referendum 71 to the morning commuters. Millions of Washingtonians drive onto the I-5 weekly and this is our chance to make sure they vote to APPROVE referendum 71. We will be waving signs and showing our support. Seattle - RSVP here Monday, November 2 Tuesday, November 3 7:00 am - 8:00 am Join us at the Madison I-5 overpass between Downtown and Capitol Hill to show our support for APPROVING referendum 71 to the morning commuters. Millions of Washingtonians drive onto the I-5 weekly and this is our chance to make sure they vote to APPROVE referendum 71. We will be waving signs and showing our support. Tacoma Saturday, October 31 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Kelly McDonald: Where: Corner of South 38th & South Steele, Tacoma (Costco & Borders) There is one more weekend before the election. We need YOU this Saturday. The opposition has incredible numbers, and Tacomans must see both sides represented. If you have an hour or two to give this Saturday, please stop by. Bring signs and wear green! Important details: 1) Parking is an issue. It's best to find street parking by the Toyota dealership or in the residential area behind Costco. 2) Enhance our visibility by wearing green 3) Bring signs with you 4) Are you staying a while? Bring a water bottle and a snack (there goes the mom in me!) :) 5) If you cannot make it, invite someone to come on your behalf! The Rejects WILL be there, per communication made to area businesses from their side. Though tempting, it is NOT effective to engage with them. They will try. We are there to be visible to the public in a peaceful, positive, affirming way. Looking forward to seeing you there, en masse, and so excited at the amazing effect of Facebook word of mouth! Kelly Tacoma Tuesday, November 3rd 6 am - 9 am 4 pm - 6 pm Kelly McDonald: Election Day is the final opportunity to generate visibility! We need YOU to sign wave at the Jackson Avenue overpass over Highway 16. Woodinville sponsored by Bellevue PFLAG Saturday, October 31st 10 am - 11:30 am Corner of NE 175th Street and 131st Ave NE right past the railroad underpass in downtown Woodinville (near McLendon's) Parking is nearby on side streets and there is a small park trail on 131st Ave NE. Bring signs with simple statements that drivers can read...Approve Ref 71, Protect All Washington Families, or personal messages. Keep them simple and positive. Even stop by for 30 minutes but be involved...Dress for cold/rain but bring your smiles and be ready to wave!!!

VIDEO: Take a "Stand" for Maine - View NO on 1's New Ad and ACT!

Earlier today, Yes on 1 revealed its new scary ad just in time for Halloween. NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality has quickly countered with their message discipline of equality.



ACTION: TAKE A STAND, FOLKS!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote!
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live.

VIDEO: A New Yes on 1 Ad Called "It's Already Happening" Just in Time for a Halloween Scare!

At this point in the game, their misinformation and scare tactics sound like, "Blah blah blah blah blah blah BOO!" Fitting for Halloween.

The soundtrack for this ad should've been the creepy Halloween piano playing in the background. But stop. That would be another copyright infringement!

Maybe Marc Mutty, chair of Yes on 1, should dress up as a gay teacher (whatever that looks like - it could prove to be rather boring) and scare his volunteers into action for the holiday. Because from what I understand, their field effort is pretty shoddy.

Especially compared to NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality. (A new ad from them is coming soon!)

Rex Wockner reports, "There are 8,000 volunteers working on the campaign to stop the National Organization for Marriage from taking away gay and lesbian Mainers' right to marry. There are 5 days to go.

"More volunteers are still needed for two of NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality's projects: Drive for Equality, and Call for Equality."

You can read the rest of Rex's post for more information, or see below or click on the big 3-2-1 graphic at the top of this blog that gives you a ton more information.

ACTION: Help Maine become the first state to pass marriage equality at the ballot!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote!
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live.

How To Save Marriage In Your Pajamas

Reporter Rex Wockner is in Maine covering the Question 1 referendum. Upon visiting NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality headquarters, he was immediately made aware of the pressing need for people everywhere, no matter where they live, to volunteer. They can do it from home! Or as Rex put it, "How to save marriage in your pajamas."

Karin Roland of the NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality Online Communications Team. Karin needs you. Badly. Right now...

Here's what Karin needs. This. Basically, Karin needs you to get trained fast, then make lots of phone calls to Maine from wherever you are. It won't cost you anything. The software calls you. Your phone number won't be revealed. Caller ID will show the NO on 1 office number.

"Call for Equality is critical to our plan to reach all the voters in Maine we need to reach," Roland told me in an interview. "We literally need to make hundreds of thousands of dials through that program -- and in order to do that, we know we need several hundred more people to sign up. You can sign up and get trained now, and start calling now, and then you'll be all set to call on election day."

"We're calling people who we believe support marriage equality," Roland said. "That is a no vote on Question 1. We are confirming that they support marriage equality -- and the vast majority of them do -- and we are urging them to vote early if they support marriage equality -- to vote no on 1 early. Voting early is the best thing that our supporters in Maine can do to help us right now because it lets us take them off our list for election day. We have to literally make over half a million calls in the last week of this campaign, but if you vote today, you just take one of those calls off of our list."

I know I'm like a broken record when it comes to volunteering for Maine, but it's THAT important. Remember how frustrated you felt after the passage of Prop 8? Be a part of victory this time around. Believe me, you'll feel great.

GET INVOLVED AND BE A PART OF HISTORY.

ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT UNTIL ELECTIONS! We Can Win in Maine and Washington, But Only With Your Help!

From the NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign:

We've got one week to Election Day. And what is the Yes campaign doing? Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at marriage equality.

Change the subject. Divert voters. Mislead reporters. And never, never talk about fairness or equality for all loving couples and their families.

Won't you help us cut through these lies and distortions? Will you help us speak directly to Maine voters and get our supporters to the polls to vote NO on 1?

This election will come down to turnout. And we are counting on out-of-state volunteers -- people like you -- to make help us make the difference in an off-year election.

You can help us preserve marriage equality in Maine and stave off a crushing defeat.

If you have a phone and an internet connection, we need your help today. Please sign up now for a CALL FOR EQUALITY training/call shift today to make calls to Maine voters from home:

Sign-up for a 6:30pm EST training/call shift tonight by clicking here.

If you can't join us today, you can still call -- find another shift here.

Voters are voting NOW -- by email and at early voting locations. That means we need a "virtual phonebank" to lob in calls to Maine voters who will make the difference between victory and defeat on election night.

If you've never made phone calls to voters, it's easy. You'll almost always be talking with a Maine voter who supports marriage equality. We will personally train you over the phone before your shift, give you a script and all of the information you need to make these critical calls . . .

This election could come down to a handful of voters. And, often, an extra nudge from a supporter like you is what motivates someone to vote. Please click here to sign up and get started making calls from home today.

If you live here in California, find out how you can help by either joining up with Equality California or Vote For Equality.

In Washington state, they're down to the wire. They can win this election! The biggest challenge facing the Approve Referendum 71 campaign is getting their support base out and into the ballot booths.

Go here to find out where you can join up with a phone bank and urge supporters to make that vote! Polls show every vote will count. Make that difference!

VIDEO: Victory in Maine Depends on Getting Supporters to Vote. HELP!

The most recent poll on Maine's Question 1 shows that 48% are for voting Yes to overturning the marriage equality law and 48% voting NO to rejecting it. 4% are still undecided.

At this point, it's about getting out supporters to the polls, especially students.



Other than knocking on doors, one of the most successful ways of getting supporters out to the polls is simply calling them, reminding them to vote. And many times, our supporters don't vote on off-years like this one. So they need a strong nudge!

YOU CAN HELP!

ACTION: Call marriage equality supports and remind them to vote!

1. If you live far from Maine but are eager to make a difference, you can phone bank from home. Sign up at Call for Equality.
2. If you do live near Maine, go to Drive for Equality, where you can look for carpools in your area headed up to the Pine Tree State so you can volunteer and help Get Out the Vote!
3. If you actually live in Maine, VOTE EARLY! Not only will the NO on 1 campaign see a record of your vote, it will free you up on election day to help get supporters to the polls.
4. DONATE! You can do this no matter where you live.

Californians - Help Maine and Washington State Protect Their Rights!

For those of us here in California, we know what it's like to have our rights taken away. The campaign to pass Proposition 8 demoralized us with lies and attack ads, and the passage and the aftermath destroyed us. We even witnessed a rise in hate crimes against us.

Though it galvanized us into creating a resurgence in the LGBT rights movement that hasn't been seen in years, the pain is enduring.

And now Washington state and Maine face similar ballot measures that intend to take existing LGBT rights away.

Californians - don't feel helpless. You can contribute to protecting those rights.

Vote For Equality and Equality California have set up phone banks to help these states defeat the opposition by getting supporters out to the ballots. (Read VFE's blog post about working in Maine!)

Maine Phone Banks - Sign Up Here!

Sunday, Oct. 25 (10am-2pm) @ The Village
Sunday, Nov. 1 (11am-3pm) @ The Village
Monday, Nov. 2 (10:30am-1:30pm) @ The Village
Monday, Nov. 2 (2:30pm-5:30pm) @ The Village

Election Day:
Tuesday, Nov. 3 (10:30am-1:30pm) @ The Village
Tuesday, Nov. 3 (2:30pm-5:30pm) @ The Village

Washington Phone Banks - Sign Up Here!

EQCA will send you details when you sign up. Also, check out Unite the Fight's calendar at the bottom of the blog for dates and times as well.

Another Major No on 1 Endorsement from Maine's Largest Newspaper

Today the Maine Sunday Telegram ran its major endorsement for the NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign. This is huge! It's the biggest newspaper in the state and includes Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, and Morning Sentinel.

An excerpt:

Limiting marriage to a man and a woman would not make families led by same-sex couples go away. It would just keep them in a legally inferior position that is inconsistent with Maine's tradition of equal protection under the law.

Gay men and women already live together, own property and have children, both biological and adopted. They hold responsible jobs, they volunteer in churches and schools – they are full members of our communities. The only thing they cannot do is form the legal partnership that gives them the advantages and duties that other couples have when they start families. The same-sex couples are not the only losers. This also puts their children at a disadvantage.

ARGUMENTS DON'T STAND UP

Treating same-sex couples fairly would have an important impact on their families, such as when one partner gets sick or dies. But it would not affect traditional couples at all.

The "Stand for Marriage: Yes on 1" campaign has struggled to come up with ways in which allowing this law to take effect would hurt traditional families. To often they have resorted to inventing scenarios to scare voters.

The most prominent has been the charge that children would be forced to learn about same-sex marriage in school. All it takes is a quick reading of the law to see, however, that there is no mention of education in it. Curriculum in Maine is approved by local school boards, and those elected officials would be under no obligation to add lessons on marriage law to their areas of study.

But that's not to say that children would be kept in the dark. They are smart, and they should be expected to notice that some of their classmates have two moms or two dads instead of one of each. This is not a function of the law, however, it is a reflection of reality. A "yes" vote won't make those couples go away. It would only make their lives more difficult.

At some point, all children recognize that everyone's home is not like their own, that different people have different values and that all families are not the same. Parents should not be afraid that what children see in school will eclipse the values that are taught at home.

Arguments that same-sex marriage would inhibit religious freedom or cause a flood of lawsuits also fall flat. The same claims were made in campaigns against Maine's anti-discrimination laws and neither of them came true. Maine has strong exemptions for religious organizations in its employment and housing laws, and the marriage law would not require anyone to preside over a ceremony in violation of his or her religious beliefs.

Maine is setting the stage to issue a historical vote. Maine is the first state to have marriage equality pass through its legislature and not be ordered to recognize same-sex unions by its courts.

If voters approve this new law, it will be the first ever to be passed by the people. Or in other words, the opposition's worst nightmare.

Right now the race is neck-n-neck. We can win this! Be part of history! Get involved!

Go to NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality and donate and volunteer!

Major Maine Newspaper Endorses NO on 1 Campaign - Help Get Out the Vote!

This email from Mark Sullivan, NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality Communication Director, just hit my inbox.

This morning, the Bangor Daily News endorsed a "NO" vote on Question 1. The BDN is one of Maine's oldest and most respected newspapers, and their endorsement will be read by thousands of voters in key swing areas.

Read the endorsement: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/125677.html

This is great news, and definitely a momentum boost as we go in to the final 17 days of this campaign. But we can't afford to let up now-- to win, we still need to get all our NO voters out to the polls. And the best way to do that is to get as many of them as possible to vote NO on 1 right now, during the early voting period.

That's where you come in. If you've got a phone and an internet connection, you can join Call for Equality, our massive Get Out The Early Vote virtual phone bank.

It only takes a couple of hours to make a difference, but to win, we must reach each of these voters. Will you join us for a Call for Equality shift?

http://protectmaineequality.org/callforequality

If you've never made phone calls to voters, it's easy. We'll give you a training before your shift, a script, and all of the information that you need to identify our supporters. In almost all cases, you'll be talking to a Maine voter who supports marriage equality.

There are still too many voters who haven't voted early or didn't plan to vote until they were reminded about the urgency of their one vote in this off-year election. Often, that extra nudge from a dedicated supporter by phone is what motivates someone to turn out to the polls.

Celebrate this wonderful endorsement by joining Call for Equality and helping us turn all of our NO on 1 voters out to the polls!

-Mark

Mark Sullivan
Communications Director
NO on 1 / Protect Maine Equality

ACTION ALERT: Sign Up for Saturday's Latino Voter Outreach for Civil Marriage Rights in East Los Angeles

Sign Up at

Poll: Marriage Equality Trailing in Maine; Don't Let Another Prop 8 Happen!

Results from a Research 2000/Daily Kos poll indicates that if Mainers voted on the new marriage equality law today, they would vote to overturn it, repeating what happened in California with Proposition 8.

Two questions were posed to 600 voters, both results indicating a slight majority favoring the anti-equality position.

Daily Kos/Research 2000 Maine Poll
Research 2000, MoE 4%, Sep 14, 2009 - Sep 16, 2009
Margin error of 4%.

QUESTION: As you may know there will be one question on the ballot this November in Maine addressing the issue of same-sex unions. In part it will read "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry?" A yes vote takes away the right of same-sex couples to marry. A no vote keeps the right of same-sex couples to marry. If the election were held today would you vote YES or NO on this question?


QUESTION: Regardless of how you might vote do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?

However, these numbers indicate a sizable persuadable margin of 6% "Not Sure" meaning that we can very well win.

ACTION: Yet to do this, Maine's NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality will need all the hands-on help they can get. Here's a list of ways to get involved, no matter where you live.

• Sign up to volunteer through the campaign website and they will let you know what you can do to help. No matter where you live!
• Thinking of taking a vacation? Take a vacation in Maine and volunteer as well! Check out the Volunteer-Vacation program through the campaign.
• Live in Los Angeles? Equality California is hosting a phone banking session throughout the next month. Click here, find which date works for you and sign up! (Don't worry - they'll train you.)
• Donate! Maine has some great ads airing, but they cost a lot of money. It's very important that our message stays on the air. Help keeps the ads running by donating! Every dollar counts.
  

What's happening in Maine will be historical. If we lose, it'll be our second time LGBT have been stripped of marriage rights in a row following Prop 8.

But if we win, it will be the first time marriage equality is passed by a public vote. Make this a historical win! Be a part of history!

Help Protect Marriage Equality - Take a Volunteer-Vacation In Maine

NOTE: I'll be bumping this post up every week now. Mainers will be voting on whether or not to overturn the state's new marriage equality bill as early as this month (through mail-in ballots and early voting). We don't have much time left!

NEW VIDEO ON VOLUNTEER VACATION OPPORTUNITY IN MAINE! (9-17-09)

Taking a vacation any time soon? Want to support LGBT Mainers save their right to marry? Do both at the same time! Below is a message from the NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign on how you can do just that.

The state motto for Maine is "Vacationland" and if you've ever been here, you understand why.

As the November referendum - modeled after Prop 8 - to repeal marriage equality in Maine approaches, we need to have as many volunteers on the ground as possible, and if you're thinking of coming to Maine, then now is the time to join us for a Volunteer-Vacation.

How It Works

During the month leading up to the election, the campaign will be hosting a team of highly motivated volunteers from around the country to serve as full-time volunteer campaign staff. In Maine voters will begin casting their ballots in October, so we are planning the Volunteer-Vacation to run during the entire month of October.

There are several shifts to choose from, each shift lasting one week (although you may stay longer):

• WEEK #1: Sun, Oct 4 – Sun, Oct 11 (Arrive Sat, Oct 3. Orientation Sun, Oct 4 at 1pm)
• WEEK #2: Sun, Oct 11 – Sun, Oct 18 (Arrive Sat, Oct 10. Orientation Sun, Oct 11 at 1pm)
• WEEK #3: Sun, Oct 18 – Sun, Oct 25 (Arrive Sat, Oct 17. Orientation Sun, Oct 18 at 1pm)
• WEEK #4: Sun, Oct 25 – Sun, Nov 1 (Arrive Sat, Oct 24. Orientation Sun, Oct 25 at 1pm)
  

Once you arrive in Maine, you will receive a full orientation and be assigned to a team, where you will be trained on various aspects of the campaign.

The campaign will provide housing with local supporters, but you will be responsible for paying for your own travel to and from Portland, for your own food, and for local transportation. You will be trained on everything you need to know to be successful.

Your Role

Volunteer-Vacation is designed for folks who want to volunteer, full-time, to help recruit other volunteers, campaign person-to-person with voters, and to run the Get-Out-the-Vote operation necessary to win the election. You will get an intensive, hands-on chance to hone your campaign skills.

Next Steps

Go to the Volunteer-Vacation page at NO on 1 and sign up!

Protect Maine's Marriage Equality Law on the National Day of Action, September 27th

From Nadine Smith of Equality Florida, working with Maine's NO on 1 Campaign:

Marriage equality is under attack in Maine, and no matter where you live, there's something you can do about it.

Far right extremists have imported their national anti-equality agenda to the Pine Tree state with the goal of stripping away marriage rights. The same group that bankrolled Prop 8 in California has set up shop in Maine and has out fundraised the local effort by 2-1.

Despite that, polls show fairness is winning by a slim margin, thanks to the local grassroots No On 1 effort to protect Maine equality. But we can't leave them alone to stand their ground. We need to rally to support the local effort

No matter where you live, there is a way to help win this fight.

ACTION: All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing- the web-based software does it all.

We have set a goal of enlisting 500 people across the country to donate 2.5 hours to call Maine voters using a virtual phone bank on Sunday, September 27th. There are training sessions you will need to participate in prior to the National Day of Action.

Sign up as an organization or as an individual and you will get all the information you need to be a part of the September 27th Maine Day of Action.

SPREAD THE WORD!