Show Governor Schwarzenegger your Support

Governor Schwarzenegger is getting bombarded by the YES ON 8 supporters for his position on same-sex marriage, encouraging the ongoing H8 protests, and voicing his hope that the California Supreme Court will once again overturn the discriminatory amendment.

Click here to send Governor Schwarzenegger (and our supportive legislators) an email letting them know you appreciate their support. Just scroll down to the "your Information" section, fill in the required info and you're done!? Your email will be sent automatically to all the right people.

New No on 8 TV ad with Samuel L. Jackson

The NO on Prop 8 campaign recently released a dramatic television ad narrated by actor Samuel L. Jackson. The ad calls upon all Californians to reject discrimination, and Vote NO on Prop 8.

The ad places Prop 8 in its historical context as a measure that would discriminate against certain Californians and treat them differently under the law. Historical footage is used from 3 grim periods in California's history where discrimination was allowed in the state;The Japanese American Internment in 1942, California's Ban on Interracial Marriage, in 1948 and Racially Restrictive Covenants, which lasted until 1948.

The Truth and the Lies about Prop 8

Lie #1: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen in California unless we pass Prop 8.

Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it, and the Yes on 8 campaign knows they are lying. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has already ruled that this claim by Prop 8 proponents is “false and misleading.”

Lie #2: A Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school curriculum will happen here.

Fact: Unlike Massachusetts, California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don’t agree with. The opponents know that California law already covers this and Prop 8 won’t affect it, so they bring up an irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Lie #3: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…

Fact: Prop 8 is not about courts and judges, it’s about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn’t grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren’t supposed to protect rights and freedoms. This campaign is about whether Californians, right now, in 2008 are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.

Lie #4: If Prop 8 doesn't pass, people may be sued over personal beliefs.

Fact: California’s laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.

Lie #5: Pepperdine University supports the Yes on 8 campaign.

Fact: The university has publicly disassociated itself from Professor Richard Peterson of Pepperdine University, who is featured in the ad, and has asked to not be identified in the Yes on 8 advertisements.

Lie #6: Unless Prop 8 passes, CA parents won’t have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.

Fact: California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Lie #7: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.

Fact: Nothing in Prop 8 would force churches to do anything. In fact, the court decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.”

Lie #8: Prop 8 doesn’t discriminate against gays.

Fact: Prop 8 is simple: it eliminates the rights for same-sex couples to marry. Prop 8 would deny equal protections and write discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people—into our state constitution.

Now that you know the facts and lies about the "Yes on 8" ads, you may be asking yourself, "Hey, what can I do to help?"

Well of course you can always donate to the "no on 8" campaign, it is a great cause and they are using the money to get the truth out to the public.  But you can do other things as well, such as sending an email to your local TV and radio stations that are airing these negative ads (like KZST is Santa Rosa), and let them know you are not "OK" with the political lies being portrayed in the "Yes on 8" ads.  

For a TV or radio station, the biggest liability issue is for libel or slander if the alleged inaccuracies relate to identifiable people or groups. If the station continues to run a third party ad that is not truthful, and that libels or slanders an identifiable person or group, they could be liable. Normally, someone suing a media outlet for libel about an election related issue has to prove that the outlet had "malice" in running it - which means that they either knew it was false, or broadcast it with reckless disregard of the truth. If someone tells the station that it is false, and provides something to back up that claim, and they continue to run it - that could be construed as reckless disregard, and could then be dealt with by the FCC.

So, you can also use this complaint form to let the FCC know that your tired of the lies and that based on the information above, you want them to pull the ads from both the radio and TV.

Your voices, your emails and your votes can make a difference, so don't give up!

Sources:

No On Prop 8 Campaign

CBA.com

Gender Auditors - Vote No on Prop 8 ad

The Courage Campaign, a California online progressive grassroots activists network of about 100,000 members, recently launched a somewhat humorous "No on 8" ad campaign.  The ad is obviously aimed at straight couples, but still worth checking out....

The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network of almost 100,000 members that empowers grassroots and netroots activists to make this a new era for progressive politics in California.

PD Editorial: No on 8 - Reneging on marriage rights makes second-class citizens

I read the following article today in the local paper, The Press Democrat, and I just wanted to say how lucky I feel to live in an area of California where even the local paper recommends a no vote on Proposition 8.

Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Proposition 8 consists of a single sentence: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

But it's hardly simple. Those 14 words would rescind the recently established right of single-sex couples to marry, and they would be fixed in the state constitution.

The same sentence was approved by voters in 2000 as an initiative statute, and it was overturned by the state Supreme Court as a violation of the state constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

We agreed with the Supreme Court's ruling this past May, and we encourage voters to affirm it by voting no on Proposition 8.

It's time to put this issue to rest.

The court ruled that the state constitution does not tolerate a distinction between unions of opposite-sex couples and those of same-sex couples. And we don't believe that voters should, as a matter of equity, fairness and decency, go out of their way to rewrite the constitution to create such a distinction.

Advocates of Proposition 8 offer several arguments, but none of them stand up to close scrutiny.

Supporters say traditional marriage will be undermined, but they struggle to make their case. How exactly will allowing two people to wed threaten the ability of opposite-sex couples to marry? One thing all sides should agree on is that the real threat to the institution of marriage is divorce. We need to get past this issue and focus on doing more to encourage people to stand by their vows.

Supporters also say children deserve two parents. They say churches will be threatened, and schools will be forced to teach alternative lifestyles. Domestic partnership, they argue, is an adequate alternative to marriage.

We agree that children are better off with two loving parents. But many children are in single-parent homes or foster care, and this measure won't change that. Gay and lesbian couples raise children, and allowing them to marry strengthens family bonds just as it does for heterosexual couples.

As for religious objections, nothing requires churches to sanctify same-sex marriages -- or any other marriage for that matter. In fact, there are strong state and federal constitutional protections for religious freedom, as there should be.

State law requires schools to teach respect for marriage and committed relationships, and to ensure instruction is age appropriate. So schools already are required -- as they should be -- to show respect for married couples and other partners, regardless of their sexual orientation.

California in recent years has offered domestic partnerships, but studies have shown that partners aren't always afforded the same treatment as spouses by hospitals, employers or the public at large.

In the state Supreme Court's ruling, Chief Justice Ron George said granting "same-sex couples only a separate and differently named family relationship . . . is likely to cast doubt on whether the official family relationship of same-sex couples enjoys dignity equal to that of opposite-sex couples."

Supporters call that ruling the work of activist judges, but the state Supreme Court did its duty in overturning an unconstitutional law and reaffirming an important principle, that of equal protection.

Marriage is a fundamental right that belongs to same-sex couples just as it belongs to opposite-sex couples. The Press Democrat recommends a no vote on Proposition 8.

No on 8 Campaign fights back

After a week of unanswered advertising lies by the "Yes on Prop 8" campaign, the "No on Prop 8" campaign is finally striking back and calling them on their lies. Check out the lastest ad.

Brad Pitt gives $100,000 for marriage equality

Ap News announced today:

Brad Pitt has donated $100,000 to fight California's November ballot initiative that would overturn the state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
It's the first time voters will be asked to ban same-sex marriage in a state where gay and lesbian couples already have won the right to wed. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and California.

It's the first time voters will be asked to decide the issue in either California or Massachusetts -- the states where gays have won the right to wed.

"Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8," Pitt said Wednesday.

Trevor Neilson, Pitt's political and philanthropic adviser, told The Associated Press that Pitt was surprised that his colleagues in the entertainment industry had not donated more money to support the battle against Proposition 8.

Earlier in the week, Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced they donated $2 million to help fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

www.votenoonproposition8.com

Equality For All - North Bay Community Meeting

North Bay Community Meeting

“What happens after happily ever after?”

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 6:30 p.m.

The Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA

Please join Kate Kendell, Esq., Executive Director of Equality for All, Evan Wolfson, author of Why Marriage Matters, Maya Harris, Executive Director of ACLU of Northern California, and local members of the Equality for All campaign for this important event. Hear inspiring stories, and find out all the latest information about the anti-marriage ballot initiative. Learn more about the coalition that is working together to protect equality in November, and different ways to be involved.

RSVP requested but not required—415.457.1115 ext. 209 or events@spectrumLGBTcenter.org.

This event includes a Free Screening of the inspiring and award winning Documentary film, Pursuit of Equality.  

IF YOU ARE READY TO TAKE ACTION…

Want to make your voice heard? Can you give time to help make sure the Constitution of California protects the rights of everyone? Return to the Glaser Center on July 28th at 7:00 for a “Kickoff to Action” meeting. There are ways to get involved for everyone, now matter how busy you may be! Hosted by the Vote No on 8 Coalition of Sonoma County. Event Sponsors (partial listing): ACLU of Northern California; DLK Law Group, LLC; Equality California; Marriage Equality USA, Marin Chapter; Marriage Equality USA, Sonoma County, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay, Vote No on 8 Coalition of Sonoma County, Advocates for Social Justice of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa.

Event Sponsors (partial listing): ACLU of Northern California; DLK Law Group, LLC; Equality California; Marriage Equality USA, Marin Chapter; Marriage Equality USA, Sonoma County, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay, Vote No on 8 Coalition of Sonoma County, Advocates for Social Justice of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa.