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.
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.
Sarah Leckey from Family Equality
Council will be traveling to Maine, October
30-November 4 to work the ground in the final days of No on
1/Protect Maine Equality. Join her in Maine and follow her tweets
through out the week at www.twitter.com/family_equality.
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