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In California primaries, LGBT friends and foes advance; Now we must prepare for November Wednesday, 06/09/10
California Ripple Effect

A total of 28 Equality California-endorsed candidates sailed to victories in their primaries, including not only LGBT candidates but also a number of staunch allies, for offices from the local to the federal level. These candidates gain EQCA's endorsement only by being 100 percent for full lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, including marriage equality and insurance coverage for transition-related care for transgender people.

We've been hard at work this election, helping candidates with their campaigns and turning out voters for these important races. Our staff and volunteers made tens of thousands of calls and volunteered hundreds of hours. We sent over 140,000 pieces of mail encouraging people to vote for 100 percent pro-equality candidates, and our Political Action Committee and its many donors gave generously to help them sail to victory.

But we can't stop now. We'll only make more history in our state if we keep working hard between now and November to elect every 100 percent pro-equality candidate we can at every level of government.

There are also threats we must reckon with.

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In spite of hard times in Sacramento, LGBT rights advance Wednesday, 09/16/09
California Ripple Effect

What's next? The resolutions have all passed, but the five bills -- on Harvey Milk Day, the status of couples married out of state, the Equal ID Act and the domestic violence bill -- are awaiting the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger. Then it is time to look ahead to next year. We already know we'll keep working to preserve the critical infrastructure and HIV/AIDS services that our community has labored so hard to establish. This is simply too important of a battle to lose.

What do you think our next legislative priorities should be? If you have a suggestion, please leave us a comment. Thanks for your commitment and hard work in building a state of equality here in California!

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Testimony from CA DOMA resolution committee vote Saturday, 08/22/09
California Ripple Effect

The following is from Frank and Joe Capley-Alfano, witnesses for AJR 19, the Resolution in Support of Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. AJR 19 recently passed the California Assembly Judiciary Committee along with two other EQCA sponsored resolutions. All three pieces of legislation now move to the Senate and Assembly floors to await an official vote.

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Our Recommendations for Returning to the Ballot Friday, 08/14/09
California Ripple Effect

We can't afford to wait to start working toward this ambitious goal. We have an initial plan and are already on the ground across the state, but we need you. We're still listening and want to hear what YOU have to say about winning marriage back.

We are posting the plan here because this blog is a space for us to connect and talk. Please leave a comment to share your thoughts or ask any questions you have. We're eager to hear what you think.

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MUST READ: Thoughts on Tomorrow's Summit (by EQCA's Marc Solomon) Saturday, 07/25/09
California Ripple Effect

My deepest hope for tomorrow is that we listen to one another, and that we hear one another. We can put our best efforts forward, but only if we battle one another less and respect and listen to one another more (even through some real disagreements). The meeting will be much more effective if we are not so locked in to our positions that we cannot hear and appreciate what the other is saying.

I've been working in and around LGBT marriage campaigns for nearly a decade now, both as a volunteer and as full-time staff. And I know one of our tendencies as LGBT people--a group that has had a rough go at it--is to strike out against one another, rather than focus on who our real opponents are and operate under the assumption that we are all doing the community's work in the way we each think is best.

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From the field: Sacramento field office opening Wednesday, 07/22/09
California Ripple Effect

Win Marriage Back, Make it Real is now in full force here in Sac. Our office opening took place on Friday, July 17th and was a HUGE success!

Coalition partners from EAN, Sac NOW, Courage Campaign, CA Faith for Equality, Sac Transgender Coalition and more showed up to give thanks.Take a look at some pictures below.

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Going back to the ballot: top political consultants give their perspectives Tuesday, 07/21/09
California Ripple Effect

We asked the consultants to give us their best advice, free from any pressure to choose one year over another. I asked a representative group of seven to write up what they were telling me, and why. I wanted our community to hear and benefit from what they have to say.

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Go Team Win: an update on EQCA's field program Tuesday, 07/21/09
California Ripple Effect

Our program is based on the two concepts that--in our experience - are most effective in moving voters our way:

1. Personal persuasion. Sharing why we support marriage equality, face-to-face, person-to-person, in a way that engages people and draws them in.

2. Organizing locally. Having conversations where people are (at their doors, at local festivals, etc.), preferably from people who live in or near their communities.

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MUST-READ: Going Back to the Ballot--Update from Marc Solomon Wednesday, 07/15/09
California Ripple Effect

In late May, we told the community that, preliminarily, based on all we knew at the time, we believed we should return to the ballot in 2010. We also promised that we would not go back to the ballot on our own, but only together with coalition partners. And we said that, before we concluded what the right timing was, we would perform extensive "due diligence," speaking with and listening to our coalition partners, volunteers in the field, donors, political consultants, pollsters, and many others.

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Jerry Brown supports federal case against Prop 8 Saturday, 06/13/09
California Ripple Effect

In stark contrast to President Obama's Justice Department filing a brief defending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, California's Attorney General Jerry Brown today filed a brief in support of a federal challenge to Proposition 8.

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Another poll shows positions on marriage unchanged since Prop 8 passed Thursday, 03/26/09
California Ripple Effect

That said we're going to have to work even harder as a community, in a united, determined effort to open hearts and minds, secure support, and win back marriage.

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Anti-LGBT lobby goes after EQCA legislation Wednesday, 03/25/09
California Ripple Effect

What this all begins to show is that for our detractors, it's NOT just about marriage, and marriage is not where they'll stop. They want to round it out by taking away jobs, civil rights, proper healthcare, safe schools, you name it.

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Tell your legislator Harvey Milk Day is still important! Wednesday, 03/11/09
California Ripple Effect

Anti-gay extremists are gathering at the Capitol in Sacramento tomorrow, March 11, to lobby against the Harvey Milk Day Bill. Members of the Capitol Resource Institute will lobby "to urge lawmakers to oppose the 'homosexual indoctrination' presented by SB 572, which would create a Harvey Milk Day in public schools . . .," according to the Capitol Morning Report.

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Clinton may cross picket line in San Diego Friday, 02/13/09
California Ripple Effect

Activists from the LGBT and labor movements have asked President Clinton to cancel or move his scheduled appearance at the infamous Manchester Grand Hyatt this Sunday.

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Kevin De Leon, Alice Kessler set record straight on AB 103 Wednesday, 02/11/09
California Ripple Effect

Because domestic-partner records are centralized with the secretary of state, anyone can request a list of all registrants. Same-sex partners, some of whom have faced years of discrimination, are forced to publicly declare their sexuality in order to gain their rights.

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EQCA Legislative Scorecard may evidence division in the California Legislature Monday, 01/05/09
California Ripple Effect

How can we support those who support the us? And how can we help those who don't to change their minds?

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EQCA establishes fund to protect brave leadership Wednesday, 12/10/08
California Ripple Effect

EQCA is raising money now to help protect these judges in case they--or any other public official--are targeted for doing the right thing.

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