October 31, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
(Sir) Elton John funds gay marriage campaign
31-October-2006, Marc Shoffman, Pink News, UK
Music legend Elton John has donated $20,000 to defeat a gay marriage ban due to be voted on in Wisconsin.
The gay artist has pledged his support as debate surrounding the issue mounts amid Congress elections and a vote on gay marriage next week.
His money will help gay campaign group Fair Wisconsin counter an anti-gay advertising campaign from the family Research Institute of Wisconsin…
CONTINUE via Pink News?
CEO’s Statement:
“I admire Sir Elton’s “walking the walk” on the matter by donating his own funds for efforts on behalf of Wisconsin’s GLBTI couples. Thank you! I hope that other prominent public figures will have the courage, compassion and fair-mindedness to do similarly around the globe for 100% marriage equality.” – MW Savant, CEO – savvyplanners.com
October 29, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
EVERY CHOICE BUT THE RIGHT ONE?
Special to the blog by MW Savant, CEO
Special thanks to my compatriot, “Huntsu”, at BlueJersey.com for catching this interesting little item/survey appearing in today’s NJ Courier News in reference to the moniker that should be given to “legal unions between same-sex couples”.
It, especially after all the discourse about the word marriage, surprises me that “marriage” simply isn’t offered as one of the options. Hmmmm.
I am not a conspiracist so, therefore, I am inclined to believe that it wasn’t a deliberate exclusion. No. Perhaps it was a hurried or novice editor. Possibly a typo? In any event, it is a glaring oversight, IMHO. Words matter!
See the results as of 10-30-06; 21:55?
Editor’s Note: The opinion expressed herein is entirely that of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of savvyplanners.com, its affiliates or partners.
October 28, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
MEET ALL THE Plaintiff Couples (HEROES!)
in Lambda Legal’s New Jersey Marriage Lawsuit: Lewis v. Harris
Pictured: Sarah & Suyin Lael with Zenzali, Danica & Tanaj
Leading the list of plaintiff couples are Mark Lewis and Dennis Winslow, two Episcopalian pastors from Union City, Hudson County who have been a couple for 15 years. In addition to Lewis and Winslow, the plaintiff couples in the case are: Karen and Marcye Nicholson-McFadden, who have been together 17 years and are raising a seven-year-old son, Kasey, and three-year-old daughter, Maya; Saundra Heath-Toby and Alicia Toby-Heath, who have been together 17 years and are leaders in Newark’s Liberation In Truth Unity Fellowship church; Craig Hutchison and Chris Lodewyks, who have been a couple for 35 years and live in Pompton Lakes; Marilyn Maneely and Diane Marini, a southern New Jersey couple who were together for 14 years before Marilyn died tragically in the fall of 2005; Sarah and Suyin Lael, a 16-year couple raising three girls, nine-year-old Zenzali, seven-year-old Tanaj and six-year-old Danica; and Maureen Kilian and Cindy Meneghin, a couple of 32 years with a 14-year-old son, Josh, and an 12-year-old daughter, Sarah.
SEE images and read about them here at Lambda Legal!
GAIN insight from their individual affidavits?(PDF)
Lambda Legal’s attorneys on the case were David Buckel and Susan Sommer. Lawrence S. Lustberg of Gibbons, DelDeo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, one of New Jersey’s largest and most prestigious law firms, was a cooperating attorney for Lambda Legal.
Editor’s Note: Thank you and congratulations to you all! We stand behind you as the battle for one-hundred percent marriage equality moves forward! Thanks for your courage and strength!
October 28, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
LIBERTY & JUSTICE
FOR ALL?
On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of
Read the day’s dedication program of events?
(via New York Times)
October 27, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
New Jersey Politics 101
From a great blog we just discovered, BlueJersey
From their site:
“New Jersey Politics 101 was created by the writers of the community blog BlueJersey and is intended to serve as an introduction to government and politics in the state of New Jersey. We hope that after reading this guide, you will feel comfortable reading about and contributing to the discussion on issues affecting the state.”
Definitely a must for all GLBTI NJ residents and supporters!
Get informed and get involved.
October 27, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
A DIVERSION FOR A TRYING DAY!
Click the link and type in your name to see
how many of you there are!
| HowManyOfMe.com | ||
|
October 27, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Launches New Campaign
The Honor Every Veteran Campaign is a national outreach, education, and visibility effort to publicly honor the service of the more than one million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) American Veterans over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, November 10th – 13th.
You can help SLDN Honor Every Veteran! Show your support for our brave LGBT veterans by wearing an Honor Every Veteran T-Shirt, hanging an Honor Every Veteran sign, or having your favorite business join in our campaign. We will send participating businesses a kit with a donation tin, coasters, campaign cards, and SLDN brochures.
October 26, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
STATEMENT ON NJ SUPREME COURT MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING
by MW Savant, CEO
Well, family, it’s been a journey. But one that must continue. Portions of equality do not appeal to me, nor are they just. What I desire for us all is one hundred percent marriage equality. Anything less would be virtually useless and ill-serving. In reading the opinion, it appears that all the justices were in favor of equal rights and three of them wanted complete marriage equality to result.
The importance of total marriage equality was reinforced by remembering and watching the atrocious treatment of Laurel Hester (learn background) and her partner. Their treatment really stunned me and brought to reality for me the importance of utter equality in marriage. I can only imagine what the Lieutenant and her loved one, Stacie Andree, had to suffer. I know that I was outraged and horrified to see such heartless disregard under the “just following the rules” rhetoric. When human suffering and injustice are on offer, the answer is simple. CHANGE the rules. You can watch the video of Lt. Hester’s appeal to the board prior to her passing (at your discretion) which contributed to them reversing their negative position.
Even in grade school we begin lessons on equality. Remember the old apple pie worksheet? There was only and always just ONE way to create two halves. By dividing them into two, EQUAL parts. This concept is something which was ingrained in us from youth. As adults, it should not be “a lofty concept”. Fair is fair. Right is right. Equal is equal and anything less simply isn’t. It also bears mentioning that the way to put it back together is to take the two, EQUAL, parts and create a balanced, complementary whole. If we continue to be less than equal, the whole continues to be imperfect and dysfunctional. There is no gray area in equality.
In the words from Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality in an e-mail this morning…
“The bottom line is this: Marriage is the only currency of commitment the real world universally accepts. Anything short of marriage equality deprives LGBTI families of the equal protection they so desperately need. Contraptions short of marriage, like civil unions and domestic partnerships, do not provide that protection, as we’ve learned through the New Jersey experience. Thus we do not have a win yet.”
That says it all.
Editor’s Note: The opinion expressed herein is entirely that of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of savvyplanners.com, its affiliates or partners.
October 25, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
GSE’s IMMEDIATE COMMUNIQUE To Gov. Corzine
Regarding today’s Ruling
“Dear Governor Corzine and members of the New Jersey Legislature:
We 268 community leaders are a cross-section of the vast progressive base of the New Jersey electorate. We include 84 African-American community leaders, 68 Latino/a community leaders, 54 labor union leaders and organizers, and 62 leaders from grassroots advocacy organizations that are predominantly straight. In light of today’s ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court, we express our support for marriage-equality legislation.
We are among the majority of New Jerseyans who support marriage for same-sex couples. According to a 2006 Zogby-Garden State Equality Poll, 56 percent of New Jersey support marriage equality while only 39 percent oppose it. The other recent statewide polls also show that a majority of New Jerseyans support marriage equality.
As members of Garden State Equality’s African-American, Latino/a and Labor Caucuses, together with allies from grassroots advocacy organizations, we ask you to keep New Jersey the State That Doesn’t Hate. Please pass 100 percent marriage equality legislation so New Jersey can treat all its families equally.”
LEADERS FROM PREDOMINANTLY STRAIGHT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW JERSEY
Erik Anderson, Northwest New Jersey For Democracy
Barbara Babcock, Union County For Democracy
Ed Barocas, ACLU of New Jersey
William J. Brown, Co-coordinator, Progressive Democrats of New Jersey
Laura Cayford, Monmouth For Democracy
Richie Chevat, BlueWave NJ
Claire Ciliotta, BlueWave NJ
Rosi Efthim, New Jersey for Democracy and Hunterdon Democracy For America
Paul Eisenmann, Chair, Bergen Grassroots
Barbara Epstein, Progressive Democracy South Jersey
Roger D. Fox, Essex County Democracy For America
Eileen Fausey, Citizens for Progressive Representation
Louise Friedman, Democracy for America/Hoboken Progressives
Jeff Gardner, New Jersey For Democracy and Passaic Democracy For America
Carol Gay, Democratic Candidate for Congress, NJ-4
Neal Gorfinkle, Administrative Organizer, SEIU 1199
Emily Grand, BlueWave NJ
Peter Gross, BlueWave NJ
Madelyn Hoffman, Director, New Jersey Peace Action
George Hunt, Progressive Democracy South Jersey
Jeanne LoCicero, ACLU of New Jersey
Deborah Jacobs, Executive Director, ACLU of New Jersey
Katherine Joyce, Essex County Democracy For America
David Kalkstein, Progressive Democracy South Jersey
Phyllis Salowe Kaye, Executive Director, New Jersey Citizen Action
Robin Kinlin, New Jersey For Democracy and Ocean Democracy For America
Shelley Krause, Mercer for Democracy, Princeton Township Democratic Committee
Gigi Lax, Passaic County Democracy For America
Mitch Manzella, New Jersey For Democracy and Middlesex Democracy For America
Mary Ellen Marino, Progressive Caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
Marcia Marley, President, BlueWave NJ
Sally McInerney, Citizens for Progressive Representation
Juan Melli, Chair, BlueJersey.net
Lewis Miller, Bergen Grassroots
Alan Myers, BlueWave NJ
Claire M. Nagel, Citizens for Progressive Representation
Lucy O’Brien, BlueWave NJ
Joanne O’Neill, Progressive Democracy South Jersey
Timothy J. O’Neill, Progressive Democracy South Jersey
Suzannah Porter, President, NOW New Jersey
Bettie J. Reina, Citizens for Progressive Representation
Nick Reina, Citizens for Progressive Representation
Dana Ricci, BlueWave NJ
Chip Robinson, Morris County Democracy For America
David Robinson, New Jersey For Democracy and Essex Democracy For America
Eleanor Ross, Monmouth For Democracy
Woody Ross, Monmouth For Democracy
Nathan Rudy, Council President, North Plainfield
Cristina Rojas, New Jersey For Democracy and Hudson Democracy For America
Donna Schiavone, Bergen Women’s Political Caucus
Daniel Schoenberg, Morris County Democracy For America/Progressive Democrats of America
Mike Sedita, Northwest New Jersey For Democracy
Robin Seidon, BlueWave NJ
Jo Sippie-Gora, Seeds of Peace
Jake Stuiver, Hudson Democracy For America
Gerald D. Troiano, New Jersey for Feingold
Mary Walworth, Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War
Eve Weissman, New Jersey Citizen Action
Tom Wyka, Democratic Candidate for Congress, NJ-11
Paul Younghouse, Union County For Democracy
Joanne Zippel, BlueWave NJ
E.J. Zipprich, Monmouth For Democracy
GARDEN STATE EQUALITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Rev. Kevin E. Taylor, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick, Chair
Rev. Janyce L. Jackson, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark, Chair
Rev. Dr. Traci C. West, Drew University Theological School, Chair
Bev Beasley, African Asian Latina Lesbians United
Eddie Beck, Gay Straight Alliance, Rutgers University
Sandra Benthall, Liberation in Truth, Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Marybeth Boger, African Asian Latina Lesbians United
Millicent Braden, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Quincy Brayton, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Peter Briggs, New Jersey State Conference. NAACP
Joseph Brister
James Carrington, North Jersey Community Research Initiative
Minister Victoria Castillo, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Linda Champiou, Liberation in Truth, Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Rev. LaDana Clark, Church in the Hood
Tamara Cooper, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Albert Cunningham
Sacha Darius
Patricia Dillon
June Dowell-Burton, Newark Pride Alliance
Vailene Fields, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Pamela Kelly Fields, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Michael Folger, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Deacon Rwanda Gross, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Christine Hamlett, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Northern New Jersey
Rev. Rose Hardy, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Curt Harris, Grace Van Vorst Episcopal Church New Brunswick
Steve Hatcher, People’s Organization for Progress, Plainfield Branch
Rochelle Hayles, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Lyn Headley-Deavours, Episcopal Diocese of Newark;
Rev. Allen Hinman, retired Episcopal clergy
Elder Rev. Jacquelyn Holland, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Gloria Irby, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church
Netta Irby, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church
Rev Janyce Jackson, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church in Newark
Dawn James
Cassandra Jetter, Booker Team
Jonathan Jones, author
Christine Hamlett, Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network of Northern New Jersey
Jeffrey Hopkins
Kathryn Kawecki, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Montclair
Keith Kawecki, St. John’s Episcopal Church Montclair
Patricia Knowles Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Kathy Knox Dillon, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Tiye Lasley, African Asian Latina Lesbians United
Lou Leffler, St. Mark’s Church Mendham
Waleska Lucas
Gail MacQuaide, Grace Episcopal Church, Plainfield
TaShia Marsh, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Shea Maultsby Human Rights Campaign
Helena Maxwell, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Michele Meyer-Shipp, Merrill Lynch
Pamela Miller, Garden State Bar Association
Karen Mitcham, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Rev. Gladys Moore, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Jersey City
Laquetta Nelson, New Jersey Stonewall Democrats founder
Minister Shonda Nicholas, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Peter Oates, African American Office of Gay Concerns
Christian Paolino, Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Deacon Tanya Parker, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Michael Petti, Christ Episcopal Church
Ranessa Porter, United Methodist Church of New Brunswick
Deacon Carmen Price, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Janine Quinlan, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Rev. Don Ransom, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Aida Rawlins
Lorna Reid, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Randi Rhodes Liberation in Truth, Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Ron Rice, Jr., Councilman, Newark, New Jersey
Tony Robinson Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Sharon Robinson, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Aurea Rodriguez, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
M.W. Savant, SavvyPlanners.com
Charlene Singleton, Victory Tabernacle Seventh Day Christian Church
Audrey Skeete, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Victoria Smith, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Shirley Spriggs Liberation in Truth, Unity Fellowship Church, Newark
Rev. Kevin Taylor, Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick
Deacon Priscilla Thomas, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Joseph Vereen, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church Newark
Rita Warfield
Rev. Dr. Traci C. West, Drew Theological School
Lynne Womble, African Asian Latina Lesbians United
Gary Paul Wright, African American Office of Gay Concerns
GARDEN STATE EQUALITY LABOR CAUCUS
Bill Kane, President, New Jersey State Industrial Union Council, Chair
Hetty Rosenstein, President, Communications Workers of America Local 1037, Chair
Dottie Gutenkauf, AFT Retirees of New Jersey, Chair
Margaret Allan, American Federation of Teachers Local 4277
Dominick Antonicello, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Robert Arey, American Federation of Teachers Local 1839, New Jersey City University
Diane Beeny, Industrial Union Council Solidarity Singers
Robert Began, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Kenneth D. Bishop, Communications Workers of America Local 1058
Christine Carmody-Arey, American Federation of Teachers Local 1839
Mariella Chavez, Communications Workers of America Local 1023
Rosemarie Cipparulo, AAUP/Communications Workers of America
Catherine Danata, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Nicole Daywalt, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Frank DeMaria, Industrial Union Council
Helen French, Communications Workers of America
Carol Gay, Communications Workers of America and NJ Industrial Union Council
Karin Goodman, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Theresa Guerriere, American Federation of Teachers
Harry Guerriere, Jersey City Education Association
Josef Gutenkauf, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
John F. Hall, USW 943
Natalia Hervia
John Kang, Democracy for America
Carla Katz Communications Workers of America Local 1034
Ann M. Klopp American Federation of Teachers Local 4277
Frances Ladson, Unite Here
Mark Lender, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Phillip A. Lewis, American Federation of Teachers Local 2373
Adam Liebtag, Communications Workers of America Local 1034
Michele Liebtag, Communications Workers of America Local 1034
Barbara Mapp, Communications Workers of America Local 1058
Kenneth McNamara, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Timothy Mitchell, Communications Workers of America Local 1058
Susan Morehead, New Jersey Education Association, NEA, PCEA
Charlie Murphy, Communications Workers of America Local 1058
Annmarie Pinarski, Communications Workers of America
Bettie Reina, Communications Workers of America
Nick Reina, Communications Workers of America
Jean Romsted, Industrial Union Council Solidarity Singers
Lilliam Rosado, American Federation of Teachers Local 1839
Christopher Shelton, Communications Workers of America
Karen Siefring, F.O.R.C.E American Federation of Teachers 2373
Anna Stephens, Communications Workers of America Local 1034
Ray Stever, Steelworker / Industrial Union Council
Susan Stone, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Karen Syczeparski, Health Professionals & Allied Employees
Anthony C. Tallarico, Communications Workers of America Local 1034
Vikki U. Thurston, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Maureen Timmons, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Debbie Turner
John Paul Velez, Communications Workers of America Local 1037
Jordan Wills, IINJ
Bennet D. Zurofsky, New Jersey State Industrial Union Council
GARDEN STATE EQUALITY LATINO/A CAUCUS
Rev. Edgar A. Gutierrez-Duarte, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Paterson, Chair
Rev. Gus Vinajeras, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Union City, Chair
Anahi Galante, interfaith minister, Jersey City, Chair
Jose Ramon Acevedo
Maxim Almenas, New Jersey City University
Sonia Aranjo
Rafaela Billini, Garden State Equality
Cynthia Blandino, New Jersey City University
Tonio Burgos, Tonio Burgos and Associates
Miguel Cardenas, Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach
Ivelisse Cartagena
Vanessa Casaretto, Chilltown Pride Center
Ida H. Castro, IC Alliance Development Group
Louis Cid, Chilltown Pride Center
Yvette Cid, Chilltown Pride Center
Jasmin Colon, New Jersey City University
Rosanna Cruz
Lucious Cox, Jr. AAMR
DanielCandelario
Roberto Deane, Garden State Equality
Priscila DeCarvalho, Artist
Jessella DeLaCruz
Dr. Nicolas DuMont, Columbia University
Gilda Espinal, Association for a More Just Society
Zulima Ferrer, civil rights leader, Paterson
Douglas Flores, Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network
Judith Galang, New Jersey City University
Susan Gamba, Chilltown Pride Center
Tina Garcia
J.C. Gehring Sr.
Yolanda Gehring, Chilton Memorial Hospital
Marta Gonzalez
Vanessa Gonzalez
Diane Gonzalez
Oscar Gonzalez
Jackie Lacayo
Jasi Maria Lanya
Suzanne Clare LaRosa
William LaRosa
Susana Latorre
Elaine Lazzaris, Artist
R.J. Legge
Rosario Lopez-Rivera, United Church of Christ Congregational, Plainfield
Paul Mendoza, Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach
Renata Moreira, Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach
Roberto Napoleon
Norman Ortega
Rev. Damaris Ortega, United Church of Christ Congregational, Plainfield
Anthony Papaleo
Rita Papaleo
Araya Perez
Rev. Gregory Perez, Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Margaret Ramos
Aida Rawlins, civil rights leader
Cristal Reyes, civil rights leader
Wanda Rios
Anna “Cuqui” Rivera, Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey
Paul Rodriguez
Carmen Salavarrieta, El Centro Hispanoamericano
Al Santiago
Jisandrina Santos
Frank Solano, Association of Hispanic Mental Health Professionals
Nitza Tufino, artist
Virna Vargas, artist
Lia Varsalona
Rossana Villaflor, New Jersey City University
Cristina Villaflor, New Jersey City University
Sergio Villamizar, New Jersey City University
October 25, 2006 by savvyplanners.com ·
STATEMENT ON TODAY’S (NJ) RULING
from Steven Goldstein, chair of
Those who would view today’s Supreme Court ruling as a victory for same-sex couples are dead wrong. So help us God,
Let decision makers from
As the late Lt. Laurel Hester and too many other cases across
That’s why it wouldn’t matter if the legislature added all the rights in the world to the current law without calling it marriage. Marriage is the only currency of commitment the real world universally understands and accepts.
We’re not seeking marriage merely for some moral, ethereal victory. We’re seeking marriage because
Our community has a stunning track record, with victory after victory, when our fate is our own hands rather than in a court’s. So right here and now, without wasting a moment, Garden State Equality kicks off its Campaign for a Marriage Equality Statute with these initial steps:
1. A GSE television commercial for marriage equality starring the late police officer Lt. Laurel Hester, known and loved throughout the state, begins in a few hours on News 12 New Jersey. It will air every single day and run for several weeks…
2. GSE today releases a communique from 268 key New Jersey grassroots leaders, a stunning cross-section of New Jersey’s progressive electoral base, urging Governor Corzine and the Democratic-controlled state legislature to respect today’s decision. Unprecedented in scope, the communique is signed by 84 African-American leaders, 68 Latino leaders, 54 labor leaders, and 62 leaders of grassroots advocacy organizations that are predominantly straight.
3. GSE will now create and lead a Statewide Task Force for a Marriage Equality Statute that will bring together the leadership and political savvy of 150 organizations across New Jersey, both straight and LGBTI.
4. GSE’s “Equality Express” bus will now tour the entire state on upcoming weekends, with same-sex and opposite-sex couples talking to New Jerseyans about marriage equality. The first weekend tours will be to houses of worship across the state.
5. GSE will now accelerate implementation of “Awesome Autumn,” our recently announced whirlwind of more than 50 public events across the state in just the next three months. It’s the most concentrated, most ambitious statewide barnstorm ever produced by a public interest organization in New Jersey.
6. Because GSE understands that all politics is local, GSE’s District Leaders — leading the organization in each of New Jersey’s 40 legislative districts — now swing into immediate action to implement long-planned district-by-district grassroots campaigns.
That’s the tip of the iceberg. Garden State Equality will shortly rollout DOZENS OF MORE ACTIONS including the next town meetings in our statewide town meeting series for marriage equality — a series attended by more than 10,000 New Jerseyans and two-thirds of the state legislature since January 2003, and credited with transforming grassroots activism.
As you’ve seen from Garden State Equality’s hundreds of events and thousands of e-mails over the past few years — a breathless pace of activity that’s not going to abate, so help us God — we never give up and we never give in to those who tell us no.
Hell no. Over our dead bodies will we settle for less than 100% marriage equality. The people of New Jersey wouldn’t want us to. According to the 2006 Zogby-Garden State Equality Poll, New Jersey favors marriage equality by 56% to 39%. Every other recent poll in New Jersey also shows a majority of voters favor marriage equality.
We will continue to exhaust our opponents until we win the marriage equality our families deserve. We will continue to outthink, outwork and outhustle the hatemongers every step of the way.
You must attend tonight’s rally to tell legislators that anything less than 100% marriage equality is unacceptable. Right now, please call and forward this e-mail to all your friends to get them to the rally. There have never been circumstances more important than this. We’ll see you tonight at 7 pm, Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church Street.
Yours in history,
Steven Goldstein, Chair, Garden State Equality“
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