vote NO on 8!

Hello.

Kelly and I went to a 'No on 8' fundraiser over in the Ferry building last night. (Measure 8 would revoke gay marriage rights in California).

The big news: 3 months ago we had this election in the bag and now we're polling 8 points behind.

How did that happen? Well, for starters, the Catholic and Mormon churches launched a nationwide campaign to get people to donate money to fight gay marriage. The 'Yes on 8' campaign has raised $10 million more than the No on 8 campaign and that's the main reason we're losing. Gay marriage opponents are saturating the radio and TV networks with ads and we can't keep up.

In short, folks, the No On 8 campaign needs MONEY. And that's why I'm writing to you.

A great tidbit from EQCA's Geoff Kors last night -- when swing voters hear BOTH the Yes on 8 and the No on 8 commericals, they almost always choose to vote No. Our message is powerful and it is resonating but we don't have enough funds to run the ads in all the places and markets we'd like.

So I'm asking you do donate. Right now. Pull out your credit card and go give 50 bucks to No on 8 (or more if you can).
www.eqca.org/www.noonprop8.com/
$50 is like what -- a dinner date without drinks? You can swing that, right? ;)

If you're too short on cash to donate money, go to the No on 8 headquarters on Market street (right near Cafe Flor, upstairs where Tower Records used to be) and volunteer. All you have to do is show up -- Holly will put you to work phone banking. They train you, they have the phones set up, and you'll have moral support. And the shifts are only 3 hours long.
( Outside of SF? Go here for you nearest field office: www.noonprop8.com/action/field-offices )

"As California goes, so goes the nation"None of us has the option to just sit on the sidelines. Come November 4th California is going to send one of two messages to the rest of the world:
- "Times have changed, the American spirit of fairness trumps bigotry"
or
- "Discriminatory ballot measures work even in liberal California -- just follow the blueprint from measure 8"

Fortunately, you've still got time to change the outcome.

At last night's fundraiser, Mark Leno told us about a working-class Mormon family with a stay-at-home mom and 5 children living in a 3 bedroom house in Sac. They gave $50,000 to the Yes On 8 campaign. $50,000! ( www.sacbee.com/religion/story/1308945.html ). And Kel and I thought we'd given a lot by donating $10,000.
But that, my friends, is what we're up against. We can't do this without your help.

Please give generously. We *CAN* still win this.
Oh, and of course, VOTE!

Much Love and Thanks--
: brian and kelly

ps. Anyone with in-state friends or relatives -- please call them and tell them how important their vote is on this issue.

pps. i'm going to be reposting some of my favorite shots from May's Gay Marriage Victory Party in the Castro. I want to remind people what an amazing outpouring of joy that day was and how we need to ride that wave into shore!