I am amazed by the wonderful people who came and supported our community tonight, gay and straight alike. I will post more tomorrow when I can catch my breath and collect my thoughts. Thank you to everyone!

Through tears and heartache we struggle with the questions of how and why
We stand here not knowing if we have what it takes to give it another try
 
I ask each of you to take some time to mourn and then to find your inner peace
This chapter is closed but our story is still being written with every strike of the keys
 
That, which does not kill us, only makes us stronger
We need to fight back and be silent no longer
 
We cannot accept this as defeat; we must forge ahead without falter
Until every man and every woman can join together at the alter
 
The next leg of our journey is about to begin
There is much to be done before 2010
 
Believe in yourselves, that you can make a difference, you are able and ready
Take comfort in knowing that you have a friends hand to help keep you steady
 
I’m offering you my blood, sweat and tears
My reassuring smile to help ease your fears
 
I will be with you each step of the way
To be your support if you happen to sway
 
United we stand, divided we fall
Let us work together to ensure equality for all
 
Harvey Milk always said, “Never blend in” and “I’m here to recruit you”
Those are wise words and exactly what we must do
 
We need to recruit our army, prepare and gather the masses
It's about time we kick some homophobic asses
 
This next campaign will be won through human connections, not wealth
We need to start building those bridges and share our stories of self
 
Your voices are powerful so use them to promote
Now get out there warriors and let’s repeal this vote!

Please plan on showing up a little early to D-Day tonight. Channel 30 wants to go live at 6:00 pm so we will be starting right on time! Come earlier if you would be willing to do an interview.

This is the time to let our voices be heard and our strength be shown. This battle has ended, but the fight is far from over!

Please remember to be respectful with your anger. We need to reach out to the community, not push them away. Thank you for your cooperation.

Ralph and I could have been legally married when we had the chance to do so. We
decided that when we got married we wanted it to be on our Anniversary which is
January 12th. We discussed it and agreed that no voter should have the right to
tell us when we 'have' to get married. So the time frame to get married closed
after the election. Today the California Supreme Court's decision informed us
that we should have got married while we have the chance since those who did get
married are still legally married. Guess what? The California Supreme Court's
decision does NOT change our love for one another. We still had our 33 Year
Anniversary on Jan. 12th and we still are in love. Life is the Ying and the
Yang (the good and the bad). Today feels like the great and the sad. Great for
those who are still legally married and sad for those of us who can't get
legally married. John Mayers song "Waiting On The World To Change" is
not about gay marriage but it easily could be. There WILL be a day when gay
marriage will be legal and I know that because there are way too many of us that
will not give up the struggle for marriage equality until it is the law of the
land in the U.S.A. See you at Meet In The Middle!!

Well, the day is finally here and the news was as expected. I am saddened for my fellow LGBTQ community who will not enjoy full equality. I am jubilent for those married couples who get to remain so, with legal recognition. If you would like to read the Supreme Court release CLICK HERE.

Please come out to be supported and show your support for our community. Let the majority see us and hear us. We may have lost this round but the fight is far from over. Onward we march!

D-Day Tonight! 6:00pm, Tulare County Courthouse-Visalia

I wanted to share the Courage Campaign's Press Release with you. I am publishing this with their permission. It has some good information and emphasis on some of the issues we are dealing with and how we should pursue the next phase of our journey.

PRESS RELEASE

Courage Campaign statement on Supreme Court's Proposition 8 decision now scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, May 26
700,000-strong group is building grassroots infrastructure

LOS ANGELES -Today, the California Supreme Court announced it will issue its ruling on the three legal challenges to Proposition 8 on Tuesday, May 26. Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the 700,000-member Courage Campaign issued the following statement:
"While we are optimistic the California Supreme Court will rule in favor of marriage equality, the Courage Campaign and other organizations have been building the infrastructure necessary to win or defend marriage equality rights at the ballot box.
"If the court upholds Proposition 8, the organizations involved in the marriage equality movement will need to determine whether to support placing an initiative on the ballot in 2010 or 2012.
"While the tide is turning nationally, restoring marriage equality to California will not be easy. But we know in our hearts that time is on our side, that justice will prevail, and that equality will be ours."
The Courage Campaign has taken a lead role in the fight to repeal Proposition 8, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Californians to sign petitions, organize local media events and share their stories. Since January, the Courage Campaign has been training and empowering marriage equality activists across the state at "Camp Courage" training events as well as building 24 "Equality Teams" across California -- serving the organizations and individuals that are fueling the movement toward marriage equality.

Please see the appended fact sheet below to learn more about the Courage Campaign's activities.
 

COURAGE CAMPAIGN FACT SHEET
Since last November's election, the Courage Campaign has acted to channel the new, post-Prop 8 grassroots energy that fueled Barack Obama's victory. The Courage Campaign's is providing more than 700,000 members with the tools, skills and infrastructure necessary to build a permanent grassroots movement that will win, defend and protect marriage equality.

Conducting Intensive Training: The Courage Campaign is leading the effort to train volunteers to become field organizers through a program called Camp Courage. Modeled after Camp Obama, these intensive one or two-day programs have been instrumental in channeling the enthusiasm of activists into effective action. More than 700 activists have been trained in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Oakland. Seven more Camp Courage trainings are planned, with a minimum of one per month for the next year. Camp Courage will next be in Sacramento and East Los Angeles.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/CampCourage

Coordinating Online: The Courage Campaign is using the same online organizing tools the Obama campaign used to contact, identify, and persuade voters (Blue State Digital and the Voter Activation Network). The project aims to put well-supported voter file technology and voter contact tools directly in the hands of marriage equality activists. The shared database of the VAN, as well as the tools found at the Courage Campaign's Equality Hub, will allow for coordinated field efforts to maximize one-on-one contact with voters.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/EqualityHub

Mobilizing Volunteers: For the past two months, volunteer organizers have been talking with voters one-on-one in 15 counties, including 7 in the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills - counties where Prop 8 won significantly. So far, these Equality Teams have walked in more than 30 canvasses statewide, with more taking place every weekend. These teams will be the backbone of any future campaign efforts.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/EqualityTeams

Building for the Long-Term: The Courage Campaign is dedicated to building a permanent online and offline progressive political infrastructure.  We have full-time field staff located across California supporting the efforts of 24 volunteer Equality Teams.

Partnering with Progressive Organizations: The Courage Campaign also has worked with several people and organizations that have become lead sponsors of Camp Courage, including the Human Rights Campaign, CREDO Mobile, Honor PAC and the Dolby Family. The Courage Campaign has also partnered with nearly 100 progressive organizations to promote Meet in the Middle for Equality, a major rally that will take place in Fresno the first Saturday after the California Supreme Court rules on the legal challenges to Proposition 8.

http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com

The Courage Campaign believes that by training community organizers and sharing resources like staff support and access to the voter file, we can win -- not just in Los Angeles, or San Francisco, but in the heartland of California.

 
The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and equality in California.
Rick Jacobs is the founder and chair of the Courage Campaign. He chaired Howard Dean's presidential campaign in California. He is also the co-founder of Brave New Films and a featured contributor to Arianna Huffington's Huffingtonpost.com. Rick has an extensive background as an international investor and senior executive. 

The Supreme Court will be announcing their verdict on Prop 8 this Tuesday, May 26th around 10:00am. See release HERE. Please join us in Visalia that evening to let our voices be heard!! We will join in devastation or celebration. WE NEED YOU THERE!

When:    Tuesday, May 26th at 6:00 pm

Where:    Tulare County Courthouse in Visalia, 221 S. Mooney Blvd.

There is power in numbers!! We only have 4 days to get the word out, please help and tell your family, friends and neighbors. Heck, complete strangers will work too! :)

MITM will be March 30th. Join us for this epic event and be a part of history!

COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER AND WHOEVER YOU ARE!!

There are some wonderful ladies doing some wonderful things! You can read the PRESS RELEASE HERE. There will be a canned food drive at the Meet in the Middle rally. Proceeds will be going to feed Fresno's well known "Tent City". I'm calling on you Tulare County to help out those in need. We've all been there on some level and never know when misfortune may happen our way. Please do what you can to help out!

What to bring: Canned Food, Rice, Beans, Water, Non-perishible food items, unused toiletries

In addition to bringing in food for tent city, they are also trying to get items for an event in Fresno on June 6th. This is a memorial service being hosted by Al, a gentlemen who was homeless and lost his wife as a result of not receiving proper hospital care. She was mildly treated for an infection, put in a taxi and dropped off in a field. She died a short time later. Al is now in an apartment doing good things for good people. He is hosting this memorial service for his wife and all homeless people who have lost their lives. They are expecting around 300 people. His event has the need for the following items:

PLATES
FORKS
SPOONS
BEVERAGES & BOTTLED WATER
NAPKINS
CHIP'S, ANY KIND
PASTA, PREFERABLY  ELBOW MACARONI
PASTRIES & BREAD IF THEY WILL NOT SPOIL

I hope you can all find a little room in your hearts and a little change in your wallets. Let's not get so caught up in our fight that we forget the struggles of others. I personally thank you for anything you can do to contribute. I also would like to thank Felicia Carbajal for having the vision and passion to reach out to people and truly make a difference.

 You’re  invited……  
 
      AIDS/LifeCycle Open House
Stop by to send us off…….. Thank our donors, have some food & fun (swim, ping-pong) & sign our log so we can take you with us.  
 
Thursday, May 28^th  
6:00 – 8:30 pm 
3800 N University 
Visalia, CA  
  
R.S.V.P.  Hope or Scott 635-8862 
Want to bring a potluck dish? Yep, certainly! 

 Who is this TED G? It's the Tuesday Evening Dining Group, a social club that started with three friends last September and has grown to gatherings with up to 50 people. Steve Vollmer is one of the founders, and he said the idea started simply and spread by word of mouth.

Read the rest of the article HERE.