Day of Decision Nears

Dear Members,

Momentum, momentum, momentum…

Last week, Iowa became the first state in the Midwest to legalize same-sex marriage. And, on Tuesday, Vermont has now become the fourth state in the nation to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. To top it off, also on Tuesday, our nation’s capital has moved closer to full equality by choosing to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples from other states.

While we wait anxiously here in California for the Supreme Court to issue their decision, weeks like these remind us that we are in it for the long haul! And, in the end, we will be triumphant! No matter what the ultimate decision may be, time is on our side, momentum is on our side, and we must be prepared to launch full-sail once the decision comes down.

Here in California, the Day of Decision is quickly approaching. While no firm date is yet in place, most legal experts expect a decision to be rendered sometime between mid-April and mid-May.

API Equality is working with local groups to organize a media response and rally on D-Day. While we cannot be sure what the ultimate decision will be, many expect the CA Supreme Court to uphold Prop 8 while maintaining the validity of the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Prop 8’s passage.

But, win or lose, when the decision comes down we need to ensure that we are ready to mobilize, speak out, and continue to build the necessary support for full equality both in the letter and the spirit of the law.

With that in mind, we need your help!

TAKE ACTION

We are looking for couples, families, advocates, single folks, youth, and others to join our Speaker’s Bureau and speak out on D-Day and after. If you are conversant in English or an API language, particularly in Mandarin/Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, please sign-up to join us. We will provide training and talking points to all potential speakers. (Please contact apiequality@caasf.org with your name(s), phone number, who you are (i.e. couple, student, advocate, etc…), ethnicity, and languages spoken.)

Additionally, we want to organize a large API contingent to join us in a rally and march on Decision Day. We are also seeking volunteers to join us on Decision Day to help us recruit volunteers to join us in our outreach efforts in the Bay Area. Since, at most, we will have 24 hours to organize so please join our Facebook group and become a fan. We’ll be sending out an events link as we hear more. (Click here to join!)

Finally, as we move forward in the fight, regardless of the decision, we will need to be proactive and share our stories and let people into our lives wherever we can. Therefore, API Equality is compiling a list of any and all upcoming events (Membership meetings, Organizational Banquets, Festivals and Fairs, Conferences, etc…). If you know of any events, small or large, that we should target to get the word out and continue to build support, please let us know. (Event suggestions should be sent to Choon Chong, choonkiat@hotmail.com )

Thanks again for all your help!

In solidarity,

Tawal