Take Action Today!!!

Washington:

Who we are: Approve Referendum 71 is the campaign to preserve domestic partnerships in Washington State. By voting to approve, voters retain the domestic partnership laws that were passed during this year's legislative session, including using sick leave to care for a partner, adoption rights, insurance rights, and more.

What we need: We need phone bankers to get our supporters out to vote. Washington is an all mail-in ballot state, and we need to ensure our supporters put their ballots in the mail. Also, youth turnout is a critical component of our campaign, and youth turnout historically drops in off-year elections. So we need a lot of help to turn them out.

How you do it: Sign up here to make remote calls for Approve 71. We'll then contact you for a training, and you can make GOTV calls.

Maine:

Who we are: The No On 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign is working to protect Maine's recently-passed law legalizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Our opponents have put the issue on the ballot for Nov 3, 2009. Because of Maine's early voting election laws, people are already voting at the polls, so we need help immediately to turn out our side at the polls.

What we need: We need you to devote a few hours to Call for Equality. Call for Equality is a virtual phonebank set up so that you can call Maine voters wherever you are. Much of Maine is rural, where canvassing isn't effective, so we need to reach these voters- along with other supporters- by phone. All you need is a phone and internet connection. No experience required! We'll provide the training, and all you need is a a few hours to help get a win in Maine.

How you do it: Click here to sign up for a training and your shift. There are lots of times available for your convenience.

Kalamazoo, MI:

Who We Are: The Yes on Ordinance 1856 / One Kalamazoo campaign is working in Michigan to support the City Commission of Kalamazoo's twice approved ordinance for housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for gay and transgender residents. Opponents forced a public referendum on the ordinance so dedicated local volunteers, led by former Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley, are working to ensure voters say YES to fairness and equality and keep Ordinance 1856.

Why The Urgency: In the final weeks, the opposition has gone all out with aggressive disinformation and misleading red herrings to try to defeat the ordinance. This includes signs that say "No to Discrimination" (even though voting No actually supports continued discrimination of GLBT residents), transphobic door hangers and fliers, and now radio ads that falsely suggest that criminal behavior will become legal when this simply isn't true. The Yes on Ordinance 1856 supporters are better organized but many voters who want to vote for gay and transgender people are getting confused by the opposition.

How To Help:

1) Help the One Kalamazoo campaign raise a final $10,000 specifically dedicated to fight back against the lies on the local TV and radio airwaves and fully fund the campaign's final field and GOTV efforts.

Give here: http://www.actblue.com/page/3-2-1-countdown

2) If you live nearby and can physically volunteer in Kalamazoo sign up here. If you know anyone that lives in Kalamazoo, use the One Kalamazoo campaign's online canvass tool to remind those voters that they need to vote on November 3rd and vote YES on Ordinance 1856 to support equality for gay and transgender people.

Contact voters: http://www.onekalamazoo.com/tellfriends2

Judy Shepard talks about Matthew Shepard with Ellen

Today Ellen welcomed Matthew Shepard's mother, Judy Shepard, to talk about her new book recounting her son's murder. In a heartbreaking interview, she shared what happened that day, and more.

Buju Banton Eureka Show Canceled! (Update)

Buju Banton

Eureka Show Canceled!

The previously scheduled October 11 Buju Banton show at Nocturnum in Eureka has been canceled.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to Queer Humboldt from Carol Bruno of People Productions:

This email is to confirm to you that after lengthy consideration, Gil and myself decided that we will cancel the upcoming Buju Banton concert at the Nocturnum Nightclub scheduled for the October 11th, 2009.
We have been diligently speaking with the management and various activists over the past two weeks in an effort to help establish a dialogue for discussions. We care about our local gay community.
Buju did issue a statement today that we have forwarded to you today, but it doesn’t change our decision.
We will continue towards positive, constructive solutions.
We regret any inconveniences this has caused to our community.




Buju writes:

“Throughout my travels as an artist, I have witnessed first hand the senseless atrocities being suffered by innocent people around the world and my heart goes out to them. I do not condone violence against anyone, including gays, and I have spent my career rallying against violence and injustice through music. At this point, I can only hope that my body of work speaks for itself and that anyone still offended by the lyrics of my youth will take the time to explore my catalog or come to one of my shows before reducing my character and entire musical repertoire to a single song.”
Buju Banton 10/5/09

From Gil Miracle:

An open letter to the LGBT community, other Allies, and Humboldt County at large,

The past week has been very difficult for me, both personally and professionally. I have endured hateful attacks on my character and my family and friends have been drawn into the war of words. I would like to state unequivocally that I always have been and always will be an ally to the LGBT community and it hurts me to think that, due to this proposed event, public perception might be otherwise.

 Carol Bruno, of People Productions, and I assumed that the controversy that has surrounded this performer in the past was just that – in the past. Unfortunately we found that these tensions have not been eased and the pain is still all too visceral. For this reason, we have jointly decided to cancel the scheduled performance and we encourage the community to continue the dialogue that has begun. As a new business in a struggling economy it is worth noting that this decision does not come without a painful financial cost.

 I want to thank the concerned citizens who sent me thoughtful, intelligent and eloquent messages illustrating their point of view. In a fractured world it is encouraging to see our community, gay, straight, or otherwise, coalesce around themes of unity, love and equality. I am proud to be a member of this community and I am thankful for the response my business has received in the six short months we have been operating.

Please feel free to send any further correspondence to the email address below. I hope to see all of you at future events at Nocturnum.

 Sincerely,
Gil Miracle
Nocturnum
High Art Productions
 gilmiracle@sbcglobal.net

Nocturnum, People Productions and Dead Gays

Buju Banton, Dead Gays and

Nocturnum/People Productions

"Send fi di matic an

Di Uzi instead

Shoot di batty boy

Come if we shot dem"

Buju Banton

Carol Bruno (People Productions) and Gil Miracle (Nocturnum) are teaming up to bring hate singer Buju Banton to Eureka on October 11. Banton is the one who wrote the words above, the words that advocate shooting gay people dead with Uzi submachine guns. He has neither apologized for nor retracted his words. He still sings these words.

Have you ever wondered what a gay person looks like after being shot? Examining the crime scene photos from the August shootings at a Tel Aviv gay youth center lets one knows just what Buju Banton sings about in his hate music.

This photo makes it clear that gay people really do bleed after being shot. Just look at the blood splattered on this young man's leg.

Gays also clearly feel pain and need medical attention after being shot by homophobes. Look at the above photo and note the young gay person's suffering.

Gay people also die after being shot. Three people were killed in Tel Aviv.

Clearly there is no joy in a gay shooting except for the pleasure of those advocating and executing the violence. Gay people bleed, suffer and die just as non-gays do. This is why it is so hurtful and disturbing to have an singer come to town who has lyrics like these:

"Dem haffi dead

Boom bye bye

Inna batty bwoy head

Rude boy no promote no nasty man

Dem haffi dead"

The owner of Nocturnum is Gil Miracle. His phone number is 7076-499-0163. His email address is gilmiracle@sbcglobal.net.

The owner of the production company bringing Buju Banton to Eurkea is Carol Bruno of People Productions. Her phone number is 707-923-4599. Her email ispeople@peopleproductions.net.

Call and write Gil Miracle and Carol Bruno and tell them that hate hurts. Let them know that they should not be making blood money by presenting hate music in Eureka.

See also:

Buju Banton and Hate at Nocturnum

and

Buju Banton Protest Heats Up

and

Humboldt Against Hate

Buju Banton and Hate at Nocturnum

Club Nocturnum and

Homophobe Buju Banton

At first I did not believe reports that homophobic reggae performer Buju Banton will be performing at club Nocturnum (206 W. 6th St., Eureka) on October 11. After all, this is the singer who has advocated the genocide of gay people and October 11 is National Coming Out Day.

Sadly, though, Banton is indeed scheduled to perform. The Humboldt Herald has the details. Humboldt Against Hate has more details here.

Banton is the author and singer of the song Boom Byebye which contains this chorus:

"Me say: Boom bye bye

Inna batty bwoy head

Rude bwoy no promote the nasty man

Dem haffi dead

Boom bye bye

Inna batty bwoy head

Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man

Dem haffi dead."

Yes, that's right---shoot the gay guy in the head. People Productions and Nocturnum are treating Eureka to a reggae artist that advocates deadly violence against gays.

At one point Banton did sign the Reggae Compasionate act that states: "There's no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia." However, after signing he then went on to perform Boom ByeBye in a public concert and later denied signing the pledge.

Now he has two words for the gay people who have protested his concerts across the U.S.: "Fuck them." He stated in an interview, "I have never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16 years ago."

IF he bashed gays? He can't remember? And since when are homophobic lyrics not a form of bashing?

Fortunately, concerned people have begun to speak up. Because of that, one sponsor--Northwest Horticulture Supply--stated that "we were made aware of this controversy this morning. We were previously unaware of any hateful lyrics by this artist. After checking out the lyrics personally, we are pulling all involvement with this show."

Now other responsible people need to be contacted. Gil Miracle is the owner of Nocturnum. His phone number is 707-499-0163. His email address is gilmiracle@sbcglobal.net

The owner of the production company bringing Buju Banton to Eureka is Carol Bruno of People Productions. Her phone number is 707-923-4599 and email is people@peopleproductions.net.

I have already called and written, although I was only able to reach answering machines. I will keep calling until I speak to Gil Miracle and Carol Bruno personally.

If enough people contact these two people, then maybe Buju Banton and the hate will be pulled out of club Nocturnum and Eureka. I hope everyone reading this takes the time to call and register a protest against an artist who promotes genocide against gay people.

If that fails and the concert goes on, then a protest will be held in front of the club. Follow those details and others here.

VIDEO: Special event Saturday in Eureka

What will it take to repeal Prop 8?

Neighborhood organizing. That's how we'll change the hearts and minds of Californians on marriage equality.

Just like Barack Obama did across America, the Courage Campaign is building a grassroots army from the ground up in California. Grassroots volunteers have helped us build 44 Equality Teams in 23 counties -- community members who are changing the conversation on same-sex marriage, door-to-door, neighbor-to-neighbor, across our state.

This Saturday, October 3, Hope Wood, Northern California Field Manager for the Courage Campaign -- will be coming to Eureka for a "Northern Coast Story of Now: Courage Family Potluck" -- an intimate discussion involving members of your community in the fight to restore marriage equality and Courage's vision for the campaign to repeal Prop 8.

Check out "Fearless" -- a compelling video about our Equality Teams and the wonderful people who are getting involved in communities across California. Then RSVP for Saturday's "Northern Coast Story of Now: Courage Family Potluck" in Eureka:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StoryOfNow

In the coming months, Equality Teams across California will be:

• Identifying undecided voters door-to-door and persuading them to support marriage equality.
• Acting as the voice for your area on coordinated statewide actions with the Courage Campaign.
• Calling voters in Maine to help the "NO on 1" campaign protect marriage equality.
• Organizing locally to put on community-specific events, in collaboration with local grassroots organizations.

All of this and more will be discussed at this special Courage Family Potluck.

Will you join Hope Wood and the Humboldt Equality Team on Saturday in Eureka? Please watch our "Fearless" Equality Teams video and RSVP now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StoryOfNow

If you know a friend who should come to this potluck, please forward this message along.

Thank you for everything you are doing to support marriage equality and push for a more progressive California.

Eden James
Managing Director, Courage Campaign

The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country.

To power our campaign to repeal Prop 8, please chip in what you can today:

Your Invited: Courage Campaign Potluck in Eureka

Please join Courage Campaign's Humboldt Equality Team,

Northern CA Field Manager, Hope Wood

& Humboldt Pride

Board Member, Justin Pabalate

in Eureka

at

The Courage Campaign’s

Story of Now Potluck

for an intimate discussion about

the Courage Campaign’s Equality Teams, Deputy Field Organizer Program,

vision for the next campaign & ongoing outreach strategies in our area and surrounding counties.



Saturday, October 3, 2009

6:30 PM to 9 PM



at Umpqua Bank Plaza Conference Room

2426 6th Street , Eureka , CA 95501

*Please RSVP as space is limited to 50 at

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/event/detail/equalityteamevent/wvh


NOTE: Social mixer will take place from 6:30-7 p.m.; The main program begins at 7 p.m.

Maine Equality

Greetings from Maine! I just arrived here on a red-eye to help out Maine's "No on 1" campaign to protect marriage equality, so please forgive this note on a Sunday.

Before I could pull out my laptop and get to work, campaign manager Jesse Connolly grabbed me and brought me into his office. Jesse asked if there was any way that I could get an email to you with an urgent plea: The campaign just made a big statewide ad buy, but they are $30,000 short. They need the cash in the next 48 hours to fight back against a new fear-mongering TV ad the "Yes on 1" campaign is now airing in Maine.

This lie-filled ad is a carbon copy of an ad aired by the Yes on Prop 8 campaign in California last year. Same playbook. Same footage. Different "teacher."

Jesse and the Maine No on 1 campaign need your help immediately to cover the costs of the response ad buy.

Check out this video showing the latest ad from the Yes side, compared side by side to the nearly identical ad by the Prop 8 campaign last year. Then contribute what you can afford to stop another Prop 8 and reach the $30,000 goal by Wednesday at 11:59 PM:

http://www.actblue.com/page/CourageForMaine

With just six weeks to go until the November 3 election, a poll was just released showing the No on 1 campaign down by two points -- 48 to 46 percent. We can win this, but it's going to take all of us working together from the volunteers making calls in this office in Portland, Maine, to you taking action from your computer in Eureka to defeat the scaremongers.

The opposition has hired Schubert/Flint -- the same consultants who launched and won Prop 8 -- to run the same campaign in Maine. Predictably, they are working from the same playbook to take away marriage equality from Mainers, spreading lies about children in schools and fear about religion.

Remember the California ad last year that tried to scare voters with a lie that their kids would be taught about gay marriage in elementary school? Well, they just replaced the California teacher with a Maine teacher -- only this teacher is a right-wing fanatic that teaches in a conservative Christian private school.

You gotta see these ads side by side to believe it. Watch the video now and help the No on 1 campaign fight back by reaching this $30,000 goal on ActBlue by Wednesday at midnight:

http://www.actblue.com/page/CourageForMaine

We can't let Prop 8 happen again. Don't let them take marriage equality away from Mainers.

Thanks everyone,

Julia Rosen
Online Political Director, Courage Campaign

P.S.: Jesse wanted me to pass on his personal thanks to the Courage Campaign Equality Team volunteers who are making calls into Maine. It's been a huge help to the campaign.

---

The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California.

Remembering 9/11 and Mark Bingham

More about Mark Bingham at http://markbingham.com/

Jennifer Baker's Lawyer Contacts Rite Aid

"I would still like to ask everyone locally

to tell someone you know not to use Rite Aid."

Jennifer Baker

Jennifer Baker, a Humboldt transgendered person who was discriminated against by a McKinley Rite Aid pharmacist, has posted a new message on her blog here. The blog entry is reposted below.

"Hello and thanks so much for your kind comments and for re-posting this blog.

I should start with saying a huge thank you to Karin at Humboldt Unity and Matt at the Transgender Law Center for being incredible people and helping to make sure that this type of discrimination doesn't happen to someone else in our community.

I have tried to add a link to the letter written on my behalf from the Transgender Law Center to several Rite Aid executives and local Management. They were also very help full with sending me the direct link to the complaint forms for the California Pharmacy Board and a public accommodations complaint with the California Dept, of fair employment and housing.

I'm fairly certain that this Rite Aid is not going to forget this for quite some time. I would still like to ask everyone locally to tell someone you know not to use Rite Aid."

Jennifer Baker

Read Jennifer's letter to Rite Aid executives and local management here.