A couple of days ago I wrote a diary entitled Stay for Change.  I am encouraging Californians to stay in the state.  Walk precincts and make calls here in California.  And despite all the text messages and emails you get, please we need you here!

We need you here to defeat Prop 8, so that we retain marriage equality and we aren’t stuck with a second class citizenship. We need you here at home, so that we can defeat Proposition 4 to preserve the safety of our teens and choice in California. We need you here to help kick start the greatest public works project in a generation with California’s High Speed Rail project (Prop 1A).

And we need you here to elect More And Better Democrats.  Across California we are fighting for a reasonable budget. A budget that doesn’t get defined by the race to the bottom Republicans. To do that, we need 2/3 majorities in both the Senate and the Assembly.  Admittedly that will be tough, perhaps even impossible in the Senate. But the closer we get to 2/3, the easier it is to pass a reasonable budget. In the Senate, Hannah-Beth Jackson (19th) is our best shot to pick up a seat. In the Assembly we have some great candidates. You’ll find two, Alyson Huber (AD-10) and Manuel Perez (AD-80) on The Calitics ActBlue Page.

But while the need for money is omnipresent, we need boots on the ground.  So, Stay for Change so that California can be the first state to stand up for equality. Stay for Change. Let’s tell the Republicans that they can’t just cut and cut and cut into the heart of our budget, and expect to find a solution.

This is California. We have the people right here in this state to defeat these terrible props, and accomplish our goals.  But we need some progressives to stay here in California.

So, if you would like to travel, I have provided a list of exotic locales where you can help some great candidates right here in California.  And if you would like to help right at home, well there are offices for No on Prop 8 across the state. You can find events to protect teen safety by defeating Prop 4 right here.

Stay for Change, and click here for contact info for lots of candidates.

• An update on a previous story I wrote about Knobbe Martens, the law firm for whom I used to work.  While I included the $25K+ worth of contributions to Yes on Prop 8, I neglected to mention that there were at least $2K of contributions to No on 8. So, to those attorneys at Knobbe who stand on the side of equality: Thank you.

• Here are some photos from a No on Prop 8 fundraiser in LA last night.  I think in one of those pictures you can see former Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez dancing the Robot.  Get Funky!  The event raised about $3.9 million for No on 8, including some interesting fundraising techniques and performances from Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige. From Karen Ocamb at Bilerico:

Bruce Cohen, the Oscar-winning producer who co-produced the event, brought her back onstage to announce that a gay couple was pledging $50,000 if Etheridge would sing at their wedding. She said yes and the crowd erupted in applause.

*  *  *  *  *

With heads bobbing, and couples clutching each other’s hands, Bruce Cohen dancing wildly, the scene looked and felt more like a secular revival than a political concert. Blige opened up about how she had survived being her own worse enemy, when on one would accept her – and “you say, ‘No more…no more pain, no more tears…” as tears started welling up in the eyes of those listening, identifying. “I chose to win!” she said, raising her fist in the air – to screams of glee and thunderous applause.

• And here we have another lying Prop 8 video. Despite the fact that California law allows parents to pull their students out of any class they deem objectionable, despite the BYU law professor who wrote that these claims were not true.  This isn’t subjective. This isn’t open to various opinions. This is the law.  And the Religious Right is lying to you, to me, and to 37 million Californians.

It’s up to all these Californians to see through the lies of the Religious Right. It’s up to us to say that they can’t come to California from Utah, from Colorado, from wherever and change our laws and to write discrimination into the constitution. It’s up to Californians to say No on Prop 8, we treat all Californians equally.

I have nothing but respect for the Obama campaign, its staffers, and the many, many volunteers that have given their blood, sweat, and tears to this campaign.  It is because of their hard work that we are in a position to win the White House.  We should never let off the gas pedal in following through on this election.  While the nominee must attend to his personal affairs, we must pick up the slack.

That all being said, I can’t say that I agree with this email that I just got (and video):

With only 15 days left and early voting already beginning, you can make a big difference by Driving for Change. Watch this video and sign up now to let us know you’re coming to Colorado:

I understand this perspective from the Obama campaign. After all, their job isn’t to fight for Democratic principles or anything high-minded like that. It’s to win the presidential election for their guy, Barack Obama.  And that’s great. But this election is more than just one race. It’s about more than just Barack Obama. A couple of weeks ago, Robert said something similar over at Big Orange. He spoke of an election that’s slipping away from us, right here at home. A historic chance that we are squandering.

So these next two weeks, why don’t you consider just Staying for Change.  Now that doesn’t mean staying for change and spending two hours into a phone bank and that’s it.

Really stay for change. Stay for change by traveling to a new county for Change.  You’re in LA? WHy don’t you help Debbie Cook, who is running in a district that starts in Southern LA County and extends into coastal Orange County. She’s got a debate, well, very soon. It’s her only shot at Dana in person, because he’s been skittish to be seen in person with her. Or if you’d like to go further, how about helping Marty Block in AD-78 or Manuel Perez in AD-80.

Want to really Stay for Change in the Bay Area? Why don’t you head up to the Sacramento area. They have several races that you can spend your weekend working on.  You can walk and doors for Alyson Huber (AD-10) and Bill Durston (CA-03) and help out two great candidates at the same time.  You can drive a few miles east and help out Charlie Brown (CA-04) as he seeks to defeat the carpet-bagging Tom McClintock. Or if you want to stay closer to home, Joan Buchanan (AD-15could use some help in the Contra Costa County area.

And then there are our propositions. We are in very tight races on some of the most important issues of our day: Propositions 4 & 8. Both are slightly ahead in the polls.  While turnout is likely to be high this year, we need to ensure that people follow the ballot down the many, many pages and make those important votes against Prop 4 & 8.  And on the Yes side? Well, in Prop 1A, we have a tremendous opportunity to steer development in our strength in the right direction.

So, while I don’t frequently suggest ignoring emails from Barack Obama, I’m going to do it this time.  Don’t leave the state, but dedicate your time to ensuring that California makes the right decisions this November. And if you want to help Barack Obama, you can make calls right here from the Golden State without pumping all those carbon emissions into the atmosphere. It’s easy and simple to start, just click here and you’ll be making calls for Obama in no time.  Your local county committee can also help you get set up to both make phone calls for Obama as well as Staying for Change.

So, let’s do this: Stay for Change.

Cross posted at Big Orange.

A week or so ago, the legislature held a hearing regarding Proposition 8, the anti-marriage measure. These hearings are required by law to be held for every proposition, but this one, of course, was a bit more interesting.  A future Assemblyman, John Perez, an openly gay community and union leader running to replace the termed out Fabian Nunez, spoke of the inherent discrimination of seperate but equal. Samuel Thoron spoke of the importance to families of marriage equality.

On the other side, you had Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse basically said, “Why do you hate the children? THink of the Children who will be forced to grow up in a loving stable home where two parents love and support them?”

Ok, maybe not so much with the second part of that quote.  I’ve dutifully captured that video (after much labor with a corrupted DVD…let’s just say I spent way too much time on this) and offer it up to you.  Sincere Kudos go out to Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sac) who absolutely put Dr. Morse in her place. Exposing her argument as completely devoid of logic, and that is essentially a pretext.

Asm. Dave Jones:  Would you then tell the older heterosexual couple that they should not get married.

Dr. Morse: No, no I would not say that they shouldnt get married, but what I would say is that if the only kind of couples we had in society are elderly couples who are sterile we wouldnt need an institution of marriage.  You know, we wouldnt need it. So the point is, there are ways to solve–the problems that those couples face as elderly persons who arent going to have any kids

Jones:  Well, why didnt you craft this legislation to allow older gay couples to marry, if kids are the only concern

Morse:Well we thought it was simpler just to go back to the old man-woman definition.

Jones:  Or maybe this isnt about children after all

Morse: Right after this thereès some crazy stuff she gets into about in vitro fertilization becoming an entitlement.  The Rep asks her if she would outlaw In Vitro if the child knowing the biological parent is so important, and she says no.

Jones:  So let me sum this up.  You wouldnt ban infertility centers even though the children there wont know who their biological parents are, you dont agree with baning adoption even though in those circumstances children are not necessarily being raised by their biological parents, youre ok with, um, the adoption of children by gays and lesbians, you dont believe in banning divorce, even though by your own arguments theres been all sorts of analogous studies that indicate that divorce is very very harmful on children.  Um, its hard for me not to conclude that this isnt about protecting children…  I am utterly unconvinced that thats whats going on here.  What s going on here is fundamentally, I believe, an effort to discriminate against a class of people and deprive them of something that everybody else has.

But this is what Prop 8 supporters are attempting to sell both to the loyal flock of the Mormon Church and to the greater state of California.  An argument only thinly veiling its real purpose: to discriminate against one group of Californians, to only exclude those whom you don’t like.  And the lies only continue. The proponents argue that a failure of Prop 8 will lead to churches rocking house remixes of Madonna every Sunday because they have to let the gays take over. And not the good Madonna stuff…the new stuff! Boogy-Boogy-Boogy.

In fact, the Yes on 8 Campaign has gone through and come up with 6 Whole Ways Gay Marriage Will Ruin Your Life and the Life of All Straight Couples With Children. It’s basically a run down of everything you’ve seen in their commercials. You know, children will get taught gay marriage in schools, churches will be forced to marry teh gayz, Churches won’t be able to say anything about teh gayz being evil, and it will cost you tons of money (huh?).

Well, I’m sure I could go through point by point on this ridiculous list. But fortunately, it’s already been done.  Morris Thurston, a lifelong Mormon, long-time partner at Latham & Watkins (a big LA-based law firm), has already gone through point by point and taken them all down.  You can find a mini-post at Mormons for Marriage with the full PDF here or over the flip.

Mr. Thurston goes through each point, and completely rebuts them legally and also from a general logical standpoint. Take Reason #2, for example, churches will lose tax-exempt status if they don’t do same-sex marriages. Nope, says Mr. Thurston:

2. Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public.  Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.

Response:  This false “consequence” is based on the misrepresentation of a case in New Jersey involving an association affiliated with the Methodist Church. In considering that case, it is important to remember that New Jersey does not permit gay marriage, so that case had nothing to do with Proposition 8.  

*  *  *(More info on the New Jersey lawsuit)*  *  *

The California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage cannot have any federal tax consequences, and the Court so noted explicitly in its decision.  The Supreme Court also noted that its ruling would not require any priest, rabbi or minister to perform gay marriages, which should be self-evident because of the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion.    

I’ll let you read the full smack-down of the “6 Reasons” but suffice it to say there’s not much left of the “Reasons” to argue with.  Which isn’t to say that you won’t be seeing them repeated over and over again on TV commercials and from silly talking heads like Dr. Morse, the Right isn’t really known for bowing to the reality of logic.

So, on this Sunday, consider giving to Equality for All, No on Prop 8, through the Calitics ActBlue Page, where we are just $1,500 from hitting $50K. (We’ve also given $2,000 from the Calitics CaliPAC, and another $5K+ from other Calitics pages). You can also do so over at Big Orange, where the Hell to Pay fundraisier has now raised well over $100K to fight back Prop 8.  Thanks to every who has given money to oppose Prop 8. And to everybody who hasn’t, time is of the essence. If you are considering, please do it as soon as possible.

mat-responses-to-six-consequences-if-prop-8-fails-rev-1-1

Over at Daily Kos, the Hell to Pay fundraiser for Equality for All, No on Prop 8 is rolling right along.  We are currently well over $50,000 to fight back against the bigotry of Prop 8.

Head on over there or make a contribution at our own Calitics ActBlue Page. By the way, we’re approaching $50K for Equality for All there as well.

Ellen Degeneres, talk show host and otherwise swell out lesbian, has purchased some time on TV to air this ad.  It’s simple, quick and trades on people’s respect for her.  I think it also puts a face that people recognize on the issue of marriage equality.  I’ve not yet seen how large the buy is, but I’ll try to get that information out when I get it. Press release over the flip.

We’ll be talking about Prop 8 and some of the other props on the ballot on the podcast in just under 30 minutes. Join us at the Calitics Show at noon.

ELLEN BUYS TV TIME FOR ‘NO ON 8’

DeGeneres Ad to Air During Crucial Final Weeks of the Campaign

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, LOS ANGELES – The NO on Prop 8 campaign, Equality for All, is pleased to announce today that Ellen DeGeneres has made a media buy to urge Californians to vote NO on Proposition 8. The effort was partially revealed Tuesday when Ellen released a special video to confront false and misleading scare tactics used by those supporting the proposition. DeGeneres is purchasing television time for her ad to underscore the importance of this fight and broaden the reach of the spot.

Ellen’s message says, “Hi, I’m Ellen DeGeneres. I got to do something this year I never thought I’d ever be able to do: I got married. It was the happiest day of my life. There are people out there raising millions of dollars to try and take that right away from me. You’ve seen their ads on TV. They’re twisting the truth, and they’re trying to scare you. I believe in fairness. I believe in compassion. I believe in equality for all people. Proposition 8 does not. Please, please, vote no on Prop. 8.”

“In her desire to speak directly to the people of California, Ellen has stepped up as only Ellen can,” said Patrick Guerriero, Campaign Director. “Her voice has a tremendous ability to elevate this conversation above the scare tactics and help people understand what’s at stake for the people they know and care about. Her generous contribution to the campaign comes just at the right moment – and is done in a way that ensures her conversation with voters continues to Election Day. And it delivers our message that Proposition 8 is unfair and just plain wrong.”

Ellen’s video can be viewed on line at: www.NoOnProp8.com  

“Fair-minded Californians agree that we should not eliminate the fundamental rights of our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and our family members,” said Kate Kendell, Executive Director of National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Like Ellen, fair-minded Californians are going to vote no on Prop 8.”

The No on 8 Campaign just released a new ad, this time focusing on the elimination of rights.  This is one of the most effective arguments against Prop 8: never before have we voted to eliminate rights, and we shouldn’t now.  It has done well in message testing in focus groups and the like, and if you are talking to friends, I highly suggest the tack. The ad trumpets a few prominent opponents to Prop 8, including the California Teachers Association.

Speaking of CTA, they have just reported a $1 million donation to No on 8.  (h/t Shane Goldmacher) Thank you teachers!

Once upon a time, I was a patent attorney. Yup, I sat in an office and wrote uber-fun stuff.  Good times really.  The firm that I worked for was based in Orange County, and is now the largest law firm in Orange County, Knobbe Martens Olson and Bear.

Why do I tell you about this on a political blog? Well, it’s not because I’m just getting some kicks about talking about my background, rather it’s because Knobbe attorneys also happen to be the largest donor of funds of any of the 200 largest law firms (as judged by the AmLaw 200).

While other major companies, like Google, Levi Strauss and PG&E are taking stands for equality, Knobbe  Martens is taking a stand for writing discrimination into our state constitution, and for affirmatively limiting the rights of a minority.

I should point out that many of the attorneys that I worked with at Knobbe were phenomenal people.  Extremely friendly and all that.  And, as far as I can tell, nobody from the San Francisco office has given any money to the Yes on 8 campaign, the money seems to come only from the mothership in Orange County and the smaller San Diego office.

However, the firm does have a sizable group of Mormon attorneys who are dedicated to ending my marriage, and thousands of lifelong commitments like mine.  Dedicated to the tune of over $25,000 in the third quarter alone.  You can find a chart of third quarter to Yes on 8 from Knobbe Martens attorneys here.  I’ve not taken the time to include spouses, but I did see a couple of them in the list. Further, it is possible I missed a few donations due to misspellings in the firm name on the Form 460.

So, if you are looking for an intellectual property attorney who shares your values of equality for all, I’d keep walking right past the Knobbe Martens offices in San Diego and Orange County.