Support to Defeat Prop 8

Schwarzenegger Won’t Waver on Prop. 8, Aide Says
With California’s antigay Proposition 8 gaining support thanks to a distorted but effective ad campaign, LGBT voters find ourselves worrying: Will politicians continue to stand with us against the proposed amendment?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. After all, before California’s supreme court cleared the way, the Republican governor twice vetoed marriage equality against the will of the state legislature. Yes, he stated at the Log Cabin Republicans convention on April 11 that he’s against Prop. 8, a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to rescind same-sex marriage rights. But is he still feeling the love?

No worries, says Schwarzenegger political spokeswoman Julie Soderlund. Asked several times about any changes in the governor’s position, Soderlund genially repeated the same sentence: “The governor does not support Proposition 8.” By way of illustration she re-sent the transcript of Schwarzenegger’s statement to Log Cabin.

No on 8 Gets Boost From Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa
Long a vocal supporter of marriage equality, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put his money where his mouth is over the weekend by donating $25,000 to fight the proposed California marriage ban, Proposition 8.

Amid recent news that the Yes on 8 is campaign gaining momentum -- most polls show those favoring the ban outnumbering those against it by a comfortable margin with just three weeks to go before the election -- Villaraigosa coupled his donation with a statement sent out through the grassroots CourageCampaign.org urging Californians to vote down the ballot measure.

"Unfortunately, polls now show that the anti-marriage equality ‘Yes on 8’ campaign is leading, just as vote-by-mail ballots arrive in voters' mailboxes across California. The ‘No on 8’ campaign needs our help today to get the marriage equality message out on TV immediately," Villaraigosa wrote.

Equality California and No on 8 held an emergency media briefing last week to underline the need for immediate funding to compete with Yes on 8 in television advertising. Spokesman Geoff Kors said No on 8 needs to bring in $10 million over the next few weeks if it hopes to defeat the proposition.

Villaraigosa is among the potential California gubernatorial candidates being mentioned for 2010.

Stars come out to defeat Prop 8.

Chad Allen, Eric McCormack, Dana Delaney, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Thomas Roberts, Katherine Joosten, Loni Anderson, Heather Tom, and Eduardo Xol who were among the celebrities there to raise money for 'No on 8 - Equality California.

Faith Leaders Join No on Prop. 8
Faith leaders from across California will come together on October 16 to volunteer at a San Diego No on Prop. 8 phone bank. Leaders from several faiths, including Unitarians, Lutherans, from the United Church of Christ, will call voters to correct the false statements that have been made about Proposition 8 by conservative religious voices.

“Regardless of how people feel about marriage, it is simply wrong to eliminate fundamental human rights. That’s why these faith leaders are speaking out, to preserve the basic human dignity of all Californians,” said Jan Garbosky, president of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego’s Board of Trustees.

Garbosky understands, as does her clergy counterparts, that “no church member could be forced to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples” if Prop. 8 is defeated in November.
“On Thursday, these inspiring individuals will speak out against any effort by one faith tradition to impose their beliefs on others by amending our state’s constitution,” said Garbosky.