Our movement for full Civil Equality has been infused over the past 2 weeks with so many inspired and powerful voices! JoinTheImpact has been working nonstop with members from many other organizations to ensure that we keep our visibility strong. We must also never stop this conversation. I know that many of you are tired from all of the hard work we have done over the past two weeks, so don’t forget to take a moment and breathe. In just two short weeks, we have all come together to mobilize this nation and this debate. The JoinTheImpact team has been working incredibly hard to ensure that our voices do not go unheard. We wanted to announce to you our plans for the next 3 months and let you see how JoinTheImpact will be evolving:
- Project Postcard. Keep sending out your postcards! This is now more important than ever as Barack Obama’s people just announced that he plans on delaying the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Let’s remind President Elect Barack Obama of the promises that he made to our community and remind him that we are citizens of the United States of America too!
- Nov. 28th - Dec. 20th: The National LGBTQ Food Drive - Through this event, we will work to reach out not only to those who have worked alongside us, but to organizations and individuals that fear us and oppose our cause. Our efforts to alleviate the hunger America is facing in this difficult time will be indiscriminate with regards to creed or political philosophy. These are gaps we can and must bridge if we are going to achieve equality in this country. Read More…
- December 5th: MILK Movement: Let’s honor the memory of Harvey Milk and get everyone out to the theater for the national release of this film by Gus Van Sant. Gaining equality requires visibility. This world needs to know that we exist and that our numbers are huge. So many people don’t understand just how many US Citizens are denied equal rights. Let’s make MILK one of the top 3 grossing movies for the weekend of December 5th. And let’s do it by going to the theaters that support our community. Please keep checking back for a list of pro-LGBTQ theaters to support the weekend of December 5th. This movie is something that will help keep this important conversation going so let’s fill those seats! (More info to come soon).
- December 10th: Day Without a Gay - Day Without a Gay is about an economic boycott. Our community contributes $700 billion a year to this economy (the same amount as the bailout), yet we are not given equal protections under the law that every citizen deserves. As such, it is time we make a stand. During the largest shopping season of the year, we ask that you do one very important thing: Don’t Buy Anything! What would happen to this world if the LGBTQ community didn’t exist? Why is it that we continue to contribute to an economy and government that does not contribute to us? Let’s answer these questions on December 10th. Read More…
- December 20th: Light up the Night for Equal Rights - On November 15th, we took to the streets and shouted for our rights and against the acts revoking rights on November 4th. We mobilized in ways this country has never seen and did so on the steps of City Halls and US Embassies throughout the world! On December 20th, we ask that you join us again for a demonstration that will make an impact on the private sector. Thanks to the great suggestion of one of our readers mixed with the brilliant ideas of the Civil Rights Front, we ask that you join us to Light Up the Night for Equal Rights. Read More…
- January 10th: National Protest Against DOMA - Please join us to make history AGAIN. Let’s march on our state capitols and remind President Elect Barack Obama that he promised to Repeal DOMA!
- February 12th: Freedom to Marry Day Sit In - February 12 is Freedom to Marry Day and we are teaming up with MarriageEquality.org to bring visibility of immense proportions to this issue. Let’s exercise our freedom as citizens of this country! We ask that you join us at the steps of your Marriage License Bureau and ask for a marriage license. If you are denied a license, don’t leave. Sit with your community, your allies, and friends. Let’s show this country just how many US Citizens are DENIED EQUAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW.
Moving forward, JoinTheImpact will invite multiple guest bloggers to join in this discussion. These include well known names of today’s movement as well as the names of those who came before us (Including bloggers who experienced history in the making: Stonewall). With their shared stories, ideas, and commitment to change, we hope that we can continue to engage our opposition in this important discussion. Finally, please share your stories with us. We have had MANY members contact us about conversations that they have had and allies they have gained. Your stories and lives are the foundation of this movement. The stories we’ve heard have changed lives and shown us that this movement will not falter!
This is JUST THE BEGINNING. On November 15th we all stood for change! Change will not come if we sit back and do nothing. Change comes through Visibility - Conversation - Demonstration - And ACTION! Prop 8 is not just California’s problem, it is this nation’s problem. The debate of Civil Equality exists throughout our country and the world. We MUST join that debate. Join the impact, join the debate, and help us end hate!
36 Responses
Date correction, item #2: NOV 28th
Thanks for all you do.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Nothing to do with this post. Did you know you can request a free book of Mormon? Well, if you sign up here http://mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/book-of-mormon/free-book-mormon#d they’ll send missionaries to your house. This has to cost them something right? I think it’s money well spent.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
LOL, Lauren. Yeah, free kindling.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Hey, not too shabby. I mean the blog post.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 11:29 pm
JoinTheImpact is the only organization that I know of that is publicizing its plans like this. You guys are awesome — thank you so much. I wish HRC was half as organized and communicative as you.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 am
#3 I really like the movie idea. Maybe we can all wear the “white knot” ribbon too. Then we can recognize who is “in the know”. Can we get this on the home page for Join The Impact?
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 am
That’s an awesome idea by Lauren. It costs more than the mailings. What I found out about the missionaries, the missionaries have to save up their own money before being allowed to go on missions, and they have to pay rent to the Mormon church for the apartment or house they are living in, apparently the Mormon church owns the property.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 am
Marriage is not the only issue we should be focusing on as a community - we still have a number of state without non-discrimination protections for LGBT people
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I agree with MattyMatt - the organizers of JoinTheImpact are MUCH better at being proactive and getting the word out to all than HRC, Equality, etc.
However, I have a request of the organizers and all of us who post online here. Please include Florida’s Amendment 2 (and Arizona, Arkansas and other DOMA states) in your discussion as often as possible. Although I’m extremely impressed by how proactive Californians have been on the issue since Nov. 4th, Floridians that I’ve sent to the JoinTheImpact site are confused when they see all the H8 references and believe that we’re here only about Prop. 8. Although we had a turnout of 1,000 in Ft. Lauderdale, the community here is much larger than that, and many I’ve talked to (as selfish as this sounds to me) don’t want to participate in events that they (mistakenly) believe have nothing to do with Floridians. I know, I know….forget about the fact that the WORLD was protesting the events of Nov. 4th, a lot of Floridians seem to need concrete evidence that this is just as much about their rights as it is about any other part of the gay community (visit the Ft. Lauderdale pages and I think that you’ll see what I’m talking about, given how little activity is posted there).
JoinTheImpact is doing a better job of mobilizing Floridians (and every other community) than any other Org. I’m aware of, so I’m hoping that my suggestion above will further that momentum.
Thanks,
Terry
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
I’m not really aware of all the rights the LGBTQ community feels they need to have to say they have “equality.” The right to marriage has been the most obvious, but what others are you specifically asking for? And are they the same for bisexuals as gays? Are you really lumping the whole group together? It’s a little confusing when you use the LGBTQ acronym. Not being a part of that community, it seems the issue that has been in the news is around marriage, because it seems that would give added adoption rights, tax advantages, social security benefits, etc. Am I wrong in also saying you want to be recognized as a minority, as well? Thanks in advance.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Today I will join the rally in Sacramento. I will carry a sign for our LGBT brothers and sisters in Florida. The sign will read “H2NO” in FLORIDA!”
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Strong work for everyone who put together the 3 month calendar — we are making a difference! The only comment I have is about the February sit in that we’re planning. This event could be a unique hybrid between protest and outreach if we act with celebration and love towards our fellow heterosexual citizens who happen to walk in for a marriage licence at city halls that day. Instead of obstructing entrances, carrying signs and disrupting a very personal moment for people who want to marry, let’s go to city hall but step aside when a hetero couple walks in and cheer “Congratulations!”, throw flower petals and give them a small gift for their love and commitment. We’ll still make the news (for sure), but we won’t be working against a very personal moment for heteros getting married. Instead we’ll be celebrating with them!
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Hi. My name is John Brian. I am the reader who suggested the idea “Shine Your Lights for Equal Rights” which has now become “Light Up the Night for Equal Rights.” Firstly, I want to thank you for taking my original idea and expanding it into a wonderful event. Secondly, I want to thank you for the joy I am feeling today. Every one of us wants to feel like we are making some kind of difference in this cause. Whether we are volunteering, or donating money, or protesting, or boycotting. That some advancement is happening because of our presence. I feel that today. I actually feel like I have a voice…and that you heard me. I am but one gay man in an ocean of millions of LGBT people fighting for our very lives…and maybe…just maybe, because of one small seed, I may make a difference. I hope thousands and thousands attend and participate in this event. Who knows, maybe it will inspire someone else to find their voice…maybe some else will be heard. Maybe, like all the other events, it will bring people closer. And maybe…just maybe…it will cause someone to see US in a different LIGHT. Thank you Join The Impact and Civil Rights Front for your dedication, your persistance, and for your contribution in unifying our community and bringing REAL PRIDE back to our hearts. Fight on brothers and sisters!
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Support Obama on making a wise decision. Who ever said a wise decision was made in the matter of seconds. If you read the article that you have linked to in what you are calling “he plans on delaying the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” He isn’t delaying, he is going to put committees together to work towards ending. We live in a microwave generation too much sometimes. You can’t expect this to happen tomorrow, it would be too dangerous to our military. To those for and against the measure. As someone who supports equal rights for all, who has recently joined the military, President-Elect Obama is doing the wisest thing by taking his time with the issue. He has in no way said he won’t follow through with his promise. In order to retain as much of the military as possible, he has to put the proper training in place. Some issues won’t resolve overnight. Instead of throwing anger at the new administration, has anyone asked how they could help? Has anyone asked what the time table might look like to address the situation? How can this website be proactive in supporting what Obama said, instead of turning 180 and screaming he lied before he is even sworn in. Progress is about taking our time. Water doesn’t cut a canyon over night. Good luck.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
One correction on the Mormon thing. The missionaries do pay their own way, but the places they stay in are not owned by the Mormon church. In the U.S. and Canada it is between $450-$500 per missionary a month. Out of this the Church pays the rent and other expenses and gives the individual missionary an allowance for food, etc. for the month. So it costs each missionary c. $12,000 for a tow-year mission, but the Church spends the majority of it. If you request a Book of Mormon be aware that your name and address will then be in a vast database and you can be contacted by the Church then for years.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
As a Mormon totally disgusted with what the Church has done, I still realize that there are millions of good, but deluded, individuals in the LDS Church. They have given over $600 million in Welfare Funds to help around the world in the past decade. Politics aside, I’d like to suggest that we help them help others by using their resources for joint purposes.
In the greater Phoenix area the LDS Church has a Bishop’s Storehouse and Cannery. In our drive to feed hungry people, I believe it behooves us to find a way to use the vast resources of the Mormon church welfare program when it fits our needs. Since the church believes that everyone in the world, no matter where they live, has a Mormon Bishop who is responsible for their welfare, let’s use that network to the greater good in helping feed people this Holiday Season.
For example, if we are willing to provide the volunteer help, the Church will allow us to use their cannery to can certain items. They will supervise, we’ll just provide the worker bees for a day or two or whatever, perhaps even on a regular date from here on out. In Phoenix there is a program called AGAPE which provides food to the HIV/AIDS members of our community. If we could find someone to donate, for example pinto beans in bulk, we could take them to the cannery and make chili beans. Those cans of beans would then go into the larder of the AGAPE program to feed our community members. I believe the Church would not charge for the use of the cannery (they may want reimbursed for the cans and lids, but sincerely doubt it in this climate they would charge us anything…and they’d be damned happy to help their image around the world by doing so!), and if we provide the volunteer help and donated ingredients, it essentially is a huge win-win situation for AGAPE/us/and the Mormon Church. We don’t hate the Mormons…we hate their meddling in the political ring.
In Florida, for our Floridian friend above, the LDS Church has the largest cattle ranch in the state, over 50,000 acres, where they raise beef for this national/international welfare program of theirs. And in every area where there is a large population of Mormons, there is a Bishops Storehouse and perhaps a cannery. You just have to inquire.
In addition, back to the fact the LDS Church believes there is a bishop in charge of everyone in the world, if you find someone in desperate need for food or clothing, that person can call upon the Mormon Bishop in his area for assistance. He/she should not be asked to join the church, or to donate, but will probably be asked to work as a volunteer (maybe in one of the canneries, etc.) in some way and attend church, if able. It varies with each bishop. If we really do love our neighbors and we really are trying to heal wounds and get people to understand us better, although we may never change their political views, we will make friends and influence individuals. Don’t shoot down any idea until you’ve analyzed how it might be able to further our goals. There may be someone so desperate for food that they would gladly volunteer and sit on a pew. Don’t judge.
This is long, but how the food thing works. These Bishop Storehouses are complete stores, with everything you might find in a supermarket. Someone would sit down with the person in need, check off items from a list of everything in the store, food, laundry supplies, toiletries, etc. That person would then go to the Storehouse and show that list and would receive everything on it.
There are also clothing stores called Deseret Industries, where they same kind of order would allow them to have free clothing.
Someone sharp out there is going to figure out that we can use the tremendous willingness of the average LDS to give to charity (or causes) to our advantage and everyone wins.
I’m a gay grandfather who has been effectively shunned by the Church, my friends and my family. I cannot help who I am, but if what I learned in the 33 years I have been a Mormon can help the community, then I hope my actions will atone in some small way for those other Mormons who haven’t seen the light yet. You can contact me through be-a-hero.us, which is Phoenix, Arizona’s newly formed action team. We put 5,000 people on the steps of City Hall a week ago today, had 200 at our planning meeting last Monday, and are on the way to making a difference.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I had the great priviledge of seeing an advance screening of the movie MILK. You MUST go and see this movie when it opens. For one, it’s a gorgeous piece of work. But also, if you are, in any way, feeling frustrated or angry or disappointed by the passing of Proposition 8… the issues dealt with in the movie are hauntingly similar. The rhetoric will make you cringe. The treatment of human beings will make you sad. The joining of the gay community championed by Harvey Milk will renew your sense of hope for our future. At the conclusion of the movie…the audience openly cheered and clapped. And then they clapped some more. I had this feeling, while the applause was taking place, that this appreciation wasn’t just for this excellent movie, or just for Gus Van Sant’s extraordinary direction, or for Sean Penn’s AMAZING portrayal, or for the rest the cast and production, and not just for the memory of this true hero in gay history. I felt like it was for US too. We were applauding US. The US of today. The US of today fighting for a cause that represents a continued struggle that was a part of the history that we had just witnessed. The US that would have made Harvey Milk proud.
Official site: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/
(ps…remember…you should NOT see this movie at a Cinemark. See my posted items for details. But DEFINITELY see it somewhere else.)
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
Shouldn’t the marriage-license sit-in be at the local marriage-license bureau, rather than at City Hall? Aren’t marriage licenses most often issued by county officials?
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 am
As someone who’s toiled in progressive and Dem movements for two decades, I can’t tell you how excited I was to read all this, but esp. Item # 2 (food drive). Ideas such as this will address a gap between us and many fellow citizens out there–many of whom are good people in their hearts, yet have apprehensions about us. I’ve always said: if a Right winger and I both agree on helping out a neighbor, or some other social good, let’s do that together. Only good will come from it, and it will open hearts. Taylor Branch wrote about MLK’s unique ability to talk with his opponents. You are carrying that skill forward.
Congrats on all this fantastic work, and much love to everyone involved.
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 9:56 am
Light Up the Night for Equal Rights is a GREAT idea, especially since Xmas summons connotations of spirituality and a giving nature. Perhaps renaming it with a catchy acranym such as G.L.O.W. (Giving Light all Over the World) would help spread the word. Plus, news organizations LOVE catchy acranyms. Also, lets organize this in a similar fashion as the Nov. 15 rallies (i.e., post states and cities on your website where these rallies are going to be held). Remember, shopping areas are private property. Accordingly, we need to find a public road / intersection nearby the shopping area that has good visibility.
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Idea re boycotting Cinemark while supporting Milk… Give out coupons for popcorn or drinks or general concession items for OTHER theatres to people in line to see Milk at Cinemark. “Got Milk Coupon?” To work other theatres should only honor coupon with proof of Milk movie ticket purchase. Would non-Cinemark theatres contribute the coupons as a show of appreciation of our effort to get business to their chains?
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Looking forward to more word on The National LGBTQ Food Drive! I posted it on WetPaint and we’re getting questions! There are people interested in doing this in their towns.
Thanks!
jfer
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
So, for the Light up the Night… I am planning to coordinate the event at the same park that we do our annual LGBT Pride. And, am going to try to get the screen/projector from the “Movies at the Park” facility to see if we can play “Before Stonewall” and “After Stonewall” as well as have our local LGBT Art Barn do an art project for anyone interested, and then the product will be auctioned off for the local LGBT center. Finally, the night of ‘light the night’ also have bins for toys and canned food there at the park in order to collect as toy/food drive.
Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
[...] Building in Sacramento. Other protests and campaigns–statewide and nationwide–are scheduled in the coming months. The No on 8 movement for gay marriage rights has found new momentum, and it’s over a [...]
Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Was that my good friend Tomas that had the idea for the December 20th: Light up the Night for Equal Rights? Fantastic idea!
Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
RE: FOOD DRIVE
Will there be certain LGBT organizations collecting the food…and then will make the food donation to a certain charity/ charities in the name of the LGBT community? I’m not clear on this one.
Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
[...] internet-based activist phenomenon that’s been going on since Prop 8 passed? Click here for a list of groovy subversive activities we should be participating in during the upcoming weeks. [...]
Posted on November 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Thank you creating and publishing this plan. Our community can’t afford to lose momentum and return to apathy about the issue. It takes movement to make change. Thank you!
Richard
http://www.equalmarriagenow.com
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
[...] From Join The Impact: [...]
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Gene, I first suggested the idea in one of my postings here in the Thank You section. Join the Impact graciously accepted the idea..and along with Civil Rights Front…expanded it and created “Light Up the Night for Equal Rights”
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I love how these events draw upon a broad platform of LGBT issues and not just marriage!
I especially like the idea of the food drive - I plan on including a note with the donation I am making to my local homeless shelter (which is run by an inter-denominational organization) to let them know that I support them when they are helping people rather than persecuting people. I have zero interest in getting married, but I have lost housing due to being LGBT and I wish more support services were sensitive about such situations.
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
[...] that JoinTheImpact.com is also sponsoring “Milk Movement” by asking everyone to go see the film on December [...]
Posted on November 26th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
[...] JoinTheImpact.com: December 5th: MILK Movement: Let’s honor the memory of Harvey Milk and get everyone out to the [...]
Posted on December 1st, 2008 at 7:10 am
[...] JoinTheImpact.com: December 5th: MILK Movement: Let’s honor the memory of Harvey Milk and get everyone out to the [...]
Posted on December 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
yo…
agree…
Posted on January 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 am
IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A GROUP NEAR WHITTIER CALIF. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THEM.
THANK’S,
LINDA
Posted on March 4th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
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