Repealing Proposition 8 in 2010: Courage Campaign Statement and Fact Sheet



PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2009




 
 
Repealing Proposition 8 in 2010: Courage Campaign Statement and Fact Sheet 
700,000-strong group is building grassroots infrastructure to support restoring marriage equality to California in 2010

 

LOS ANGELES -  Following the California Supreme Court’s decision today to uphold Proposition 8, Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the 700,000-member Courage Campaign issued the following statement about the Courage Campaign’s support for a ballot initiative in 2010 to restore marriage equality to California.

“While the tide is turning nationally, restoring marriage equality to California will not be easy. But we know in our hearts that time is on our side, that justice will prevail, and that equality will be ours,” said Jacobs.

“Last week, we asked our members to vote on which year — 2010 or 2012 — the Courage Campaign should support going back to the ballot to restore marriage equality. The response was overwhelming — 82.5% support a 2010 ballot measure,” said Jacobs. “As a result, the Courage Campaign is announcing today its strong support for a 2010 initiative, while respecting that partner organizations are still discussing and deliberating this very important question.”

“While we were hoping the Court would rule in favor of equality, we have been building the infrastructure to win marriage equality rights at the ballot box. Our members are ready to do the hard work needed to win.”

The Courage Campaign has taken a lead role in the fight to repeal Proposition 8, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Californians to sign petitions, organize local media events and share their stories.

Since January, the Courage Campaign has been training and empowering marriage equality activists across the state at “Camp Courage” training events as well as building 24 “Equality Teams” in 15 Counties across California — serving the organizations and individuals that are fueling the movement toward marriage equality.

Please see the fact sheet below to learn more about the Courage Campaign’s work to build a foundation for victory in 2010.

 

COURAGE CAMPAIGN FACT SHEET

Since last November’s election, the Courage Campaign has acted to channel the new, post-Prop 8 grassroots energy that fueled Barack Obama’s victory. The Courage Campaign is providing more than 700,000 members with the tools, skills and infrastructure necessary to build a permanent grassroots movement that will win, defend and protect marriage equality.

Conducting Intensive Training: The Courage Campaign is leading the effort to train volunteers to become field organizers through a program called Camp Courage. Modeled after Camp Obama, these intensive one or two-day programs have been instrumental in channeling the enthusiasm of activists into effective action. More than 700 activists have been trained in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Oakland. Seven more Camp Courage trainings are planned, with a minimum of one per month for the next year. Camp Courage will next be in Sacramento and East Los Angeles.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/CampCourage

Coordinating Online: The Courage Campaign is using the same online organizing tools the Obama campaign used to contact, identify, and persuade voters (Blue State Digital and the Voter Activation Network). The project aims to put well-supported voter file technology and voter contact tools directly in the hands of marriage equality activists. The shared database of the VAN, as well as the tools found at the Courage Campaign’s Equality Hub, will allow for coordinated field efforts to maximize one-on-one contact with voters.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/EqualityHub

Mobilizing Volunteers: For the past two months, volunteer organizers have been talking with voters one-on-one in 15 counties, including 7 in the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills — counties where Prop 8 won significantly. So far, these Equality Teams have walked in more than 30 canvasses statewide, with more taking place every weekend. These teams will be the backbone of any future campaign efforts.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/EqualityTeams

Building for the Long-Term: The Courage Campaign is dedicated to building a permanent online and offline progressive political infrastructure.  We have full-time field staff located across California supporting the efforts of 24 volunteer Equality Teams.

Partnering with Progressive Organizations: The Courage Campaign also has worked with several people and organizations that have become lead sponsors of Camp Courage, including the Human Rights Campaign, CREDO Mobile, Honor PAC and the Dolby Family.

The Courage Campaign has also partnered with nearly 100 progressive organizations to promote Meet in the Middle for Equality, a major rally that will draw thousands to Fresno on Saturday, May 30, in the immediate aftermath of the California Supreme Court’s ruling.

http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com

The Courage Campaign believes that by training community organizers and sharing resources like staff support and access to the voter file, we can win — not just in Los Angeles, or San Francisco, but in the heartland of California.

 
 
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