EQUALITY ACTION NOW / ACTION ALERT UPDATE

EQUALITY ACTION NOW – UPDATE FOR COURT DECISION DAY
*PLEASE PASS THIS ON*

Sacramento, CA – May 17, 2009 - Sacramento’s Equality Action NOW is coordinating efforts with the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Sacramento Regional LGBTQI Leadership Coalition, Marriage Equality USA, Yes On Equality, as well as several other organizations to sponsor community events for the day of the Supreme Court decision on Proposition 8 (D-Day).

The following will happen no matter the outcome of the decision, win or lose. Please note: The Court will announce their decision on a *Monday or Thursday at 9:00am, we will know the day before the decision so we will only have 24 hours to prepare. NOTE: Since the deadline is June 3, we are down to 4 possible dates for D-Day. Thursday, May 21, or *Tuesday, May 26- (because Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day and the Court is Closed) or Thursday, May 28 or Monday, June 1.

Regardless of whether the Supreme Court decision is for or against upholding Prop 8, on Decision Day, the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center will open by 9:00am and will remain open all day for members of the community who want to gather. Media is invited. The Center will house sign-making activities, a first-aid station and on site counseling or counseling referrals if needed through its LGBT Counseling Program.

A News Conference is being called for 10:30am at the Center on D-Day (TBA) It would be great if we could have a crowd there also. It will be held on the steps of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, 1927 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95881.

The following have been invited to speak. This may change at any time.
Sen. Darrell Steinberg, President Pro Tem; California State Senate Assembly-member John Perez; Professor Lawrence Levine, McGeorge School of Law; Rabbi Mona Alfi, Congregation B’nai Israel; Alice Kessler, Government Affairs Director, Equality California; Enrique Manjarrez, Youth program Coordinator, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center; Paul Curtis, Sacramento Regional LGBTQI Leadership Coalition.

The Center will host a community rally from 5:30pm to 6:30pm on the steps of the Center with entertainment and speeches by community leaders. Street closings will include 20th Street from K Street past L Street, and the intersection of 20th and L prior to 5:30pm and will remain closed until the crowd disperses. The Sacramento Police Department will provide security. A sound system with multiple speakers surrounding the intersection will be provided by the Center.

If the decision is to uphold Prop 8, at 6:30pm Equality Action NOW will lead a march from the Center to the State Capitol West Steps, where a second rally with speakers and entertainment will take place, followed by a march around the Capitol grounds. On return to the West Capitol Steps, participants will be invited to speak at an open mic. Speakers of all ages, all walks of life, gay, straight, children of gay couples, parents of gay individuals, students and couples who were married and who want to marry will be invited to tell their stories. If crowd interest remains high, Enrique Manjarrez, Youth program Coordinator, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center will lead an all-night youth rally.

If the decision is to overturn Prop 8, following the rally at the Center, the Crowd will be invited to move to the street just south of the intersection of 20th and K, where a stage and sound system will be in place featuring music and entertainment. The streets will remain closed for a street dance and celebration until the crowd disperses for the evening.

More Information: The cases are Strauss et al v. Horton et al. (S168047); Tyler v. California et al (S168066); and CCSF v. Horton (S168078). For Court information SEE: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8htm or http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/

Other community events connected to D-Day:
An Interfaith Gathering in Strength & Hope – Led by Rev. Brian Baker & Rev. Lindi Ramsden – Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday on the Eve of CA Supreme Court Ruling on Prop 8 – At Headhunters Patio, 1930 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 – 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Co-hosted by CA Faith for Equality, Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, CA Council of Churches, Catholics for Marriage Equality, Marriage Equality USA, PFLAG, and Equality Action NOW. CONTACT: (916) 708-3390 or email mhdoherty@comcast.net.

Meet Me In The Middle – On the Saturday following Decision Day, the entire state will be converging on Fresno, CA. A bus and caravan will be leaving the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center at 7:30 a.m. for a group trek to the Fresno City Hall building. Media is invited to interview participants and send a crew on the bus if interested. For more information on “Meet Me in the Middle” and reserve a seat on the bus contact events@equalityactionnow.org or call (916) 446-1082. Fresno event contact: Robin McGehee at cvgsanetwork@gmail.com.

Equality Action NOW – EAN is a grassroots, volunteer civil rights organization. We provide a virtual meeting place for like-minded activists to organize, collect and share region-specific updates, and plan positive, peaceful events that further the cause of civil rights for all people. (http://www.equalityactionnow.org)

Sacramento Region LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) Leadership Coalition brought together organizations and community leaders for facilitate communications and take collaborative action on LGBTQI issues at the local, state and federal levels. Coalition members include CA Faith for Equality, Center for Violence Free Relationships, Equality California, Marriage Equality USA, PFLAG, Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Sacramento NOW, Sacramento Valley Leather Corps, Small Difference Woman’s Choral Ensemble, Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento, Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry CA, Yes on Equality, Yes On Marriage Equality, Equality Action NOW and numerous committed individuals.