EQCA Sponsors Lobby Day Urging Invalidation of Proposition 8

Equality California will sponsor a lobby day where participants will urge legislators to support companion resolutions, SR 7 (Leno) and HR 5 (Ammiano), in the State Senate and Assembly that would put the legislature on record as opposing Proposition 8 as an invalid revision to the California Constitution. More than 1,000 people have already registered to participate. The day is set for Tuesday, February 17. Rally at 12:15 p.m. and lobby visits from 1 to 4 p.m. at the California State Capitol.

Lobby day will bring together diverse civil rights and faith leaders, community members and allies from across the state and a number of elected officials, including Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), State Assemblymember John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), and Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach).

Lobby Day will follow a series of coordinated actions supporting marriage for same-sex couples over President’s Day weekend. On Monday, February 16, EQCA will also co-sponsor a rally with Equality Action NOW, Marriage Equality USA, and California Outreach at the Capitol.

The lobby day is free and open to all who support equality. Each participant will receive lobbying training, advocacy materials and will be assigned to an experienced team leader before heading off to meetings at the Capitol. Participants can register online at: http://www.eqca.org/2009lobbyday.
EQCA works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT people. To improve the lives of LGBT Californians, EQCA sponsors legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage, lobbies legislators and other policy makers, builds coalitions, develops community strength and empowers individuals and other organizations to engage in the political process. www.eqca.org

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/eqca-sponsors…

More than 140 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Groups to Hold “Equality Summit” to Win Back Marriage

Representatives of over 140 organizations will join together with elected leaders, including members of the California LGBT Legislative Caucus, for the California Equality Summit, to collaborate, share best practices, and plan next steps in the struggle to win back marriage for same-sex couples in California. In addition, researcher David Binder will release and present the results of a study on Prop. 8 voting patterns and influences.

A variety of groups will attend ranging from leading LGBT-rights organizations like Equality California to pioneer allied civil rights groups such as the N.A.A.C.P to new internet activists like Join the Impact and Equality Action Now. The Summit’s keynote speaker, civil rights attorney Eva Paterson, founder of Equal Justice Society, will discuss moving beyond myths about race and moving forward with an inclusive movement. Elected officials confirmed to attend, include State Assemblymember John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), and State Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego). For a complete list of event sponsors, visit www.eqca.org.

“We want to bring together the largest and most diverse group of organizations and leaders possible so we can work together to win true equality for all Californians,” says Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California, who conceived the summit as a way to coordinate efforts, maximize resources and foster activism.