WASHINGTON -- May 5 -- Leading California advocates -- Equality California, The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and The Center-Long Beach – co-sponsor Summit.

What: The Power Summit is an intensive three-day training and action program for dedicated people who are highly motivated to build powerful state and local campaigns, organizations, and coalitions aimed at creating positive community change within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In a four-day intensive convening, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force staff will train more than 100 leaders selected from a large pool of applicants from the southwest on electoral, legislative and fundraising strategies for communities facing battles against discriminatory legislation.

Who: The Summit is co-sponsored by: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Equality California, The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and The Center-Long Beach. Over 100 participants are expected, at least half of whom will be from California. Other attendees are from states preparing for or currently battling anti-gay ballot measures.

When: The Power Summit will take place Thursday, May 5th – Sunday, May 8th

Where: The Coast – Long Beach Hotel 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA

Why: In California, there is the threat of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as well as the possible repeal of AB 205, the comprehensive domestic partnership legislation that went into effect this year. Nationally, more than a dozen other states are facing potential anti-marriage constitutional amendments in 2005 and 2006 as well as other types of anti-gay legislation. The Power Summit is organized in the spirit of the Task Force’s mission to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement at the state and local level. It is intended to help equip activists in every city and state with the tools necessary to mobilize their communities around critical public policy issues such as those currently being faced in California.

Canvass Schedule: Canvassing in Long Beach on Saturday, May 7th. The canvass training will begin promptly at 9:15 and end by 10:00. Participants will be in the field door-knocking from approximately 10:15 am – 12:15 pm.
Media is invited to: Opening Plenary 7-8 pm; Thursday, May 5th Coast Long Beach Hotel;
Canvassing: Saturday morning May 7th, 9:15-10:00 (same location)
Door to door knocking, 10:15: -12:15 pomp

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