December, 16 2008, 03:34pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Alice Kessler, Government Affairs Directors
PHONE: (916) 284-9187 EMAIL: media@eqca.org
EQCA Announces February 17 Lobby Day to Urge Invalidation of Proposition 8, Calls for Participants
Event to Follow Series of Coordinated Actions Over Presidents Day Weekend Rallying the Community in Support of Marriage Equality
SACRAMENTO
On Tuesday, February 17, Equality California
will sponsor a lobby day for marriage equality at the California State
Capitol. Particiants will urge legislators to support SR 7 (Leno) and
HR 5 (Ammiano), companion resolutions 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.
The
lobby day will bring together diverse leaders, community members and
allies from across the state, and follow a series of coordinated
marriage equality actions over President's Day weekend. Freedom to
Marry Day, an annual event to raise awareness about the importance of
ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, will take place
on Thursday, February 12. On Monday, February 16, EQCA will co-sponsor
a rally with Equality Action NOW, Marriage Equality USA, and California
Outreach at the Capitol.
"EQCA decided to
add a marriage specific lobby day during Freedom to Marry Week to
provide an opportunity for everyone to engage in our work and to ensure
that our elected officials understand how important overturning Prop 8
is to our community and allies." said EQCA Executive Director Geoff
Kors.
"With
the resolutions in opposition to Prop 8 moving forward this Spring, we
need to make sure the necessary votes are secured to pass them in both
houses," said EQCA Director of Government Affairs Alice Kessler. "We
are hoping that this will be the biggest LGBT lobby day in California
history."
The lobby
day is free and open to all who support equality. Each participant will
receive a lobbying training, advocacy materials, and be assigned to an
experienced team leader before heading off to meetings at the Capitol.
Participants can register online at: www.eqca.org/2009lobbyday.
Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
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