These articles detail Miss California’s new role as the spokesperson for the National Organization for Marriage. The comments from readers on the second article are really amazing.

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A question was posed to me during the first planning meeting for the PRIDE contingent and I think it was a good one that needs repeating: what is Washington Marriage Alliance?  The answer is both a simple and complex one.  Washington Marriage Alliance is not a non-profit.  We are not a big or small organization.  We are not a business.  What we are is a unified movement created through the collaboration of caring and concerned citizens who see the needs for equal rights for all LGBT people.  Washington Marriage Alliance will not turn anyone away because anyone, whether affiliated with a non-profit or not can be a part of Washington Marriage Alliance.  We also believe that anyone has something to offer and can be a part of the solution.  Whether you are a good typist, musician, organizer, envelope stuffer, artist, speaker, or have never participated in any kind of activist work before, you can still be a part of this movement; because this movement is not about any one individual or any one minority.  This movement is about the world community as a whole.  When one group has their rights denied to them, then it is entirely possible for any group to have their rights denied to them.  The civil rights movements of world history all centered round this idea – that we are a world community and a part of a much bigger collective.  Furthermore, we are not a series of individuals but rather the same person.  Even if the person to whom you are speaking has views that are radically different from your own, you are still the same person.  You are both human beings, brought up to believe in certain values and have certain priorities in life.  When you really think about it, there is no us versus them.  But it is when we fear the differences between us that we start to divide people into categories and groups and suddenly the word minority is thrown around in our society.  If we started to see the world not as separate groups or cultures or communities or nationalities but as one collective, it becomes far more difficult to hate and discriminate.  Washington Marriage Alliance strives to make this point clear – that when one of us is discriminated against, we are all discriminated against.  It seems like a lofty concept at first.  But really, it’s not so far fetched.

All are welcome at Washington Marriage Alliance.  Even if you do not support marriage equality, we would like to hear from you and talk with you about your viewpoints.  If you want to get involved in the fight to gain and defend marriage equality then please e-mail us at washingtonmarriagealliance@hushmail.com or call 206 339-3796. 

All phone calls and e-mails are private and confidential.

Hello everyone,

Last week’s meeting was a great success.  There is definitely excitement brewing because of the possible counter attack to our marriage rights here in Washington State.  The referendum to repeal the marriage equality law and all domestic partnerships benefits will be filed any day now.  The need for public information is crucial.  The voting public needs to know what rights we have won and what is at stake should we lose them.  This issue does not just affect LGBT couples but all of us – which is something so many people don’t realize.  If one person is allowed to have their rights taken from them then there is nothing stopping anyone from taking away your rights as well.  For those unable to attend the first meeting last week, there is a follow up meeting tonight at 7:30pm at Café Vita on Capitol Hill (1005 E Pike Street, next to Bimbos Burritos and one block North of Neumos).  All are welcome!

Hello all! I hosted our first planning meeting and it appears that our wonderful friends at Queer Ally Coalition are interested in helping with the contingent. I am extending an invitation to everyone to attend their Gay Bingo fundraiser this Sunday at 8pm at Cafe Metropolitan on Capitol Hill off of Olive Street. If you have never attended a gay bingo you are missing out – they are lots of fun. And there is a follow up meeting on Monday April 27th also at Cafe Vita at 1005 E. Pike Street at 7:30pm for those who could not attend on Wednesday. We still need some volunteers to head up a couple of lead spots including safety, car and sound system wrangling and lots of creative minds for our fundraising and advertising efforts. All are welcome!

Our first informational planning meeting is Wednesday, April 22nd at Cafe Vita on Capitol Hill. It’s near Neumos and next to the new location of The Cha Cha and Bimbos Burritos. There will be a follow up meeting Monday April 27 at the same location also at 7:30pm for those who cannot attend.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-rubysachs/miss-usa-and-the-b-word_b_189465.html

http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=8ed86fe80bd70

Read about Miss California’s respone to celeb gossip blogger Perez Hilton’s question regarding equal marriage.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25358661-7642,00.html

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/803707/miss-usa-contests-gay-marriage-controversy

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XMvviFbkf0&feature=player_embedded

Reminder: I am reminding everyone of the meeting at 7:30pm at Café Vita on Capitol Hill (1005 E. Pike St) Wednesday April 22nd. There will be a follow up meeting on the following Monday April 27th also at Café Vita at 7:30pm for those unable to attend Wendesday’s meeting. I hope to see many of you there. I have many ideas for this contingent and I hope you bring your enthusiasm, creativity and dedication. For more information, please contact us:

E-mail: wash...@hushmail.org
Hotline: 206 339-3796, updated regularly with information regarding the PRIDE contingent and volunteer information.

Our first informational plannign meeting is Wednesday, April 22nd at Cafe Vita on Capitol Hill. It’s near Neumos and next to the new location of The Cha Cha and Bimbos Burritos. There will be a follow up meeting Monday April 27 at the same location also at 7:30pm for those who cannot attend.

If you have questions or want to make your voice heard, call us at 206 339-3796 or e-mail at wash...@hushmail.com.

All phone calls and e-mails are private and confidential.

In March the Senate passed a bill that will grant gay couples all the rights of marriage without calling it marriage. Currently this bill is just out of committee and is expected to pass and have Governor Gregoire’s signature by the end of the month. This means that Washington State will have full marriage equality come June. But it is not time to exhale yet. A group calling themselves the Washington Values Alliance (WAVA) is currently working to put together an initiative that will not only overturn the ruling but also terminate all civil union/domestic partnership rights as well. They also bring with them three strong arm members of the right wing of Washington – namely WAVA President Larry Stickney, Bruce Crasswell and Stephen Pidgeon. During the board meeting we discussed that the signature gatherers will mainly concentrate their efforts in Eastern Washington where more conservative voters reside and where they will have an easier time collecting the signatures they need to put their measure on the ballot. It is therefore imperative that we educate voters on what they are signing. As an example, when Tim Eyman was trying to pass one of his many initiatives during the 2004 election cycle, some of his signature gatherers lied about what they were asking voters to sign and would only give vague answers as to the nature of the petitions. It is very possible that such tactics will be used to gather the signatures needed to put marriage equality on the ballot come election season. These tactics are misleading to voters and in many ways is immoral, unethical and illegal. It is essential that we make sure all voters know to press signature gatherers as to the nature of the petitions they ask us to sign and for whom they are gathering these signatures. If you don’t like their answers, don’t sign the papers.

Moreover, this means that the fight is coming here. We will have our own Prop 8 battle here in Washington State and with the way politics often happens here in this state we can expect to see a major throw down between those in solidarity to our cause and those against it. I would like to announce a shift in focus from the repeal Proposition 8 and Amendment 2 theme to a Legalize Marriage Equality in Washington theme for the contingent. Our first informational planning meeting is Wednesday, April 22nd at Cafe Vita on Capitol Hill. It’s near Neumos and next to the new location of The Cha Cha and Bimbos Burritos. There will be a follow up meeting Monday April 27 at the same location also at 7:30pm for those who cannot attend.