Teaspoons for California

by Shaker LizardOC

California's Supreme Court, as Shakers probably know, gave a tremendous boost to the cause of LGBT equality with its May ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Predictably, the backlash came swiftly, in the form of 1.2 million signatures that guaranteed Proposition 8—which, if passed, would add the words "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California" to the state's constitution—a place on the November ballot.

Below are a few resources for anyone who wants to be more involved with, or informed about, the fight against Proposition 8. There is, of course, plenty of room to debate the desirability of the state-by-state approach to marriage equality, and there are thousands of causes that need our time and our funds; the purpose of this post is not to prioritize this issue above any other. But it's crucial that we not allow this vile bit of bigotry to become law—and there's good reason to believe that a resounding defeat of this proposition would have positive repercussions nationwide.

At this moment, the polls look cautiously promising for the pro-equality forces, but the opposition is amassing funds and planning to ratchet up its barrage of anti-gay scaremongering in the weeks ahead. If you're a local, follow the links below, and carve out a few hours to staff a phone bank, write a Letter to the Editor, or attend a rally or event. If you're not, pass these resources to anyone you know who lives here, and consider sending a donation to one of the organizations working around the clock to ensure that Californians don't enshrine inequality in their constitution.

Selected organizations working to defeat Proposition 8:

• No on Prop. 8 is a coalition of dozens of diverse pro-equality organizations. Their downloadable FAQ from the Los Angeles Times is a particularly useful guide to the legalities and logistics of same-sex marriage and of the proposed amendment.

• Equality California is one of the state's largest organizations dedicated to defeating the amendment, and one of the most complete sources of information about legislation—beyond Prop 8—that affects LGBT people.

• Let California Ring has produced dozens of videos, print ads, and other materials designed to speak to a broad audience and help start conversations about marriage equality. Many of their resources are available in Spanish, and they've created print ads in English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

• California Faith for Equality works with churches, synagogues, and other places of worship to support and encourage LGBT-friendly clergy and congregations. On their website, you'll find two new videos featuring religious leaders speaking about how their faith has informed their positions against Proposition 8.

Quick links:

• Buy "No on Prop. 8" signs, buttons, and other merchandise.

• Download a "No on Prop. 8: Equality for All" sign, sticker, or website widget.

• Download a "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right" sign (courtesy of the Unitarians).

If you're running low on syrup of Ipecac, watch this revolting video from our opposition and get a taste of what we're up against.

Thanks for your support, in whatever shape it takes.