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Dear Friends:
After my last message 2 weeks ago, I ran into a woman who I have known
for many years both as a neighbor and a sister community member. She
asked me how things were going now that the legislature was finally
adjourned. I told her that we were fatigued, but very enthusiastic about
the next phase of work yet to be done. She had read our
E-News from the week earlier
and asked, "Don't you people ever rest?" Sadly, the people who are so
actively working against us never rest, and we won't either. Even before
this year's legislative session ended, we had begun putting together a
comprehensive plan to:
- Keep the constitutional amendment off of the November 2006
ballot.
- In the event that the constitutional amendment goes on the
November 2006 ballot – Win at the ballot box.
- And through our PAC – Elect GLBT supportive people to office.
We know from experience that the work we do can only succeed with
careful planning. So, we are taking the time to make sure that we
have a thorough, thoughtful plan that allows for flexibility.
We have been laying the groundwork for this stage for many years
resulting in:
- No passage of the constitutional amendment which would bar
legal recognition of same-sex relationships in two regular and
one special sessions.
- No repeal or erosion of the landmark 1993 amendment which
added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Minnesota
Human Rights Statute.
We have not done this alone:
- We are active members of several coalitions including
the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action, the Minnesota
Voter Project, Gill Foundations Democracy Project, ACT, and
the Equality Federation who work with us and support our
work.
- Through working in communities all throughout Minnesota
for the last 15 years, we have nurtured and sustained the
development of a network of individuals and organizations
who are mobilized, experienced and ready to go to work on
behalf of GLBT rights.
- Most importantly, your response to our request for
letters, phone calls, your time, your energy and your
commitment. Our database, which includes thousands of
addresses, grows by leaps and bounds every month.
Nor have we done this without resources:
- We have become the recognizable, "go to" place for
legislators, the media, community leaders from a vast
array of organizations and individual citizens through
our website and personal relationships.
- We work with media from all across the state of
Minnesota both as sources and spokespersons.
- We have built a staff force whose professional
expertise in the areas of Public Policy, Communications,
Development, Education, Organizing, and Administration
is well equipped to put an action plan into place.
- Our board of 13 and our over 800 volunteers put
countless hours into making sure that every base is
covered.
Some of you in the last three weeks have expressed
your opinions and asked about what we are doing to stop
the constitutional amendment from moving forward. We
have also heard you offer concrete suggestions, seen you
volunteer your time, and listened as you shared with us
your anxiety, pain, anger, worry, and powerlessness.
While these are difficult times for us and for the State
of Minnesota - we are not powerless. In fact we have
been tremendously powerful as a community. Recall for
yourself the changes over the years. These enormous
steps forward are one reason why ultra conservatives are
worried and are pulling out all the stops. We want you
to know that this is your plan too and it will be
stronger with your input. Over the next several
months, we will build a picture, through our E-News,
that will help you understand what we are doing to stop
the constitutional amendment and to further the rights
of GLBT people. In September, you will have the
opportunity to attend a community meeting in which we
will unveil the whole plan. But why wait until then? If
you have something to say now, we want to hear it. Send
your ideas, concerns, information, and feedback to me at
so that we can integrate them into our planning process. Thanks to all
of you for your stalwart commitment and for your
thoughtfulness about the work that is yet to come. Ann
M. DeGroot
Executive Director |
