EQCA Report from the Trenches (reject, organizations, reform, Zen)

[michel]

EQCA Report from the Trenches
By Molly McKay, Field Director

Yesterday’s special election was a royal flush of defeat for Governor Schwarzenegger and a stunning demonstration of our community’s power. The Governor’s ploy of turning out right-wing voters to pass his package of propositions backfired. Voters saw through that strategy and soundly rejected it.

And up and down the state, Equality California and the LGBT community pulled out the stops to help our allies defeat the Governor’s Special Election measures. Thirty volunteer chapters played a key role with the Alliance for a Better California and the No on 73 campaigns around the state, and that hard work paid off. By targeting LGBT-concentrated precincts and supplying volunteers in areas where the teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses lacked coverage, EQCA made sure that LGBT visibility was front and center.

EQCA established field and volunteer staff presence in 30 of California’s 58 counties, covering not only major population centers but also rural areas. We made phone calls; we knocked on doors; we held rallies; and we talked frankly to voters about how the Governor’s “reform” agenda would hurt Californians. We built a coalition to support our allies and defeat the Governor. And as the special election results prove, our message was heard.

Our success proves the power of building coalitions with other progressive causes. And just as the LGBT community was there to support our allies when they were under attack in this special election, I expect that they will be there for us when it is our turn on the ballot.

Wherever EQCA had a presence during the campaign, we made a difference. In San Francisco, 40 key EQCA volunteers helped to get out the vote in 65 precincts which the Alliance for a Better California and the No on 73 campaign identified as major priorities. Our volunteers logged in hundreds of hours in the weeks leading up to Election Day, and then worked an average 10 to 11 hours yesterday to get out the vote. Our volunteers provided additional volunteer muscle for labor organizations, Planned Parenthood, NARAL and other groups, making sure that precincts were covered and phone banks were staffed, and that LGBTs exercised their responsibility to vote.

Our message to the Governor was loud and clear, and cannot be ignored. Playing partisan politics with our lives does not pay. And by staying the course and supporting the dignity, safety and equality for all Californians, we not only won the Special Election, we strengthened our bond with our allies.