I'd like to come - Im coming from San Diego... How do I sign up?
bcartwright@cox.net

-Benny

Hey Ben! Come on up!!! You can register at the Eventbrite page: http://equalitycamp.eventbrite.com/

Do we have to bring a laptop, and how computer savvy do we have to be? I worked hard on the No on Prop 8 campaign, want to connect with others and continue the work. If it's all a geek thing, I'm not interested, but if is an out there lesbian/gay marriage equality grassroots community organizing thing, then I am.

I married my partner twice, once in 2004, and now again in October, 2008, I don't want this one null and voided!
-Leigh

@Leigh, if you're reading Upcoming then you're tech-savvy enough to show up. Seriously. :) One of the intentions of EqualityCamp, as I understand it, is to bring the experienced community organizers from No on 8 in, and work together on what comes next.

Some updated links:

Blog - http://equalitycamp.com
Registration - http://equalitycamp.eventbrite.com

Everyone is welcome, but you need to get a ticket in advance! We're charging a nominal fee because we'll be giving you a kick-a$$ t-shirt and hosting an evening event -- drinks, snacks, & comedy with Heather Gold & co.

obama

LISTEN UP, I DONT CARE WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT DSIPUTE YOU MAY HAVE W/SOCIETY. GAY PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE TOTALLY ACCEPTED AND YOU CANT EXPECT US TO. UR WRONG IN YOUR LIFESTYLE. ITS THAT SIMPLE. IF YOU DONT CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. U WILL GO TO HELL FOR IT AND BURN FOR ALL ETERNITY. NOT A THREAT, NOT BEING MEAN. THATS JUST GOD HONEST TRUTH! ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD. GOD AND HIS PEOPLE LOVE YOU, BUT NOT UR LIFESTYLE AND U NEED TO STOP COMPARING WHAT UR DOING TO THE HARDSHIPS AND UNFAIRNESS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS OR OTHER MINORITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED. IT DOESNT EVEN COME CLOSE. UR NOT VICTIMS OF ANY KIND, UR MAKING A CHOICE. ITS NOT THE SAME!!

My beloved Sonstarr and other homophobics out there, that "God said what?" says who? Did you actually talk to God? you are just another weak minded that the ignorants that control religions have controlled! Yes! Truth will set you free! God does not discriminate. Love is Love and God is Love, and He/She loves his/her children. Are we children on the trees or what? If God does not like Gay and Lesbians, then why did he/she made us this way? hellooo? STOP IGNORANCE!!!!

Hey sonstarr, by the way, if people from India, marry cows, and it's 2 different species, why humans can't married another human, regardless of their physical body? Don't forget something.. Angels are energy, but Humans are Energy Manifested! Love is Energy, regardless of the body. STOP IGNORANCE!!!

Yes we are all " GOD'S children , it started at the garden with the first marriage ,set up and given by god , a man and a woman.Two halves to make a whole,to complete each other , to create new life ( another of gods handy works of wonder, love and trying to keep in contact with us ). It's an age old problem that man / woman have been having with God since the garden , snake and pride ,trying to out do god and his plan . Thank you so much for your son and here's a happy birthday wish / Merry CHRIST-MAS to everyone and may the one and only GOD truly bless one and all in the new year and the true meaning for this blessed season shine thru.

I am thinking of going, but don't really know what we will be doing all day? Is there a schedule of some sort to give us an idea. Want to know if it's worth spending my birthday doing this.

hey, what better way to celebrate your birthday than organizing for marriage equality?!

anyone interested in carpooling from silicon valley?

Sonstarr - it's so curious how those of you who tend not to THINK for yourselves... and read silly books (the bible) authored by egomanical men with a very specific agenda (gain power and control over others through fear and ignorance) are the most judgemental among us. It's your inate sense of inferiority which drives you to buy into such absurd beliefs as fundamentalist zealot pseudo-christian's peddle. Who are you to tell anyone what "God" thinks or wants for humanity? Because you buy into a totally hypocritical, absurb and puerile per-packaged agenda which gets manipulated regularly by those who fail to adhere to what they're peddling (can we say pedophile priests, physically abusive nuns, Ted Haggart, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker and on and on and on...religious cults are loaded with the inept who perfer to judge others and claim they KNOW the truth, when in fact they are clueless - and it's easier for them to find fault with others then work on their own lives - which could really use the work!). Your arguements lack consistency. Those who believe as you do are the worst kind of devients we have to contend with and the most detrimental influence on our modern day culture. You make all of humanity suffer the nonsense you over indulgent delieverers of perverse dogma are obsessed with imparting. Frankly, I don't care how you want to waste your life but insisting the rest of us are obligated to join you is replusive. This country was set up with SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE as a founding principle - something your ilk seems to confuse frequently with your convoluted beliefs. All of creation is "God's". Why would "God" make so many "mistakes"? Answer: God doesn't. But assinine men who are so arrogant as to believe "God" created man in "his" own image and is imbued with all his (man's)ego, insecurity, hostility, destructiveness and so on....is truly a simpleton who has no business telling anyone else THE TRUTH. Thanks to the misinterpretation of that vile man written book you think targeting gay people is acceptable - IT IS NOT! And that is what this is about. Believers no longer get to inject their ignorance into limiting the full human rights of citizens of this secular nation, which prides itself on full human rights for all (we all know it has always talked a bettter game then its deliviered but that's still the objective). Religious believers should clean up their own house first - I know it's a tougher job then ridiculing and judging others but it really is your obligation - to yourself and the rest of us who have been stuck suffering your influence for too long. Let's be clear - you're in no position to speak for "God". (The whole procreating arguement is so outdated when we're about to bust at the seams and the planet is becoming strained in its effort to support this overabundent life inhabiting it. Those who were anxious to make sure their followers were fruitful and muultiplied were very successful! Their efforts were so they could become more powerful and wealthy. We can't keep attributing certain things to God's desire when it's so obviously not good for us or this planet. So, if any others like sonstarr want to stop by here and leave their pearls of wisdom...save it for somwhere else - no one buys your nonsense here.

Shame on you people - Stop this sinful behavior.

I have been reading some stupid shit...First people in India do not marry cows.I read that an hour ago and I'm still laughing. Second Marrige was created for a man and a woman by God. Third The preachers names that were brought up earlier will be punished by there actions unless they repent.Love (I love my Children very much)but when they do something bad they do get punished (if I did not love them..I would not care what they did).Fourth ALL of Man is in thee position to speak for God it is OUR JOB to spread the word of God..The Earth is ruled by Santan and the only chance we have to be saved is to put his laws in our lives..All God's desires are the best thing for us on this Planet...If we followed the Ten commands put God back in our schools and in our Country better decisions would be made for all...

I have been reading some stupid shit...First people in India do not marry cows.I read that an hour ago and I'm still laughing. Second Marrige was created for a man and a woman by God. Third The preachers names that were brought up earlier will be punished by there actions unless they repent.Love (I love my Children very much)but when they do something bad they do get punished (if I did not love them..I would not care what they did).Fourth ALL of Man is in thee position to speak for God it is OUR JOB to spread the word of God..The Earth is ruled by Santan and the only chance we have to be saved is to put his laws in our lives..All God's desires are the best thing for us on this Planet...If we followed the Ten commands put God back in our schools and in our Country better decisions would be made for all...

Let people be smart
Let them have a heart
Let civil rights not grow apart
Those red neck Christians are worse than a fart.

Now, the humor I get...the rest of the rhetoric...is, well, rhetoric.

Ignorance cannot be ignored, true, but don't let it lead you astray from the issue at hand...change only comes from within...so back door it, you may just find your way in...it's all down to politics now, baby. We are almost there. Show up and put your energy where it is needed. Peace.

estellevw, the specific agenda will be set by the participants on the day of the event.

Themes and topics at EqualityCamp are expected to include:

* connecting "netroots" and traditional organizing
* using "web 2.0" tools to support a grassroots movement
* bringing effective practices from the Obama campaign in the movement for marriage equality.
* digital video to share stories and build support

Hey ERICARAGE if you are a woman, WOULD YOU MARRY ME? if you are a guy, would you marry my brother? I think it would be fun to have someone like you in my life, in any way! For all of you blind, ignorant people: if you have taken Logic at school, you may understand this phrase:IF GOD IS LOVE AND LOVING A PERSON OF MY SAME SEX IS A SIN, THEN GOD IS A SINNER! If you haven't and you understand it you are smart. If you haven't or had and don't understand it, oh well, not much I can do there. HAVE FUN AND LOVE EVERYBODY! GOD DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. STOP IGNORANCE!

Caps are annoying, but good reference I suppose..funny how it always goes to god when it comes to the homosexual community and those against. Good-luck to you in your fight I personally don't care either way who anyone chooses to to enjoy their life with when it comes to sex...my fight is with the porn industry.. as long as your lover is not an animal,animated,grandpa or grandma or the whole foot-ball team it's all good in the hood (or whatever expression you wish to use). I didn't stop by to say that, I just wanted to say Nice design on the t-reminds me of Rage Against the Machine/Hugo Chavez/some cold/war or Russian poster.. What I don't support within homosexuals is that annoying squeeky voice if your a dude..I'm sure that's already been discussed a thousand times over, just wanted to hammer it into the ground a bit more.

Come on guys, lets get real here. This is not about “love”. These emails are about living together in a pluralistic society.
A gay lifestyle is a choice. Gays can choose to love whomever they like – but they seem unable to accept the choices of others, who disagree with them.
Whatever gay convictions are - face it: There are people in America who’s values and convictions compel them to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. They pay taxes to send their kids to public schools, just as gays do, and don’t want their children taught values that they do not believe in.

Gays tout “equality” – but their inability to accept the views of others who disagree with them about traditional marriage, prove that equality is the last thing they are really interested in.

I ask "why"? Any other group just lives their lives, and goes about “loving” whomever they wish, worshipping the god of their choice. They are not bent on forcing every man woman and child to agree with them – that’s soclialism, not America democracy.

The key foundation for the argument of the validity of same-sex orientation, is that gays are *born* that way, so they conclude that God must have made them gay.

But what if that whole premise if false?

There is a wealth of clinical evidence that proves that gay people are *not* born that way – but what is really going on is that from their earliest memory, they have been attracted to the opposite sex.
That’s different than “being born that way”.

In my profession, I have had the opportunity to work with precious gay people, who’s sexual orientation has changed. I’ve also have been to seminars, conferences, and heard their life stories. Its authentic.
In every case, their gay sexual orientation has come about not because they chose to change their sexual orientation – which they found impossible to do – but rather because they chose to work on the very early childhood wounding which drove them to crave union with the same sex for as long as they could “remember”.
Once the healing of the memories occurred, their sexual desires *naturally* re-oriented to the opposite sex.

If there is even a hint of truth that gay people are not born that way, then we are barking up the wrong tree by making same-sex orientation an “equal rights” issue, like race.
A person’s skin color cannot be changed.
A person’s sexual orientation can.

Ok Queers of the world, take the Bible and God out of it. Lets just go with nature, do you see the animals of the world in same sex unions? They have more sense than all you bone smokers out there. Its abberent behavior in humans AND animals and no "reasoning" on your part will ever make it right. You can suck all the dick you want, just dont ever tell me its "normal" or "natural" or try to make it comparable to a real man and a real woman being together. It never will be no matter how hard you try to make it true. All I have to say is that Barney Frank is the reason one should NEVER put a dick sucker in charge of ANYTHING!!!!!

(I liked Upcoming more before the Yahoo effect.) Part of education and organizing is listening to alternate opinions, even if they are hateful and ignorant, with or without being crude. Equating sex acts to a lifetime commitment is such a sorry view, but that's sometimes the level of argument. (How do people who think like that ever have a loving marriage?)

Think of how a childless or sexless heterosexual union, or one with only non-coital sex acts for any reason, from preference to health, is still considered sacred because of the bond of love and commitment, not because of orgasms or conception. Think of couples who marry or remarry when too old to conceive, or with no interest in having kids. Think of all the women who are "dick suckers" in enduring and "holy" marriages. Are they unnatural in expressing that love, respect, mercy or whatever the moment means in their marriages?

I find so many of these anti-marriage equality arguments insulting to all kinds of people, not just gay people. I wonder if that has been thought through, or if this is purely knee-jerk. I always expect it's the latter.

Wow. All I can say is that there is some wonderful fodder here for discussion tomorrow. See you in the morning you lovely, open-minded, wonderful San Franciscans. :)