Central Valley struggle for equal rights

[ email from Molly McKay, to queer activist:]

Hey there - ...
We are organizing our supporters
as fast or faster than they are
in the Central Valley -

where they show up - we'll be there-
next anti-gay rally is in Clovis on April 23rd - [ a Saturday]

plus we are proactively organizing
events like crazy there too -

... I was in Grass Valley speaking to
a packed UU church about the importance of coming out and being visible
- people were so excited about local actions -
they took over 400 postcards to the Gov
and will staff a booth at the local County Fair in August -

We are getting there!!
Thanks for your support too

Molly McKay
Field Director
EQCA [Equality California ]
415-581-0005
4#

molly [at] eqca.org
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[ 11 April 2005 ]

For more info, please visit:

[ http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=40337 ]

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[Commentary by TBL: ]

To the SF Bay Times:

Several months ago, I attended (and wrote about) a post-election wake at SF's queer Center, where we wounded queers mourned our losses.
We talked wistfully about reaching out to conservative "redstate" areas. But we couldn't agree on how. I suggested urging small-town queers to organize their own local Pride events. Others trashed that idea. Nothing happened then, and none of us foresaw how an outreach opportunity would soon arise.

After all, small-town and rural queers may need to stay in the closet. Or at least they may reasonably fear possible consequences of appearing on local TV. Life there isn't nearly as free as in SF or Berkeley.

Later on, guess what?
Fundi-fascists solved our outreach problem for us!

Yes, in politics as in judo, you hope for an opponent who goes too far, loses balance, and thereby helps you.
The far-wrong started holding anti-marriage rallies in Central Valley towns.
These provocations FORCED local queers, plus their non-queer sympathizers and friends, to counter-demonstrate!

In the Seventies, Bryant and Briggs mobilized queers.
In the Nineties, Phelps caused even moderates to sympathize with his victims.

Now in the Central Valley, rallies against equal rights create rallies for equal rights. The far-wrong unintentionally help their freedom-seeking opponents. In one town, a demo by 30 fascists attracted twice as many anti-fascists.

Next confrontation will be at Clovis, April 23. For more info, please visit Equality California ( http://www.eqca.org ).

Thanking the far-wrong,
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,
San Francisco

14 April 2005
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