I made a difference today.
Aug. 23rd, 2003 11:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pennywhistleToday, I made a difference for my city.
I joined the Citizens to Restore Fairness in a Neighborhood Canvass to get signatures to help repeal Article XII. (See fact sheet below LJ cut) Article XII is the only law in the United States that makes it legal for a gay or lesbian or bisexual person to be fired from their job or kicked out of their home or denied service at a store simply because they are gay.
I could walk into work tomorrow, and my boss could say "I saw the rainbow bumper sticker on your car. You're fired." And there's nothing I could do about it, according to Article XII.
We want to put a repeal of Article XII on the November 2004 ballot. To do that, we need 18,000 signatures by February. At this time, we have 5,000. So today I joined a Neighborhood Canvass to go door-to-door and ask people to sign their names to get our issue on the ballot. It was an eye opening experience, and very empowering.
I arrived about 10 minutes late, thanks to alarm clock problems. I checked in, told them I was new and nervous, and they partnered me with someone experienced. Then I got my clipboard with my script, petition, canvassing location, voter registration, and volunteer information. I ate a yummy donut and had some apple juice while the leaders gave us a brief but intensive training session. Then we were off! My partner, Adina, drove to our location. People were going all over, some went to Hyde Park, some Eden Park, we went to Upper Over-The-Rhine, I guess it is. Dorchester and lower Burnett Ave. A predominatly lower income African-American community, I went in with a few prejudices, sure that these residents wouldn't support us. I came out with my preconceived notions shattered. (always a good thing!) I went with Adina to the first house to watch her, and then we went off by ourselves, she took the even houses and I took the odds. We were only talking to registered voters, and we had their names and addresses, so I was able to say "Hello Mrs. So-and-so." That made it easier. I started off well, getting three signatures at my first three houses. I was surprised overall that most people did not know about Article XII, but for the most part they did not agree with it. That was a good sign. I talked to some people who said they didn't agree with it, but they didn't want to sign anything. I talked to one slightly hostile woman who said she didn't believe such a law existed. I just gave her an information sheet, thanked her for her time, and went on to the next house. We were only out for maybe an hour and a half, and I collected 8 signatures. We were trying to get 10 apiece, but from what everyone came back with, and for a first-timer, I was told 8 was pretty good. Adina collected 5.
There were 68 volunteers there today, and we collected 401 signatures. When we got back to the "Home Base," there was Subway waiting for us (yeah, the diet resumes Monday ;-p). Everyone tallied up their results, and out of all the people we talked to, 272 people said they definetly would vote to repeal in November 2004. Only 11 people said they were actively working against our efforts.
WE NEED MORE HELP. Ever wanted to make a difference? Like Alix Olson said, "Yeah, she is just one citizen, and YOU are just one citizen, and YOU are just one citizen, and YOU and YOU and YOU..." We still need 12,599 more signatures. There are LOTS of canvassing opportunities. Not into door-to-door? There's an event at Coney Island on Labor Day to try and recruit more volunteers. Or you could do phone work. Or, if you're feeling anti social (^_~) you could do Data Entry/Office Work. Not in Cincinnati? Donations are accepted! Check out the website.
Personally, I will be at the volunteer recruiting event on the 1st from 11:30am-2:30pm and also at a canvassing on Sunday, September 14th from 4-8pm. The other canvasses coming up are September 3, 17, and 28. I hope to see as many of you there as possible!
The best part of the day for me was coming home feeling like I'd made a difference. I'd done something to make being gay in Cincinnati more tolerable.
Yes For Fairness! Repeal Article XII!
I joined the Citizens to Restore Fairness in a Neighborhood Canvass to get signatures to help repeal Article XII. (See fact sheet below LJ cut) Article XII is the only law in the United States that makes it legal for a gay or lesbian or bisexual person to be fired from their job or kicked out of their home or denied service at a store simply because they are gay.
I could walk into work tomorrow, and my boss could say "I saw the rainbow bumper sticker on your car. You're fired." And there's nothing I could do about it, according to Article XII.
We want to put a repeal of Article XII on the November 2004 ballot. To do that, we need 18,000 signatures by February. At this time, we have 5,000. So today I joined a Neighborhood Canvass to go door-to-door and ask people to sign their names to get our issue on the ballot. It was an eye opening experience, and very empowering.
I arrived about 10 minutes late, thanks to alarm clock problems. I checked in, told them I was new and nervous, and they partnered me with someone experienced. Then I got my clipboard with my script, petition, canvassing location, voter registration, and volunteer information. I ate a yummy donut and had some apple juice while the leaders gave us a brief but intensive training session. Then we were off! My partner, Adina, drove to our location. People were going all over, some went to Hyde Park, some Eden Park, we went to Upper Over-The-Rhine, I guess it is. Dorchester and lower Burnett Ave. A predominatly lower income African-American community, I went in with a few prejudices, sure that these residents wouldn't support us. I came out with my preconceived notions shattered. (always a good thing!) I went with Adina to the first house to watch her, and then we went off by ourselves, she took the even houses and I took the odds. We were only talking to registered voters, and we had their names and addresses, so I was able to say "Hello Mrs. So-and-so." That made it easier. I started off well, getting three signatures at my first three houses. I was surprised overall that most people did not know about Article XII, but for the most part they did not agree with it. That was a good sign. I talked to some people who said they didn't agree with it, but they didn't want to sign anything. I talked to one slightly hostile woman who said she didn't believe such a law existed. I just gave her an information sheet, thanked her for her time, and went on to the next house. We were only out for maybe an hour and a half, and I collected 8 signatures. We were trying to get 10 apiece, but from what everyone came back with, and for a first-timer, I was told 8 was pretty good. Adina collected 5.
There were 68 volunteers there today, and we collected 401 signatures. When we got back to the "Home Base," there was Subway waiting for us (yeah, the diet resumes Monday ;-p). Everyone tallied up their results, and out of all the people we talked to, 272 people said they definetly would vote to repeal in November 2004. Only 11 people said they were actively working against our efforts.
WE NEED MORE HELP. Ever wanted to make a difference? Like Alix Olson said, "Yeah, she is just one citizen, and YOU are just one citizen, and YOU are just one citizen, and YOU and YOU and YOU..." We still need 12,599 more signatures. There are LOTS of canvassing opportunities. Not into door-to-door? There's an event at Coney Island on Labor Day to try and recruit more volunteers. Or you could do phone work. Or, if you're feeling anti social (^_~) you could do Data Entry/Office Work. Not in Cincinnati? Donations are accepted! Check out the website.
Personally, I will be at the volunteer recruiting event on the 1st from 11:30am-2:30pm and also at a canvassing on Sunday, September 14th from 4-8pm. The other canvasses coming up are September 3, 17, and 28. I hope to see as many of you there as possible!
The best part of the day for me was coming home feeling like I'd made a difference. I'd done something to make being gay in Cincinnati more tolerable.
Yes For Fairness! Repeal Article XII!
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 09:03 pm (UTC)Go Penny, I'm so proud of you *hugs*
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Date: 2003-08-23 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 09:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 09:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-24 07:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-24 07:25 am (UTC)BTW, I added you as a friend.
~Michelle, a fellow Cincinnatian