(Jezebel) “Former President Barack Obama campaigned in Georgia with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) on Thursday to remind people of several things: that Warnock helped Democrats pass impactful legislation, that winning a 51st Senate seat matters, and, most importantly, that Republican nominee Herschel Walker is a clown.”
(theskimm) “Nine years after the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, gay rights activist Gilbert Baker created and paraded the first rainbow flag. Fast forward to June 2021: corporations (think: Walmart, CVS, AT&T) started adding rainbow colors to their logos on social media. The move is an attempt to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. But LGBTQ+ activists say this show of solidarity by some companies is just a front since their corporate policies show a different side to their supposed activism. And are accusing them of rainbow-washing.“
Citizens United turned soulless corporations into “people” who can support things, like Pride Month and Juneteenth. Well, it’s time to remind a bunch of CEO’s that there are social rules to being “real people” – like defending and protecting their friends. Every kid knows that Pinocchio only became a “real” boy after he risked everything to save his father. Need a more grownup example? How about this – if you say you’re a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, don’t give political donations to homophobes. So easy!
(Note: If you and your family/friend circle haven’t started calling your senators on passing the Equality Act, go here.)
As we near the end of another great Pride month, it’s easy to forget how very recent some of our LBGTQ+ rights are – the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states in Obergefell v. Hodges just six years ago, on June 26, 2015, making us one of 29 countries with marriage equality. Then the Trump administration showed us how fragile some of our progress was, banning transgender personnel from serving in the military and excusing those claiming religious beliefs from treating fellow Americans with dignity and fairness. (List here.) Even with Trump removed, our LBGTQI+ community still faces harrassment and discrimination that effect their mental, physical and economic wellbeing. Just this year, GOP-controlled legislatures, ignoring the will of 75% of Americans, passed the largest number of repressive anti-LGBTQ+ bills since 2015. As a result, CA’s attorney general just added five more states to the state-funded travel ban list.
But what about that recent Supreme Court decision that employers can’t discriminate against workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity? It doesn’t apply to small businesses that employ as many as one in six Americans. Plus, it doesn’t protect access to housing, prevent denial of services or settle the question of who can use which restroom. (link to tweet here)
The H.R.5/S.393 – the Equality Act would amend existing federal civil rights laws – including the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 – to extend protections for LGBTQ Americans, extending protections on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. It would also protect those with special needs. 48 out of 50 Democratic senators are already on board. If you have one, thank them. For those with friends and family in red states, you need to get your friends and family on the phone, every day, giving a piece of their mind to their GOP senators. Every day.
Minimal script for cosponsoring senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Sen. [___] for supporting S.393 – the Equality Act. It’s past time to recognize the essential humanity of all our citizens and remove this last bar to equal treatment of our LGBTQI+ community.
Continue reading “Using our influence for good – supporting LGBTQI+ people at home and abroad.”First things first. Familiarize yourself with the issues, myths, and solutions in the pipeline regarding our homeless brothers and sisters in Ventura.
The City Council will be voting on the decision to declare a local emergency shelter crisis to be eligible to access California Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funding.
In order to receive these State funds, Ventura must have an official Shelter Crisis declaration for this funding to be utilized within our city. Funds are anticipated to be released by year-end 2018 and in an amount significant to really make a difference to our most vulnerable residents.
Talking points for emails (be sure to make it your own!):
-As a voter and concerned citizen in Ventura, I’d like your commitment to declare a Shelter Crisis to be eligible to receive California Homeless Emergency Aid Program funding.
-State funds are being allotted by year-end to help our most vulnerable residents and, in addition to the funds earmarked by the Council in June, I feel strongly that, we, as a city can make great strides in addressing homelessness in our city
-Funding will go toward homelessness prevention, emergency housing vouchers, rapid rehousing, and navigation centers.
Today is our “Evacuation Special” as our town is literally on fire and we’ve relocated to a location with terrible internet access. Today’s post will be notable for its lateness and weird format.
We’re asking people to make two important calls today! And then do some fun things.
Even if you’ve called on this before, do it again.
Using the same kind of reverse logic that results in a tax bill for the middle class that is actually harmful to them, the GOP has decided that overriding common-sense safety provisions of states run by grownups will make us safer.
This actually passed out of committee (*^?^**!!!) so ignore the references to talking just to committee members. Call your own Representative and both Senators, no matter how you imagine they’ll vote. Note that three Democrats openly support this bill, because they feel they have to to survive. Too bad.
Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] to express my opposition to (H.R. 38(for Reps), S.446 (for Senators)
More Script if you want it: This bill would invalidate state-level concealed carry restrictions, make it difficult for law enforcement to verify whether a weapon is legally carried, and essentially allow permitless carry across the country. Continue reading “Tuesday’s Call-in Prescription”
On December 12, Alabamians will go the polls to elect their next Senator. And there could not be a clearer choice in the race: a bona fide progressive candidate, Doug Jones, or disgraced, Steve Bannon-endorsed judge, Roy Moore, who is further to the right than any Republican currently in the Senate.
Like so many of the special elections this year, this race is crucial for progressives to win. Betsy DeVos was confirmed in a tie-breaker vote. Neil Gorsuch’s nomination was incredibly close. We beat back the repeal of healthcare by one vote. Gaining a Senate seat would turn narrow losses into likely victories, and put pressure on Republicans who may waver on important bills in the future. Look at the losses shown on Code Blue’s Daily Action Items… Donte Tanner lost by 115 votes and Shelly Simonds lost by 12.
Continue reading “Helping Doug Jones win – update from the front…”
We will be joining a national effort to help elect Doug Jones of Alabama to the US Senate. The election is on Dec 12, so we need to get to cracking and take one more step to getting a majority back in the Senate!
Our appeal will be directly to the voters in Alabama – NOT mass political mailings, because all of our cards will be handwritten. Each will be a message from one voter to another. We are simply asking Alabamans to do that most American thing — VOTE!
Join a party in Ventura at one of the times below so we can have fun while writing and personalizing the cards.
Please pick a day from the list below, and let us know when you would like to join.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RSVP to Ruth at jeruth51@aol.com (RSVP and we’ll send you the address!):
Thursday, November 30, 10:00 AM
Sunday, December 3, 1:00 PM
The GOP, simultaneously in-the-majority and struck with their proximity to our pocketbooks, has, once again, re-discovered “supply-side” economics, aka ” the trickle-down theory”. Years ago, people called this concept by the truthier title of “the-horse-and-sparrow” , as in, ‘If you feed the horse enough oats, some will pass through to the road for the sparrows.'” Interestingly, the authors of this nonsense never seem to “re-discover” or care that this tax scam has never been successful, except for creating, over and over, the steaming piles of offal for us to clean up.
What would happen if we just didn’t give the $72 billion dollars to our wealthiest people and corporations, including the 35% that goes to foreign investors? What if that $72 billion dollars didn’t go to tax shelters in the Bahamas, wealthy companies cutting employment or those hiring foreign workers?
What if we went out on a limb and say that “We the People” are America’s greatest asset.
What would happen if we invested that $72 billion directly into us for 2018?
Minimal Script for a Democratic Legislator: Continue reading “We’re not buying it…”
Removing access to health insurance for 13,000,000 Americans will cause people to die unnecessarily in a country which is touted as having the “best health care in the world”.
If the mere transfer of money from the poor and middle-class to the wealthiest of our society is corrupt and immoral, then the actual killing of us is should be described as criminal.
Minimal Script for a Democratic Legislator:
I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Senator [Harris/Feinstein] for opposing the Senate GOP tax bill.
We never asked for a tax cut. Are you ready to write things down?
What we want is accessible, comprehensive and affordable health care, protection of our social safety nets like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, investment in our schools and public infrastructure, affordable higher education for all, and protection of our air, water and natural resources. (Add on anything thing else we missed!)
Minimal Script for a Republican Legislator:
I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to tell Sen. [___] that we never asked for a tax cut. Are you ready to write things down?
What we want is accessible, comprehensive and affordable health care, protection of our social safety nets like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, investment in our schools and public infrastructure, affordable higher education for all, and protection of our air, water and natural resources. (Add on anything thing else we missed!)
Please tell your boss that if he/she/they [___] vote for this fraudulent rich-get-richer scheme over our best interests, he/she/they will need a career backup plan after the next election.
Senator Feinstein: DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430 email
and Senator Harris: DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884, email
Other Senator Contacts: http://www.phoneyourrep.com
More Information: Continue reading “It doesn’t matter if the crime occurs in a “health-care” bill or a “tax” bill.”
Transportation to the polls is a HUGE issue in Alabama.
Donate to Allied Progressive Front’s Transportation for Voters campaign!
APF is raising funds to pay for transportation – large buses and smaller buses/vans to aid Alabama’s Democratic Party leaders in counties across the state in their efforts to transport voters to the polls on election day, Dec 12th.
10 buses = 3,350 more Democrats to the polls!
25 buses = 8,375 more Democrats to the polls!
40 buses = 13,400 more Democrats to the polls!
In talking to organizers in small towns and rural areas, APF has also identified a need for printed flyers for canvassing and TEMPORARY HOUSING for VISITING VOLUNTEERS in some Alabama counties. If you can help at all with the housing problem please contact apfgroup@gmail.com APF is trying to help them pay for Air B&B’s or hotels where their visiting volunteer canvassers will share lodgings. Grassroots doesn’t get more basic than what APF is trying to provide.
Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/EliminateRoyMoore
(Update 12/3: they are at $12,009 of their $20k fundraising goal!)
Postcards To Voters is the real deal. Everyone likes a decorated postcard!
In Ventura, you can join postcard-writing parties. Click here for details. More times and sites are being arranged. Stay tuned for updates. (Updated 12/3 – over 1000 cards completed and mailed from Ventura County Indivisibles!)
If you’d like to participate by yourself, or start postcard parties with your neighbors and friends: Text HELLO to 484 ASK ABBY (484 275-2229). Receive talking points and addresses. Write and send your postcards. Get Started Today! To join, you may also email: join@tonythedemocrat.org
https://www.facebook.com/TonyTheDemocrat.org/
We’ve set up a text-banking program where Indivisibles anywhere can help our Alabama groups get out the vote for this important election.
What: Indivisible text-banking from California
Where: Anywhere! You just need two spare hours, a comfy chair, and a computer or iPad.
When: 12/2, 12/3, 12/9, 12/10, 12/11, and 12/12, from 9am to 9pm CT every day
Who: Indivisible groups across the country and volunteers like you!
Sign up here: http://www.indivisible.org/gotv-alabama/
Can you give a ride to someone else?
– Email to: rides@dougjonesforsenate (or make a donation)
– Click here for the local carpoolvote.com chapter.
Do you need a ride?
– Click here for your local Democratic Rep.
– Click here for the local carpoolvote.com chapter.
Serve as a poll-watcher on election day. There is training next week and it will be available as a webinar, too. If you are able or know others who may be able to serve as poll observers, Alabamians preferably, please sign up (or ask them to sign up) here.
Continue reading “Here are the best ways we can help Doug Jones win.”
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 