Early Voting begins October 2, in Arizona. No on Prop 102 requests the honor of your presence at this Meet, Greet and Mingle event. Your valuable help is needed now with only 4 weeks left for the campaign. This is your opportunity to hear the updates on what the campaign is doing, sign up for phone banking, hear the radio pitches that will air in Tucson and more! Bring friends, have a good time, and help us win this campaign.
Co- Hosts: Honorary Campaign Chairs Tucson First Lady Beth Walkup and UA President Emeritus Peter Likins, Vice Mayor Karin Uhlich, Ward III Tucson City Council, Campaign Co-chairs Becky Corran and Jim Burroway, Treasurer Cynthia Garcia and MORE!
Oct 01, 2008, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Colors, 5305 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson
Vote No Prop 102
We just want to share a few notes we have received from other supporters of Equality Arizona - people just like you who are passionate about our work.
"This organization is like no other, you truly represent me" - Carol (Mesa)
"I feel safe going to clubs and bars around town because of Equality Arizona" – Ryan (Phoenix)
"My partner and I moved here 3 years ago from Philly. We love Equality Arizona because we see you working to make Arizona more open like the east coast" - Cody and Matt (Tempe)
"I'm going to support this organization until we no longer have to worry about discrimination!" - Jennifer (Tucson)
We appreciate everyone in the community and the overwhelming support demonstrated to Equality Arizona. We hope you will continue to support our work and look forward to your gift of $25 or $50 today.
Thank you for all you do, for your time, your financial support, and your loyalty to building an Arizona where everyone can live safely and freely.
Sincerely,
Barbara McCullough-Jones
Executive Director
P.S. Please make your gift of $25, $50, or more today.
"Best dinner yet!"
When I came in to the office on Monday, I was so grateful to read that note among the extremely positive feedback I've received from attendees at this year's annual benefit dinner and celebration of Wingspan's 20th anniversary.
It was quite a celebration – good friends, good food, inspirational award recipients, and moving videos and speeches. We looked back on Wingspan's incredible 20-year history, and we came together to move forward, hand-in-hand, into the future.
The evening began with a pre-dinner reception featuring hors d'oeuvres, time to catch up with old and new friends, and a silent auction that included over 100 items, from gift certificates at favorite Tucson restaurants to an authentic Chagall print.
As I wandered through the TCC Galleria and Grand Hallway greeting everyone and thanking them for their support, my heart and spirit was lifted by the energy, excitement, and diversity around me – LGBT and straight ally, young and old, Native and Latino/a, Black, white, Asian and everything in between – celebrating our lives, our loves, our friendships, and our families.
At about 6:45pm, the Batucaxé Samba band led everyone into the ballroom, marching to the celebratory beat of bells and drums. I sat down at my table, thanked keynote speaker Judy Shepard who was sitting next to me, and the program started by honoring Mary Ellen Beaurain with the Community Ally Award for her incredible work to help create Wingspan's Senior Programs.
Next was a moving video created by interim program director Liz Burden, chronicling Wingspan's 20 years of service to our community. I invite you to watch that video below.
We also presented videos created by Angela Soto to honor our award recipients. These videos as well as a clip of my speech will be avilable shortly on our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/wingspanaz.
During dinner, I visited as many tables as I could to say hello and thank everyone for their support and commitment to Wingspan's mission of promoting the freedom, equality, safety and well-being of our community. The lights dimmed, and we honored Steve Hall Award winners Shirley Snow and AngieRose Tilghman. Each have been volunteers for over nine years, serving not only at Wingspan's front desk, but also on a variety of program committees.
Sam Holdren, political director at Equality Arizona, assisted board president Carol Lohman in thanking the over 30 elected officials, candidates and other honored guests who came to show their support for our community.
Afterward, Nick Ray, our director of development, came on stage to announce an incredible gift and surprise.
Judy Dlugacz, founder of Olivia Cruises, was in attendance as part of celebrating the opening of the first and only Olivia Community, right here in Tucson. She was so moved by her experience in Tucson and with Wingspan, that she donated a luxury cruise package to the Eastern Caribbean for us to offer as a live auction item. I watched in amazement as Nick and Tucson's Black Cat, Ajia Simone, started a bidding war that raised an additional $10,000 for Wingspan!
After the crowd settled down from the auction, we celebrated the lifetime of service and commitment to our community in Southern Arizona of Godat Award Recipient Noel Matkin, who, among other accomplishments, was instrumental in the creation of Tucson's domestic partnership registry when he was co-chair of the City of Tucson LGBT commission.
University of Arizona Pride Alliance director Justin Howes introduced Keynote speaker Judy Shepard. Her speech was preceded by a video that told the parallel stories of how the hate-motivated murders of her son Matthew and of James Byrd Jr. in Texas forced communities around the country to organize for and demand the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in hate crimes legislation.
Judy also urged us to not become complacent despite our country's slow but steady movement towards equality. She ended her remarks by reminding us that it is local communities, through organizations like Wingspan, that have the power to truly impact people's lives on a daily basis. Our standing ovation reminded Judy that we will never forget her son or the incredible work she and her husband support through the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Our celebration ended with a dessert reception in the TCC Galleria, where guests were able to mingle with each other while enjoying a selection of 15 delectable desserts. Batucaxé also entertained with more Samba music, and many took the opportunity to create their own dance floor in the lobby.
I left the TCC around 10:15pm, happily exhausted. Just as this year's dinner was our most successful to-date thanks to the hard work of our incredible dinner committee volunteers and development staff, Wingspan's growth and success over the past 20 years has been and always will be dependent on you.
As I said in my speech, this incredible evening was not just a celebration of Wingspan, it was a celebration of you, because through your time, love, volunteerism, and financial support, you make our work possible.
This is your community and Wingspan will always be your center. I'm so excited and grateful to be a part of working with you at the start of our next 20 years.
The last day to register to vote in Arizona is Monday, October 6th.After making history in 2006, Arizona voters again have to decide on the definition of marriage.
From the latest issue of the Tucson Weekly:
Kelly Frieders is a Christian, a registered Republican and a straight, married mother of 10-year-old triplets. On paper, Frieders should be a supporter of state Sen. Tim Bee’s run for the U.S. House against Democratic incumbent Gabrielle Giffords.
Instead, Frieders is angry at Bee, because of his efforts to get Proposition 102 on the ballot, a legislature-produced measure sponsored by Bee to constitutionally define marriage in Arizona as legally being between one man and one woman.
Frieders says she doesn’t agree with supporters of Prop 102, who want to make the proposed amendment a religious issue.
“I’m really disappointed. I’m really upset with the direction the Republican Party has gone. I’m a Republican because I believe in less government and being financially conservative. Seems to me Prop 102 is about more government, not less,” Frieders says.
Frieders and others against Prop 102 are also upset that Bee and his fellow legislators ignored the fact that in 2006, Arizona voters narrowly defeated another anti-gay-marriage initiative, Proposition 107.
Read the rest of the article here.
We had a huge turnout of faith leaders in Southern Arizona for Tuesday’s news conference. From the Arizona Daily Star:
Tucson religious leaders who oppose Arizona’s marriage amendment spoke against it Tuesday, with many questioning why the measure is before voters again after it was defeated two years ago.Rabbi Helen Cohn spoke of Jewish Scriptures in urging people to vote against Proposition 102, which would amend the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman.…Cohn said endorsing the amendment based on religious beliefs blurs the line between religious life and secular life. “Legislation based on one group’s religious beliefs is completely contrary to all this country stands for,” she said.The Rev. Anna Bell, pastor of the Mosaic United Methodist Church, said Arizonans were “clear two years ago” in defeating a similar amendment. She said voters now are “ready for solutions to actual problems.”
“Religious beliefs and values are important to many Arizonans, but no religion should be able to use government enforcement to mandate its beliefs for all of us,” she said.
Local faith leaders took a stand this week against religious extremists who would breach the separation between church and state, and write discrimination against gays into the Arizona Constitution.About 30 clergymen and clergywomen gathered Tuesday in the sanctuary of Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St., to urge Arizonans to vote no on Proposition 102, the “Marriage Amendment.”…Prop. 102 opponent the Rev. Frank Bergen, who has served as a priest in both the Roman Catholic Jesuit order and the Episcopal Church, said some people think everybody “should be bound by our religious concept of marriage.”“Uh, uh; not so,” he said. He said his objection to Prop. 102 is actually rooted in religion. “Proposition 102 offends my sense of justice, and my sense of justice comes right out of my religious faith,” Bergen said.
If not, now is the time to check that item off of your to-do list. There are four easy ways you can do this:
Remember, the deadline for registering is midnight on Monday, October 6.
Early voting begins on October 2. You can request an early ballot from your local your County Recorder. To request an early ballot, please see the instructions below for your county.
Apache County: Please call (928) 337-7514.
Cochise County: Please call (520) 432-8354 or (520) 432-8358.
Coconino County: Please call (928) 779-6589 or 800-793-6181.
Gila County: Requests for an early ballot can be made by email by following these instructions.
Graham County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Greenlee County: Download this PDF form print it out, fill it in, and mail it to: Greenlee County Recorder, P.O. Box 1625, Clifton, AZ 85533.
La Paz County: Contact the La Paz County Recorder’s office:
Maricopa County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Mojave County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Navajo County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Pima County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Pinal County: You can request a ballot via this online form.
Santa Cruz County: Download this PDF form, print it out, fill it in, and mail it to: Santa Cruz County Recorder, 2150 N Congress Drive, Nogales, AZ, 85621.
Yavapai County: Request a ballot via this online form.
Yuma County: Contact the Yuma County Recorder’s Office, 410 S. Maiden Lane, Suite B, Yuma, (928) 373-6034.
(One of the great actors, Paul Newman, has died at the age of 83. Actor, charitable man and true progressive, Newman leaves a legacy. What follows is an obituary from the Huffington Post.) 
As we get some perspective on yesterday's emergency bailout deal meeting at the White House, it has become clear that what many thought was a political stunt by John McCain to presidential politics into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression clearly was exactly that.
Chris Dodd called the White House meeting a disaster:
"In an interview on the CNN cable news network, Dodd described a meeting in which Democrats were blindsided by a new core mortgage proposal from House Republicans, with the tacit backing of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. 'I am not going to sign on to something I just saw this afternoon,' he said. Dodd said Republicans and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson had to decide what they wanted to support. The whole meeting 'looked like a rescue plan for John McCain,' Dodd said."
The new proposal, in which McCain was meant to look like a White Knight who had just swept in to rescue the process for Republicans looked like this:
Bob Orr: "We're told at the White House Senator McCain offered an alternative plan that would include fewer regulations and more corporate tax breaks for businesses, kind of a private solution. But we're also told those ideas angered and surprised Democrats like banking chairman Chris Dodd who now says he thinks the White House summit was more of a political stunt for McCain."
Fewer regulations and more corporate tax breaks? What the f*%k is John McCain thinking?
Politico: "Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said that 'nobody mentioned McCain' during the several-hour-long meeting on the $700 billion market rescue plan, other than Frank and that his Republican colleagues 'winced' when he did. 'He’s been irrelevant to the process. He remains to be,' said Frank. 'I was afraid that his dropping in here, like Andy Kaufman’s Mighty Mouse—'here I am to save the day'—I thought that would slow things down. I didn’t see any sign of our Republican colleagues paying any attention to him whatsoever.' Frank went on. 'Nobody mentioned him. The man’s irrelevant to the whole process. No Republican mentioned his name. I’m the only one who raised his name. They winced when I did,' he said."
Also, the fact that John McCain "suspended" his campaign is a complete and utter farce and he is now being called by the media on it, and rightfully so:
Jeffrey Toobin is absolutely right: "Can I just quarrel with the premise of this? Who says he suspended his campaign? He's been campaigning all day! He gave a speech in New York. He's giving interviews all night. He's raising money. His surrogates are attacking Barack Obama. I think this is posturing of being apolitical and frankly I think we're being kind of gullible and falling for it. He didn't stop his campaign. He's campaigning...He didn't pull his ads down. His ads have been on. And he's done exactly what Obama's done all day. And Obama admits he's campaigning. It's the middle of the campaign. I don't see why we should treat what he's doing any different from what Obama's doing."
The AP is seeing through McCain's lie as well.
The Obama campaign last night called McCain out on the political "stunt" he's pulling as well, sending a memo to the press.
Via Ben Smith at Politico, the Obama campaign memo, which is much less conciliatory than the press conference Obama gave after the White House meeting broke up. Both are below:
MEMO: "John McCain sought to change the subject from his out-of-touch response to the economic crisis with a big announcement that he was 'suspending' his campaign. But the only thing McCain really wants suspended is the American people’s disbelief. In fact, he’s been in full campaign mode the entire time. Instead of heading to Washington right away, Senator McCain stuck around in New York to do TV interviews, spend the night, and give a scheduled speech. Though the McCain campaign announced yesterday that they were also 'suspending' their attack ads, they continued to run Thursday. When McCain finally arrived in Washington, almost twenty-four hours after his announcement – and after Congressional leadership announced a deal in principle – he huddled with his lobbyist campaign advisors while his running mate held a political rally and his political spokesmen and surrogates were out in full force, continuing to attack Barack Obama. So make no mistake: John McCain did not 'suspend' his campaign. He just turned a national crisis into an occasion to promote his campaign. It’s become just another political stunt, aimed more at shoring up the Senator’s aimed more at shoring up the Senator’s political fortunes than the nation’s economy. And it does nothing to help advance this critical legislation to protect the American people during this time of economic crisis."
The big question now is will John McCain show up at tonight's scheduled debate? Senator Barbara Boxer accused McCain of "crawling up into the corner with his blanket."
This whole political stunt by McCain is disgusting and pathetic. When thousands of people are foreclosing on their homes and banks are going out of business, McCain feels the need to politicize it because he knows nothing about economics, he's sinking in the polls, and his support of the policies and the Wall Street fat cats that want to keep their millions of dollars in bonuses and salaries are what got us here. Disgusting.
By the way, WaMu failed. Who's next as McCain stalls, plays coward, and refuses to let the public hear from him?
Challenge Grant Opportunity for Pima Dems! We have been issued a local fundraising challenge!
As part of our event to raise money for the local Pima County Democratic Party this Friday September 26, at the Maverick from 5 to 7 p.m., our event speaker Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has pledged to contribute at least $5,000 to the local Pima County Democratic Party if we can match the $5,000 amount.
That's right... we have been issued a challenge - raise $5,000 and Mayor Gordon will match it!
UPDATE!!
Sharon Bronson and her re-election committee have already come forward with a $1,000.00 donation! Please use our online donation method, ActBlue, just below to help us make Mayor Phil Gordon drop some Phoenix dough in Pima County!
Thank You, Sharon Bronson and thanks to all who have pledged towards this challenge
thanks from the Pima County Democratic Party and our Co-Host, Tucson City Councilmember, Rodney Glassman
If John McCain decides his campaign crisis is over, we will be able to watch the debate, starting at 6:00pm.
Please send a check or donate right now in a secure manner online through our Act Blue link below, or call HQ with a credit card today. By giving by Friday, September 26th, you can effectively double your contribution! Every cent of your contribution to the local Democratic Party will be spent locally!!
Our address is Pima County Democratic Party, PO Box 40211, Tucson, AZ 85717. Phone is (520) 326-3716
| Help Us Defeat Prop 102 Please Consider Donating Today |
| Thank you for your donations so far, large and small. Political contributions are not tax deductible, so we know every dollar you donate is a heartfelt dollar in support of defeating this amendment. No on Prop 102 has already begun disseminating news stories and guest opinions. The next phase of our campaign includes purchasing radio commercials for Southern Arizona and a limited of number of yard signs. In addition, Arizona Together is producing and purchasing TV commercials, as well as installing larger street signs at key intersections throughout the state. While proponents for this amendment have raised more than $3 million to overturn the will of the voters, we are nowhere near raising that amount. But we don't need to raise that much. Every dollar raised goes directly into a strategically focused campaign. The campaign has no overhead and is completely run by volunteers like you. Our next step is to blanket Southern Arizona with radio ads. This will effectively and efficiently reach the most undecided voters. We have already taped the ads (in English and Spanish). But we need $12,000 more to secure these strategically placed radio spots. Can you help? Please talk to your friends and spread the word. Help us reach this final amount. With only 40 days left before the election, now is the crucial moment to work together and defeat this amendment again. Please take a few minutes to give a donation online today. Every heartfelt dollar counts. Please give generously.
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| Meet, Greet and Mingle to Vote NO Party at Colors, Oct. 1 |
| Come party with the No on Prop 102 campaign Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Colors, 5305 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, Ariz. Bring friends and have a good time and get out the vote NO on 102. |
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| Volunteer with No on Prop 102! Help make history, again! |
You can take action to defeat Prop 102 in your community!
Sign up today! |
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| Have You Registered to Vote? Deadline is Midnight, Monday, Oct. 6 |
If you haven't registered to vote yet, now is the time to check that item off of your to-do list. There are a few easy ways to register:
Remember: the deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Monday, Oct 6. |
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| Taking the Campaign into Your Own Hands And yards, and printers, and blogs |
| In a couple of weeks a limited supply of No on 102 yard signs will be available on a first come, first served basis at Wingspan. They are available for a $5 donation-which goes to cover the printing cost and includes a small donation to radio ads. But, there's no need to wait, you can creatively take the campaign into your own hands today. On the Vote No Prop 102 website are signs, bumper stickers, hand out cards, web banners, and a template for making buttons. Download and print and stick and place and spread the word today! Here are some ideas:
Send in pictures and emails of what you do. We'll share them and the "Best creative use of online signage" will receive a free yard sign! |
During the savings and loan scandal in the late 1980s, Charles Keating — a wealthy Arizona businessman and chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association — turned to John McCain to ask for his assistance as he was trying to stave off the government intervention. Keating found a champion for deregulation in McCain.
Soon after arriving in Congress, McCain flew on Keating’s corporate plane to vacations in the Bahamas. He “did not pay for most of the trips until years later, when the matter became public.” By 1987, “McCain had received about $112,000 in political contributions from Keating and his associates.” McCain was investigated and ultimately admonished by the Senate ethics committee. Keating went to prison.
McCain’s involvement in the “last great financial scandal in our country” has largely been ignored by the media. But local Ohio reporter Tom Beres finally forced McCain to comment on the Keating Five scandal in an interview yesterday. “Talk of greedy bankers, lax regulation brings back memories of the Keating Five,” Beres reported:
BERES: Is there some relevance of that chapter, which I think you have acknowledged was maybe not your proudest moment?
MCCAIN: It was a very unhappy period in my life. But the fact is that I moved forward and I have been the greatest voice for reform and against corruption in Washington than anybody.
Watch it:
McCain made his comments on the same day the New York Times reported that his campaign manager’s lobbying firm was receiving $15,000 monthly payments from Freddie Mac — a company that McCain has said is rife with “corruption.” Also on the same day, it was reported that McCain’s transition director made $260,000 lobbying for Freddie Mac. The New York Times reports McCain received $169,000 from “directors, officers, and lobbyists for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac” for the 2008 campaign cycle.
PHOENIX (Observer Update) - Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard (who attended the Wingspan Dinner) has announced a settlement with Harvest Properties Inc. of Tucson, resolving a consumer fraud lawsuit that alleged foreclosure rescue fraud and mortgage fraud by the company and its owners. The settlement was filed on Friday, September 19. 
Looking back, moving forward. Tonight we celebrate Wingspan’s 20 years of service to our community. After watching that incredible video, I look back on what enabled Wingspan to deeply affect so many lives, including my own, and I know that moving forward is dependent on one simple word, “you.”
TUCSON (Observer Update) - From a small office on Court Street to its new facilities on 7th Street, Wingspan has been Tucson and Southern Arizona’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community center for 20 years and people from Tucson, Arizona and across the nation came together Saturday to mark the work of this organization.
A gourmet dinner, silent auction and entertainment throughout the crisp and well staged program was only part of the well-planned festivities, making for a great evening for those in attendance.
At the end of the evening, Nick Ray, Development Director said more than $50,000 had been raised through contributions and that more than $85,000 was raised from the silent auction held prior to the dinner, all of which will help Wingspan move forward in its efforts to better the community. For those who could not attend, they can still give to Tucson and Southern Arizona's LGBT Community Center. Make checks payable to Wingspan and mail them to 425 E. 7th St., Tucson, Arizona 85705 or go online to Wingspan's website.
