California: No on 8When California voters view ads supporting and opposing Proposition 8, they overwhelmingly support equality. Defeating Proposition 8 hinges on our community’s ability to overcome the opposition’s massive advertising campaign. Your financial contributions will make the difference between victory and defeat. If you have already donated to the No on 8 campaign, please consider donating again. If you have not previously donated, do not miss out on a chance to be part of one of the most historic victories for the LGBT community.
To make a donation to the “No on 8” campaign or to volunteer for the "1 of 10,000" grassroots visibility campaign, please use the following links: Get Out the Vote Volunteers Needed
California Measure to End Same-Sex Marriage Trailing, Poll Says A California ballot measure that would halt same-sex marriages in the most-populous U.S. state is trailing among those expected to cast ballots in November, a poll found. The proposed ban, known as Proposition 8, is opposed by 52 percent of those likely to vote, with 44 percent in favor, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. The ban is opposed by two-thirds of Democrats in a state where Senator Barack Obama holds a lead of 23 percentage points over Republican Challenger John McCain, the poll found. ``A big turnout for the top-of-the-ticket presidential race could have a significant impact on the rest of the ballot,'' Mark Baldassare, the president of the San Francisco-based research group, said in a statement. California this year became the second state after Massachusetts to allow same-sex couples to marry, following a ruling by its Supreme Court that a 2000 ban passed by the voters violated the constitutional rights of homosexuals. Opponents of gay nuptials moved to overturn that verdict by asking state voters to amend the constitution to prohibit the practice. The results of the Public Policy Institute poll are based on interviews with 1,186 likely voters from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. (William Selway, Bloomberg, October 23, 2008) Florida: Say No to 2Poll: Gay-marriage ban just short of passing A majority of Florida voters back a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, though the level of support is just shy of the 60 percent required for approval, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Thursday. The survey found 56 percent favor Amendment 2, while 37 percent oppose it and 7 percent are undecided. The Oct. 20-21 survey of 625 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. ''While the current support level remains below the 60 percent threshold, it still has a good shot at voter ratification,'' said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. ``In other ballot amendment and initiative votes in other states, undecided voters have generally broken strongly in support of gay marriage bans.''
(Beth Reinhard, Miami Herald, October 23, 2008) To make a donation to Say No on 2, please use the following link:
Arkansas: No on Act 1Gay Adoption Ban in Arkansas Trailing in Polls Arkansas's Proposed Initiative Act 1, which would prevent any couple who is not married from adopting or caring for a foster child, looks headed for failure, according to the recently released Arkansas Poll. "Personal feelings about an issue can be different from policy preferences," said Janine Parry, the poll's director and a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas. "After looking at this issue for several years, it seems to me that many Arkansans—both liberals and conservatives—are uncomfortable dictating the family arrangements of others, whether they agree with them or not." (Neal Broverman, The Advocate, October 23, 2008) To make a donation to Arkansas Families First, please use following link:
Arizona: No (Again) on 102Arizona Republic Opposes Anti-Gay Amendment The Arizona Republic, the largest newspaper in the state, editorialized against Proposition 102, which would ban same-sex marriage in the State Constitution. The newspaper complained that the secretary of state "blocked ballot language that would have told voters that state law already prohibits such marriages."
To make a donation to Equality Arizona, please use following link:
Election Day: Army of Lawyers
Next Tuesday, millions of Americans will head to the polls to exercise their right to vote. However, many registered voters who are eligible to vote will be denied this fundamental right on the most specious grounds. With anti-LGBT initiatives on the ballot in several states and with the stakes so high in the presidential race, the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) has teamed up with the National Campaign for Fair Elections to assemble a nationwide “army” of lawyers, law students, other legal professionals to combat unfair voter disenfranchisement To learn how you can volunteer in your state or to view the American Constitution Society's voter protection video ("Voting Rights in the 2008 Election: How Do We Ensure Every Vote Counts?"): National Campaign for Fair Elections
American Constitution Society's Voter Protection Video
Poll Workers Needed Preparing for Historic Voter Turnout, EAC Renews Call for Poll Workers
"Our country needs two million poll workers this Election Day to assist the record number of voters we expect to participate. The success of elections depends on the effective mobilization of this massive, temporary one-day workforce," said Chair Rodriguez. "Poll workers who are bilingual or have a facility with technology are also needed." During the last presidential election, 5.8 percent of polling places and 4 percent of precincts among jurisdictions reporting data indicated they had shortages of poll workers, according to the EAC's 2004 Election Day Survey. "We all have a role to play on November 4th - election officials, civic groups and citizens - in ensuring our election goes smoothly. For citizens, that role includes volunteering as a poll worker, and in two easy steps, you can sign up to serve." Those two steps require finding out if you are eligible to serve, and then calling your local election office to sign up. Contact information for every state is available at www.eac.gov. Step one: Determine the poll worker requirements. State poll worker requirements on age, residency and party affiliation vary. Some states also require poll workers to be registered to vote in that state. Step two: After confirming eligibility, contact the local election office to sign up to serve as a poll worker. Poll workers check-in voters, issue regular or provisional ballots, and provide instructions on how to use voting equipment. They keep lines moving and ensure every voter who is on the registration list, or believes they should be on the list, is given the opportunity to cast a ballot. In addition to a list of state poll worker requirements, the EAC provides training videos for election officials and poll workers on how to manage a polling place. These videos demonstrate how to keep lines moving, make polling places accessible for those with disabilities and prepare for emergencies. The EAC has also published a poll worker recruitment and training manual for election officials and civic organizations. These resources are available at www.eac.gov. : U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Estate Planning Practice Group
The NLGLA is proud to announce the launch of our first LGBT legal practice group. The estate planning practice group will provide a forum for legal professionals to solicit and offer advice to fellow legal practitioners nationwide. If you are a legal professional whose area of practice includes estate planning and are interested in joining the Estate Planning Practice Group, please email Juan Garcia (Juan@nlgla.org). Employment Opportunities
To view a complete list of current job opportunities, please visit the NLGLA Job Board where you can also post a job description or resume, browse through submitted resumes or apply for any openings. Upcoming Regional EventsGo to http://www.nlgla.org/calendar.html for the full listings. Questions? Please contact Juan.
GAYLAW Happy Hour Thursday, November 6, 2008 7:00pm Bar Rouge, 1315 16th Street NW, Washington, DC Monthly opportunity to network with members of GAYLAW (Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Attorneys of Washington). Please visit gaylaw.org for more information.
Central Florida Gay & Lesbian Law Association Joint Happy Hour Thursday, November 6, 2008 5:30pm Brick and Fire Restaurant, 116 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) has invited the members of CFGLLA to participate at a Joint Happy Hour event on Thursday, November 6, 2008, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Brick and Fire Restaurant, 116 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801 (www.brickandfire.com). The cost of admission is $10 per person, or $5 for anyone who brings a non-perishable food item for our food drive to benefit Destiny Foundation of Central Florida. The first 2 drinks and pizza will be on the OCBA. After that, there will be drink specials available at the cash bar.
Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association/Western New England College of Law Reception Tuesday, November 11 , 2008 5:00pm Western New England College Lobby , 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA On November 11, 2008, WNEC will host a reception for LGBT students, faculty, staff and lawyers. MLGBA is a co-sponsor of the event. The event will be from 5pm until 7pm in the WNEC lobby. WNEC is located at 1215 Wilbraham Road in Springfield. This is a free event open to all, and no RSVPs are required. If you have any questions, please contact WNEC professor Erin Buzuvis at ebuzuvis@law.wnec.edu.
LAGBAC Monthly "Meet the Bar" Social Networking Event Friday, November 21, 2008 6:00pm Sidetrack, 3349 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC) and Lawyers for Diversity welcome judges, legal professionals, and law students to a monthly social networking event. The Meet the Bar events exist thanks to the generous contributions of Sidetrack and numerous law firms throughout Chicago. For additional information, please contact Mario Sullivan at msullivan@lagbac.org.
16th Annual GAYLAW Awards Celebration Friday, December 5, 2008 6:00pm Women's National Democratic Club , 1526 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC Join GAYLAW for the 16th Annual Awards Celebration. For information about tickets and/or sponsorship opportunities, please visit gaylaw.org.
Want to feature your events in the NLGLA newsletter and in the NLGLA Online Community Event Calendar? Click here to submit an event.
LGBT Law Student Groups: Become a Member of the NLGLA! The NLGLA strongly encourages all LGBT Law Student Groups to become a member of the NLGLA. By signing up in advance of the 2009 Career Fair and Conference (September 10-12th), LGBT law student groups can get the latest updates on Lavender Law events and activities that will be specifically geared towards law students. Registering your LGBT Law Student Group as a member of the NLGLA is quick, easy, and (best of all) FREE! Ensure your law school's LGBT group stays up to date on NLGLA programs, Lavender Law announcements, and much, much more! Register your LGBT Law Student Group TODAY! To see if your school is already a member of the NLGLA, click here:
Questions? Please contact Justin Johns at Justin@nlgla.org. |
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