Miami, FL (Send to Friend) - Dear SAVE Members and Supporters,
Welcome to SAVE News Now, a round-up of local news that affects the Miami-Dade GLBT community.

October is GLBT History Month.  We encourage you to celebrate GLBT History Month by going to Equality Forum's link (www.glbthistorymonth.com).  Each day in October is designated to profile and honor an individual who has made a contribution to our nation and the world.  
 
It is fitting that October is GLBT History Month because it recognizes great GLBT role models and makes a civil rights statement about the contributions this community has made nationally and globally.  It is also fitting because locally, October is our month to make the final push with our time and dollars towards maintaining the equality we have gained thus far.
 
The Florida GLBT community is facing a historic decision in less than a month, a decision that will most certainly affect the greater Florida community as well.  Amendment 2 is not about "protecting marriage," rather it is a barrier to citizens who choose to exercise their right to enter into a relationship that is recognized under basic law.  Not only is the possibility for civil unions in jeopardy, but domestic partnerships could be in danger of dissolution as well.  If we truly believe in American Values, then we must recognize that there cannot be one set of laws for some citizens and another set of laws for others.  We must vote "NO" on Amendment 2.  We must educate friends and family about the issue.  We must volunteer by giving our time and donating our resources.  

Let me be clear, we are the underdog in this fight.  The stakes are high, and chances are, if this amendment passes, we may never in our lifetime see a reversal of its effects.  We only need 40% voting "NO" to ensure that Amendment 2 does not pass, and according to the latest Mason Dixon poll, we are at striking distance with 34% voting "NO".  However, our opposition is currently polling at 55%, needing only 60% to pass the amendment. (see article below)

I, for one, do not want to wake up November 5th living in a state that offers government leveraged discrimination.  Do everything you can until November 4th.  Every hour volunteered counts.  Every dollar donated impacts the outcome of this historic campaign.

In this issue, we will also highlight the many volunteer opportunities available at SAVE with a focus on those crucial to next month's vote.  We have exciting campaign news and an update on our $10,000 challenge grant, as well as information on upcoming social and political functions.  I look forward to seeing you at some of them.

25 days separate us today from deciding whether or not Amendment 2 will become law.  Defeating Amendment 2 is SAVE's top priority.  We all need to act now and sustain a high level of activity until election day. If we don't, Florida state residents will have to contend with:

-A permanent ban on same-sex marriage;
-A repeal of current civil unions and domestic partnerships and a ban on future ones;
-Denied access to family health insurance and hospital visitation rights;
-Second-class citizenship of all unmarried couples, gay or straight; and
-Institutional discrimination embedded into Florida's own State Constitution

Join the many people throughout Miami-Dade County who have already joined us in this effort.  On September 25th, twenty-two volunteers joined staff in SAVE's office to make fundraising phone calls.  Together we raised $20,600 in only 75 minutes!  Join us on Thursday, October 16th for our final Fundraising Phone Bank-our last chance to raise not only money, but awareness against Amendment 2.  RSVP CJ Ortuno at cj@savedade.org.

Don't miss another chance to make history and affect change.  The only forces in our way are the opposition and the lack of engagement from the community. Opportunities to contribute to SAVE's work are as varied and numerous as the Floridians we seek to protect from discriminatory legislation.  Donate your time and talents by participating in the following volunteer opportunities:
-Saturday mornings, Tuesday & Thursday evenings:  Voter ID Persuasion Phone Banks
-Wednesday evenings:  Volunteer Recruitment Phone Banks
-October 16th, Thursday evening: Final Fundraising Phone Bank (22 RSVPs to date)

To volunteer send an email to volunteer@savedade.org

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Click here to read The Miami Heralds article on October 10
"Mason Dixon poll: Florida marriage amendment has chance to pass"

SAVE Dade Action PAC works to end discrimination in Miami-Dade County by electing fair-minded candidates to office. We support candidates who will work to pass and defend legislation guaranteeing equal treatment under the law for all including individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. We urge you to vote for these candidates.