Darrell Silver!

Via Human Rights Council:

Dear Darrell,

Today’s the day. Thousands of same-sex couples will finally have their love affirmed and their relationships validated by the state of California.

This is a historic moment in the struggle for equal rights. As you know, it’s also the beginning of an enormous political battle over an anti-GLBT ballot initiative that threatens this victory.

Thank you for the support you’ve given us to face the numerous challenges before us this year. As the attacks from the radical right intensify, your continued support is going to be crucial in our work to defend equality.

This day is about love. It’s about two people having the right to build a life together, raise a family, visit each other in the hospital – things many couples take for granted.

But the events in California have enraged extremists. Over the past month, they have been building a $10 million war chest to write discrimination into California’s constitution.

In fact, if you opened up The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, or The Washington Times on June 5, you may have seen a newspaper ad that took up two full pages, entitled “Battling for America’s Soul: How Homosexual ‘Marriage’ Threatens Our Nation and Faith.”

That one ad probably cost around three quarters of a million dollars. Our opponents are sparing no expense.

We can win this fight, but we’ll need a strong, fully funded campaign in California to do it. A recent Field poll revealed that, for the first time since the poll began in 1977, a majority of Californians now support marriage for gay and lesbian couples. However, that majority is a slim 51 percent.

HRC already committed $500,000 to protect marriage equality in California, but this campaign will require more resources as the homophobic attacks get louder in the rush to raise money and win votes.

Once again, I want to thank you for the generous support you’ve recently offered to HRC. Thousands of people like you have inspired us with your commitment, and I hope we can count on your continued involvement in the weeks and months ahead.

If, in honor of this historic day and the work that lies ahead, you’d like to give again, I encourage you to donate to the HRC California Marriage PAC today. Click here to donate to the California Marriage PAC.

100 percent of your donation will go to the Equality for All campaign, of which HRC is a member, to stop the anti-GLBT ballot initiative.

Thank you again for your unflagging commitment to marriage equality.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

P.S. HRC has also started a wedding registry to allow couples to collect donations for the fight in California in lieu of wedding gifts. Check it out at www.hrc.org/weddingregistry, and if you know any couples planning to get married, urge them to register with us!