Share Valentine’s Day Love
with Champions of Marriage Equality
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s ‘Heroes of Love’ Campaign
Thanks Courageous Straight Allies
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2009— As a kid, Valentine’s Day often meant slipping cheesy heart-shaped cards into the construction paper-decorated shoeboxes of classmates (though not necessarily the classmates you really liked). For adults, Valentine’s Day is about celebrating relationships—and the Heroes of Love campaign is about showing love for those who have supported the relationships of same-sex couples by being fierce advocates for marriage equality.
Visitors to www.LoveHeroes.com can sign oversized valentine cards that the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center will deliver to 15 courageous straight allies, Heroes of Love, who have stood with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in our fight for marriage equality. The goal is to show them how many thousands of people appreciate their support.
Because there are many more than 15 heroic supporters of marriage equality, visitors to the site can also personalize and send e-valentines, designed by celebrity supporters of the Center, to any hero of love they choose.
Straight Ally Heroes
“Our movement has made enormous progress regarding the freedom to marry, thanks not only to courageous LGBT people but to the dedication of many straight allies,” says Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “We could not have come as far as we have without them, and they deserve our kudos and respect. With continued support from Heroes of Love like those we honor this Valentine’s Day, we will forge ahead, confident that Proposition 8 was only a temporary setback in our quest for justice and that full and complete equality will one day be ours.”
The 15 straight allies being honored are:
· Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP
· Jerry Brown, California Attorney General
· Judy Chu, chair of the California Board of Equalization
· Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the L.A. County Federation of Labor
· Diane Feinstein, U.S. Senator
· Hon. Ron George, Chief Justice of the California State Supreme Court
· Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America
· Alice Huffman, President of the California NAACP
· Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher
· Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco
· Jack O’Connell, California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction
· Brad Pitt, A-list actor
· Jerry Sanders, mayor of San Diego
· Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles
· Karin Wang, Vice President of Programs for the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.
Your Personal Hero
Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to thank a boss who let you volunteer on Election Day, a parent who donated to the No on 8 campaign or friends who joined you for phone banking—recognize them all with free Valentine’s Day e-cards, including cards designed by Queer As Folk stars Michelle Clunie and Peter Paige and Girls Will Be Girls star and executive producer Jack Plotnick.
Canvass Campaign
The Center’s Vote for Equality Project, which has been educating voters about marriage equality for more than 4 years, is organizing a Valentine’s Day canvass to help change the minds and hearts of voters in parts of Los Angeles where Prop. 8 passed by a narrow margin. The canvass will begin with a full training, and lunch will be provided.
To volunteer or to learn about future canvassing opportunities, visit www.lagaycenter.org/voteforequality.
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About the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more. Visit us on the Web at: www.lagaycenter.org.
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