Tonight in San Diego

Mama Bears were there tonight--Mary Sue pushing a twin stroller, Kristy with her three sons, Ella and Rosa blowing their whistles and holding their signs, Grandpa Bears Tom and Richard, the Tuttle family from La Mesa, Lisa, Janice, Beth, John, Terrie, and many others, doing our part among the thousands of San Diegans who raised our voices after the expected but still disappointing Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8.

Yes, this is about equal marriage rights for loving and committed couples. But it is about more. It is about reaching a turning point in history when gay and lesbian people feel entitled to the full rights of citizenship. It is also about working to transform the mess that is California politics. The state is broke. Schools and essential public services are starved for resources. Prisons are full. Clean air and water in short supply. And allowing committed same-sex couples equal rights and protections under the law is the greatest threat to my children and their future?

We can change the conversation in our neighborhoods. We can connect and create new networks among progressive moms. We can become more effective activists by using the techniques of the Courage Campaign.

Will you come out and canvass with us May 31 or June 7? We gotta be fearless. Check out this amazing new video from our friends at the courage campaign: couragecampaign.org/fearless

Equality Storytime and Book Drive Saturday, 5/16

Please join us this Saturday, 5/16 at 11 a.m. at the Yellow Book Road in La Mesa for our first EQUALITY STORYTIME!

Bring your kids and invite your friends to hear readings of pro-equality children's books by authors like Todd Parr.
Please bring your gently used books to donate to the underprivileged kids of the Cleo Eulau Center (http://www.cleoeulaucenter.org/). All families are welcome--gay parents and straight parents alike. Come meet other progressive families, learn more about the marriage equality movement in San Diego, and find out about adult reading groups to help us all become more thoughtful and conscious parents raising kids to be accepted and accepting.

The Yellow Book Road is located at 7200 Parkway Dr., Suite 118, La Mesa, CA 91942. Don't miss out on a visit to this San Diego treasure!

Join us at Earth Day, April 25!

Please join us (and invite your friends to join us) for our second big community service event!

The Mama Bear Alliance Earth Day Beach Cleanup
Crown Points Shores South, Mission Bay
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.

All families are welcome—gay parents and straight parents alike. Beach cleanups are a great way for even very small children to feel the power of making a difference in their community. Come meet other progressive moms (and dads), pick up some cool Mama Bear Alliance gear, and celebrate Earth Day.

Bring: water, sunscreen, and signed waiver for every child under 18. Download it here:
http://www.creektobay.org/images/stories/pdf/c2b09_waiver.pdf

Directions to clean up site--3700 Crown Point Drive, South Crown Point, Crown Point Drive off of Ingraham Street, San Diego 92109. From South or East San Diego, take I-8 to the Sports Arena Blvd. exit, make a right onto West Mission Bay Drive and continue straight to Ingraham Street. Cross over 2 bridges then go right onto Crown Point Drive. Several large parking lots will be on the right-hand side, please park in the south lot. From North San Diego, take I-5 to the Sea World Drive exit, make a right onto Sea World Drive and continue straight to Ingraham Street. Cross over 2 bridges then go right onto Crown Point
Drive. Several large parking lots will be on the right-hand side, please park in the south lot.

In other equality news, if you are interested in playing a bigger role in the local equality movement, check out Camp Courage, coming to San Diego April 18 – 19. The movement needs people like us—people who know this fight is also about building a more loving, accepting world for our kids to grow up in. Check it out at http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/ApplySanDiego

The Mama Bear Alliance is developing some wonderful new ideas for ways to promote equality in our neighborhoods and help us raise children to be accepted and accepting, including storytime at local bookstores, reading groups for parents, and more service. Would you like to join the steering committee? We need you! Email mamabearalliance@gmail.com.

What the Mama Bears Said; breaking news about Marty Block

At the San Diego Eve of Justice Vigil, Wednesday, March 4, at the Hall of Justice

We are members of the Mama Bear Alliance, a grassroots group of San Diego families united for marriage equality!

Mama Bears are regular moms: we drive minivans and Priuses; we take our kids to soccer and dance class; we are Christian, Jewish, and Hindu. We work, serve our communities, and care for our families. Some of us are gay; some of us are straight. We are fiercely loyal to our friends and our children, and we believe in Equality for All!

What happened in California last November with proposition 8 brought out the Mother Bear in each of us. How dare anyone use scare tactics to suppress the basic freedoms of California families--our families, our friends, our neighbors!

When we saw anti-equality demonstrators on the street corners in our neighborhoods, we pulled the minivan to the curb, got the kids out, and stood up for equality!

And on Election Day, we took our kids and our homemade signs and stood on the street corner in the rain asking our neighbors to vote No on 8!

We did it because we want to set an example for our children: if someone comes to take away your human rights, or your friends' human rights, you reach down deep and find your big voice and say NO as loudly as you can!

And we are here today to set an example for our children: when history gives you the chance to stand up for love and equality, you say YES as loudly as you can!

As parents, we say that the children of California DO NOT need hurtful ballot initiatives that divide our communities and tear apart families.

The children of California need clean air, clean water, health care, and good schools with caring, well-paid teachers.

Our children need parents--mama bears and papa bears--who tell them yes, we accept you, support you, and love you just as God made you.

Our young people should grow up knowing that they will have a full chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—including love and marriage--whether they turn out gay or straight.

For our children, as mothers, we stand with the movement for marriage equality. The tide is turning! Overturn Proposition 8!

***

ps. Special to Mama Bear letters who live in Assemblymember Marty Block's district (including Del Cerro and College area), Assemblymember Block (D) who had pledged to vote for AR 5 (Ammiano) putting the Assembly on record against 8, "took a walk" in legislative parlance and failed to show for the vote on this issue. We need to find out why, and encourage him to do better in the future. Call his office: (619) 462-7878; http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a78/

Take the kids downtown, March 4, 4 - 6 p

My daughters have been to their share of political rallies. When she was just a babe in utero, my oldest marched (inside of me) in the giant worldwide protests against the beginning of the Iraq War.

And when she was just a six month old, my second rode in a baby bjorn as we marched on May Day among 50,000 supporters of immigrant rights here in San Diego from Balboa Park downtown. Someone gave us a sticker that said "yo no soy terrorista!" and we slapped it on the front of the bjorn. Everyone adored the baby.

My girls know how to say "si, se puede." And it sure feels good.

What will your kids remember of the historic struggle for marriage equality?

On Thursday, the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the validity of Proposition 8. People around the state are gathering on Wednesday, March 4, to hold vigils for justice and equality.

Here in San Diego, folks will meet at the Hall of Justice (330 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101) at 4 p.m. for a rally, with a
candelight vigil to follow at 6 p.m. Parking available at Horton Plaza (free with validation).

Members of the Mama Bear Alliance will be there--look for our California bear flag banner, and join us.

Si se puede!

Mama Bears go to Sacramento

Mama Bears, you were heard in Sacramento.

Last week, 40 of you added your names to a collective letter from the Mama Bear Alliance asking our state legislature to support AR -5 (Ammiano) and SR-7 (Leno) calling for the repeal of Proposition 8.

Our Mama Bear Alliance letter was hand-carried to Sacramento last Tuesday by Alliance members Richard and Tom Wilhein.

Richard and Tom, who have been fighting for equality for thirty years, hand delivered our letter to every member of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and entered the letter into the public record, as well as carried our letter to and spoke with San Diego assemblymembers Lori Saldana (D) and staff for Senator Christine Kehoe (D), Joel Andersen (R-La Mesa),

In addition, we have sent our letter to every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to Assemblymember Marty Block (D), and we are working towards scheduling a meeting with Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R). Senator Hollingsworth was an official co-sponsor of Proposition 8; he represents San Diego from Del Cerro into the East County and north to Temecula. We hope to establish communication with his office, since so many Mama Bears live in his district.

AR-5 (Ammiano) has passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee and will be voted on by the entire Assembly soon. SR-7 is also on its way through the Senate Judiciary Committee and hopefully to the Senate floor for a vote. We'll keep the letter circulating until all the votes are counted.

In the meantime, mark your calendar for our next Mama Bear Alliance activity: Earth Day, Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m., location to be announced.

Meet Richard and Tom, Mama Bears

Two members of the Mama Bear Alliance, Tom and Richard Wilhein, will be traveling to Sacramento on Sunday to take part in a special marriage equality lobby day on Monday. Tom and Richard want to carry our letter with them to Sacramento, to present to our legislators in person. They’ve been together 31 years, and they’ve raised 5 children: Tom and Richard say they are proud to be called “Mama Bears.”

Please add your name to our letter today: email mamabearalliance@gmail.com. Be sure to include your city and zip code, and let me know how many children (if any) you have.

More than 25 Mama Bears have signed our letter in support of SR-7 and AR-5 calling for the repeal of Proposition 8 as an improper revision of the state constitution.

That’s a fantastic start. But we can do more.

Will you join us?

If you have not already done so, please email mamabearalliance@gmail.com to add your name today.