Fearless: Our response to the Prop 8 ruling

Moments ago, the California Supreme Court announced its deeply disappointing decision to uphold Proposition 8.

While we are pleased that the court recognized the legal marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples married in 2008, we are saddened by the Prop 8 decision.

But we don't have time to mourn the failure of the state court to restore marriage equality to California.

It's time to go on offense. To be fearless in our fight for equality. Starting right now:

Last week, we asked our members to vote on which year -- 2010 or 2012 -- the Courage Campaign should support going back to the ballot to restore marriage equality. Your collective response was overwhelming -- 82.5% support a 2010 ballot measure. As a result, the Courage Campaign is announcing today its strong support for a 2010 initiative, while respecting that partner organizations are still discussing and deliberating this very important question.

In response to the court's decision, the Courage Campaign will hit the California airwaves in the next 72 hours with a 60-second TV ad version of "Fidelity" -- the heartbreaking online video viewed by more than 1.2 million people, making it the most-watched video ever in the history of California politics.

We are launching this provocative new TV ad in the spirit of Harvey Milk's call to "come out, come out wherever you are" and proudly tell the stories of the people most affected by the passage of Prop 8 -- in moving images set to the beat of Regina Spektor's beautiful song.

Be fearless. Watch this 60-second "Fidelity" TV ad now and -- if you want more people to see it -- contribute $25, $50, $100, $250 (or as much as you can afford) to expand our ad buy immediately in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Fearless

Did you cry when you saw the original 4-minute "Fidelity" video, inspired by pictures sent to us by our members? So did many of the people who watched the premiere of the TV ad version at recent Camp Courage training events in San Diego and Oakland, erupting in cheers and standing ovations, and spontaneously passing the hat to pay to put "Fidelity" on TV.

"Fidelity" is part of a larger strategy to build and empower a grassroots army of Courage Campaign Equality Teams across California. For three months now, 24 teams in 15 counties have been laying the foundation for the difficult battle ahead, knocking on doors in the heart of the Central Valley and coastal communities of California.

If you think "Fidelity" symbolizes the kind of fearless campaign you think should be waged to restore marriage equality, please contribute $25, $50, $100, $250 or more TODAY to put it on the air across California. We don't have much time, so please donate now:

Be fearless. We can't win without you.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

P.S. Need to know now where the "Day of Decision" rally is tonight in your town? Our brilliant friends at CREDO Mobile have teamed up again with the Courage Campaign and Join the Impact to make it super-easy to get the info you need ASAP. Just text "RALLY" and your zip code (example: RALLY 94131) to 27336 and you will immediately receive a text message with the event closest to your neighborhood!

Courage Campaign Issues is part of the Courage Campaign's online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California.

To power our campaign for equality, please chip in what you can today: