We found out yesterday that the anti-marriage equality campaign in California, or Yes on 8, was sending out threatening letters to blackmail businesses that have given to the campaign of No on 8. In a letter sent to businesses who have donated to the No on 8 campaign, the anti-marriage equality side said,
"Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error," reads the letter. "Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."
Well, it turns out that not only is their campaign of hate and intimidation not working, they may well have triggered a $100,000 donation from Apple to the No on 8 campaign. Of course, I'm the one making the link, but either way, it's great news:
"Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation," the company said in a statement posted on its Web site Friday.
And the good news is, you can do something too. Send a message to the right wing hate machine that we will not be threatened, we will not stand for blackmailing of businesses that want to treat their employees fairly. Let's show them fair-minded people everywhere will stand up to their vile and open hate tactics. Donate to No on 8, and tell the blackmailers that that their campaign of scare tactic, hatred, and blackmail will not be tolerated.
Also, please visit the Equality for All website and find out the ways you can help us in the fight to protect marriage equality for all Californians. We need help especially on election day. To sign up directly to volunteer near your home on election day, please click here.
I am asking all fair minded people: are you going to stand for these dirty tactics? Are you going to stand for one side trying to squeeze free speech by putting businesses on some kind of blacklist? If not, please donate to the campaign to defend fairness and equality. And when you have done that, let the Yes on 8 campaign know that you will not stand by and let them use blackmail and intimidation as an election tactic.
Here is the contact information of the group running the dirty campaign of blackmail:
Yes on Proposition 8
915 L Street #C-259
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446-2956
Email form: http://www.protectmarriage.com/...
Call them or write them and give them a piece of your mind!
UPDATE: And here is Apple's contact info, so you can thank them:
Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.996.1010
Apple Public Relations (408) 974-2042
Oh, and enjoy this Apple style ad:
and
I dunno, and I hope it's not too forward, but the "No" guy is kind of cute!