We have been overwhelmed and amazed at the reaction to our campaign, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your enthusiastic response. We continue to believe that the power to create change lies in each one of us, and that unified, this power can accomplish more than our minds can comprehend.

Beyond the wonderful, creative, inspiring images that have been rolling in, we’ve received support in the form of links and mentions on various websites, donations from local businesses and from artists and writers from around the country, and the gift of words of support from bloggers who are in the business of inspiring through words, art and general all-around magic-making.

*****

At 37days, author Patti Digh says:

“It should come as no surprise to anyone who has read this blog for a while that I am fully in support of equal rights for the GLBTQ community, many of whom I consider among my closest, dearest friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Am I more fully human than they are? The answer is a resounding no.”

*****

Stacy, mother, photographer, and maker of fabulous jewelry, tells her readers:

“One of the propositions on this year’s ballot is one that is very important to me. Marriage is about love & commitment and the decision to do so is between two people, any two people, and is their decision alone.

The fact that there are those who wish to make marriage a double standard is just plain wrong. Love is love.

*****

Kate, mother, weaver of words, and capturer of life, wrote a must-read post that transcends the divisiveness that often surrounds this issue – using her words to highlight the threads that connect us all. The discussion that follows is an encouraging example of what can happen when people slow down and listen.  Kate writes:

“Imagine a being with a crystal ball trained on the future of the child you hold in your arms. The child with the jack ‘o lantern grin, the succulent, cheesy neck, the chubby folds. The child that woke up twice last night in hot tears and needed you, just you.

She’s going to be gay, you know, the being says. She’s going to be gay and she’s going to live far away but she’ll be home every summer and for Christmas with her wife. She’s going to be happy, and smart, and ordinary, and gay. Does that change anything?

Beg, plead: Just keep her safe and whole. I will love her forever, just as she is."

*****

Denise, photographer, writer, artist and genuine bohemian girl wrote:

"This past week, our own Proposition 8 here in California has weighed heavily on my mind. I feel very strongly and always have that love is love…and it is not our place to take rights away from anyone that chooses to commit to the love of their life.

Of course this is indeed very personal for me. I have a dear friend that has been in my life for over twenty years. He found his soul mate, and just recently got married and he and his extraordinary husband adopted a beautiful girl. They’ve raised her in a remarkable way and she’s stellar and well loved and well rounded. She has two of the coolest dads and a high self esteem to boot.

Enough said."

Images have power. Words have power. You have power.

Activism isn’t just the big things, huge movements, or star-studded events that raise millions of dollars.  Activism takes place every single time you stand up and say, or create, or somehow transmit to the universe, "This is what I believe. This is what is right. Won’t you join me in working for something better?".  If you own your truth, live your truth and speak your truth, then you are already one of the most powerful activists in the world.

Please share what you have created. Leave a link to your blog in our comments section, post a picture to our flickr group, write something and send it to our email for us to post on your behalf. Make your voice and your vision and your heart heard.

A lot of people are listening.

This Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending a 1in10 youth group meeting as they prepared their signs for the ”No On 102” Rally.

1 in 10 provides a safe environment for LGBTQ youth ages 14-22 to develop positive self-acceptance through life-enhancing programs. The group meets in Tempe on Tuesday night and Phoenix on Thursday night. More information can be found through their website.

1in10 leader Lindsey, who invited me to attend the meeting, shows a little personality, along with her sign.

Just as we suspected, Senator Obama was more than willing to lend his support to the ‘No On 102′ campaign.  We had the good fortune to run into him last week at the Bridge To Hope Rally in Tempe.  I must say however, that he was much less animated than I expected…a little stiff - ya know

Take A Picture, Take A Stand! organizer Libbie with the man himself!

Erin says:

"A couple of friends and I counter-acted some YES’rs on University and College a couple of weeks back.

I whipped out the feather boa and whipped up some signs! We had a lot of support. Faculty from ASU were coming out of their offices and crossing the street to give us hugs, high fives and support!

The Yes group had signs for "Honk to protect marriage" and "Christians reject gay marriage" It was a huge ordeal, with bag pipes and banners.

Funny thing was, they were in front of a church they didnt belong to, and the number of honks were few and far between. Nothing like what we heard last night at the rally on Camelback!

Do what you can! Take a stand! And VOTE NO AGAIN!"

Check back later today (or go visit our flickr group) for some of Erin’s fabulous pics from the rally.

If you’ve never visited 37days, you should get yourself over there right now and soak up the wisdom. (check out this post, for example, and see if you aren’t hooked)

Author Patti Digh, who has ‘dedicated her life to educating herself and others on the personal and societal costs of exclusion and discrimination’, is a source of constant inspiration. Patti has written two business books on global leadership and diversity, one named a Fortune magazine “best business book for 2000”; and her comments have appeared on PBS, and in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, the New York Times, USAToday, the Washington Post, and London Financial Times, among other national and international publications. She speaks around the world on diversity, global business, and living intentionally. Her newest book “Life Is A Verb” is receiving rave reviews from around the globe.

Patti and her daughters took these fantastic photos for us, and she has also donated a copy of Life Is A Verb for our election day drawing.

 

For more information on Patti, or to order her book, please visit www.37days.com or www.pattidigh.com

Dyanna posted this pic of her early ballot to our flickr group.  Guess what?  She voted NO:

I love this picture sent to us yesterday by Meg, Jason and Melissa who say "Defeating 102 with our hearts, bodies, and minds".  They win for most creative yet!

Our first NO vote from a bear….sent via Pizza Diavola

The every lovely Stacy from Bella Wish sends her support.  She also gave us a shout out on her blog today, and is donating one of her fabulous BE THE CHANGE necklaces to our drawing.

Aidan, son of Take A Picture, Take A Stand! organizer Jen, shows his support for the No On 102 campaign

Thank you to everyone who has submitted a picture thus far, we hope to see many more before election day.  Tonight we attended an incredible "NO ON 102" rally, so check back tomorrow for some great pictures of the event.

Political Cartoonist Steve Benson weighs in on Prop 102

Sharing some photos from this week’s Arizona Women and Families for Obama Rally.

It was an incredible night as hundreds of Obama Supporters of all ages came together to ‘turn Arizona blue’. Carrying flashing blue lights, we all crossed the University Avenue Bridge chanting and cheering and, most importantly of all, believing.

Take A Picture. Take A Stand volunteers, along with those from numerous other organizations, were present with signs and brochures. Parents pushed children in strollers, elderly couples walked alongside teenagers, religious groups, union groups, community organizations – all present for one reason.

“Veterns For Obama”
“Teamsters For Obama”
“Cool People Vote Obama”
“AZ Mamas Vote Obama”
“Obama For America”
“Seniors For Obama”
“Obamanos 08” =

Black, white, asian and native, young and old, all buoyed by the hope for something better, by the momentum of change, and by their belief in one man.

I went to bed that night with the cadence of “O-BA-MA-obama-O-BA-MA-obama” and the determination in the voices that carried far beyond the bridge shouting “YES WE CAN!” still fresh in my mind, and I fell asleep knowing that with that kind of energy, anything is possible.

Talented Colorado Springs photographer Olivia Navarro recently posted this photo to our flickr group and included the following with her photo.

"Please vote NO on 102!

My identical twin sister, Samantha, is gay. She and her partner, Vanessa, have been together for almost 10 years. My kids have no idea that there is so much controversy around their aunties’ relationship. They have never known anything other than the two of them being their aunties. To them, it’s not all that complicated. Aunt Samantha and Aunt Vanessa love each other the same way that Mom and Dad love each other.

What they don’t know is that when their aunties have children in the very near future, one of them won’t be legally protected as a parent. Why? Because some people in our country believe that these two loving people, do not count as a real family and for some reason feel that the "sacred" institution of marriage is in danger if we allow same-sex couples to marry.

Come on. Love is love, people"

 

It is so important for us to remember that laws affecting gay marriage impact others as well, children, extended families, friends and allies.

I found the following quote on Olivia’s flickr profile – and thought it particularly appropriate here:

“Sometimes the only thing to do is to start looking at everything again until you forget what you’re supposed to see & actually see what’s there.” StoryPeople

I wish everyone would forget what they think they’re supposed to see, and see what is actually there – just people…people who live and love and want nothing more than respect and equal rights.

When asked their thoughts on Prop 102, Valerie and Sophia responded "That is silly". 

They made us these wonderful signs but while driving yesterday thought of an even better idea (given that this Friday is Halloween) "Boo On 102!"  Perhaps we’ll see another photo from them later in the week!

BOO On 102 indeed - brilliant slogan girls!