our values are simple.
the journey is not.
www.h4pj.org

Thursday: June 14, 2007

Dear friend,

Last week, the Heritage Alliance PAC, a right-wing, anti-gay organization, sent out “robocalls” to Dallas residents claiming that the top three issues in the Dallas Mayoral election are crime, education and homosexuality. They encouraged everyone to vote for Tom Leppert because he’s Christian and Ed Oakley is openly gay. Listen to the message here.

While the Leppert campaign denies any involvement, another right-wing, anti-gay organization, the Texas Eagle Forum, has sent a mass email titled, "Dallas Voters: PLEASE vote FOR Tom Leppert for Mayor!" From the Dallas Morning News Blog.

The body of the (Texas Eagle Forum) e-mail contains a Houston Chronicle article about the Dallas mayor's race, and all of its references to mayoral candidate Ed Oakley being gay are highlighted in red.

This isn't particularly shocking, or unexpected. The Eagle Forum's self-stated mission includes enabling "conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policymaking." And the similarly socially conservative Heritage Alliance PAC, for example, this weekend engulfed Dallas with recorded phone calls urging residents to vote for Mr. Leppert in part because Mr. Oakley would become the nation's first openly gay large city mayor if elected.

What's interesting, however, is that Mr. Leppert earlier this year mailed out tens of thousands of campaign advertisements featuring a large picture of him talking with a well-dressed, white-haired woman. That woman was LaNeil Wright Spivy, a longtime leader of the Texas and Dallas Eagle Forum.

The latest Dallas Morning News/WFAA poll shows the race at a virtual tie.

H4PJ cannot endorse candidates, but we stand firmly against anti-gay rhetoric to win votes. It is time for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their friends to stand up and vote against gay bashing. This election is not about the candidate’s sexual orientation.

The June 16 election managers predict that only 35,000 to 40,000 voters will come to the polls. There are more than 120,000 LGBT residents in Dallas.

YOUR VOTE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Go vote this Saturday, June 16!
Click here to find your voting location.

Frequently asked questions:

Question: Can I vote if I don't have a voter registration card?
Answer: YES! If you are a registered voter and you have lost or misplaced your voter certificate, you may vote without your certificate by providing some form of identification (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, utility bill, etc.) and signing an affidavit at the polls. This is the procedure to follow if your voter registration is still current and your name appears on the voter rolls in your county of residence.

Question: Can I still vote in the runoff if I didn't vote in the May 12 election?
Answer: Yes!

Monday Night with Mike
Dr. Tim Seelig to be our special guest Monday, June 18

Our next “Monday Night with Mike” will be June 18, at Gloria’s; 4140 Lemmon Ave; Dallas, TX 75219. Dr. Tim Seelig will be our special guest speaker. He will share some of the exciting plans that he has as Director of Art for Peace & Justice, his new position beginning August 1. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and last until around 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar with happy hour pricing. “Monday Night with Mike” is a free event, and everyone is invited!

This is a great way to meet other people who are passionate about peace and justice issues, and an excellent opportunity to introduce your friends to the work that we are doing. Please join us for this special event. Invite your friends and family, then stay for dinner to brainstorm what you can do to work for peace and justice!

Contributions or gifts to Hope for Peace & Justice are deductible
as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.