With recent polls showing dramatic shifts in the support for the freedom to marry I am glad a local group is organizing to support equal treatment under the law.

Here is their announcement:

Announcement of Stonewall Democrats Meeting
Meet Candidates - Reorganize - Revitalize

Monday June 13, 2011 At 7 p.m.

Please join us for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Ventura County's meeting on Monday June 13, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Democratic Headquarters at 1760 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo (Google address for map) to meet candidates for the Board of Directors and to be a part of the growing and politically influential LBGT arm of the California Democratic Party. What we accomplish here in our own backyard in Ventura County will help effectuate change not only here, but also statewide and across the United States. We all know that California is the bellwether state for social justice and progressive political movements.

The mission of the Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County is to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and Pro-Equality candidates and to advocate for legislative proposals in Ventura County, California, and the United States. The club welcomes the participation of LGBT people, their friends, and their supporters. Their work includes educating and supporting LBGT people within our communities, helping build leadership that will fight bigotry and intolerance against immigrants, supporting the right to marry for all, and repealing Proposition 8 here in California and the Defense of Marriage Act at the federal level.

Join Stonewall and support social justice, make new friends, learn to be an activist, become a part of our social history right here in Ventura County!

Brian Dennert Here on Facebook

( the latest video from the California Courage campaign. Click here to see their YouTube channel.)

Local supporters of Marriage Equality will be rallying this Friday to protect the rights of the roughly 18,000 couples who were married in California before the Proposition 8 ban went into effect. The lawyer arguing in favor of eliminating their right to keep their marriage is Pepperdine law professor Ken Starr. I support Marriage Equality and I find it very mean spirited to go after people that were married before the ban went into effect. I don't see a legitimate argument that their marriages are related to the primary arguments put forth by Proposition 8 supporters. I hope the California State Supreme Court rules in favor of protecting their civil rights.

I won't be able to make it but if any of the people at the rally send me video or pictures I will post them.

Click on continue reading for the details.

Click on continue reading for some of my past videos on Proposition 8.

( Al Gore making important remarks about same sex marriage and family life.)

It is assumed that grassroots groups across the state will gear up for the expected battle over Marriage Equality/ Same Sex Marriage on November's ballot.

I will post information from local groups on either side of this issue as they are sent in.

The Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County is organizing to defend the court ruling and keep marriage between same sex people legal past November. I expect they will share with is how this court ruling has impacted them and their families.

A few polls have been released on the subject. The LA Times Poll and The Field Poll show different numbers but the overall trend is about even between the two. I think the battle will be won by how it is explained to voters.

If same sex marriage supporters say passing the amendment will remove rights from gay families it will fail. But if the other side convinces enough people that civil unions will not be impacted they have a much better chance.

Polls on the subject show a clear difference in views depending on a person's age.

I am curious if age has anything to do with the views of readers on my blog on marriage equality / same sex marriage.

Leave you thoughts and your age.

To leave a comment on this blog you don't need to register or use your real name. If you want round off your age for privacy.

Also, I am curious what your social security number is and your bank account as a friend would like to deposit money in your account.

Hannah Beth Jackson supports civil unions, but I don't know her position on marriage.

Tony Strickland is against same sex marriage and against civil unions.

Stonewall Democrats, being that the google ratings push my blog when you search for your club, feel free for this to be your official place to blog.

It looks like McCain has a youtube problem. Celebrating your birthday during Katrina? Forgetting what you said? Getting corrected by Lieberman? Against/for Bush's tax cuts? The economy is worse/better? Baghdad is safe? He is doing a poor job of energizing creative web users.

In an effort to moveon past the primaries local Barack Obama supporters are announcing their organizational meetings and plans for this summer.

Click on continue reading for details.

How come no Hillary Clinton or John McCain supporter is announcing any local events?

Where is the Myspace, Meet Up, or other websites for them? I have seen a couple start some effort but not really put something out there.

Barack Obama team wants to win all across the United States of America. It is tough to do from a campaign HQ but much easier when you inspire people to rise up to take control over the government again.

This might have a powerful impact on other campaigns. Democrats will be coordinating resources to GOTV and amplify their message. Republicans will be lead by the Strickland campaign. Tony has been a very effective campaigning in the past but a GOTV by one candidate might be really tough. Maybe Tony and Elton will team up.

If your group has events coming up email me the details.

Supporters of the Hannah Beth Jackson campaign, working with The Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County are hosting a fund raiser at The Broken Oak Gallery in Thousand Oaks.

A young Hannah Beth Jackson supporter created this widget to increase traffic to her myspace page.

Click on continue reading for details.

Bonus environmental awareness video:

Does the video encourage you to support any new programs either public or private?

What international causes are you involved in?

I support Amnesty International for their efforts to free political and religious prisoners.