In the 2008 election, 52.6% of Americans voted Barack Obama into office on the platform of change, a belief in a new tomorrow. In the same election, a similar percentage of the population of California, 52.3%, voted yes on Proposition 8, the same state that had voted for Barack Obama and change by a total 61% of the population. Proposition 8 added the following text to the Californian constitution: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” a declaration that repealed the decisions it had made in the years prior. Unfortunately, the nation watched as same-sex marriage was also stripped in various forms from Arkansas, Florida, and Arizona.

In the wake of an election and this pivotal shift in American values, it hearkens almost eerily to the elections of thirty years ago when a certain man named Harvey Milk was elected to public office as the City Supervisor of San Francisco, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. On December 5th, 2008 Gus van Sant will unveil his newest film “Milk” in wide release, detailing the events of the man who fought against stigma, won, only to be gunned down.

The purpose of this event is a simple one. Show that you cannot support Proposition 8 as an American, straight or queer, who believes in the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On December 5th, 2008 follow two easy steps:

1. Take a plain white tee-shirt and write “I Cannot Support Proposition 8.”

2. If it’s screening near you, whether or not you live in Calfornia, or New York, or any state across the United States, wear your declaration to the opening weekend showings of “Milk.” Even if it’s not screening near you, wear your declaration December 5th, or make your declaration here that you cannot support Proposition 8.

It takes courage to not support discrimination. It takes courage to not support amendments to constitutions which discredit the love and compassion you feel for another human being. It takes courage to make a public outcry that not all of America’s citizens have their equal rights. It takes courage to not support Proposition 8.

If you would like any more information on Proposition 8 you can check out any of these following sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/gaymarriage.irpt/?iref=mpstoryview

More on the movie “Milk”*:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/

http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/milk/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unu-9vM9VZw

*This event not endorsed or supported by Focus Features or the production of “Milk”.