Despite raw weather conditions here in Missouri Saturday, Nov 15th - freezing temperatures throughout the state and even snow flurries in some areas - thousands of us came out to show our support for the fight to overturn California's Prop 8 banning same sex marriage. Over the course of 5 short, hectic days we at PROMO worked around the clock with local organizers to find and confirm speakers, sign up rally volunteers, and put out the word to our supporters as Missouri's part of the national response to this injustice.

And over 2000 of you made your voice heard - attendance was 1400+ in St. Louis, 300+ in Kansas City, and 300+ in Springfield! Here in St. Louis state and local elected officials, including St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, Alderman Lewis Reed and Sen. Joan Bray spoke to the enthusiastic crowd. (Click here to see the Fox 2 coverage ).

PROMO's Springfield Organizer, Stephanie Perkins spoke forcefully about why the right to marry is a fundamental human right. (Click here to see the Ozark's First Coverage). It's incredible to have such strong coverage of the event in Springfield - Go Springfield!

".......We cannot sit on the sidelines. We cannot be complacent. We are a movement and we are not governed by a timeline. "..........This is the work at hand. Together we can outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation AND gender Identity across this state. We CAN ensure equal and fair treatment on adoption and foster care. We can protect Missouri students from bullying. You now have a choice. You can go home today, back to your relative privilege; back to your complacent life. Or you can stand up and make things happen right here at home. Photo Courtesy John DeGregorio ".......And to quote from the abolitionist Clarence Darrow: "You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free."

If one good thing can come out of the passage of Prop 8 in California, it must be the realization by every one of us that the fight for equal rights for our community is far from over. In 52 days PROMO will take the fight for equal protection for all regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity to the Missouri legislature on the first day of the 2009 session. We will work to support our friends in the Missouri House and Senate, letting them know that we stand with them when they sponsor the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Bill. We will also work to educate those who have opposed us in the past to see our cause as the cause of all persons, for just and fair treatment under the law. And we will continue to reach out to other communities which suffer from discrimination to work together.

How can you help? First of all, come out. Do it for yourself. Do it for the people you love. When straight people know LGBT people, they support us. Second, mark you calendars for PROMO Lobby Day, Wednesday, March 25, 2009. This is your chance to talk face-to-face with legislators and tell them about the reality of your life. Third, ask 3 friends to support the passage of MONA by asking them to sign the petition up on the PROMO website.

Finally, support PROMO. Myself, Sarah Gillooly and Stephanie Perkins, PROMO's staff worked all week with hundreds of volunteers to make these rallies a fantastic success. I then drove to Springfield to meet with our amazing board members from all over Missouri for our quarterly board meeting yesterday. I got home Sunday night energized by the success of the weekend yet aware of the challenges ahead.

I am so proud of PROMO's hard-working staff and dedicated board, but we simply can't get this done without your support. To become a sustaining member with a monthly gift, click here. To make a one-time gift, click here. As California has shown us, there's still a long way to go, but with your help, we will get there a little faster.

Yours in equality,

AJ Bockelman
Executive Director
PROMO