July 4th is a day to celebrate hard fought freedoms and rights. This year in Washington, it's also a good day to defend them.  

We believe freedom includes the freedom to have gay and lesbian families that are not discriminated against by the government. The right wing activists gathering signatures for a referendum on repealing domestic partnership rights disagree with us. They have distributed more than 60,000 petitions throughout the state and are holding 'Referendum Sundays' to gather signatures in conservative churches. With 5 weeks to go, they are in it to win it.  
    
So are we.  

Our biggest obstacle to equality isn't the organized intolerance of the extreme right. Our biggest obstacle is ignorance. It's the people who could be, who would be on our side, if they simply knew how this attack on freedom and fairness affects them and the people they care about. They don't know because they haven't heard from us - you and me, their neighbors, friends or relatives - about this issue. We haven't shared our powerful stories or asked them to stand with us for equality.  

Telling our stories is the most important thing we can do to win this fight. We must ask those we know to join us.    

Be an Equality Magnet this July 4th. Attract your friends and family to the side of equality. Click here for simple, powerful steps to tell your story and help us win and build our movement. We'll send you an email with all the information:

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/equalitymagnet

Holiday weekends are a perfect time to talk to friends and family about our important relationships, whether in our own families or friends' families, and the protections that Domestic Partnerships provide.

The first half of 2009 has been a landmark time for equal rights around the country and in Washington State. Working together, the second half of 2009 will be even stronger as we conquer fear and intolerance and build a movement for compassion and justice. Together, we are making it happen already.

Fuse members and our partners in Washington Families Standing Together have gathered more than 30,000 signatures and $30,000 so far, but the right-wing is working that much harder to find people we've missed in our ongoing Decline to Sign Ref. 71 campaign. We need every person who believes in equality and tolerance to step up now and spread the Decline to Sign message.

The most important thing you can do this July 4th is to stand up and speak up about your stories of love and equality to your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, clergy and congregants. Ask them to decline to sign referendum 71 petitions. Have a hot dog with a side of equality.

Please become an Equality Magnet this July 4th. Attract your friends and family to the side of equality. Click here for a list of simple, powerful steps to tell your story and help us win and build our movement. Then we'll send you an email with all the information:

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/equalitymagnet

the Fuse Team