All About The New York Letter Project !!!

Why did we start it?

One evening a group of Buffalo Marriage Ambassadors were sitting around chatting about the need to do MORE than just celebrate our success with the State Assembly vote on June 19, 2007. Obviously, it was not the first time we had discussed the issue. We each shared our concerns and what we felt really needed to be addressed about the issue.      * How many people truly DO NOT understand the issue      * How many Senators truly DO NOT understand how the lack of Equality affects our families      * That much of the media portrays this as an issue that is supported solely by the LGBT community and not supported by the "straight" community.      * That this is about a civil right, established by the State of New York in 1848... it is not a religious issue, as a great number of churches across the country are not only welcoming and affirming, but have been, currently are, and will continue to marry same-sex couples even though it does not give them the legal protections they deserve.      * That legislators who do not feel that it is wrong to deny equality to some citizens of New York should be held accountable.      * That many of our young adults need to be acknowledged as politcally savvy with the ability to make changes in the future. These kind of "chats" continued with everyone adding a little more each time, another thought, another concern, another issue.... we each felt that SOMETHING should be done....But WHAT? We all had said that "I just need to get everyone I know to sit down and write a letter to their Senator and make him understand WHY this is so important to me and my family!" but we all knew that most of us are not letter writers nowadays. That, coupled with the time restraints most of us have in our lives, make it almost impossible to take that time away from our daily obligations without putting extra pressure on us or our families even when we and they truly support the issue. That is when an epiphany happened. What if we could educate people on the issue, educate Senators on how important this is to our families, show (simply and visibly) that it is NOT just the LGBT community that understands and SUPPORTS the issue of Marriage Equality... what if we could make it clear that we already have the support of most of our religious institutions, hold our legislators accountable for ignoring the cries of their constituents or denying equality to any American....and what if we empowered just one young person and helped many others to know that their opinion is important and that someday their vote will count? What if we could do all this with just one piece of paper, a pen and a name, signature and address? .... the letter project was born.

What is the letter project?

The letter project is just that. Letters to our State Senators, from their constituents, that are signed by both straight and lgbt individuals and young adults that will soon be able to re-elect or toss that same Senator out of office. Letters signed by members of religious institutions all over NY. Letters that quickly, and concisely, state the issues and, by which, educate the reader. Letters that, unread, just laying on a desk, make a clear statement that not only is same-sex marriage supported, but it is supported by the LGBT community, the "Straight" community, and individuals who will step in and make decisions in the future...which is only a year away! Letters that require only to be read and then be signed, add the printed  name and an address, city, state and zip....

What's with the Colors and what do they mean?

The purpose of the colors is so that, as stated above, even without reading them, anyone can see that this issue is supported by a large portion of the "straight" community, and the lgbt community, and future voters. LAVENDER represents the members of the LGBT community. YELLOW represents the members of the "straight" community, individuals who do not identify themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. GREEN represents a group that is often dismissed or forgotten... Youth between the ages of 16 and 18. Our youth are SOOOO much more educated on the issues than we were. THESE YOUNG ADULTS WILL BE VOTING AS SOON AS NEXT NOVEMBER, 2008!!! We believe they need to be heard.

How does it work?

You just read the color letter that fits you and your life, then fill in the bottom and return it to the person who gave it to you. It will  then be taken to YOUR State Senator, along with all the others that have been gathered here in Buffalo and from New Yorkers all over the Empire State!.

Who's supporting the project?

This was the "brain-child" of the Buffalo team... and the Empire State Pride Agenda joined in the efforts to collect letters statewide! In Buffalo;       * Many local religious groups are supporting the effort. Either as a congregational decision or through their Rabbi or Clergy or an individual in the congregation.       * Social Organizations       * Corporations       * Individuals in the LGBT community       * Individuals in the "straight" community       * High School Students       * College Students       * Business leaders       * Friends       * Family       * Total strangers       * Other LGBT advocacy organizations       * New York Civil Liberties Union       * Thinking New Yorkers who understand how we, as fellow Americans, deserve Equality

What YOU can do!

Sign a letter! Not difficult is it? Get everyone in your family to read and sign a letter. It is a great chance for you to start "the conversation about equality". When most people are given the FACTS, they get it. Get everyone in your social circle or organization to sign a letter. Volunteer to help gather signatures at your college or your religious affiliation or join us and gather them at an upcoming event (just call and we will tell you what's going on or check on the Upcoming Events Page). Throw a cocktail, holiday or house party and gather signatures from your guests. One of the local Buffalo Marriage Ambassadors will even come by and explain the issue and answer questions, they can even send you a packet on how to do a houseparty! Seriously, could it get any easier? Email all your friends and ask them to visit this website and read this... and then ask them how you, as a group, can get involved. Call us and get involved. GET INVOLVED!

What we and others have done to gather signatures on letters

In the pictures below you get a view of just a few things that we have done. We would love to see what YOU have done! Just send your pictures to us via email and we will try to get them loaded up on this page! What you see below represents some events that we have gathered signatures at.... but by all means, not all!!! The champions are the individuals who have gone out and gathered as many as a hundred letters on their own. It is wonderful to see them CONTINUE after they have turned in handfuls of signed letters. (We suspect there are a few competitions going on!)

Gay Bingo! This wonderful group of straight and LGBT individuals welcomed us with open arms! We gathered 150+ signatures in one evening! (And had a blast!)

Front Runners Summer BBQ! This was our first effort... safe among friends we gathered about 30 letters!

Curtain Up! 2007 A night of fun, food and letter success.... Nearly 200!

Out of town guests! Nora Yates and Todd Plank come into town and listen to our plan fot how we would accomplish our goal!

ESPA's Thank You Cocktail Party in Rochester! The project hadn't spread there yet, but we did find a contact there who is going to get it going and now Rochester has started running with it too! We did get letters signed by all the staff at Two Vines Restuarant... 8 more letters!

Public meeting with AG Cuomo! We gathered only a few letters here, a total of only 4, but we got a chance to day thank you to Assemblymember Mark Schroeder!

Marriage Ambassador Training! A very mixed batch that has charged into this project with incredible enthusiasm... about 25 letters here!

National Coming Out Day! This one, held at ECC-City gathered 167 letters! .... And 7 new voter registrations!

Troy, New York Art Night Out! This was actually an introduction for Marriage Ambassadors from across New York to the Letter Project. In only 15 minutes the group gathered 100+ letters!!! (Most in Sen. Joseph Bruno's district!!)

French Fry Meeting! These are mini power meetings where some of our most agressive members meet and plan! Only 2 people at this meeting needed to sign a letter!

Len's House Party! One of our members and original letter project panel members throws a cocktail party and gets friends together to talk about Marriage Equality and the letter project. We gather signatures from those who had not yet signed a letter and sent home blanks for them to get filled in!

Post meeting... heading to our favorite haunt; The Towne Restuarant in Allentown where our favorite waitress, Jennifer, waited on us. She has personally gotten 30+ letters for us!

Image Out Premier at the Market Place Theater! (Across from Shea's) In only 30 minutes we gathered 50+ letters!

WNY's Goal? Hmmmmmmm?

Well, it was intitially suggested that we should shoot for 1,000.... the group snickered a little bit at that. But, we finally agreed that if we could get to a 1,000 signed letters that ESPA and NYCLU would help underwrite the project! We hit that in the first 3 1/2 weeks! Now we need you. Call me and I will get you some blanks. (716) 578-3782... "Hey Kitty, I need some of those letters" She says, "Sure, let me get a pen and write down some stuff") Then get them filled in by your "peeps" (my granddaughter says that means people you know) and I will come and pick them up from you! ("Hey, Kitty! I got them all filled in! It was easier than I thought it would be! You wanna come and pick them up?" She says, "Sure!") Very stress free, huh?

Our goal is a very brazen; 5,000 Signed Letters From Western New York! We have been told that people out here could never reach that goal.... but.... we were also told "No one will show up at a Rally in front of City Hall in a snow storm and 12 degree weather" ... THEY don't know chips about Buffalo!!!

How many letters do we currently have?

This spot will get updated every time we reach another 500 letters.... currently we are at;

3,000 as of 28 Nov 2007 Wanna see the numbers change? Get those letters filled in!!!

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