Daniel Cates
I’ve been unable to get in touch with Daniel Cates, the local organizer for GetEQUAL, but according to Facebook, it looks like his group is putting together a “Statewide Day of Action” on Friday — in which people are encouraged to call Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ office and ask him to sign a pledge in support of same-sex marriage. This event was also promoted during last night’s monthly meeting of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. In addition to Cates, we’ve left a message with Paula Blackmon, Rawlings’ chief of staff, so we’ll keep you posted. From the FB event:
**PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO FORWARD THIS INVITE TO THOSE IN YOUR FRIEND LISTS**
Despite weeks of outrage from the community, protests,countless emails, thousands of phone calls, petition signatures, faxes and even a meeting with members of the LGBT community, Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas continues to refuse to join the Mayors of almost every major U.S. city in signing a pledge in support of marriage equality.
Rather than throwing in the towel, GetEQUAL TX is just getting started!
Join us Friday, February 24th, 2012 as we invite Texans to give the Dallas Mayor’s Office a little call. Our goal is to tie up the office phone lines from 9am-5pm with literally thousands of calls, sending a message to Mike Rawlings that this issue is not going away!
Here is all you have to do anytime on Friday, February 24th,btween 9am and 5pm:
CALL: 214-670-4054
TELL THEM: “My name is______, I believe that all Texans should be able to marry the person that they love. I want Mayor Mike Rawlings to Sign the Pledge.”
(We ask that you please be respectful)This is the first in a series of actions we will use to continue to pressure our mayor to turn his words into action! We will keep you posted on further developments!
Thank you so much for your commitment to equality!
According to Freedom to Marry, seven mayors from Texas are now among the more than 100 from across the country who’ve signed the group’s pledge. The latest addition to the list from Texas is Lucy Johnson of Kyle, south of Austin.
Leave him alone. He’s obviously made up his mind. Clearly his concerns are with what other people think, rather than doing what is right. Tell your friends, write comments on your blogs, post his actions (or lack thereof) on your Facebook pages and write letters to the editors of every LGBT media outlet everywhere. Make this a reflection on him, not our community. If Mayor Rawlings wishes to let things happen rather than make things happen–to be a follower rather than a leader–that’s his choice. We can take “no” for an answer, and soon-to-be former Mayor Rawlings can receive “no” for an answer the next time we take to the polls. We don’t need his signature. There are bigger fish to fry, and those bigger fish aren’t the ones swimming in Mayor Rawlings’ stagnant pond.
Well said James Simmons 🙂
I think the mayor does need a reminder about this. If we just let it drop, that is what his whole staff has been waiting for- “hold out long enough and it will just go away.” I am wondering why no one in Fort Worth is giving Betsy Price the same level of hell, didn’t she ride in the pride parade there? If this is about holding politicians accountable, why is she and the Arlington mayor off the hook?