NGLTF to train over 100 top leaders from California and across nation

[Ian David]

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NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
[phone]
[e-mail]
http://www.TheTaskForce.org

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May 5, 2005

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Advocates Join Forces
at Power Summit in Southern California

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to train over 100 top
leaders from California and across the nation.

Leading California advocates -- Equality California, The Los
Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and The Center-Long Beach --
co-sponsor Summit.

What: The Power Summit is an intensive three-day training and
action program for dedicated people who are highly motivated to
build powerful state and local campaigns, organizations, and
coalitions aimed at creating positive community change within
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In a
four-day intensive convening, the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force staff will train more than 100 leaders selected from a
large pool of applicants from the southwest on electoral,
legislative and fundraising strategies for communities facing
battles against discriminatory legislation

Who: The Summit is co-sponsored by: The National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force, Equality California, The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian
Center, and The Center-Long Beach. Over 100 participants are
expected, at least half of whom will be from California. Other
attendees are from states preparing for or currently battling
anti-gay ballot measures.

When: The Power Summit will take place Thursday, May 5th -
Sunday, May 8th

Where: The Coast - Long Beach Hotel
700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA

Why: In California, there is the threat of a constitutional
amendment to ban same-sex marriage as well as the possible
repeal of AB 205, the comprehensive domestic partnership
legislation that went into effect this year. Nationally, more
than a dozen other states are facing potential anti-marriage
constitutional amendments in 2005 and 2006 as well as other
types of anti-gay legislation. The Power Summit is organized in
the spirit of the Task Force's mission to build the political
power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement at
the state and local level. It is intended to help equip
activists in every city and state with the tools necessary to
mobilize their communities around critical public policy issues
such as those currently being faced in California.

Canvass Schedule: Canvassing in Long Beach on Saturday, May 7th.
The canvass training will begin promptly at 9:15 and end by
10:00. Participants will be in the field door-knocking from
approximately 10:15 am - 12:15 pm.

Media is invited to:
Opening Plenary 7-8 pm; Thursday, May 5th, Coast Long Beach
Hotel;
Canvassing: Saturday morning May 7th, 9:15-10:00 (same location)
Door to door knocking, 10:15: -12:15 pomp

Media must register in advance to attend either event
On-Site Media Contact: Jason Cooper 310-909-9088

Media contacts:

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Jason Cooper
Senior Field Organizer
310-909-9088
[e-mail]

Roberta Sklar
Director of Communications
646-358-1465
[e-mail]

Equality California
Eddie Gutierrez
310-248-3692
[e-mail]

The Center Long Beach (Gay and Lesbian Center of Long Beach)
Matt Cunningham
562-434-4455 ext 229
[e-mail]

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
Jim Key
323-993-7623
[e-mail]

What is a Power Summit?

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force convene intensive
trainings and action programs with local coalition partners
across the country throughout the year. These Power Summits are
for dedicated people who are highly motivated to build powerful
state and local campaigns, organizations, and coalitions aimed
at creating positive community change. Each training focuses on
cutting-edge skills and strategies necessary for building
political, organizational, and community power. Each training is
also tailored to meet the practical needs of the community
leaders participating in the training; we practice doing for
real everything we talk about doing. For example, in the
trainings listed above, we will discuss how to campaign
effectively one-on-one with swing voters to persuade them to
stand with us; we'll role play these conversations; then, we
will go out campaigning for real, together, to make sure all
participants have truly learned how to apply the ideas to the
real world situations they will be facing.

Electoral Campaign Trainings focus on how to defeat anti-LGBT
ballot measures the curriculum includes such topics as:
Strategy: How to develop your campaign plan, Building our base:
How to identify the voter base we need to win Building
multi-racial teams: How to build progressive alliances and
action-oriented campaign partners across race, class, and gender
lines: Message: What works and what doesn't Fundraising: How to
ask for money Volunteer recruitment: How to build a team of 500
active volunteers GOTV: How to build a door-to-door canvass
operation and then Get Out the Vote. For more information
contact our Organizing and Training Department by e-mailing
[e-mail].

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Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Foundation (the Task Force) was the first national lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy
organization and remains the movement's leading voice for
freedom, justice, and equality. We work to build the grassroots
political strength of our community by training state and local
activists and leaders, working to strengthen the infrastructure
of state and local allies, and organizing broad-based campaigns
to build public support for complete equality for LGBT people.
Our Policy Institute, the community's premiere think tank,
provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle
for complete equality. As part of a broader social justice
movement, we work to create a world that respects and makes
visible the diversity of human expression and identity where all
people may fully participate in society. Headquartered in
Washington, DC, we also have offices in New York City, Los
Angeles, Cambridge, and Miami. The Task Force is a 501(c)(3)
corporation incorporated in Washington, DC. Contributions to the
Task Force are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.


Copyright 2005 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Creating Change (TM) is a trademark of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force. All other trademarks mentioned herein belong
to their respective owners. The Task Force Foundation is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #52-1624852.
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