Update from the ground: Down to the wire for trans equality in MA

by
November 6, 2018

I’m here, on the ground with the Yes on 3 campaign! I voted early and have spent the rest of my time here working with volunteers, organizers, and supporting the amazing teams they’ve built.

One of the things that really struck me about this campaign is it is largely led by trans people and gender non-conforming people who are working for their own liberation. Another thing that strikes me about this campaign: Yesterday was the anniversary of our loss 10 years ago on prop 8 in California. The campaign here in MA is a direct offshoot of the organizing practices that we’ve learned and built from that loss, including building strong teams of volunteer leaders and embracing the urgency of the moment to ask people to take action.

For me, as an organizer working on Prop 8, the loss was devastating. The hardest part was knowing we had not spoken to people who were undecided or leaning opposed. After the loss, I was involved in the work that EQCA and the LA LGBT Center did post-Prop 8 to learn how to talk to people in the moveable middle.  

EQFED in partnership with FFAA and MAP conducted an experiment using deep canvassing techniques in the summer of 2016. It showed us that we can in fact be persuasive on trans issues when we engage in longer conversations. This tactic of deep canvassing has been incredibly useful and successful, most recently, propelling us to victory against an anti-trans ballot initiative in Alaska.

This entire campaign was built on that principle and we’ve been working since last year to have tens of thousands of conversations with MA voters. All of it has led up to this moment, where we are turning out our staunch and new supporters to vote yes on 3.

The team here is doing everything we can to ensure a win tomorrow night. But regardless, we have so much to celebrate: young trans activists taking action for the first time, new leaders growing their skills to contribute to the future of the movement, and thousands of Bay Staters who have engaged on this issue for the first time — hopefully realizing how close to home this issue is and having changed their minds forever.

More You might like

New Director Alert!

We are pleased to announce Janeesha’s promotion from Events Manager to Director of Leadership & Capacity Building!

September 6, 2024
2024 Election: Highlighting Progress for LGBTQ+ Rights in the States

In the spirit of finding hope where we can, here are a few key victories from across the states in the 2024 election.

September 6, 2024
Press Release: Equality Federation Reacts to 2024 Election Results

Equality Federation responds to the results of the November 5, 2024, Presidential election and many Congressional, Senate, state, and local election results.

September 6, 2024
A young man looking up, smilingA young man smiling straight at the camera
Confident young woman standing with crossed arms.

Want To Make A Difference? Support Our Work

With your support, we'll be able to continue our work to build the leaders of today and tomorrow, strengthen state-based LGBTQ+ organizations, and make critical progress on the issues that matter most—like protecting transgender people, ending HIV criminalization and ensuring access to care, and banning conversion therapy across the country.