Wow, the week got way away from me what with the big win and the big loss and the big life, liberty and pursuit of happiness thing. But I have winners, big winners, of The L Word DVD Giveaway. Thank you ALL so much for entering and supporting 8 Against 8. While we lost this one, we will not give up. One day we will win.
These would be some good ladies to get to know if you're looking to have a TLW watching marathon one weekend. Tell them you'll bring the popcorn. Works every time.
p.s. The extreme tardiness of this winners post should tip you off to the fact that I am wayyyy behind on just about everything. So if you were kind enough to have emailed me in the past two weeks, please take heart. I am not ignoring you. I have (and I am not kidding) 125 emails waiting patiently for me in my inbox right now. My apologies. I promise to get back to you soon...or soonish.
Some people say it with flowers, I say it with tank tops. As an added thank you for your generous contributions and enthusiastic support of our 8 Against 8 campaign (We raised $13,759 to fight Prop. 8!), I give you the return of Tank Top Tuesday. Really, FTD should consider creating a bouquet of a dozen tank tops in lieu of roses. Not only do they last longer, but they are also considerably more comfortable to wear. Just think of the untapped market for lesbian-themed “floral” arrangements. A bouquet of Birkenstocks. A garland of crisp cargo shorts. A vase filled with an autumnal-assortment of Chapsticks. But, for now, please accept these dozen tank tops as a token of my thanks. Click to enlarge each photo to truly appreciate the depths of my gratitude.
Today is the last full day of our 8 Against 8 fundraiser to fight California's Proposition 8, which would create a constitutional ban on gay marriage in the state. We've blown past our original $8,000 goal and now want a big final push (like maybe doubling our original goal, hey, we can dream). Our campaign will officially end at 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT Tuesday morning. We need all the help we can get to fight the “Yes on 8” people's scare tactics and misleading commercials. And that means giving money to the No on Prop. 8 side. Donate to 8 Against 8 here.
And, just to sweeten the deal, giving could turn into receiving here at Surrenders (wait, did that sound vaguely dirty? If not, it should have). Remember when I said to “save your donation confirmations” if/when you donate? Well, finally, here is where that begins to makes sense. I have 10 (yes, TEN) free copies of “The L Word: Season Five” complete DVD box sets to give away. So if you have already donated or donate today, send me a copy of your confirmation email and I will enter you in the contest.
“The L Word returns to DVD with the complete fifth season on Oct. 28th in a collectible 4-disc set. DVD includes all 12 dramatic and deliciously provocative fifth season episodes from Showtime's successful long-running series featuring all the beauty, chaos and complexities of a group of women who inhabit Los Angeles' lesbian community plus behind-the-scenes special features.”
Now, in the interest of fairness and empty bank accounts, if you haven't donated you can still enter by putting your email address in the comments below. However, people who donate can (and should) also enter their email below for a second entry into the giveaway. Basically, if you've donated you can enter twice and therefore increase your chances of taking home Bette, Tina, Alice, Shane, Jenny & company.
In case you've forgotten what you're playing for in this contest, here is a quick refresher on the hotness that was TLW Season Five. (Warning: They get hotter the lower you scroll. Ahem.)
The contest is open to everyone (foreign and domestic), but winners outside of the United States and Canada will need to pay for shipping themselves (my apologies, but alas I'm Ms. Snarker, not Ms. Rockerfeller). I'll accept entries until Friday, Oct. 31. And, once again, my handy-dandy random number generator will pick the lucky winners.
Thank you so much for all of your support of 8 Against 8. If you can, please consider donating. And remember vote No on Prop. 8, California (and No on Prop. 2, Florida; No on Prop. 102, Arizona; No on Question #1, Connecticut and No on Act 1, Arkansas).
p.s. Each donation will get you an extra entry so go crazy, ladies and discerning gentlemen. Good Cause + Free Stuff + Lesbian Sex = Best. Giveaway. Ever.
UPDATE: Thanks for entering. Entries are now closed. The winners will be announced Tuesday Wednesday.
Three days. It took you just three days to meet our goal of raising $8,000 in eight days. That is beyond even our wildest expectations. That's, well, that's just awesome. You guys are awesome. Thank you, thank you, 8,000-times thank you. 8 Against 8 started in the purest sense of a grassroots (or, more accurately, netroots) movement with an inspired email from Grace Chu of Grace the Spot. And now here we are, $8,000 closer to defeating Proposition 8. Gather close, virtual group hug.
But, of course, the fight doesn't end here. Far from it. The “Yes” people are still dangerously ahead in funding, by some reports as much as $40 million to our $25 million. That's an awful lot of scratch, and the agents of intolerance will use it to scratch away at our civil rights. Progress is painful, and we often stumble along the way. But if California lets a right be taken away from one group that it currently grants to all groups, it's not just a step backwards. It will forever be a black stain on our progress toward that more perfect union.
For me, the issue of gay marriage almost isn't really even about marriage. Marriage is an institution I respect, but still feel ambivalent about joining. What gay marriage represents is not just the union of two people until death do them part. Sure, that's the most important part. But it is also an acknowledgment by both society and the government that watches over us that these people's commitment should be respected. That these people's relationship is worthy of protection. That these people's union is real. It's not that gay couples seek to legitimize their relationships; we know we're legitimate. It's that we deserve to have the government see us as equal. Domestic partnerships, while an important baby step, are just another tired retread of the separate but equal argument. Equal is equal. And we won't stop fighting until we really are just that.
But, hey, enough speechifying from yours truly. I know several of you are probably all, dude, where are the hot chicks in tank tops? I promise, there will be tank tops. But today, I would ask you to dig deep and give what you can. Check the couch cushions. Raid the laundry fund. Consider which organs are duplicate and therefore unnecessary (I kid, I kid....you can keep that second kidney, I guess). Let's see how much a band of 8 rag-tag bloggers and their thousands of wonderful, insightful, passionate, caring, sexy (too much?) readers can raise in 8 days to fight for what is right. Please, donate whatever you can at www.8against8.com.
And even if the cupboard is bare, you can help spread the word to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, the cranky guy who sits next to you on the bus. Join our Facebook page. Read about the fabulous prizes, giveaways and auctions. Also, don't forget, please keep your confirmation email after donating. It could become very handy in the future here at Surrenders. And by “handy,” I mean “you could win cool free stuff.”
Though, most important of all, if you live in California be sure to get out of bed on Nov. 4 and Vote No on Prop. 8. Or, if you live in Florida, Arizona or Connecticut, vote No on Prop. 2, No on Prop. 102 and No on Question 1. And for everyone else, keep up hope. A better, fairer world is possible. We can make it happen.
Today I'm proud to announce my participation in 8 Against 8. What is 8 Against 8, you ask? Well, we're cool like the Jackson 5, but way more ethical than the Keating Five. In short, we're eight lesbian blogs that have banded together to fight California's Proposition 8. As I've written about before, Prop. 8 would permanently amend the state's constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. This would effectively re-ban gay marriage and overturn the state supreme court's ruling legalizing the unions. In short, it would be terrible.
Grace Chu from Grace the Spot has spearheaded 8 Against 8 to harness all our awesome homo powers for good. So what are we trying to do? Raise $8,000 in eight days. And that is where you come in. If you can, please go to the 8 Against 8 website and donate to Equality California. All of the money raised will go directly to Equality California's No on Prop. 8 Campaign.
I know times are tough for everyone. Hell, I've made a pledge not to look at my financial statements unless drunk. But any amount you can afford would help tremendously. As of last week, Equality California said it was $10 million behind the “Yes on 8” fundraising. That's seven zeros, folks. Much of the “Yes” campaign's money has come from out of state and been driven by the Mormon Church. We can do better. To sweeten the deal, donors/businesses who give more than $100 will get free advertising on some of the sites as well as a slew of other prizes at various donation levels – check them out here). All donors will get all of my, and the other bloggers', eternal thanks – not to mention the thanks of every gay and gay-friendly person in California.
Gay marriage has been legal here in sunny California since June. And, as far as I can tell, the very fabric of our existence has not been torn asunder. Heterosexual couples have not seen the foundations of their marriages crumble into dust. Churches have not burst into flames in the fiery clutches of Beelzebub. Nothing remotely close. Pretty much, nothing has happened except that a bunch of happy, loving, grateful gay folks got to exchange rings and feed each other cake.
So, from today until Oct. 27, please give a little or a lot. If you can't afford to contribute give please by spreading the word. Use the logo, link 8 Against 8 (www.8against8.com), tell your friends, family, neighbors. Politics is personal, and not much is more personal than being able to marry who you love. I wish the rabid “Yes on 8,” “Protect Marriage” crowd would really look at what they are so against. Because if this scares you or inspires your hatred, I think it says a lot more about you than it does the people who just vowed to love each other until death do them part.
Donate to 8 Against 8. Vote no on Prop. 8. Protect love.
UPDATE I: Many, many, many thanks to all who have already donated and linked. The button for 8 Against 8 will stay on the right-hand corner of Surrenders until the campaign ends Oct. 27 with daily updates on our progress toward our $8,000 goal. You all should be exceedingly proud that in the first 24-hours we raised $2,789. As Keanu would say, whoa. Let's keep it going, ladies and discerning gentlemen. No, money can't buy you love. But maybe if we all band together it can buy us a little equality.
UPDATE II: Please don't forget our friends in Arizona and Florida who are fighting their own wretched anti-gay marriage amendments, as well as Connecticut where sneaky Question 1 could spell trouble. No on Prop. 2, Floridians, No on Prop. 102, Arizonans, and No on Question 1, Connecticuters!
Wow, the week got way away from me what with the big win and the big loss and the big life, liberty and pursuit of happiness thing. But I have winners, big winners, of The L Word DVD Giveaway. Thank you ALL so much for entering and supporting 8 Against 8. While we lost this one, we will not give up. One day we will win.
