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3 reasons you need to know about next week’s Supreme Court coverage
By Adam Bink
As Jacob wrote yesterday, we need your help to raise $1,500 to send the intrepid blogging team here to DC to cover the Prop 8 and DOMA cases. He explained the ballgame. I’ll tell you why.
1) We’ll be your eyes and ears. In my humble opinion, there is nothing like live coverage from the courthouse. We’re taking copious notes on the proceedings and filing our posts immediately after oral arguments let out. What the transcripts don’t tell you is the tone, tenor, reactions of all the players in the courtroom. How did Justice Kennedy react, non-verbally, to this argument? What was the best part of Ted Olson’s argument, the high point? That’s why we’re going. If you think that’s worth something, please chip in.
2) Good coverage costs money. Many of you know EqualityOnTrial.com and its parent, Courage Campaign Institute, operates on a low budget and on the margins — our staff of just 12 generally takes public transit and Southwest instead of taxis and first class. The same is true here, but expenses to get Scottie, Jacob and me to DC add up a bit. This is especially true because Scottie is in a wheelchair and when he travels, things add up even more. It’s unfortunate and a story for another post, but true.
We don’t have corporate sponsors like SCOTUSBlog or large benefactors — we have you. If you believe, as I do, that the and the coverage the rest of our team brings to you each and every day is worth a couple cups of coffee, please chip in.
3) We’re die-hard. We’re preparing to stay outside in line ALL NIGHT the night before both hearings just in case our press seats aren’t confirmed and linesitters can’t be found. I’m quite serious. I remember seeing Scottie at Netroots Nation conference in Providence last summer and he told me he’d been saving up his whole life to go to these oral arguments if they ended up happening. He’s willing to go to the mat for your reading pleasure. Help him put away the money, and chip in $15, 20 or whatever you can to send him to DC for ya.
Hope to report to you from the Supreme Court in DC next week – if you help out. Thanks for your consideration.
1 Comment March 21, 2013
Success: Prop8TrialTracker.com is here to stay for another year + more good news
Success!
P8TT monthly donors so far
By Adam Bink
Just this morning, we hit our fundraising goal of 35 new monthly donors (and then some!) to sustain Prop8TrialTracker.com for another year and help cover writing expenses, technical expenses, site improvements and more.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it was to meet our goal so we can continue to remain the #1 site on the web for coverage of the trial and keep this community going, as well as bring you news, analysis and action alerts on other court cases and marriage equality.
THANK YOU to the 37 (and counting) people who stepped up in a big way to contribute as little as $10 a month to keep what we do here going for another year (as well as those who have given in the past). If you didn’t give, please consider doing so — the more people we have who step up, the less we have to make fundraising asks. And if you can’t be a monthly donor for whatever reason, please consider saying “thank you” in the comments to those who just stepped up to do so. Out of the thousands and thousands of people who visit here every day, it really is less than 1% who chip in to help the site function, and we owe a debt of gratitude to you all. We’ll pick the winner of tickets to see the “8″ play shortly. Also, a big thanks to all the people who wrote a piece on why it’s so important to give (in no particular order): Greg in SLC, Jacob Combs, Mark & Robert Mead-Brewer, NCLR’s Shannon Minter & Chris Stoll, GLAD’s Carisa Cunningham, AnonyGrl, AFER’s Matt Baume, and Courage’s Rick Jacobs.
One other thing I’ll just say, which is that I really do think this morning’s news on the Field Poll showing 59% of Californians support same-sex marriage is, in part, due to what we all do here. Whether you think 59% is an outlier or not, it is without a doubt that the numbers have moved our way. It’s because we’re shining a light on the trial. It’s because of the number of people who Google “Prop 8 trial” to find out what the news is all about when a court decision is handed down, and end up here. It’s because we’re sharing stories like that of Ed and Derence, and putting their story on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. It’s because of the conversations you’re having with family, friends and colleagues about the trial and marriage equality in general. While the legal folks do their part on the inside, we’re doing our part on the outside to shine a light on the trial, the stories, and this movement. Oh, and by, the way, showing up (check out the rally photo in this morning’s LA Times piece on the new poll — it may look familiar!). The folks who step up to help fund this site help make all of that possible. And that’s why it’s so important to keep reading, chipping in, commenting, and sharing.
I have another piece of good news out of all of this: because we met our fundraising goal, we’re able to bring on a third writer to the Prop8TrialTracker.com writing team to help expand our coverage! We’re offering a blogging internship, compensation commensurate with experience. The full description is below. While the position is open to all, I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful it would be to have “one of our own” be that person, and if not that, then someone you know and can recommend. Jacob Combs came to us as someone who has been reading the site from the beginning. Whether you are seeking to “learn the ropes” or just want to start writing on the site during the week, please consider applying and/or passing the position on to people you think would be good. E-mail it to friends. Post on social media. Consider applying yourself! And of course, as always, guest posts as the interest strikes you are always welcome.
Thanks again, and please find the writing position in the extended entry.
4 Comments February 29, 2012
Why I come to Prop8TrialTracker.com
This post is part of P8TT’s annual fundraising drive. As of this post, we are only a handful of new donors away from hitting our goal! We just need a few more to sustain us for another year. Please become a Sustaining Member so we can keep this community together to fight the battles ahead (and to enter for a chance to win two tickets to the new “8″ play premiere with an all-star cast in Los Angeles!). You can chip in here so P8TT can keep going with a sustainable source of funding.
P8TT monthly donors so far
By Gregory Enke (Greg in SLC)
Adam invited me to write “a few paragraphs” in support of P8TT to assist with the fundraiser. As humans often do, I first considered what I have not liked about P8TT. I thought about the painful transition to the current software configuration and how we lost some P8TT family members. I also thought how some have stopped writing, seemingly in protest or perhaps they no longer feel welcome. I grieve for these losses. But then, I stopped to consider other things….
- I have visited the P8TT site almost EVERY day since Prop 8 passed in California in 2008
- I have posted 620 comments since the new web format became active
- Every time I log on to a computer I go directly to 2 websites: Gmail, then www.prop8trialtracker.com
I was stunned when I realized this! I work full time for a Health Care Organization. I also teach evenings at the local community college. I am married to a wonderful man, have 4 children and 1 grand baby. As a person whose time is much in demand I only spend time on those things that edify me. P8TT meets this criteria in abundant ways:
- The posts are current and relevant
- The comments are from a global community with diverse perspectives
- I have electronically met new wonderful allies and even met some in person!
- I find support and solace here when I grieve and can cheer and celebrate with those who care and are informed!
- I view P8TT commentators as a wonderful resource. It is a comfort to know If I’m in trouble I can come here for advice.
I contributed tithing (10% of my income) to a church for over 3 decades that did not meet my emotional or intellectual needs. I no longer give $ to this church, but I gladly give “tithes” to P8TT as I’m able. Here is a place where I learn, share and feel validated. Here I can question established institutions and persons without threat of excommunication. Here I’ve expanded my awareness of self and of humanity. I’m grateful I stumbled across this site while looking for answers after the devastating passing of Prop8. P8TT continues to be a relevant/viable place to meet and to organize our efforts in the fight for marriage equality.
Please become one of just a few new donors we need to keep this site going for another year.
Love,
Gregory Enke
16 Comments February 28, 2012
