"Please don't divorce...": These photos will break your heart

FROM: Eden James, Courage Campaign

Dear Aurora,

Love. Not hate.

That was our community's reaction to the news that Ken Starr had filed a legal brief -- on behalf of the "Yes on 8" campaign -- to nullify the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in California between May and November of 2008.

It's time to put a face to Ken Starr's shameful legal proceedings. To put a face to the 18,000 couples facing forcible divorce by the state of California. To put a face to marriage equality.

Because, gay or straight, YOU are the face of the Marriage Equality Movement.

That's why, on Saturday morning, we launched the "Please Don't Divorce..." campaign, asking Courage Campaign members to send us pictures with a simple message: "Please don't divorce us," "Please don't divorce my mothers (or fathers)," "Please don't divorce my friends, Name and Name," "Please don't divorce Californians" or whatever you wanted to write after "Please don't divorce..."

Two days later, we're still receiving a stready stream of photos from couples, friends, families and even one from a cat. And now we want one from you.

These pictures will break your heart. They've made us cry, more than a few times.

We want to share this slideshow with you now. Straight or gay, we also want you to submit your own photo, as an individual, a couple or in a group. Over the holidays, please also consider gathering your family to pose for a "Please don't divorce..." photo. Click here to watch the slideshow, submit your own photo, and spread the word:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontDivorce

Love. Not shame.

That was our community's reaction when thousands of people across California showed up on Saturday for "MILK plus LOVE," 51 screenings of "MILK" organized in 39 communities by the Courage Campaign in concert with Join the Impact's "Light Up the Night" candlelight vigil for equality.

Love. Not anger.

That was our community's reaction to the pledge to "Repeal Prop 8" launched by the Courage Campaign on November 7, signed by over 300,000 people, and supported by MoveOn, CREDO Mobile and Join the Impact.

Now, we need you to show our opponents, our friends, the media, and America that Ken Starr and the Yes on 8 campaign's attempt to nullify 18,000 marriages is not just a court case. Lives are actually hanging in the balance. Click here to watch the "Please Don't Divorce..." slideshow, submit your own photo, and spread the word:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontDivorce

If you think it's important to proudly stand up for marriage equality, please forward this message to your friends today -- before they go away for the holidays.

Thank you for everything you are doing to restore marriage equality and push for progressive change in California.

Eden James
Managing Director

P.S. On Friday, we asked you to sign our invitation to Pastor Rick Warren to participate in an open, honest debate about Prop 8 and same-sex marriage with Rev. Eric Lee, a strong leader on marriage equality in the faith community and in the African American community.

On December 24, the Courage Campaign will deliver your signatures -- 22,497 and growing -- to Pastor Warren at the Saddleback Church in Orange County. We want to deliver as many signatures as possible. So, if you would like to add your name to Wednesday's delivery, please click the link below. It only takes a minute:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/RickWarrenDebate

..............

Courage Campaign Issues is part of the Courage Campaign's online organizing network that empowers over 300,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change in California.

To power our campaign to repeal Prop 8, please contribute today: