Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 10:50:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Richard Isaac Subject: "DECLINE TO SIGN" COUNTER-PETITIONING MANUAL AVAILABLE BIGOT BUSTERS/Decline to Sign (Greater Seattle) is pleased to announce that it has produced " DECLINE TO SIGN "--a comprehensive 45-page instructional manual for establishing a counter-petitioning organization to defeat anti-gay/lesbian citizen initiatives. "DECLINE TO SIGN" is based on the successful experiences of BIGOT BUSTERS in the 1994 campaign against Initiatives 608/610 in Washington State, but is designed to be used in any area facing such citizen initiatives. (Counter-petitioning is voter education "at the point of sale," i.e. where signatures are being gathered for discriminatory initiatives. Trained teams of counter-petitioners are dispatched when sighting are reported and confirmed. Counter-petitioners leaflet and talk with passersby, discussing the intent and effects of such initiatives, in the hopes that having heard both sides of the issue, voters will decline to sign the petitions and they will fail to qualify for the ballot. This technique has proven itself effective in Portland, OR in 1992, and Washington State in 1994, saving the gay/lesbian community lengthy and expensive campaigns.) BIGOT BUSTERS is eager to see counter-petitioning adopted by groups facing the threat of anti-gay initiatives, and has produced "DECLINE TO SIGN" as a resource to that end. It is not meant to be a training manual per se, but rather a guide for establishing a successful counter-petitioning organization. (Training materials, based on professional instructional design, have been produced separately.) While circumstances in other states with citizens initiatives may vary, the essentials remain the same. The manual, which contains a number of photographs and illustrations, includes information on the following areas: * an overview of counter-petitioning, including target audience identification and organizational structure * the basic groundwork for estabishing a counter-petitioning group, including: trainings, outreach, publicity, and merchandise * the do's and don't's of counter-petitioning itself * how to deal with a variety of settings and situations * how to find petitioners * how to conduct successful dispatching * media activism * legal issues, including the First Amendment and private property * financial issues, including forming a PAC, public disclosure, and fundraising * a history of counter-petitioning in the Pacific Northwest * supplementary materials, including our 1994 brochure, and news reports and opinion pieces If your locality is facing a citizen initiative attacking sexual minorities, we encourage you to adopt counter-petitioning. Copies of "DECLINE TO SIGN" are available for $5.00 each, which includes postage. Send checks payable to BIGOT BUSTERS to: BIGOT BUSTERS 1202 E. Pike #1110 Seattle, WA 98122-3934 Thank you for your support. ----------------------- * Richard Isaac __*_*___ report sightings of signature-gathering for \* * / Seattle anti-gay initiatives 166/167 to: *\ * (206) 767-2457 ***\**/** rmisaac \/ @eskimo.com