Amy Balliett, the mastermind behind the nationwide Join the Impact rallies that occurred just a week after the election during which Prop. 8 passed and gay marriage was overturned in California, is urging people to join Light up the Night for Equal Rights, Dec. 20.
“Just like on November 15th, we have cities from all around the country and the world joining together to spread the message of equal rights,” Balliett wrote on the Join the Impact website. “Light up the Night is an amazing opportunity to build allies and bridge the gap of understanding for those that oppose us.”
Balliett and Light up the Night’s organizers are urging supporters to “take to your commercial shopping centers to reach out to people by the thousands.” T
The goal is to educate average people on the civil rights plight LGBT people continue to face.
“There are still too many people in this country who do not understand what it is we are fighting for,” Balliett wrote. “Too many people believe the slanderous rumors about our community. They believe that we want ‘special’ rights, that we already have equal rights, or that we are being ‘greedy.’
Balliett continued “These people do not hate us; they just do not understand us. Many of them have gay friends. Many of them have gay family members. What they are missing is awareness.” For more information on how you can participate in Light up the Night go to JoinTheImpact.com.