EqualityOnTrial is going to the Tenth Circuit in Denver–if you can help us!
January 7, 2014
LGBT Legal Cases Marriage equality Marriage Equality Trials P8TT fundraising
When the Supreme Court stayed a Utah district court’s ruling striking down the state’s marriage equality ban yesterday, it brought to an abrupt halt the brief two-week period when same-sex couples in one of the nation’s reddest and most religious states could have their commitment to each other recognized under law.
It’s a disappointing turn of events, but all eyes now turn from Washington, D.C. to Denver, where the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has placed Kitchen v. Herbert, the Utah case, on an expedited briefing schedule. With briefing due to be complete by February 25, the court could hear oral arguments on the merits of the case anytime thereafter–perhaps as early as March 17.
As you’ve read, we’re in the midst of a year-end–and now year-beginning!–fundraiser to keep EqualityOnTrial going strong through 2014. We’ve raised a little over 30% of our $10,000 goal, and we’re so grateful to those who have donated, but we have a way to go!
Your support will not only help us keep the lights on day-to-day, it will also help us cover high-profile, newsworthy events on the ground. We covered Prop 8 live from California at the district court and appellate court levels, we covered Edie Windsor’s DOMA case live from the Second Circuit in New York and, of course, we covered both the Prop 8 and DOMA trials from the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
As you can imagine, flying across the country to cover a court case isn’t cheap, and it takes a lot of advance preparation. There are flights and hotel rooms to book, media credentials to apply for and, of course, research to be done to bring you the best possible coverage.
Your donation goes directly to helping us make trips like this possible–and when I say directly, I mean directly. That $15 you give could be the breakfast we eat before heading to the courthouse; your $50 could cover a airline’s baggage charge. Our coverage is directly supported by you, our readers, which means your donation comes right back to you in the form of on-the-ground reporting and analysis.
You helped us travel to the Supreme Court last year, and we want to be at the Supreme Court for the case that could bring marriage equality to all 50 states. Kitchen could be that case, but only after it is decided by the Tenth Circuit.
5 Comments
1.
Dr. Z | January 7, 2014 at 1:51 pm
I find it helps to deal in specifics. For example, "Sponsor Jacob to go to Denver for X days for Y dollars," "Provide technical support to the team for Z dollars" and so on.
2.
MichGuy | January 7, 2014 at 4:50 pm
IMO I don't think that level of transparency is necessary. We need to put some level of trust in leadership of this group to use the money responsibly and if any excess is left over then it is implied that they will use it responsibly also. Everything cannot be itemized and we all know unexpected cost come up which cannot be fairly planned for in a itemization.
3.
Dr. Z | January 7, 2014 at 5:59 pm
It's not a question of trust. It's about psychology and how people empathize with espoused needs. Buying a goat or a pig or a cow for a village is a concrete goal, and people tend to respond more favorably to such requests than more abstract goals like srnding money to ease people's suffering. This finding is supported by a large body of research in decision psychology (e.g Plous, 1993).
4.
grod | January 8, 2014 at 6:06 am
I've been the treasurer of a successful registered charity for 10 years. I agree. Graeme
5.
Brian | January 8, 2014 at 2:26 pm
I would love it if EOT accepted PayPal donations, and I'd donate in that case. I generally avoid using my credit card in multiple places all over the internet. No offense intended.