The National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force and Citizens to Restore Fairness
kicked off their four-day leadership summit Thursday in
Cincinnati, despite the failure of local conservatives
to get a referendum on antidiscrimination protections
for gays on the November ballot. The petition
drive was the sole reason for the meeting to train gay
activists, The Cincinnati Post reports.
"We've actually been planning this for some
time, but even with what's happened, this event is
just as important as ever," Gary Wright, campaign
chair for Citizens to Restore Fairness, told the
Post. The petition drive failed after some of
the signatures collected were discovered to be forged or
otherwise tampered with.
Some 70
participants are expected to gather at the University of
Cincinnati's Tangeman Center for the summit, which will
train them to go out in their local community and
advocate on behalf of gay causes. The summit lasts
through Sunday. (The Advocate)