Detroit – The National Weekend of Action kicked off July 28, 102 days before the November presidential election. As part of Team Obama's 100-day push, supporters of President Obama's reelection campaign organized a nationwide, massive effort to canvass neighborhoods, register voters, and conduct phone banks. This builds on the promise to be the largest grassroots campaign in history with more than 4,200 events planned in states across the country.
First Lady Michelle Obama released an online video message http://youtu.be/CbWk_PYg600 last week telling supporters that with a tighter election than 2008 likely this fall, "in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes in a single state." With that in mind, she launched the "It Takes One" initiative http://www.barackobama.com/day-of-action?source=WeekendOfAction-20120724-HP urging supporters to make a difference in this election, and to "start by taking one action that will help grow our campaign" through outlets like digital media, advertising and grassroots organizing.
To help Michigan with this effort, professional actor and political activist Jonathan Del Arco was knocking on doors throughout Metro Detroit to talk with folks about what's at stake in November, and to ensure they have all the information they need to be prepared to vote.
"I have to do whatever I can to get Obama reelected," said Del Arco, who plays Dr. Morales, the openly gay medical examiner on the critically acclaimed "The Closer," and who also is the West Coast development consultant for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). "It was an exciting and interesting experience encountering voters here. A majority in this neighborhood are supportive of the president," he said.
The self-proclaimed "political geek," reached out to the Obama campaign following a visit to the White House in June with his husband and partner of 20 years where he spoke to the FBI about LGBT issues. "It was beautiful to see LGBT service members in their dress whites celebrating with their partners. I'm pretty sure this would not happen under a Romney presidency and we can't give that up. I strongly believe that if the president is not reelected, we will walk backward on our issues," he said.
Of the 150 Michigan weekend events scheduled from Warren to Muskegon and cities in between, Del Arco visited Kemeny Park Recreation Center in Detroit to target Latino voters, stressing to them the importance of their vote in the upcoming election. Del Arco was born in Uruguay, a country in southeast South America. He emigrated with his family to New York at age 10. While addressing the Latino community, he reflected upon the relentless bullying he endured throughout his teenage years and into his adult life.
"In the past 20 years, it has been a challenge to keep LGBT kids from being bullied in school. We finally have an ally in the White House," said Del Arco, adding that Obama hosted the first-ever White House conference on bullying prevention. Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, proposed investments in grants to support anti-bullying programs in public schools, and highlighted the efforts of anti-bullying organizations nationwide.
"Obama reversed a ridiculous 22-year-old travel and immigration ban against people with HIV, and he welcomed the world's largest international AIDS conference to the U.S. in Washington D.C. for the first time since 1990," said Del Arco, who lost his first partner to AIDS around the age of 24. "I have lived through a lot in my life. Now, I'm a happy person living in a very open society in L.A. I believe it's my responsibility to do what I do because of the sacrifice my dad made to bring us to this country. The idea of America according to my dad is that it would always be a place where his kids were accepted and would succeed. This is the legacy of my own family that I continue," he said.
Del Arco also made an appearance at the Hotter Than July Black Pride Festival at Palmer Park in Detroit with the Executive Director of KICK, Curtis Lipscomb. He reminded 5,000 attendees what the Obama Administration has done for the LGBT community. "He is the first president to endorse that he and his family support marriage equality. I was in my car and cried when he announced it," said Del Arco, who looks forward to touring the country to talk about it in places where he's welcome. "Obama's accomplishments are so huge. It would take all day to talk about them, but I realize what an amazing job he's done and what he can accomplish with another term."
Joined by Mayor of Ferndale Dave Coulter, Del Arco attended the LGBT for Obama Happy Hour at SoHo in Ferndale as well, to meet with and empower members of the LGBT community to make a difference by voting in just a few months.
"With the age of Twitter and Facebook, a lot of people have a lot of power in their hands that they don't know they have to help mobilize. Please show up. Do not stay home. It is unacceptable to stay home. For any LGBT person to not vote and to not vote for this president at the end of the day seems unimaginable," said Del Arco. "I'm sure there are gay Republicans in this world, but what Obama has done for the community is enough to cast the ballot for him."
