Canvassing, a day in the life.

Heidi Overbeck is a guest blogger who wanted to write about her experience canvassing in Portland today.

I checked the weather forecast on Friday and knew Saturday was going to be the cold, dreary, drizzly morning I woke up to. As I pushed snooze for the third time, I cracked open an eye and caught sight of the fleece, rain jacket, and rain boots I’d laid out in advance, knowing the weather and urge to sleep in on a weekend would present a challenge to my commitment to canvass for marriage equality.

Then Maybellene barged through the door and jumped onto the bed. I am dog-sitting Maybellene for my two friends who are engaged and hope to be married if Mainers uphold the law that allows gay couples to marry. Maybellene’s owners have needed a little assistance in the last week as one deals with a medical issue that has required daily care as doctors try to piece together the problem. It is as if Maybellene sensed my rain-weakened resolve and barreled through the door for a literal and figurative wake-up call. A cup of coffee and bowl of oatmeal later, I slid by thermal-socked feet into my rain boots and headed out to Woodford’s Congregational Church to join over 60 others whose resolve ultimately beat back the rain too.

One of the great things about canvassing on a rainy weekend day is that more people are home. Another great thing is that folks are impressed by the volunteer braving the weather to ring their doorbell and ask if they support marriage equality. And the overwhelming answer today was yes, we support marriage equality, and we will vote no on 1. We will vote early. And we will ask our friends and family to vote no on 1 too. I was touched by the many invitations to step in out of the rain, the enthusiastic greetings of dogs, the pledges of support, and the shared stories about friends and relatives who want and deserve the same rights we have.

A couple of hours in the rain are just a drop in the bucket compared to the challenges my friends weather each day that their love and commitment to each other is not legally recognized. A couple of hours in the rain left me feeling warmed to the core. A couple of hours in the rain was the least I could do for my friends and the many others whose ability to love is just as strong and valid and worthy as mine. And yours. Please click here to volunteer for marriage equality.