Sold!

Little Rocco 2 sold last night in our auction for No on 8 for $1275.00 to a regular listener to "The Michelangelo Signorile Show," Jamie Paul of Toledo, Ohio. Jamie went above and beyond the call of duty and made it an even $1300.00!

Congratulations and thanks to Jamie, who is going to call in to the show at about 5:15 ET today. Jamie told me this was an important cause for him because Ohio had passed the most draconian marriage amendment, and he understands why keeping marriage legal for gays and lesbians in California will go a long way toward changing things across the country.

Thanks to all of you, on the show and on the blog as well. We raised much more than $1300, just by having Rocco 2 up on the site and talking about him on the show, creating awareness and reminding people to dig deep. People who got priced out of the auction early on sent whatever money they could to the campaign, and passed on emails to me letting me know. Others were made aware of the campaign and the importance of beating Prop 8 by hearing about Rocco 2 every day on the show and also sent whatever they could, including a lot of smaller contributions that add up, and many let me know about that as well. A lot of listeners and readers here also said they contributed to 8Against8, which we'd also asked people to do, (That fundraiser -- eight lesbian bloggers raising funds for eight days -- ends today, and they've raised well past their expectations, which is just great.)

So thanks to everyone! Polls are showing it's tight, every little bit helps, and there's still time to give. Got to 8Against8 today or go to NoOnProp8 between now and next week.

"Rocco 2" at $1025.00

The current highest bid for little "Rocco 2" is $1025.00 and it's only the third day of our 7-day auction against hate. We're hoping to raise as much as possible for the No On Prop 8 campaign, so, if you are able, please go and make a bid and take the cuddly guy home -- as well as all the swag he's wearing from my various political convention outings -- and help out an important cause.

And if you're priced out already for this particular fundraiser, donate whatever you can to the campaign. Go to the 8Against8 fundraiser -- 8 lesbian bloggers raising money for 8 days to beat back Prop 8.

"Rocco 2" Update

Thanks to all the bidders so far in our auction against hate. My little bear Rocco 2 is now up to $610 on Ebay and we're only in the second day of the auction for No on 8. He needs a good home and I'm so glad to see so many people wanting to give him one. Check him out and bid on him if you can for this critically important cause.

Bid on My Bear!

Meet Rocco 2.

He is a bear I built (at Build A Bear) which I'm auctioning off with all proceeds going to the No on 8 campaign, to fight against the antigay ballot measure in California. (There are more photos of him on Ebay.)

Rocco 2 was made in New York City by me, and he has a birth certificate. Rocco 2 is wearing a Sirius Satellite Radio hat, and has around his neck my official credentials from the 2008 Republican and Democratic conventions. As many of you know, we had broadcast live this year from both conventions, interviewing politicians, activists, newsmakers and crazy wingnuts like Rick Santorum, Sally Kern and Gary Bauer! Rocco 2 also is holding a cell phone, is wearing sunglasses and has two pins on. Both buttons were given to me at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston: one is from a transgender delegate and says, well, "Transgender Delegate"; the other says, "I'm Doing My Part to Piss Off the Religious Right."

We did something similar a few years back, benefiting the Mathew Shepard Foundation, asking listeners to bid on Rocco 1, raising some good money for the cause, though that auction lasted for ten days. (Rocco 1 had my credentials from the 2004 conventions on.) With limited time left in the campaign and money needed, we're keeping this auction to 7 days; it ends next Sunday night. But let's do the best we can No on 8 and find Rocco 2 a home. I will be talking about him on the show every day urging people to go to ebay and bid, and of course posting on the blog all week reminding you about the auction.

UPDATE: Pam Spaulding is also holding on online fundraiser for No on 8 on her site today. Go check on 8 Against 8 and do what you can.