I hope you don’t like this article.

On May 17th, 2004, Massachusetts became the first US State to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. In the following decade, eighteen additional States passed laws allowing gay marriage and fourteen others have rulings moving through appellate courts. It would be almost impossible to argue that allowing gay marriage in Massachusetts didn’t help its advocates in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, California and elsewhere.

Clearly, there are differences between the gay marriage and shared parenting movements, as there would be with any two social issues. High on the list of differences is that lawyers favor gay marriage, in part because it opens an entirely new revenue stream, and oppose shared parenting, as it lessens parental conflict, thus lowering their revenue. But amongst the similarities is how shared parenting will be implemented throughout the world; territory by territory with each new conversion helping those that follow.

Every social movement needs that kind of turning point; be it in Massachusetts for gay marriage, the Montgomery Bus Boycott for African American Civil Rights or the march to the Dharasana Salt Works for the Indian Independence Movement. Recently, such an opportunity has emerged to launch a shared parenting movement, and I’m personally asking YOU for help.

On July 21st, North Dakota Secretary of State Alvin Jaeger certified that local advocates had collected enough signatures to have a Shared Parenting ballot initiative included in the November 4th election. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only territory in the world where citizens will have a binding vote on shared parenting, without having to go through attorney controlled Judiciary Committee’s or Task Forces. Further cause for optimism is in poll after poll, shared parenting is extremely popular with the public, with no difference in the opinion of women and men.

Additionally, four national shared parenting organizations, Leading Women for Shared Parenting, Divorce Corp, Stand Up for Gus and American Coalition for Fathers & Children, will be working seamlessly with North Dakota advocates to educate the public about the benefits of shared parenting. Each group brings unique skills and assets, and jointly, we’ll be more effective than individually. For the first time, we have the opportunity to bring prominent women, attorneys, domestic violence experts, celebrities, prominent social scientists and others to the cause. After lots of hard work, the pieces are coming together, to have North Dakota be a launching point for a shared parenting movement. I’ll promise you, if we can win in North Dakota, it will increase the momentum in your territory. That’s why you should get involved.

So why do I hope you don’t like this? Because I want you to spend your time much more effectively.

“Liking” things on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere does practically nothing to help the cause and we need you to take more substantial action. We’re already aware those who profit from the conflict generated by the existing family court system have met to plan their opposition strategy. These extremists oppose doing what 110 of the world’s leading child development experts say is best for children, primarily for personal financial reasons. They’ve generated millions from this system, and are willing to spend some of it to defend their income stream.

To offset them, we need your help.

If you’re reading this article on your smart phone, tablet or via your home internet connection, it’s almost certain you could find $5 to donate to the cause. Will you? I just did, and it took less than 90 seconds. Some of you are able to invest more; $20, $50 or $100. Can you? Yes, we’re talking to larger donors in the hopes of receiving more significant donations, but we need to show commitment from the public to further their interest. Let me tell you how.

There are currently two organizations who need your financial support.

The first is North Dakota Shared Parenting for Kids (NDSP4K), which is the main site for North Dakota advocates who have gotten shared parenting on the ballot. I’m asking you to please, make a donation to this site through the link provided here. Donations will be used to ensure the benefits of shared parenting are communicated honestly to the public. The site also has impressive software, allowing you to share the news of your donation with all of your social media friends, letting them know of your belief in shared parenting. Please use this technology to ask your friends to donate as well.

The second is Stand Up for Gus which is currently raising funds through a link provided here. Funds raised by Stand Up For Gus will be used to offer support towards the North Dakota Shared Parenting Initiative and launch a National Public Service Announcement helping millions of alienated children.

If we’re going to succeed in building this movement, we need leaders who will recognize, develop and seize opportunities. We also need everyone to understand, FUNDRAISING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. Please do your part; invest 2 minutes and $20 (or more) now.

So I hope you now understand why I truly don’t want you to “like” this article… but I also hope you’ll “share” this message with everyone.

Thank You.

Terry Brennan