Equality California already decided to wait until 2012 to mount a Prop 8 ballot repeal effort. But the Courage Campaign, saying it was listening to the will of its members, plans on moving forward with a 2010 effort. But did anyone ask what voters want? Yes, supposedly, because both groups shelled out substantial cash on polling efforts. But here's the latest: While a majority of Californian voters want gays to be able to marry, an even larger majority don't want to deal with the issue next year.
Some 51 percent of voters are on board with same-sex marriage in the state; 43 percent opposed, according to a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll, which interviewed 1,500 registered voters over over one week ending Nov. 3. But 60 percent don't want to see the issue on the ballot in 2010.
The good news, then, is that 51 percent is a larger figure than the 48 percent of voters who supported "No On 8" in 2008. The bad news is those same voters who are for marriage are also, evidently, comfortable letting you wait for it. And then, there's the test of time: While older voters favored holding off beyond 2010, it was younger voters who approved of an immediate ballot effort.
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WAIT is a four letter word.
The real news is that many among the 51% that supposedly "favour" marriage equality are lying through their teeth. They don't want to admit bigotry to a pollster but they wouldn't bother to actually vote or if they did they would happily scrap other people's rights in the privacy of the polling booth.
60% don't want a repeal in 2010 (or ever?) Unfortunately that's a much higher number than the 52% that voted for H8
True, GSH, there's likely a Bradley effect in play. But what's more depressing is we can't count on that 51% to stand up for equality and vote on election day. Churches are remarkable in their ability to produce turnout against us, but we haven't figured out how to effectively ask for help. To make our equality everyone's personal responsibility.
The folks in Selma didn't want to deal with race issues, either. But sometimes leadership has to lead.
How long until the Olsen/Boies lawsuit gets moving?
If that thing is successful, all these constitutional bans will start to fall like dominoes.
Yes, but there's no guarantee that it will *be* successful. In the meantime, you work with what you have.
"How long until the Olsen/Boies lawsuit gets moving?"
It is moving. The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they do grind. Trial is scheduled for January, 2010. Decisions, appeals, etc. will happen after that. In Federal cases, there is normally some event every couple of months. They can drag on for years.
"In the meantime, you work with what you have."
The strategy is called "full court press."
(For those who are not athletically inclined, that is a term from basketball. It means, to put up active opposition at every place, and at every opportunity.)
Oh — and the important question is not whether or not people think it should be on the ballot. The important questions is:
IF IT IS ON THE BALLOT, WILL YOU VOTE, AND HOW?
If some of the bigots are beginning to get tired of showing up for elections, it could be a good thing.
If Geoff Kors of Equality is in charge in 2012 you can bet we will lose again. His conservative insipid campaigns turn even gay people off.
I say 2010. Let the "voters" know we are still here and still raging. And let the uptight hate filled bores from protect marriage go bankrupt and gnash their teeth trying to suppress people.
"gay super hero" wrote "60% don't want a repeal in 2010 (or ever?) Unfortunately that's a much higher number than the 52% that voted for H8." Bad use of statistics. 51 percent wanted a repeal, so 49 percent either don't want it or aren't sure. So, of the 60 percent who don't want a repeal in 2010, you can figure that this is made up of 43 percent who don't want a repeal at all and 17
percent who are either not sure or who want a repeal.
Of that 17 percent, some are maxed out on financial contributions and are probably saying "not in 2010" because they can't afford to help then and figure a lot of others won't be able to either. Others may figure that we can't win in 2010 regardless, so lets save up as much as possible so that you can counter any attempt at a media blitz from the opposition during 2012.