Remember when gay rights groups were vehemently against moving the Boies-Olson Prop 8 lawsuit Perry v. Schwarzenegger to federal court because a ruling could backfire against the same-sex marriage push? And then those same gay rights groups started demanding they be allowed to join the case? Now another instance Prop 8-related turmoil between feuding gay factions!
Everyone wants the same thing: repeal Prop 8, which stripped away marriage rights from any California gays looking to wed from Nov. 5 onward. But strategies differ!
Some gay groups want to put a repeal on the ballot in 2010, ’cause they want to get ‘er done ay-sap. Others (like the three orgs who signed this letter) want to wait till 2012, when they feel the climate is stronger (read: a presidential election will bring more gay-friendly voters to the polls), and why waste cash on a likely-to-fail effort in 2010?
And then there are folks who want to have it both ways. Or at least making things vague enough that you don’t know where they really stand on the 2010 vs. 2012 debate. Like Equality California. Here’s EQ’s Marc Solomon, imported from Massachusetts’ marriage fight: “We initially said we believe 2010 was the right time to go back to the ballot … [but] we’ve also made it very clear we will only move forward if we have a clear road map to victory. . . . The last thing we want to do is go back to the ballot and lose.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Not so wishy-washy is the Barbara Jordan/Bayard Rustin Coalition, an organization focused on the black gay community. It went knocking door-to-door and, with 70 volunteers and five hours, hit up 1,200 homes. Only 50 said they were on board with a repeal, giving the org pause about a 2010 effort.
And then there are groups like Love Honor Cherish, which sees no option but going to the ballot in 2010 — risk of exhausting donors be damned.
If only there was some way to tell what the future held.
UPDATE: Soloman provides this well-reasoned follow-up explaining the core of EQ’s strategy. Most notably, he says “we must be able to raise between $25 and $50 million, with a good portion of that coming early on in the campaign when much of the persuasion work needs to be done.” Otherwise … wait till 2012.
Mr. Cox
I can tell you this, I have not met one single gay who wants to go in 2012. The gays I know are PISSED OFF and want it NOW.
Yes on Equality is the ONLY group that went to get ballots for 2010. They carefully worded it. Indeed a number of other organizations now agree too that 2012 is not the ideal year to go. The ONLY people who seem to want 2012 are the same groups who ran the failed NO on 8 campaign without any input and who want more money to fill their coffers in DC so Joe Solmonese can afford his weekly blowjob by congressional republicans.
Cam
We were told that Clinton would take care of our rights after he won a second term. Just be paitent everybody (HRC) kept telling us. Well Clinton signed DOMA during the election when he was running ahead int he polls and after that, during his second term, when he had nothing to lose never changed a thing. So people will have to excuse me if I tend not to trust people that say things will be different if we wait until 2012. Remember, these are the same groups that screwed up the Prop 8 fight the last time.
Mark
EXACTLY…
ACLU & HRC’s fake changing their minds is manipulation in order to get their way, & selfish self-promotion to attach their name to the lawsuit. Adding their groups to the DOMA lawsuit will delay it into the time-table they wanted & not what the rest of us do.
MESUSA & EQCA manipulated their way into presenting YES ON EQUALITY’s information at Town Halls in order to promote 2012, not 2010 to promote their view & to take the spotlight. Both group originally said 2012 but they would abide by a survey vote (2010 or 2012) & 2010 was the overall want by LGBT Community. Now, they each have said, well we still don’t think we can do 2010 & need time to fundraise for 2012.
THIS IS HORRIBLE! To manipulate for self-promotion & fundraising so that they will have JOB SECURITY, instead of working to end our struggles ASAP.
In the end, they will delay, they will take credit for all advancements & they will delay it past many of our community members lifetimes.
How many more of us need to wait, be harassed, be murdered, be denied rights, continue feeling like second class-citizens? How many of our teens will commit suicide in that time because they feel worthless & don’t see they can live the American Dream? How many more bars will be raided in Texas and how many more HATE CRIMES?
The lack of Rights & length of our fight causes these issues to be a part of our lives. Equal Rights Laws are a start to help end all the pain and suffering & will save lives.
HOW CAN THEY WANT TO DELAY!!!!
SM
It should be on the ballet in 2010. The governors race will be a big election in CA. You will not have to deal with an entire Presidential election cycle of a wedge issue on gay issues.
Grassroots efforts, don’t forget most of the people who voted for Obama voted No On Prop 8 and you could do it if you all got organized and started early.
I have my doubts just based on how you all treat people and the fact I think EQCA etc is out for themselves.
SM
I think @ 70% of the people who voted for Obama voted No On Prop 8. If California has a good Democratic Candidate for governor, you have those votes again. You will not have the large African American population etc showing up that voted for Obama and Yes On Prop 8 for a governors election.
If California can elect a Democratic Governor it can win back Marriage Equality.
Democratic Governors would campaign for you (i would think) so people who do not want 2010 are full of it.
James2
As with Mr. Cox, I know no one who wants to wait until 2012. Let’s not be timid about it – let’s hammer this sucker home in 2010. Trot out the parents and children of gay people and have them tell their stories – show ALL people effected by this discrimination, not just the LGBT folks.
SM
@James2:
I live in a Conservative part of California. I saw that the high schools kids were on your side during the Prop 8 disaster. They were driving around my neighborhood placing homemade No On Prop 8 signs on the back of stop signs and all sorts of secret places.
Its only a matter of one or two years until they can vote and everything changes even more.
Civil rights issues always move forward~
Anonymous
@Mr. Cox: If by carefully worded you mean putting in dangerous language that could prevent safer schools work, then yeah. Most of the gays I know are for 2012 or 2014.
Anonymous
@Mark: Mark, these organizations joined the lawsuit to ensure that a wide range of LGBTQ families were represented when this thing makes it’s way to the supreme court. If it’s going to happen, it should happen with the broad cross section of our community representing how Prop 8 hurt us.
Anonymous
@Mark: How much will marriage help end any of those problems you insist are so important? Maybe the 80 million should be spent on youth and ending violence!?
cheeseandcrackers
I hope the Mayan prophecy comes true and we get wiped out in 2012. I’m over this culture.
Brian
Maybe we should just wait until 2050 – by then “non-religious” will be the new majority.
Religion is the ONLY thing that makes gay WRONG. End religion now or wait for your rights.
michael
My spouse nnd I attended an open meeting in San Diego on the subject about a month ago. At the beginning of the meeting they took a straw count of who preferred 2010 and who preferred 2012. It was about 60% in favor of 2010. Then at the end of the meeting they took another vote. It was more like 90% in favor of 2010. There were a lot of good arguments for and against both dates. But one thing that seemed common, and that is that Obama is a negative, being against gay marriage and that most people did not expect him to win a second term and that the country would be back on a Republican kick by then. The lack of faith in Obama was really overwhelming.
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