The passage of Prop 8 was a poignant counterpoint to the success of Barack Obama. I know this has been touched on before so I'll let you conjure up your own platitudes as to how on the same night California revoked marriage equality the United States elected its first African-American president. I, on the other hand, am moving on.

Because that's what we have got to do. Prop 8 passed and Obama's now President-elect. While these two events have oft been used in a "two steps forward, one step back" kind of way, really it just goes to show that there's always something more to fight for. Also the fact that Obama won but the marriage equity cause lost this round should prompt us to ask how we can use the lessons of Obama's candidacy and apply them to our own electoral fight.

Let's face it, the No on 8 campaign fought a a good fight but suffered from some very outmoded thinking. They were suffused with cash but seemed to have spent it largely on media buys. They had access to a large and dedicated volunteer base but failed to utilize it fully. They had a winning message but got caught up responding to the other sides falsehoods.

Given all that and looking toward 2010(and most likely 2012 as well) there are some important lessons to be learned. Like a campaign for marriage equity should, y'know, include same-sex couples in their advertising. Or that statewide elections can't be won if resources are funneled almost exclusively to L.A. and the Bay area. Counties throughout the Central Valley voted for 8 by 70-30 margins, if we're going to win that has got to change.

Anywho those are just some initial thoughts. Let's get this ball rolling.