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Posted Dec 01, 2011 8:44pm
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Posts with the tag marriage equality
Most of us are now aware of the legal battles and disputes that have occurred and continue to flame the differences between the Gay and Heterosexual Communities since the birth of Prop 8. The religious, secular, and political, communities have voiced their opinions and the legal outcome is yet to be determined by a higher court. California, The United States, and the World awaits the outcome of this legal battle which in many respects has set a precedent and perhaps shined light on some very outdated, prejudiced, bigoted beliefs. With that
said, within the complexity of the issues, lies a blatantly obvious misnomer that has been adopted to define the Gay Community’s fight for marriage equality.
The Gay Community’s stance and feverish fight to have equal legal rights under the definition of “marriage” has been mislabeled “Same Sex Marriage.” This title is being used Read More »
said, within the complexity of the issues, lies a blatantly obvious misnomer that has been adopted to define the Gay Community’s fight for marriage equality.
The Gay Community’s stance and feverish fight to have equal legal rights under the definition of “marriage” has been mislabeled “Same Sex Marriage.” This title is being used Read More »
I received this video from Brave Film Foundation and thought it would be a good idea to post it, so that New Yorkers can be aware of this particular congressman... who is against marriage equality, along with other social justice issues...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgBmQMSmCrY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgBmQMSmCrY&feature=player_embedded
Later this month the long-awaited trial of Proposition 8 will commence in a federal courtroom in San Francisco. Judge Vaughn Walker will preside over the case brought by a legal dream team of Ted Olson (former Solicitor General under President Bush) and David Boies (who represented Al Gore in the Bush v. Gore case in 2000). Olson and Boies argue - correctly, in my view - that Proposition 8 is a straightforward violation of the 14th Amendment and should be struck down.
People across California and across the country are eagerly awaiting the trial, and fully expect to be able to follow it on television. But Judge Walker may close the courtroom to cameras, following on an outrageous demand from Prop 8 supporters.
One of the *fundamental* legal principles this country was built on is the openness and transparency of the judiciary. For the system to work, people must believe the process is fair, the outcomes just. And for that to occur, the public needs to be able to see what is going on in the courtroom.
On a case this important, the public's right to know should be protected and upheld in the broadest possible form. That means televising the proceedings. Since this isn't a criminal trial, there's no defendant who could be harmed by having this made public, no jury that could be swayed by the cameras. Since only a tiny handful of people will ever be able to be in the courtroom itself, that would seem like an open and shut case for allowing cameras in the courtroom. Right?
Well, not if you're the forces who put Prop 8 on the ballot and helped it pass. They are afraid of public scrutiny. Afraid of the camera. Afraid to let the people of this country hear the bigoted truth behind their defense of Proposition 8.
They have decided to organize the far-right to pressure Judge Walker to close the courtroom to cameras. Focus on the Family is circulating a petition to prevent the trial from being televised, and have generated tens of thousands of signatures.
Their argument is:
Not only is this ridiculous on its face - the people who have faced genuine "intimidation and harassment" as a result of Prop 8 are the LGBT couples who lost their rights when it passed - but it is a pretty weak reason to deny the public their right to know what is going on in that courtroom. If the Prop 8 supporters want to defend the law, they should have no hesitation to do so in a public manner, on television.
Judge Walker was planning to allow cameras in, but as a result of the Prop 8 supporters' protestations, has agreed to hold a hearing on the matter next week. He is asking for public comments *by this Friday*. So *you have a chance to determine the outcome* - will Prop 8 supporters be able to hide their true arguments, or will the public interest and democratic transparency win out?
The Courage Campaign Institute, where I work as Public Policy Director, isn't going to wait to find out. We're going to organize to deliver petitions of our own to Judge Walker, as he has solicited, in order to uphold the public interest and demand that this trial be televised.
You can sign your name here - along with CREDO Mobile, we will hand deliver the signatures to the court in San Francisco on Friday. Your signature matters - the more signatures we deliver to the court, the more likely it is that he will do the right thing in the name of equality, accountability, and transparency.
Here's the letter I wrote that the Courage Campaign Institute and CREDO are using for our petition:
Please sign it by clicking here. The right-wing, led by James Dobson and Focus on the Family, are already organizing their members to write to the court. Are you going to let them beat us?
This whole episode raises the question of what the Prop 8 supporters have to hide. They haven't been shy about their vocal support for denying equality in the past. Few have faced intimidation and harassment for it.
It's more likely that their true motivation is to prevent the American people from hearing the powerful and compelling case that Boies and Olson are going to make in that courtroom. Both lawyers are expert litigants, and are pursuing a sensible Supreme Court strategy designed to swing Anthony Kennedy to join Stevens, Ginsberg, Breyer and Sotomayor to uphold the 14th Amendment and overturn Prop 8. Kennedy has made rulings favorable to LGBT rights in the past, including /Lawrence v. Texas/ in 2003 which decriminalized sodomy.
Dobson, Prentice and the backers of Prop 8 want to hide that compelling argument from the public. They also want to hide their own anti-equality arguments from public view. In March 2009 they had Kenneth Starr argue in the California Supreme Court that voters can pass whatever they like at the ballot box, a view I label the Starr Doctrine. Such a radical idea won the day in the California Supreme Court, disappointingly enough. But in federal court, the Prop 8 backers seem to want to hide that argument from the American people.
Ironically, that trial in California Supreme Court last March WAS televised. And nobody was intimidated or harassed because of it - well, except for those who lost the right to marry the person they love when the court upheld Prop 8.
There is simply no reasonable justification for keeping cameras out of the courtroom. Thankfully, Judge Walker wants to hear your thoughts on the matter. Take him up on his offer by signing our petition right now.
Below is the urgent email we sent to our members today. Read More »
People across California and across the country are eagerly awaiting the trial, and fully expect to be able to follow it on television. But Judge Walker may close the courtroom to cameras, following on an outrageous demand from Prop 8 supporters.
One of the *fundamental* legal principles this country was built on is the openness and transparency of the judiciary. For the system to work, people must believe the process is fair, the outcomes just. And for that to occur, the public needs to be able to see what is going on in the courtroom.
On a case this important, the public's right to know should be protected and upheld in the broadest possible form. That means televising the proceedings. Since this isn't a criminal trial, there's no defendant who could be harmed by having this made public, no jury that could be swayed by the cameras. Since only a tiny handful of people will ever be able to be in the courtroom itself, that would seem like an open and shut case for allowing cameras in the courtroom. Right?
Well, not if you're the forces who put Prop 8 on the ballot and helped it pass. They are afraid of public scrutiny. Afraid of the camera. Afraid to let the people of this country hear the bigoted truth behind their defense of Proposition 8.
They have decided to organize the far-right to pressure Judge Walker to close the courtroom to cameras. Focus on the Family is circulating a petition to prevent the trial from being televised, and have generated tens of thousands of signatures.
Their argument is:
Following a short public-comment period – only five business days – the battle could bring a circus-like atmosphere. Chief Judge Vaughn Walker is considering allowing video cameras in the courtroom.
Ron Prentice, executive director of Protectmarriage.com, is concerned Walker’s decision could cause problems for proponents of Prop. 8 who have already come under attack.
"Intimidation and harassment will continue," Prentice said. "And, those who are put on the stand or are seen in the courtroom may very well be recognized and further intimidation or harassment may continue."
Not only is this ridiculous on its face - the people who have faced genuine "intimidation and harassment" as a result of Prop 8 are the LGBT couples who lost their rights when it passed - but it is a pretty weak reason to deny the public their right to know what is going on in that courtroom. If the Prop 8 supporters want to defend the law, they should have no hesitation to do so in a public manner, on television.
Judge Walker was planning to allow cameras in, but as a result of the Prop 8 supporters' protestations, has agreed to hold a hearing on the matter next week. He is asking for public comments *by this Friday*. So *you have a chance to determine the outcome* - will Prop 8 supporters be able to hide their true arguments, or will the public interest and democratic transparency win out?
The Courage Campaign Institute, where I work as Public Policy Director, isn't going to wait to find out. We're going to organize to deliver petitions of our own to Judge Walker, as he has solicited, in order to uphold the public interest and demand that this trial be televised.
You can sign your name here - along with CREDO Mobile, we will hand deliver the signatures to the court in San Francisco on Friday. Your signature matters - the more signatures we deliver to the court, the more likely it is that he will do the right thing in the name of equality, accountability, and transparency.
Here's the letter I wrote that the Courage Campaign Institute and CREDO are using for our petition:
To the Honorable Judge Vaughn Walker:
We are writing to insist that the trial of Proposition 8 be televised to the public. In any democracy, openness and transparency are necessary to the proper functioning of our courts. Americans have the right to know what is being said and argued in their courts, and allowing cameras in the courtroom to broadcast the trial is the best, most efficient way to provide the transparency to which we are entitled.
This case presents issues that are very important to the public, and will affect millions of people. However, only a tiny fraction will ever be able to watch the trial in person. By televising the trial, the public will be able to see for themselves the arguments and evidence presented by both sides, and will therefore have more confidence in the outcome of the trial.
Justice is blind, but the public is not, and should not be blind in this case. We urge you to uphold the public's right to view this important trial on television.
Please sign it by clicking here. The right-wing, led by James Dobson and Focus on the Family, are already organizing their members to write to the court. Are you going to let them beat us?
This whole episode raises the question of what the Prop 8 supporters have to hide. They haven't been shy about their vocal support for denying equality in the past. Few have faced intimidation and harassment for it.
It's more likely that their true motivation is to prevent the American people from hearing the powerful and compelling case that Boies and Olson are going to make in that courtroom. Both lawyers are expert litigants, and are pursuing a sensible Supreme Court strategy designed to swing Anthony Kennedy to join Stevens, Ginsberg, Breyer and Sotomayor to uphold the 14th Amendment and overturn Prop 8. Kennedy has made rulings favorable to LGBT rights in the past, including /Lawrence v. Texas/ in 2003 which decriminalized sodomy.
Dobson, Prentice and the backers of Prop 8 want to hide that compelling argument from the public. They also want to hide their own anti-equality arguments from public view. In March 2009 they had Kenneth Starr argue in the California Supreme Court that voters can pass whatever they like at the ballot box, a view I label the Starr Doctrine. Such a radical idea won the day in the California Supreme Court, disappointingly enough. But in federal court, the Prop 8 backers seem to want to hide that argument from the American people.
Ironically, that trial in California Supreme Court last March WAS televised. And nobody was intimidated or harassed because of it - well, except for those who lost the right to marry the person they love when the court upheld Prop 8.
There is simply no reasonable justification for keeping cameras out of the courtroom. Thankfully, Judge Walker wants to hear your thoughts on the matter. Take him up on his offer by signing our petition right now.
Below is the urgent email we sent to our members today. Read More »
This weekend's Camp Courage in Sacramento was a good tonic for the loss in Maine and part of our collective path forward to restoring marriage equality to California. The heart of Camp Courage is learning how to craft your "story-of-self" a personal, emotional version of who you are and why this issue matters so much to you. The goal is to empower activists to use their personal narrative to bring about political change. Stories-of-self can be used to recruit volunteers, to inspire a crowd or to change a persons' vote one door at a time.
It isn't easy to have people open up and share the most painful, scary, raw parts of their lives. But those are the stories that are the ones that need to be told the most. The power of Camp Courage comes from people risking sharing their stories of pain thus forming community and strength.
Adam Bink over at Open Left quotes Harvey Milk's famous "come out come out" speech and writes:
It isn't just gay people that we need to come out and tell their stories, it is all of our wonderful straight allies. No, there is no application to become a straight ally, just start telling everyone you know your personal story of why you support equality for all.
One of our amazing volunteers that helped put together Camp Courage Sacramento Chris Huack brought his parents to Camp. He blogged about the experience at the Courage Campaign. Here is Chris relaying the three reflections his dad had about Camp. (more on the flip)
It isn't easy to have people open up and share the most painful, scary, raw parts of their lives. But those are the stories that are the ones that need to be told the most. The power of Camp Courage comes from people risking sharing their stories of pain thus forming community and strength.
Adam Bink over at Open Left quotes Harvey Milk's famous "come out come out" speech and writes:
The same tactic Milk used for school employees everywhere must continue to be used in these communities. We have to encourage people in these towns to come out of the closet and say they want the right to marry. State Representative Mike Carey, who represents heavily Catholic downtown Lewiston and voted in favor of marriage equality in the legislature, pointed out to me that in these kinds of votes, the default vote is for fear, and it is a huge barrier to reach one's conscience if they have no personal knowledge of the issue. For all the "gay marriage will be taught in schools" ads our opponents ran in Maine and will run in other states that tap that fear element, we have to counter with people who can give voters that kind of personal touch on the issue.
It isn't just gay people that we need to come out and tell their stories, it is all of our wonderful straight allies. No, there is no application to become a straight ally, just start telling everyone you know your personal story of why you support equality for all.
One of our amazing volunteers that helped put together Camp Courage Sacramento Chris Huack brought his parents to Camp. He blogged about the experience at the Courage Campaign. Here is Chris relaying the three reflections his dad had about Camp. (more on the flip)
1 – He had no idea the pain that LGBT people had felt over discrimination and losing initiatives like Proposition 8 and Question 1 until he saw people speaking about them openly and honestly at the Camp. See, I have always been a more stoic, let’s “focus on what we can do in the future” type of person, so for my Mom and Dad, they had never truly appreciated the pain this had inflicted on our community until they heard the stories of personal pain from others.
2 – My Dad shared with me his “Story of Self.” He had a gay cousin who had died of AIDS when my Dad was in his 20s. He had a lesbian sister who had come out to him and was now married with her wife. And he had me, his gay son, who was fighting for equality and who he hoped could one day get married in front of friends and family. LGBT issues had slowly intertwined their way thought his life and had always handled them decently (very supportive of me and his sister), but now realized his previous actions had been woefully inadequate and that he could no longer sit on the sidelines while people he cared about suffered and were discriminated against.
3 – He needed to get involved today. He wanted to sign up to canvass and to join California Faith for Equality, provided they had a means for him to contribute to meaningful action.
As stoic as I may be, I found myself fighting back tears as my Dad related this to me and my Mom agreed with him. Then at dinner, as my Dad related to other family members what he had learned and why it was so important for us to proactively work for change – I fully understood the importance of Camp Courage. Yes, it is a great experience for LGBT leaders and organizers. However, I missed an important opportunity in East LA, when I went to Camp but neglected to recruit my straight friends and family in LA to attend with me. This experience is not just a meaningful skills training for gay people - it is an opportunity to teach, empower and share ourselves and our struggle more fully with friends, straight allies and family. It is an opportunity to bring new faces and perspectives into the fight for equality.
One by one we are building an army to repeal Prop 8. It is not easy, or fast, but it is absolutely critical to our success. The best way we change hearts and minds is having everyone supportive of equality speaking from their hearts.
We have to be vulnerable. It is wrenching to know that as a gay person that the best path to earning the right to get married some day is if I share my most painful moments of my life with strangers in order to win their vote. It shouldn't be that way, but that's what it takes and it is what I will continue to do. Will you join me? Read More »
I think we did a lot of good in Maine. I really do. But I'm left wondering how long it will take to change enough hearts and minds that we win one of these ballot initiatives? I talked to dozens and dozens of voters over GOTV weekend and the Yes on 1 folks are not bad people. They really believe that it's not about gay rights. Many of them are for making civil unions/domestic partnerships equal to marriage--even at the federal level. And they really believe that they are called by their god to protect traditional marriage. They aren't trying to be bigoted.
But they are. Read More »
But they are. Read More »
A year ago I knew what went wrong and I knew how to fix it.
A year later, I don't know what went wrong. I don't know how to fix it.
We had the money. We had a stable campaign. We had the a robust well-oiled field campaign. We had a strong campaign manager. We had the turnout we wanted. We had great coordination between the netroots and the campaign. We had a not particularly religious state. We neutralized the church issue. We had a manageable voter universe. We had an opposition with an inferior media and field operation. We had TV ads with gay people in them. We responded to their attacks swiftly.
And we still lost.
Our campaign wasn't perfect. But it was damn good.
And that's why this loss is so hard. The lessons to be learned are not as obvious. Not knowing how to fix it makes it tempting to throw our hands up in the air and say at 0-31 we just can't win marriage rights at the ballot box. Or we have to wait a decade until we can.
But that would be letting them win. That would be giving up. That would be accepting inequality.
We can't. I won't.
We need to learn how to neutralize the schools issue better than we did this time. We must continue telling our stories, one by one, person by person, door by door.
Nate Silver as usual has some smart thoughts:
Persuading voters to change their minds about marriage equality is extremely difficult, but it is possible and it happens every single day. It just takes a lot of resources and is most effective on a one-to-one level.
That means we must continue to invest in grassroots organizing, training new leaders to work in their communities and supporting their efforts over time. We need to continue to build connections and relationships with faith communities. We can organize in churches. We can even organize in Mormon Temples and Catholic Churches. It has happened. It is happening.
There are lessons to be learned out of Maine and the No on 1 loss. We know that we can build a massive GOTV operation. We know how to build a model where a campaign invests in the netroots and reaps the rewards. The church issue can be neutralized. It's possible to set aside differences and focus on a common goal. We can build a campaign to be proud of as a community.
What we can do now is have experts in Maine politics analyze the results to understand better how we lost. We need talk to the No on 1 campaign leadership/consultants to get their advice like they did from our Prop 8 loss.
We can win marriage back in California. We will win marriage back in California. We can win marriage in Maine. We will win marriage in Maine.
I am not quitting. You better not be either.
This weekend I am picking myself back up and getting right back to work, training hundreds of activists in Sacramento how to organize at Camp Courage. They will and I will come in with heavy hearts, but leave empowered.
We will leave and fight the next fight together.
A year later, I don't know what went wrong. I don't know how to fix it.
We had the money. We had a stable campaign. We had the a robust well-oiled field campaign. We had a strong campaign manager. We had the turnout we wanted. We had great coordination between the netroots and the campaign. We had a not particularly religious state. We neutralized the church issue. We had a manageable voter universe. We had an opposition with an inferior media and field operation. We had TV ads with gay people in them. We responded to their attacks swiftly.
And we still lost.
Our campaign wasn't perfect. But it was damn good.
And that's why this loss is so hard. The lessons to be learned are not as obvious. Not knowing how to fix it makes it tempting to throw our hands up in the air and say at 0-31 we just can't win marriage rights at the ballot box. Or we have to wait a decade until we can.
But that would be letting them win. That would be giving up. That would be accepting inequality.
We can't. I won't.
We need to learn how to neutralize the schools issue better than we did this time. We must continue telling our stories, one by one, person by person, door by door.
Nate Silver as usual has some smart thoughts:
I certainly don't think the No on 1 campaign can be blamed; by every indication, they ran a tip-top operation whereas the Yes on 1 folks were amateurish. But this may not be an issue where the campaign itself matters very much; people have pretty strong feelings about the gay marriage issue and are not typically open to persuasion. There's going to be an effort by many on the left to blame Barack Obama for his lack of leadership on gay rights issues; I think the criticism is correct on its face, but I don't know how much it has to do with the defeat in Maine. A more popular Democratic governor, for instance, who had been a bit quicker on the trigger in his support of gay marriage, might have helped more.
Persuading voters to change their minds about marriage equality is extremely difficult, but it is possible and it happens every single day. It just takes a lot of resources and is most effective on a one-to-one level.
That means we must continue to invest in grassroots organizing, training new leaders to work in their communities and supporting their efforts over time. We need to continue to build connections and relationships with faith communities. We can organize in churches. We can even organize in Mormon Temples and Catholic Churches. It has happened. It is happening.
There are lessons to be learned out of Maine and the No on 1 loss. We know that we can build a massive GOTV operation. We know how to build a model where a campaign invests in the netroots and reaps the rewards. The church issue can be neutralized. It's possible to set aside differences and focus on a common goal. We can build a campaign to be proud of as a community.
What we can do now is have experts in Maine politics analyze the results to understand better how we lost. We need talk to the No on 1 campaign leadership/consultants to get their advice like they did from our Prop 8 loss.
We can win marriage back in California. We will win marriage back in California. We can win marriage in Maine. We will win marriage in Maine.
I am not quitting. You better not be either.
This weekend I am picking myself back up and getting right back to work, training hundreds of activists in Sacramento how to organize at Camp Courage. They will and I will come in with heavy hearts, but leave empowered.
We will leave and fight the next fight together.
I'm happy to start up the Standing in Solidarity Blog on the Courage Campaign's website to support our Marriage Equality teams. I was encouraged to start this blog while attending last weekend's OUTWest Boot Camp, an amazing weekend with over 100 other people who support Marriage Equality in California! One of our speakers, the incredible Christine Pelosi, urged us to start blogging and so here I am - a previously lapsed blogger (standinginsolidarity.com) - starting up again with her inspiration.
It's been about 6 months since my last blog post, but there's been a lot of work to figure out our next step in the quest for full marriage equality. Standing in Solidarity is a blog specifically for allies of the LGBT community, who perhaps don't know where to start or how to have an impact in their communities. You can start here! I'm going to post 2 things we can all do each week to support marriage equality. Some will cost money, but in this economic climate there are also plenty of FREE things you can do to support marriage equality.
The 2 things I did this week are:
1. Invite organizers for marriage equality to speak to my USC class about why grassroots organizing and strategic litigation are so important. I teach a class called Political Participation and American Diversity, so you can bet that this is right on par with our curriculum!
2. I walked precincts in Inglewood (a 70% African American neighborhood in L.A.) to talk to voters who have been selected for conversations about marriage equality with the organization Vote For Equality, an arm of the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. Last year's INCORRECT CNN Exit Poll has done a lot of damage between 2 communities that should have (and have had!) deep ties. As an African American Catholic Ally, I know there is a lot of work to be done in our community, and I think it's important to have African Americans talking to other African Americans about this issue. I had success with 1 voter - she voted Yes on 8 last time because of her Catholic faith, but I asked her if she would support it in the future with a clause about religious protection, and she said yes! I made sure she understood, this meant that same-sex couples would then be able to get married, and she said FINE with her. The rush you get from talking to voters about why this is important is undeniable!
We had a large group of folks help out, but we can always use more next time! Check out VFE's page to find out where they are canvassing next!
TO DO***** TO DO ***** TO DO ***!
Here's your one free thing for the week: Standing in Solidarity is on Facebook - Search for Us and Join!
Call to Service
One of the most important things I took away from the OUTWest Boot Camp this last weekend is my call to service. I have been a very active, activist thus far however now I know that it is my duty to fight for marriage equality for ALL with every fiber of my being. No matter what. No matter if it's hard. No matter if I'm tired. No matter if I'm rejected. I must continue to fight for myself, for my spouse, for my community and for my country.
Who Am I?
I am a Software Engineer by trade. But from now on when people ask me what I do I am going to answer I am an Activist! And, I going to tell them, I am fighting to restore marriage equality in California and to gain marriage equality statewide and I won't stop until we get it!
Read More »Conversations
The only way we can gain Marriage Equality for ALL is to start having one-on-one conversations about it.
Come Out of the Closet
You don't have to be gay to be out: starting telling your friends, neighbors, co-workers and anyone who will listen that you support Same-Sex marriage. Read More »
The only way we can gain Marriage Equality for ALL is to start having one-on-one conversations about it.
Come Out of the Closet
You don't have to be gay to be out: starting telling your friends, neighbors, co-workers and anyone who will listen that you support Same-Sex marriage. Read More »
From: Rick Jacobs, Chair, Courage Campaign and the staff of the Courage Campaign
To: Our friends, allies and partners in the marriage equality movement
Subject: 2010: It's time to make a decision
I write to you today with urgency and seriousness. After months of discussion and debate, the time has come to make the tough decision.
In May, 83% of Courage Campaign members said that our organization should work with our partners to place a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in 2010. If the Courage Campaign and our allies in the movement want to initiate the repeal of Prop 8 in 2010, we must make that decision very soon.
Frankly, too much attention has been placed on the political consequences of running an election in 2010 or 2012. The bottom line is that we must begin now to convince the people of California that civil marriage rights should be made available to all people, period. None of us should have to wait one more day to achieve equality at any level.
And while I say that, I also don’t want to lose this critical battle. Going to the ballot in 2010 is a decision that obviously comes with potential consequences.
Our members told us to help build the movement, so over the last several months, the Courage Campaign has mobilized 44 grassroots Equality Teams in 23 counties across California. And we’ve held five Camp Courage trainings in communities from the coast to the Central Valley to train people to be successful organizers. Last weekend alone, 279 activists gathered in East L.A. at the most diverse Camp Courage yet, with tremendous support from the Latino and Asian Pacific Islander communities.
We've also been working with some of the smartest, most experienced campaign professionals in America -- people who ran Barack Obama’s campaign, who know California and who can help our movement chart a course to victory. They've given us tough love, great advice and helped us outline the steps necessary to a successful outcome. This team isn't telling us when to initiate the repeal of Prop 8, but they are telling us we need to start now with a persuasion campaign designed to win the hearts and minds of California voters -- no matter which election year we wage the battle.
The Courage Campaign will support a repeal of Prop 8 in 2010 if our members -- together with other major stakeholders involved in this movement -- make a strong commitment to this campaign.
I want to be clear that no one organization can dominate what will need to be an independent, but accountable campaign operation. The Courage Campaign will aggressively support the effort, not run it. A small governing structure should oversee the day-to-day operations -- giving an experienced campaign manager the latitude necessary to make smart, strategic and timely decisions. If a campaign for 2010 materializes, the governing structure should include those who did not necessarily support going to the ballot in 2010, but are necessary and fundamental partners to any campaign to win back marriage equality.
To win, we will need to run a smarter, stronger and more disciplined campaign. The first step in running a winning campaign is to ensure we use the most effective initiative language that a majority of California voters will support. This takes research – expert polling and focus group work that will help us gain the best understanding of the California electorate. And we must begin that research immediately.
Along with our allies, we need to raise $200,000 to conduct this research -- and we don't have much time to raise it. If the Courage Campaign can raise $100,000 and our partners and allies in the movement can raise another $100,000 -- for a total of $200,000 -- we can put the research effort in place and meet the late September deadline recommended by the Secretary of State for filing an initiative for 2010.
We are prepared to ask our members to raise $100,000 to meet our commitment to this goal. We are willing to ask the Courage Campaign community to make this commitment because they expressed their support for going to the ballot in 2010 by such an overwhelming margin.
If we can make this community fundraising goal, we can move forward. If we can't make this community fundraising goal, then we will have to accept that the movement is not ready to produce the funding and resources necessary to support a campaign to repeal Prop 8 in 2010. And we will have to wait until 2012 to bring marriage equality to the ballot again.
Our people-powered organization is ready to win, but we are faced with the reality of these deadlines. If we want to convince a majority of our fellow Californians to support full civil marriage rights in 2010, the marriage equality movement has to stand up and commit to the cause now.
Together.
To: Our friends, allies and partners in the marriage equality movement
Subject: 2010: It's time to make a decision
I write to you today with urgency and seriousness. After months of discussion and debate, the time has come to make the tough decision.
In May, 83% of Courage Campaign members said that our organization should work with our partners to place a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in 2010. If the Courage Campaign and our allies in the movement want to initiate the repeal of Prop 8 in 2010, we must make that decision very soon.
Frankly, too much attention has been placed on the political consequences of running an election in 2010 or 2012. The bottom line is that we must begin now to convince the people of California that civil marriage rights should be made available to all people, period. None of us should have to wait one more day to achieve equality at any level.
And while I say that, I also don’t want to lose this critical battle. Going to the ballot in 2010 is a decision that obviously comes with potential consequences.
Our members told us to help build the movement, so over the last several months, the Courage Campaign has mobilized 44 grassroots Equality Teams in 23 counties across California. And we’ve held five Camp Courage trainings in communities from the coast to the Central Valley to train people to be successful organizers. Last weekend alone, 279 activists gathered in East L.A. at the most diverse Camp Courage yet, with tremendous support from the Latino and Asian Pacific Islander communities.
We've also been working with some of the smartest, most experienced campaign professionals in America -- people who ran Barack Obama’s campaign, who know California and who can help our movement chart a course to victory. They've given us tough love, great advice and helped us outline the steps necessary to a successful outcome. This team isn't telling us when to initiate the repeal of Prop 8, but they are telling us we need to start now with a persuasion campaign designed to win the hearts and minds of California voters -- no matter which election year we wage the battle.
The Courage Campaign will support a repeal of Prop 8 in 2010 if our members -- together with other major stakeholders involved in this movement -- make a strong commitment to this campaign.
I want to be clear that no one organization can dominate what will need to be an independent, but accountable campaign operation. The Courage Campaign will aggressively support the effort, not run it. A small governing structure should oversee the day-to-day operations -- giving an experienced campaign manager the latitude necessary to make smart, strategic and timely decisions. If a campaign for 2010 materializes, the governing structure should include those who did not necessarily support going to the ballot in 2010, but are necessary and fundamental partners to any campaign to win back marriage equality.
To win, we will need to run a smarter, stronger and more disciplined campaign. The first step in running a winning campaign is to ensure we use the most effective initiative language that a majority of California voters will support. This takes research – expert polling and focus group work that will help us gain the best understanding of the California electorate. And we must begin that research immediately.
Along with our allies, we need to raise $200,000 to conduct this research -- and we don't have much time to raise it. If the Courage Campaign can raise $100,000 and our partners and allies in the movement can raise another $100,000 -- for a total of $200,000 -- we can put the research effort in place and meet the late September deadline recommended by the Secretary of State for filing an initiative for 2010.
We are prepared to ask our members to raise $100,000 to meet our commitment to this goal. We are willing to ask the Courage Campaign community to make this commitment because they expressed their support for going to the ballot in 2010 by such an overwhelming margin.
If we can make this community fundraising goal, we can move forward. If we can't make this community fundraising goal, then we will have to accept that the movement is not ready to produce the funding and resources necessary to support a campaign to repeal Prop 8 in 2010. And we will have to wait until 2012 to bring marriage equality to the ballot again.
Our people-powered organization is ready to win, but we are faced with the reality of these deadlines. If we want to convince a majority of our fellow Californians to support full civil marriage rights in 2010, the marriage equality movement has to stand up and commit to the cause now.
Together.
Here's the article I am referencing. "Gay Marriage, Democracy, and the Courts" by Robert George in the Wall Street Journal Opinion section Monday Aug 3, 2009.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574322084279548434.html
The argument in this article is logically inconsistent and ethically flawed. For example it tries to make a case that gay marriage is NOT a civil rights issue. *That* is ludicrous! First let’s make sure everyone reading this has a brief history lesson on how prejudice becomes law here in CA.
Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the majority opinion in last year’s decision that granted marriage rights to same-sex couples in California says the following, “Our government is based on the principle not just of majority rule, but equally so on the limit that majorities must always respect minority rights,” he said. “That balance between majority rule and minority rights is recognized as the genius, as the defining hallmark of our democratic system.”
The lawyer defending Prop 8 in court was Kenneth Starr – remember him??? “Starr argues that Prop 8 should remain part of the constitution because the democratic system provides for popular sovereignty, even if the decision of the people is unwise!” When George asked whether an amendment taking away domestic partnership rights or the right to free speech would be valid by this reasoning, Starr said such an amendment would be permissible “as long as it is in fact clear to the people what they’re voting on.” (Excerpts from ‘Justices grill attorneys on Prop 8’, By Chris Johnson, Washington Blade | Mar 5 2009, 6:03 PM)
Eloquence does not equate to sound logic! The principle Justice George uses in the case of marriage equality *IS* the SAME principle used by the US Supreme Court in Loving vs. Virgina! The article’s author suggests that Loving, a federal case that undid bigoted state laws against interracial marriage is somehow different from the ruling in place prior to Ca Prop 8. He says, "Everyone agreed that interracial marriages were marriages. Racists just wanted to ban them as part of the evil regime of white supremacy that the equal protection clause was designed to destroy." I guarantee more than Clan members were "unsettled" by Loving back in 1967! Yet Loving now is widely supported even it wasn’t back in the day. The rule of law can lead the people towards equality if applied in an equitable manner. If not, it acts to institutionalize prejudice!
1st "everyone" did not agree at the time of Loving and racism sadly still exists in many places today in 2009 despite the courts acting to protect civil rights for over 40 years! In 1958 the Virgina Circuit Court grand jury said the following, “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix." If it wasn’t for the “principle” of balancing majority rule with minority rights interracial marriages and segregation might still be upheld in some states. That is NOT okay nor is it consistent with the thread of the Constitution as we see it today. The constitution is after all an evolving document as intended by its authors who put in place the seperate branches of power!
2nd George makes that claim that what distinguished marriage historically is the ability to produce offspring but then goes on to point out that non consummation is the grounds for annulment not infertility. *If* marriage is about baby making then infertility *should* be the leading reason for annulment! George says, “But as a comprehensive sharing of life—an emotional and biological union—marriage has value in itself and not merely as a means to procreation.” Believe me gay folk know a lot about “biological unions!” And that is really the problem isn’t it, people being uncomfortable with the idea of sodomy. If you aren’t into it- don’t do it! But let’s not make stupid laws and waste ALL this money over what other people do or don’t do in their private lives!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574322084279548434.html
The argument in this article is logically inconsistent and ethically flawed. For example it tries to make a case that gay marriage is NOT a civil rights issue. *That* is ludicrous! First let’s make sure everyone reading this has a brief history lesson on how prejudice becomes law here in CA.
Chief Justice Ronald George, who wrote the majority opinion in last year’s decision that granted marriage rights to same-sex couples in California says the following, “Our government is based on the principle not just of majority rule, but equally so on the limit that majorities must always respect minority rights,” he said. “That balance between majority rule and minority rights is recognized as the genius, as the defining hallmark of our democratic system.”
The lawyer defending Prop 8 in court was Kenneth Starr – remember him??? “Starr argues that Prop 8 should remain part of the constitution because the democratic system provides for popular sovereignty, even if the decision of the people is unwise!” When George asked whether an amendment taking away domestic partnership rights or the right to free speech would be valid by this reasoning, Starr said such an amendment would be permissible “as long as it is in fact clear to the people what they’re voting on.” (Excerpts from ‘Justices grill attorneys on Prop 8’, By Chris Johnson, Washington Blade | Mar 5 2009, 6:03 PM)
Eloquence does not equate to sound logic! The principle Justice George uses in the case of marriage equality *IS* the SAME principle used by the US Supreme Court in Loving vs. Virgina! The article’s author suggests that Loving, a federal case that undid bigoted state laws against interracial marriage is somehow different from the ruling in place prior to Ca Prop 8. He says, "Everyone agreed that interracial marriages were marriages. Racists just wanted to ban them as part of the evil regime of white supremacy that the equal protection clause was designed to destroy." I guarantee more than Clan members were "unsettled" by Loving back in 1967! Yet Loving now is widely supported even it wasn’t back in the day. The rule of law can lead the people towards equality if applied in an equitable manner. If not, it acts to institutionalize prejudice!
1st "everyone" did not agree at the time of Loving and racism sadly still exists in many places today in 2009 despite the courts acting to protect civil rights for over 40 years! In 1958 the Virgina Circuit Court grand jury said the following, “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix." If it wasn’t for the “principle” of balancing majority rule with minority rights interracial marriages and segregation might still be upheld in some states. That is NOT okay nor is it consistent with the thread of the Constitution as we see it today. The constitution is after all an evolving document as intended by its authors who put in place the seperate branches of power!
2nd George makes that claim that what distinguished marriage historically is the ability to produce offspring but then goes on to point out that non consummation is the grounds for annulment not infertility. *If* marriage is about baby making then infertility *should* be the leading reason for annulment! George says, “But as a comprehensive sharing of life—an emotional and biological union—marriage has value in itself and not merely as a means to procreation.” Believe me gay folk know a lot about “biological unions!” And that is really the problem isn’t it, people being uncomfortable with the idea of sodomy. If you aren’t into it- don’t do it! But let’s not make stupid laws and waste ALL this money over what other people do or don’t do in their private lives!
Camp Courage Day Two. It's Sunday at about 1030 and the room here at the Gloria Molina Community Center is electric. After the Courage Lounge hosted by Javier Angulo and his colleagues at HonorPAC last night, I joined my partner Shaun for dinner with an out of town friend. At 11:30 or so, Lt. Choi arrived at our house, which is sort of his house now, too. Read More »
Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was that an amazingly gracious church who, on a hot, San Bernardino summer day, had 200 sweltering people emotionally overheated and packed into its hall with an AC struggling to keep up.Or maybe it's because the California LGBT population has cannibalized its leadership to the point where no one is willing to take the unpopular stance of leading this wounded community made up of people that will bite anyone's head off who has a slightly different opinion from theirs.
Whatever you believe the reason to be, the Leadership Summit on Sunday was an utter failure. And we have no one to blame but ourselves. Read More »
July 2nd could mark the beginning of the end to Prop 8, the controversial initiative that stripped California's LGBT population of the right to marry.Why? Because on July 2nd, the first hearing of the federal case brought against Prop 8 by power team Ted Olson and David Boies will be heard in the North California U.S. District Court with the case assigned to Judge Vaughn Walker.
Even more dramatically, Olson and Boies, who have an amazing track record of winning cases, had requested a preliminary injunction against the initiative while the courts heard the merits of their case. In other words, this would have put the enforcement of Prop 8 in the Golden State on hold during the trial, consequently allowing same-sex marriages to occur again.
The hearing on July 2nd would've centered around the merits of the injunction, but Judge Walker had other thoughts in mind, calling recently for a move to “proceed expeditiously to trial."
“Given that serious questions are raised in these proceedings ... the court is inclined to proceed directly and expeditiously to the merits of plaintiffs' claims," the judge declared. “The just, speedy and inexpensive determination of these issues would appear to call for proceeding promptly to trial."
(See Case Document and Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Judge Walker's Order for Trial) Read More »
The gracious and disarmingly honest mentor to aspiring fashion designers on the hit TV show "Project Runway, Tim Gunn was kind enough to record this special message for Courage Campaign members.
As Tim likes to say to his designers, it's time to "Make it Work!"
If you're ready to get to work and have some fun, watch this video and then RSVP for a special "Make it Work!" Equality Team event near you.
More than 20 “Make it Work!” events are scheduled between June 18-28. Find one near you and join the fun.
Flip it for the full message from the fabulous Tim Gunn and Make it Work! Read More »
As Tim likes to say to his designers, it's time to "Make it Work!"
If you're ready to get to work and have some fun, watch this video and then RSVP for a special "Make it Work!" Equality Team event near you.
More than 20 “Make it Work!” events are scheduled between June 18-28. Find one near you and join the fun.
Flip it for the full message from the fabulous Tim Gunn and Make it Work! Read More »
Rick and I are one of the 18,000 legally married same sex couples. We are outraged at the courts decision and want to channel our emotions into a positvie attraction campaign. Were not sure what that looks like but we are here.
We have started talking to all of our friends and family about the Marriage Equality situation in California and have invited many of them to tell us here at the blog what how or what our marriage has affected or influenced thier lives. Please feel free to share at any time.
We have started talking to all of our friends and family about the Marriage Equality situation in California and have invited many of them to tell us here at the blog what how or what our marriage has affected or influenced thier lives. Please feel free to share at any time.
I saw Outrage on Friday. Besides being supportive, I was curious. I am always looking for agreement, camaraderie, unity. I found the movie’s premise lost under the weight of the title. Even watching the movie makers on the View that morning, it wasn’t readily obvious that author and blogger, Michael Rogers was objecting to closeted people voting against their very people they have relationships with. Closeted gay men in politics are voting against HIV/AIDS funding, against gay marriage, against making crimes against LGBT people a hate crime. It is the chasm between their sexual orientation and their visible, measurable, callous voting record. Frankly, for me, it begs the question, would they be less stalwart if they were straight.
The characters in the movie, opening with Larry Craig, were all recognizable. Those of us who read gay news are aware of these men and their voting records. I have to admit, I have zero idea what this looks like to straight people. Heck, I got emails this week asking me if Adam Lambert is gay – straights see things very differently than I do. Governor McGreevey was bright, radiant – no really – like someone who just discovered deep spiritual relief. Governor Crist was slimy and resistant; what is the opposite of present?
A paragraph on women ~ Elizabeth Birch of the Human Right Campaign was terrific, moving and honest. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was open and relaxed. Oh but the wives, the terrified wives, standing next to the pathetic closeted husbands at counterfeit press conferences; Mrs. Craig, Mrs. McGreevey, Mrs. Crist. Actually there are thousands of straight spouses who are trapped infraudulent lives, holding their families together. How the gay spouse can do this is really beyond me. I kissed a girl, I liked it and I came out; all within about 5 seconds. And it is no secret that there are many, many lesbians and bi women in politics ( no I have not slept with all of them) but I can tell you that I have never seen them vote against LGBT rights or human rights for that matter.
But what really bothered me, deeply bothered me, was one clip of Larry Kramer, beloved founder of Act-Up. Certainly this brave hero of the LGBT movement said dozens of quote-ables during the taping but what they chose to show was Mr. Kramer saying that activism comes from rage, from anger. For me it was like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I have spent over 40 years working to deepen my understanding and practice that successful, lasting activism comes from love. You cannot convert the opponent by burning his car, breaking her windows, clubbing their kids. Fear will never create conversion. (aren’t we having a national conversation about torture on this right now?)
However, more importantly, the oppressed will become poisoned by the violence. The minority has to find love in their heart and become irresistible. That is the only way to create a healthy movement, a true lasting conversion and extinguish fear. I was fortunate to spend some time with Jeremy Gilley, the British filmmaker who is creating International Peace Day, through his film-making of Peace One Day and The Day After Peace. I told him that I am not as worried about those who die by gunshot as I am about those who pull the trigger as they live on with their hearts broken. Violence is intoxicating, contagious and another disease – like homophobia.
Tuesday, May 26 is California’s Day Of Decision. On Facebook, the White Night Riots video has been viraling around. I want to tell people that clearly those 1979 riots did not work or we would not be rising up for our rights in 2009. Releasing of violence may be billed as good for you but it isn’t. It is not some limited energy that must be spent. It is a viral, burgeoning disease that only attracts itself. If you are angry, you deserve to be loved. If you are homophobic, you need to love and be loved. No matter what happens on Tuesday, extinguishing anger with love is the only way that will last.
The characters in the movie, opening with Larry Craig, were all recognizable. Those of us who read gay news are aware of these men and their voting records. I have to admit, I have zero idea what this looks like to straight people. Heck, I got emails this week asking me if Adam Lambert is gay – straights see things very differently than I do. Governor McGreevey was bright, radiant – no really – like someone who just discovered deep spiritual relief. Governor Crist was slimy and resistant; what is the opposite of present?
A paragraph on women ~ Elizabeth Birch of the Human Right Campaign was terrific, moving and honest. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was open and relaxed. Oh but the wives, the terrified wives, standing next to the pathetic closeted husbands at counterfeit press conferences; Mrs. Craig, Mrs. McGreevey, Mrs. Crist. Actually there are thousands of straight spouses who are trapped infraudulent lives, holding their families together. How the gay spouse can do this is really beyond me. I kissed a girl, I liked it and I came out; all within about 5 seconds. And it is no secret that there are many, many lesbians and bi women in politics ( no I have not slept with all of them) but I can tell you that I have never seen them vote against LGBT rights or human rights for that matter.
But what really bothered me, deeply bothered me, was one clip of Larry Kramer, beloved founder of Act-Up. Certainly this brave hero of the LGBT movement said dozens of quote-ables during the taping but what they chose to show was Mr. Kramer saying that activism comes from rage, from anger. For me it was like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I have spent over 40 years working to deepen my understanding and practice that successful, lasting activism comes from love. You cannot convert the opponent by burning his car, breaking her windows, clubbing their kids. Fear will never create conversion. (aren’t we having a national conversation about torture on this right now?)
However, more importantly, the oppressed will become poisoned by the violence. The minority has to find love in their heart and become irresistible. That is the only way to create a healthy movement, a true lasting conversion and extinguish fear. I was fortunate to spend some time with Jeremy Gilley, the British filmmaker who is creating International Peace Day, through his film-making of Peace One Day and The Day After Peace. I told him that I am not as worried about those who die by gunshot as I am about those who pull the trigger as they live on with their hearts broken. Violence is intoxicating, contagious and another disease – like homophobia.
Tuesday, May 26 is California’s Day Of Decision. On Facebook, the White Night Riots video has been viraling around. I want to tell people that clearly those 1979 riots did not work or we would not be rising up for our rights in 2009. Releasing of violence may be billed as good for you but it isn’t. It is not some limited energy that must be spent. It is a viral, burgeoning disease that only attracts itself. If you are angry, you deserve to be loved. If you are homophobic, you need to love and be loved. No matter what happens on Tuesday, extinguishing anger with love is the only way that will last.
We finally have a day for the Prop 8 decision from the Supreme Court. They just announced that they will rule on Tuesday.
Here are a couple of important links as we all get prepared for D-Day and beyond.
1) Day of Decision rallies will be held in dozens of cities across California and beyond. Go here to find one near you.
2) Meet in the Middle for Equality will be held in Fresno on May 30th, at 1 pm in front of the city hall. Go here to find out more and RSVP.
3) Do you know anyone who wants to get an alert the moment the Supreme Court rules? Tell them to sign-up to get an email, as soon as the court issues their decision.
For more info flip it to see the email we sent out to Courage members earlier today. Read More »
Here are a couple of important links as we all get prepared for D-Day and beyond.
1) Day of Decision rallies will be held in dozens of cities across California and beyond. Go here to find one near you.
2) Meet in the Middle for Equality will be held in Fresno on May 30th, at 1 pm in front of the city hall. Go here to find out more and RSVP.
3) Do you know anyone who wants to get an alert the moment the Supreme Court rules? Tell them to sign-up to get an email, as soon as the court issues their decision.
For more info flip it to see the email we sent out to Courage members earlier today. Read More »
We just put out this memo to the press and all interested parties from Courage Campaign Founder and Chair, Rick Jacobs.
Feel free to quote liberally or re-post the memo in its entirety. Read More »
Feel free to quote liberally or re-post the memo in its entirety. Read More »
Academy Award-winning actor Charlize Theron asked us to share an important message with the Courage Campaign community and the progressive movement in California.Her message has been quoted all over the place from E! Online to the LA Times.
Here it is in its entirety. Please help us spread the word about Meet in the Middle for Equality by forwarding on the link to everyone you know.
Read More »
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