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I find this commentary disappointing on many levels starting the implied position that one way is the right way to obtain rights and the other is the wrong way. In addition, the desire to compare struggles seems poorly considered. An argument worth exploring, but here, not given enough thought or evidence. Consider Loving vs Virginia (I hope I have that right) that turned the tides in terms of inter-racial marriage, or consider what role the courts played in a social acceptance of divorce.

I don’t deny that patience may be a virtue, but at the same time, we must work the system, and taking cases to court is a part of the system. We need to work all sides of it, not just one side. So, I think the role of patience is to remind us not to expect any one victory or set back to be the “end all.” but rather one step along the journey.

Lastly, I think it is really narrow to think the california passage of Prop 8 was due to the earlier court decision. The set back can be tied to a few things: 1) Failure by the No on 8 campaign to wage a reasonable and winning campaign; 2) The influence and money from outside CA that was a part of the struggle; 3) The success of the Yes on 8 campaign to spread lies and provoke fear in such a way that was never adequately countered; 4) a ballot initiative worded in a potentially confusing way. These things, in addition to being a state widely divided politically was responsible for the loss.

History demonstrates that patience alone does not being equality if we look at the black civil rights movement in america. While I do not fully subscribe to the notion that Gay is the new Black, I do believe the struggle for ful equality will parallel that movement more than say, women’s suffrage. The legal, the social change, the changes due to the ballot box, are all a part of the whole. But our time is coming for action. What will be our “lunch counters?” What will be our “sitting in the front of the bus?”

PoliGazette » Gay Marriage: Tactical Wins, Strategic Blunders.