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Next week’s election promises to be extremely important for the LGBTQ equality movement, even though it may seem unimportant for many folks. Three hugely important issues are on the ballot across the country, and losing any of them will be a devastating blow to the momentum we have seen building over the past 10 months. Different people will express that one of these (or another) is more important than the other two, but I totally disagree with that idea. All three are critically important, and their win or their loss will have far reaching implications. I think the ease at which some within the LGBT community can label any one of them as “more serious” or more important, is a very dangerous sign, and I hope it is not a signal that whatever unity and cohesiveness we have built is falling away.

Of the three, the issue that has received the least national attention, is the battle in Kalamazoo MI, where there is an effort to overturn the city’s nondiscrimination protections recently enacted. How little attention this has received is bothering to me, because unlike the two other big votes, which both deal with same-sex partnerships of different types, the Kalamazoo ordinance provides protections for Transgender women and men. This is the part of the LGBTQ community mostly likely to be left behind by the gays and lesbians, and if we haven’t learned our lesson by now, when will we? Equality for some, is never enough if Equality for all is our goal.

In both Washington state, and Maine, votes at the polls will determine the legal validity of same-sex partnerships. Maine’s legislature approved same-sex marriage, and is up for a peoples’ veto, whereas, in Washington Ref 71 impacts that states domestic partnership laws. If there is any good side of the Washington battle, it is that even if we lose, it won’t wipe away all domestic partnerships, just the most recent changes to the law. But I’m sure if the anti-gay forces prevail, they will begin immediately to try and dismantle all rights for same-sex couples. In Maine, folks are calling the vote “No on 1″ critical, as there has never been a case where same-sex marriage has passed when placed to a vote by the people. All three of these battles demonstrate attacks on the GLBTQ community at most every level of our rights and protections. If you haven’t done whatever you can to help in any of these fights, please take this weekend to get involved! All three need your donations, and you can phone bank for both Maine and Washington from your own home, no matter where you are. Your involvement can make the difference between a win or a loss!

But these three battles are not the only elections that should be of interest the gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and our allies. In my opinion every election in every location across this country matters. At every level of government, we must be making our voice heard as to the things that are important to us. Sometimes, this is easy. One candidate may clearly be pro-equality, and another may be clearly anti- LGBT.  The Allegheny County Council race between Matt Drozd and Tom Michalow is a good example. Drozd voted against the Allegheny County Human Rights Commission and the protections it would provide. He talked a lot at the cuncil meeting, saying that no one deserves to be discriminated against, but… and then he voted against protecting people from discrimination. Matt- everything after “but” is bullshit. Your vote was clearly anti-gay, and it is time for you to go.

For Western Pennsylvania, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats have issued their endorsements, and I encourage you to take a look at them.