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There were three big national election items to watch in terms of GLBTQ issues: Same-sex marriage in Maine, Civil Unions in Washington, and Anti-discrimination protections in Kalamazoo, and the results of two of these are complete. for most, the big news is the loss in Maine of marriage equality. But for me, the really big news, is the victory in Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo

The battle in Kalamazoo is where Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity will be added to the city’s existing nondiscrimination protections. Of the three races, I was most worried about this one. The ads out there by opponents to the ordinance were hateful, and attempted to  reframe the issue, as one of the “right to privacy.”

This is a big win, in the sense that a loss here would have been catastrophically damaging to any future attempts to add sexual orientation or gender identity and expression to any other protections across the country. Here in Pennsylvania, we are trying t pass PA HB 300 to do just that at a state level. Of theses three big election issues, Kalamazoo was the only one to have anything to offer to bisexual and the trans communities, and at least I, think that is important.

Kalamazoo voters approve anti-discrimination law | freep.com | Detroit Free Press.

Maine

Most of the press within the lesbian and gay communities will be over the loss in Maine where it looks like 53% of the voters were opposed to same-sex marriage. This issue will have devastating impact across the country as well for same-sex families, and same-sex couples who wish for the legal protections and benefits of marriage. However, unlike last November’s defeat in California with the passing of Prop 8, this loss wasn’t so unexpected. The race has been neck and neck with even pollsters unsure how it would turn out. I think the size of the win (53%) may be a bit of a surprise though. I was anticipating a loss, but expected it to be much closer- 51-52% for Yes on 1.

I hesitate to write too much until more of the facts are in because I don’t want to commit to eternity saying anything that will turn out to not be true with more thorough reporting. But this will be a critical battle to disect to better understand how our side lost. There are three factors that suggest that it is our own side’s fault for this loss, and each will need to be thoroughly considered:

1. The opposition used the same game plan as they used to win in California. Since we knew the game plan, where did we fall short in combatting it?
2. If this win was so critically essential to the whole lesbian and gay communities across the country, why didn’t “we” pump every nickel and dime we had, and get every person we could on the ground there to ensure a victory? Why did some activists push for a National March on Washington that had no actual practical impact of day to day life of LGBTQ Americans when that time, talent and money could have gone to good use in Maine?
3. What is wrong with the polling that this loss wasn’t better known beforehand? What do we need to learn about polling on GLBTQ issues so that we have better data to work with?

Last point I want to make about Maine, is that some (have no idea how many) within the trans communities are bashing the gay and lesbian communities for “throwing them under a bus” in Maine. I expect to write more about this, but the whole of the GLBTQ[add whatever letters you want] communities will have to have serious dialogue about how the seeking of rights for some impact all, or exclude some or…. This issue “whose rights are we fighting for” is central to understanding how we move forward everywhere.

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/maine-voters-say-we-dont-to-gay-marriage/legislation/2009/11/04/5082

Washington (the state)

(I add that, because a Marriage Equality battle is brewing in Washington DC, however after the loss in Maine, I wonder how that will change.) From what I can tell, Referendum 71 in Washington is still too close to call, but it is looking promising for the GLBTQ community. Unlike Maine, Washington was looking to keep Civil Union Rights for same-sex couples, that their legislature approved with what has been called the “everything but marriage” law. I have received flack from a number of bloggers and activists, but seems to me that Civil Unions/ Domestic Partnerships would strategically be a great way for us to move forward in our battle for full equality, because polls show that more Americans can support Civil Unions than can support same-sex marriage. Clearly when push comes to shove, it seems Civil Unions may hold up better to a public vote.

Without a doubt, Civil Unions do not provide enough rights and priviledges, but is it strategically the right way to move forward? Through it same-sex families receive more rights and protections than they have with nothing at all, and it moves people closer to being able to accept full same-sex marriage.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7460-Spokane-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d3-Referendum-71-Results-Coming-In

I’l write much more as more reporting of these three elections turns up.

Please join me in doing something critically important to protect full equality in Maine. Vote No on 1, the organization fighting to keep Maine’s new same-sex marriage law in place is sponsoring a phone bank so that anyone, anywhere can help the cause to assure that gay and lesbian families remain protected.

Our Phone for Maine program allows volunteers from all over the state will help us do one of the most important jobs in any campaign — identify Maine voters who will vote NO on Question 1.

I have seen blogs where some have argued that the fight in Maine is the most important across the country, because to date, in any state where the issue has been put to a vote, our rights have been overturned and taken away. In most of these cases, the campaigns waged against marriage equality have used nothing but fear tactics and lies. But for me, this isn’t just a political battle- a state where we need a win to keep the movement towards full marriage equality alive. It is about real people- gay men and lesbian women who have chosen to live their lives together and be a family. Many same-sex couples have children, and all of these individuals deserve equal protection under the law.

Consider helping with the phone bank, because if it was you- and your partner and your family, would you want others to join in and help protect your rights?

Vote No on 1 | Protect Maine Equality.

Saw a short blurb about this on Gayapolis, and the link below is to the original post on FiveThirtyEight.com. Nate Silver re-examiones his model for marriage bans to consider the upcoming Maine election. The piece is a good read, and the bottom line is that Nate feels it could be a very close race.

I think there are two things that may make the difference in this election: turnout and message. Because it is an off-year election, no one is quite sure who will get more voters to the polls. Without a doubt, those opposed to gay marriage will be working hard on this one. Their TV campaigns are designed to initiate a fear response which can easily translate into votes. As an off-year, an older population is also more likely to vote, and that may be a group more opposed to gay marriage. The anti-gay fringe of the Republican party really really needs a big win too, and the party is looking for something to get them back on track. A win against gay marriage will enbolden them to see themselves as the family values party again, and help them sweep under the carpet recent sex scandals. I don’t think we should underestimate how crucial a win is for the family values folks, and they are willing to do almost anything to get it.

The other important issue is message. Nate’s work is all about the numbers, but what is happening on the ground. As a commenter noted, in California, the pro- Prop 8 folks “…outmaneuvered from the very beginning. We (No on Prop-8 supporters) had enthusiastic supporters and actually outraised our opponents, but the leadership and messaging was abysmal.”

FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: Analysis: Gay Marriage Ban is Underdog in Maine.

Really awesome blog post linked here, written by Paul Hogarth about why he has decided to take a 10 day trip to Maine and volunteer to help with the No on 1 campaign. I’m thinking of going as well, but I will only be able to swing 1 week and closer to the end of the month if I can get away from work.

I’m thrilled people are going to Washington, but I think going to Maine or Washington is probably the single most important thing anyone who supports equality could do this Fall before election day. As issues and rights go, there are a number of priorities for me that come before same-sex marriage. Hate Crimes legislation, Inclusive ENDA and other non-discrimination coverage, ending DADT, and ending DOMA. But even with those as higher priorities to me, I still believe helping in Maine and Washington is extremely crucial, and here is why.

On one level the battle in these two states are about practical rights. Keeping the ability to marry in one state and have a domestic partnership in the other. but the battle is far bigger than that. If the Conservatives win either of these, I’m afraid we won’t see any progress on any LGBT issue at the state level anywhere across the country except where it is brought up to public vote. Because of the way the laws in each state came into being, it will have a huge cooling affect of legislator’s willingness to risk bringing new GLBTQ/LGBT legislation forward. And in addition to this impact, the far right and conservatives will be adequately reinforced so that they will be more aggressive and go after all sorts of queer laws all over the place.

Maine is critical. After the loss in California, another los in Maine will slow any movement on Marriage in a big way, but Washington is possibly even more important. If they can win in Maine, they wil continue with the claim that no one wants gay marriage. But if they win in Washington, they have a new tactic to use: “no one wants any type of same-sex recognition” will become their battle cry.

Washington DC politics are a mess right now with Health Care taking most of everyone’s attention, and the conservatives resistance to anything progressive is only going to grow unless we see some big progressive wins. And the way blue dog dems are acting, I’m not sure we are going to see any progressive wins. So the state level battles are a place where we have a greater likelihood of having some success that will pay off in the short term as well as impact the long term.

So, how about it- a trip to Maine? Check out what Paul has to say about it:

BeyondChron: San Francisco’s Alternative Online Daily News » Why I’m Going to Maine.

I linked to this in another blog entry, but I feel it is important enough that I want to draw some more direct attention to this opportunity to help protect GLBTQ rights, by supporting the No on 1 campaign in Maine. No on 1 would allow Maine to keep the recently passed same-sex marriage law, where if Maine voters, vote Yes on 1, this right to marry will be taken away.

Maine is a particularly important state because of the way marriage equality was arrived at there, and in my opinion, there is no battle for any GLBTQ rights issue that is as important as Maine’s in this November’s election. Truthfully, marriage equality is not often on the top of my priority list. I tend to believe we need to fight for Hate Crimes legislation, and nondiscrimination in housing/workplace/public accommodations, well before we worry about marriage rights. But on one level, my thinking s flawed. Equality for all, and these civil rights issues don’t fit into a simply hierarchy with some as more important and some less so. Each of these rights impacts many and for those individuals a specific area, like marriage equality may be the most important. While nondiscrimination protections may impact more people, we can not think that losing the right to marry isn’t just as devastating to the children and families of same-sex couples.

After a big and momentous win in California, we are now looking at battles in Washington state, Maine, and potentially battles in Iowa, and Washington DC. Wins in any of these locations would bolster the anti-gay groups and cripple progress on any GLBTQ issue everywhere. Any combination of wins in these areas, will suggest that the country as a whole is not for full equality, and our battle will be harder than ever. We, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people everywhere must work to keep marriage equality in Maine, as well as win these other battles, because to fail, on any of these fronts will set our movement back on any issue we raise anywhere in the next 10 years.

**All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing- the web-based software does it all.**

With 500 people ACROSS AMERICA, donating 2.5 hours of time, we can accomplish 1250 volunteer hours!

This is a VIRTUAL PHONE BANK on Sunday, September 27th to SAVE MAINE FROM RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, and pave the way for a repeal of Proposition 8 in California!

Sign up and you will get all the information you need to be a part of the Sept 27th Maine Day of Action. IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU MUST PROCEED TO THE FOLLOWING URL AND FILL OUT THE FORM:

Follow this link to help save marriage equality in Maine!

Help Maine’s “No on 1″ Campaign (Gay Rights – Change.org).

The folks who are opposed to Marriage Equality in Maine,  and who spread “family values” as their mantra have a lesson for everyone on marketing and message that could be entitled “How to lie and get away with it.” These are the same folks who successfully campaigned for Prop 8in California, and are working closely with the National Organization for Marriage, and the Catholic Church. Their message? Vote Yes on 1, which will deny gay and lesbian families the right to marry in Maine.

The basis of Yes on 1, is that homosexuality is wrong, and allowing gay marriage will destroy the sanctity of marriage. From the Catholic church perspective, homosexuality is a sin. But lying to accomplish your goal? Even with a commandment against bearing false witness? These folks, who using religion as the basis of their attack on gay and lesbian families, think it is perfectly OK to lie to try and manipulate Maine voters. This is how you lie in a family values way.

The Yes on 1 campaign released their first TV ad this week, aligned with the campaign they ran in California, it is a mishmash of misrepresentations and outright lies, with two particular claims being called out as especially bad.

Before I go further, let me say, that even though I fully support marriage equality (and a bunch of other GLBTQ rights actions) I have no problem with others who do not agree with me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and a diversity of opinions is a good thing in a democracy. That said, I have no toleration for anyone in opposition- doesn’t matter what the cause or position, that has nothing to campaign on except lies and misinformation. If you can’t win your argument based on facts or logic, then you have no business being in the debate. Freedom of speech may allow us to tell lies, but democracy can not survive without an honest portrayal of the facts for each side’s position.

The family values type in general, and the Catholics in particular, ought however to be familiar with the 10 commandments, and one of those commandments, is do not bear false witness. So how is it that the TV ad claims that marriage equality in Maine will force schools to teach homosexuality? Even the ad sponsors admit that isn’t quite true, and here is how you lie family values style. Just claim that you didn’t mean it to be taken literally!

From ABC 8 WMTW:

Part of the TV commercial includes a line, “Homosexual marriage taught in public schools whether parents like it. Vote yes on question one.”

The “vote no” side called that claim inflammatory and misleading.

“This insinuation that this will happen in Maine is exactly that, an insinuation designed to generate fear,” Cluchey said.

According to the Department of Education, no specific curriculum language exists or would exist that instructs schools to teach about marriage. There are guidelines for students to discuss their own health in context of family life, but nothing explicit. The exact lesson plans are created by an individual school system, some of which already talk about heterosexuality and homosexuality.

Those who made the commercial said the line in the advertisement is not meant to be taken literally. Instead, it’s meant to imply that, in their opinion, if schools currently teach about family life and marriage, discussions about same-sex marriage would likely be included.

Call me crazy, but “Homosexual marriage taught in public schools whether parents like it. Vote yes on question one” Doesn’t really sound like an implied idea, it sounds pretty direct and explicit. It is bearing false witness, stating something as fact or as definite that isn’t at all.

This type of misleading and false information is one important part of why anti-gay forces won in California. At least there are now attempts to show this for what it is, but will that be enough?  What you can do:

• Demand that TV stations refuse to carry the ad because it is false and misleading.
• Spread the truth by helping with the Maine Phone banks

Two important elections this November: Vote No on 1 in Maine, and Yes on 71 in Washington.

The Mighty Pen « Referendum 71 | Vote to Approve.

Small snip from the end of the editorial. The whole editorial is a very good read.

Do we want to raise our families in Rev. Emrich’s Maine, where one set of laws applies to some people and a separate but not equal set of laws applies to everyone else?

Do we want a Maine where Rev. Emrich and his supporters tell the rest of us who can be a family and who can love whom?

Marriage equality upholds traditional Maine values of personal freedom and equality by respecting the right of every Mainer to marry the person he or she loves.

That’s the Maine I live in. Those are the values I hold dear.

Vote No on 1 | Protect Maine Equality.

Here are 2 fundraisers for the No on 1/ Main Marriage Equality group The first is a cool shirt from HRC, where for each T-shirt sold, $25.00 will be donated. That means 100% of your money is going to fight for Marriage Equality in Maine!

Marriage is so Mainestream

The 2nd is a fundraiser happening in Ogunquit, hosted by State Representative and 2010 Maine Gubernatorial candidate Dawn Hill:

I found both of these over on Pam’s House Blend:

Pam’s House Blend:: Announcing Two ‘No On 1/ Protect Maine Equality’ Fundraisers .

But at our recent annual meeting of state leaders, the overwhelming sentiment surrounding the proposed march was frustration that our movement would divert any of its precious resources — especially volunteers and money — to converge on Washington without a specific goal and when most members of Congress will actually be in their home districts.

I have written before, that I do not believe that now (October 2009) is the right time for a Gay March on Washington, and I’m happy to link to this blog post which adequately expresses those ideas so well.

This may be my favorite quote from the entire piece:

For activists who want a life-changing experience, Washington is not the place to be this October. This year, Maine is the place where we are all needed most.

Although I don think we need to all go to Maine that might actually be counter productive as folks there aren’t too pleased to see outsiders trying to tell them what they should be doing. There are a slew of ways to be involved and help pro gay marriage supporters stand strong.

1. Money. Of course Main needs money.
2. Phone Banks. Use technology to help from where ever you live.
3. Add truth to the dialogue and counter the lies. Framing the issue is critically important! We know that fear is a powerful motivator for conservatives, and yelling back at them and name calling doesn’t change anything. But, adding real voices to the mix works. Voicing how marriage equality will benefit real people, and real families will change minds. You can do this by writing to blogs, letters to the editor of Maine papers, and adding comments to aqny Maine blog with anti- gay marriage lies and misinformation is being propagated.

We can not afford to lose Maine. That can not be said strongly enough! We can not afford to lose Maine.

via Stop talking to buildings, start talking to people – Washington Blade: Gay and Lesbian News, Entertainment, Politics and Opinion.