thomascwaters.com

While many within the LGBT communities are getting ready to head to Washington for a National Equality March, significantly critical battles are about to be fought in two states. In Maine, conservative voters hope to overturn the granting of Same-se marriage, and in Washington, a battle is set to destroy that state’s domestic partnership/civil union laws. While California has decided not to push the issue there, too soon, some expect that down the road, the marriage ban brought about by Prop 8  will be overturned, but what if the anti-gay forces are successful in either Maine or Washington, or worse- both? What level of momentum will even 1 win provide to any anti-gay rights group anywhere? How much further will we see gay rights turned back as homophobes and other conservatives feel enboldened?

Some claim that we know that gay marriage will eventually come because more younger voters don’t share the same opposition as older conservatives, but how can we be sure? This summer we have watched the health care reform effort go absolutely no where, till it may be impossible to salvage any reform at all dueto the lies and misinformation. With even 1 more win under their belts, just how far do you think those against gay rights will go in their lies and misinformation to work to set our movement back?

Washington is especially critical from my perspective as it is not a marriage law. If they win in the civil Union/domestic partnership area as well as in the gay marriage arena, we are really in trouble.

I hope those gathering in Washington are aware that while they are busy feeling righteous in their calls for full equality (which we do deserve) our opponents will be doing everything in their power to win, and based upon what we learned (or didn’t learn) in California, looks like they may have a pretty good chance of it.

UPDATE: I neglected to mention DC and the coming battle there.

The Wenatchee World Online – ‘Everything but marriage’ headed for public vote.

Isobel Whites post is really excellent and should be, in my opinion, required reading!  There is at one time, two ideas in there: one may seem counter-intuitive, but the other is well worth the trouble of sorting the first out.

I admit, if asked to decide between, 2010 or 2012, I’m on the 2010 side of things.This is based on a number of things:

• I think a big win in California would give a boost to all GLBTQ struggles across the country.
• While the issue is still so fresh, I think it has more chance of passing.
• I’m not sure I trust those suggesting to wait, since many of them are the folks who wewre unsuccessful in the last fight against Prop 8

So I headed into the post expecting to disagree with her at every turn. But clearly, if I feel the post should be required reading, I feel differently after finishing it. I think each of her eight points can all be discussed, but for me, there are three, that are the really big deal for me.

4. It’s incredibly expensive- I’m not sure that this will change over time, but because the price tag is/ was/ will be so big, it makes sense to make sure it will be a definite win before proceeding. If we can’t say definite, then we should have a pretty good idea that a win is likely.

6) Return to the ballot box too soon, and it’s easy for the opposition to argue that we’re subverting the will of the people and the Courts.- The second worst thing that could happen would be for Marriage Equality to win the next round, only to be challenged again in the next election. This back and forth will grow very old very quickly, and we are the ones likely to lose out.

5. Other states need more help.- This is the point that makes the most sense to me overall. We can’t afford to lose in Maine. I’ve written about that before. And while Marriage Equality is a fight worth fighting, it does not in any way help the whole of the GLBTQ communities. Marriage Equality is but one side of a multi-faceted demand for full equality for all GLBTQ’s. While regional and state-wide change will be a critical part of a broader strategy, thinking in a bigger way means, we need to keep making grounds on multiple fronts across multiple states.

What do you think? Does White’s ideas shift your thinking?

Isobel White: Same Sex Marriage in CA: 8 Reasons Why We Should Lay Off the Debate over 2010 v. 2012.

An opposing viewpoint is presented here:

http://lezgetreal.com/?p=16408

The linked article is from Pam’s House Blend, and is a great read. I had something to say, but as I wrote, I realized it was really a separate post, so please check it out. The linked article is an excellent breakdown of the Prop 8  issue.

Pam’s House Blend:: July 2nd Could Spell The Beginning of the End for Prop 8 – The Team Behind the Case .

Blogger Nathan Carter started following me on Twitter, so I checked out his blog and there is some good stuff there! But I especially loved the YouTube video of “Grease” in his most recent blog entry.  Enjoy!

Prop 8 Supporters – Grease It & Swallow – GlobalHybrid.

Saw this on Pam’s House Blend. Cool video, spread it around! The video does a great job of characterizing the impact of CA Prop 8, although I’m not sure if this is what would/will really happen. The conservatives with power are not really interested in religious adherence even when they claim their Bible as the rationale for their anti-gay crusade. They hypocritically trot it out when it serves their interest, but they are happy to turn a blind eye when it is straight people who act counter to their literal interpretations.

YouTube – The Defenders (2009).

Andrew Sullivan does a nice job summarizing the 140 page decision and the arguments of the justices into 5 main points concerning California Prop 8. A good (short) read, as well as a big step towards gaining full equality. Most interesting is the second point:

(2) The deprivation of rights isn’t that big a deal, really, because all that’s been removed by Prop 8 is the word “marriage” rather than the rights that go with it;

I see this as possibly meaning 2 different things- one really good, and one really bad. So, I guess I need to find some time to dig into the full decision and see what they have to say about it.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan.

Most of the regular sources are reporting that the CA supreme Court will issue its decision on Prop 8 on Tuesday,and the expected result is that Prop 8 will be upheld, with the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed will be maintained as they are. Here are a number of good links to follow to know all about it and be prepared:

The Law Dork blog is one of my new favorites, worth reading daily. What Tuesday’s Prop 8 Ruling Will and Won’t Mean The California Supreme Court released its announcement (pdf) that the ruling in the cases challenging the validity of Proposition 8 will be coming at 10 a.m. Pacific time Tuesday, May 26. I covered the oral arguments in the case in a liveblog, and …

Answering your questions about Proposition 8 and gay marriage With the California Supreme Court set to rule Tuesday on Proposition 8, Times reporters Rong-Gong Lin II, Jessica Garrison and Maura Dolan are now taking your questions and comments on gay marriage in California. Submit them below. Reporters will post responses periodically over the next few days. On Tuesday, Lin will hold a live chat on L.A. Now after the decision is announced.

http://www.marriageequality.org/ Gay Marriage Rallies for May 26th, The Day of Decsion

Prop 8 decision comes down on 5/26/09/”Day of Decision” rallies nationwide (links/video) News just broke that the Supreme Court of California will file its decision on the constitutionality and validity of Proposition 8, this coming Tuesday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m.  Click here for the official court notice of filing, and here for “Day of Decision” rallies.

There have been rumors flying around about when the prop 8 decision will be made public. Could be tomorrow?

Take Action! Today’s Impact: Text “Decision” to 27336 for mobile alerts on the Prop 8 Day of Decision

The first link is to a newspaper article detailing how there has been a rise in anti-gay hate crimes. Of the total hate crimes reported in 2007 and 2008, the anti-gay hate crimes increased by 39%

According to Kaplan, at the Mercury News:

A hate crime is defined as a criminal act committed in whole or in part because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim: race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or association with a person or group with one or more of these characteristics.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11921999?nclick_check=1

The next link provides an interesting counter point to this. California Prop 8 supporters are appropriating queer language to describe how Christians are being treated.  Specifically Christian Bashing.  The first link below is a blog entry and video which explores this. Very worth watching, even if it is a bit hard to watch at places.

Yes on 8 = Yes to hate crimes « .

I wrote a blog post over on Queer Look at the Bible that fits with so much of what I have been writing here.  Check it out, and leave me comments on the blog!

http://qlatb.com/?p=127