Prop 8 Decision: We Won't Back Down
The California Supreme Court ruling brings bitter news: Proposition 8 will stand. While we take some solace that the loving couples who did marry in California will stay married, an estimated one million more individuals have been denied that dignity and right.
We are heartbroken. But we won't back down.
Human Rights Campaign members from around the country have sent in beautiful images and messages of support in recent weeks. A new video we created expresses both our profound hurt and our fierce resolve to fight for equality:
Today's decision hurts, but we have known this pain before. Ours is a movement powered by resilience. Once again, we will turn our anger into action.
In fact, we have already begun. To secure marriage equality, we know we must broaden, diversify and deepen faith-based support. So with California Faith for Equality, we have been building a coalition of clergy and lay leaders who will lead a long-term campaign of education and action. We will help train them to make equality part of their daily ministries. We'll give them the tools to be effective spokespeople who can speak of their faith and their belief in equality. We will also work with them to expand our volunteer base.
It's all about winning hearts and minds so we can repeal this hateful marriage ban, once and for all. And it's not just California. We need to keep the recent momentum for marriage equality alive until every loving couple across the nation has the right to marry.
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The people who oppose gay marriage are not the least bit interested in marriage. They're opposed to homosexuality.
(continued from 2d posting) to cause one of our chief opponents (the Mormon Church) a little of the pain they have caused us ) (ii) somebody of an Act-Up/ Think Pink mentality might propose (and follow through on) having the 3 California Supreme Court justices who originally voted against gay marriage heckled (or silently protested against) in every public speech they give or public appearance they attend to give them a sort of scarlet "P8" of shame, (iii) some one else might feel a tax protest is in order where they only pay 60-90% of their state taxes (but are sticklers for paying the rest and on time) because they believe the California Supreme Court has now officially decided that they are only 3/5ths or 9/10 of a person under California law. Some of these approaches would certainly fail, but might be worth it in terms of publicity, weakening our opponents, etc... All of these approaches would need lots of help. For example, the person or persons who felt a tax protest was in order would certainly lose in the short run, but there are ways to minimize the personal cost to them and to maximize the publicity in favor of gay marriage. One Act-Up member cannot attend every public event of the 3 California Supreme Court justices, etc. . . . Do you know of anyone who has the ability to pull off such a strategy/ alliance building/ resource sharing event?
(continued from prior posting)
2. I was thinking maybe it makes sense to have a few strategy sessions (say in LA, SF, and SD) where other organizations such as Act Up, SPI are specifically invited and the regular public is generally invited to see what else we can do. The idea would be to cast the net wide, so that we could brainstorm on approaches to end this legal discrimination against the LGBT community, help more people come to their own self-realization about what they can do to advance marriage equality, and allow like minded people to forge new politically motivated alliances. So, for example, in the recent past, on the legal side, if there had been a credible threat to recall the original 3 California justices who voted against gay marriage that might have helped the chances for a California Supreme Court decision invalidating P8, but such a threat seemed only to have been thought of and aired publicly too late in the game to have made any difference and was not credible in any event, On a going forward basis, ideas might be (i) an initiative to tax the Mormon church specifically equal to some estimate of what P8 has and will cost the economy of California (to illustrate the stupidity of the newly established state constitutional ability of the majority to legally trample upon politically unfavored minorities, to highlight the economic cost of discrimination, and (continued)
Mr. Solomonese,
1. First, thanks for all the good work you and your organization have done trying to advance LGBT rights over the years. Also, I think reaching out to the faith community makes a lot of sense. A lot of people of faith will come around. It just takes time (sometimes years) for them to come around and it takes someone who can speak their language and who genuinely comes from a position of faith. So, for example, I think every Episcopal bishop in the state of California signed a letter opposing P8, but that story got out late and did not get the play it should have (the EC is not in the business of knowing how to maximize publicity), so that many people of faith still reflexively believe “God is against gays and/or gay marriage." If you can get the faith based argument in favor of gay marriage out there (e.g., if God is so against gays, why did Jesus never speak word one against gays), it will help a lot. Of course, we should also specifically work on establishing a dialogue with the black churches. (continued on next post)
Don't, don't give up the fight. We've had SSM for several years now in Canada and guess what - nobody even talks about it anymore. A few right wing homophobes still get all tied up in knots about it, but they'll never change.
You know, people are worried about more important things - their jobs, their future, etc.
SSM hasn't changed a damn thing - but the fear mongers want you to believe you're country will collapse if you allow this. No so.
We're still functioning, Spain and the other countries that all SSM are still functioning. In fact, it's better because the anger and fighting and nonsense is over and people have moved on to other more important things that affect their lives.
Don't give up the fight for your rights. By the way, I'm heterosexual, just in case someone wants to think I have this opinion because they'll want to believe I'm gay.
you cannot treat one segment of society as second class just because of the religious ignorance and bigotry, no matter how many religious bigots there are. If gay marriage insults these people, then I say these people very much insult me too. We have to rise above the ignorance and bigotry. This country needs to give equal rights to all of our people and we CANNOT let religious ignorance get in the way of the principal of equality. Civil and human rights are for ALL people, not just the ones the religious people approve of. The princial of equality for all people means for ALL people. As it stands now one group of perfectly decent tax paying patriotic americans are denied equal status because of a vocal group of radical religious fanatics. THIS is NOT American. it is typical of the church, that is always wrong about everything, that stops progress constantly , but it is NOT an American value or principal to deny a group of people rights just because you dont like them or understand them. so to all the bigots and idiots who have no clue about gay people, only their prejudice........is this the American dream you envision???
I cannot believe that those supposedly educated people make such a horrible decision. Gay people
are people too, it is not their choice. How can anyone in a supposedly Christian Nation make such
decisions is beyond me. One reason I abandoned religion. Hope this will pass too with the next
time.
christian morality is cheap, the kind you get at a dollar store...it is fake, common and vulgar. if hating gays is there idea of morality, I can do better than that! maybe they should think about why so many are leaving their horrible litle cults in droves. we can do better than this.
I'm at the point I'm so tired of fighting for something that seems like it should just be my right! I don't want any more than straight people have, I just want equal.
If I were in my 20's or even 30's I would be full of energy to fight this, but right now I'm so depressed from this, yet I know I can't give up.
I see now why so many young teens turn to suicide as the only way out after be bullied for so long.
When is this man that we elected President going to come forward and do just ONE thing that he promised to do for the Gay Community.
I'm tired of hearing be patient, it's only been 4 months. Well, this fight has been 55 years and I'm tired. I'm tired of fighting.
Now that it is legal in California for the People to decide on everyone's Rights let's put a Prop on the ballet that ends the tax exempt status of all religious institutions.
Ya want your rights? Take 'em! Here's how:
1 Every Gay person find a partner of the opposite gender.
2 Get married. No, really!
3 Wait a week.
4 File for divorce. (contested but no lawyers)
5 Choke the courts with these actions. Smother 'em.
6 Once divorce is final.... rinse and repeat.
Should take take a couple months.
That is just crazy enough to work. I like it.
That's a fine idea but you best have a good prenuptial agreement or else it could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
Every civl rights movement in the history of this great nation has faced setbacks but eventually prevailed. This is just a setback, justice and equality under the constitution will prevail as it always has.
LET'S ALL MOVE TO FRANCE!
http://www.wat.tv/video/gayclic-collab-contre-homophobie-1igmb_1igmc_.html
Don't tell us Solmonese. Tell the leaders of Gay rights groups to get off their butts and go stright down to the White House to insist Obama keep his word about our rights. All they do is have very private meeetings and nothing happens.
Obama is against gay marriage, i.e. equal rights.
Why are same gender people being denied the right to enter into a civil legal contract that has absolutely nothing in the contract that demands the parties engage in any form of sex. If sex is not required of the 2 parties then what is it the business of the court or government the genders of the 2 parties involved? Children nor childbearing are an requirement of a civil marriage contract either. Again I ask what reason to prohobit me from a civil marriage contract based on gender?
We shall overcome, someday we shall overcome.
Contempt in your eyes
As I turn to kiss his lips
Broken I lie
All my feelings denied
Blood on your fist
Can you tell me why?
You in your false securities
Tear up my life
Condemning me
Name me an illness
Call me a sin
Never feel guilty
Never give in
Tell me why?
You and me together
Fighting for our love
Can you tell me why?
~Bronski Beat
we can do it nice or we can do it rough. dont assume all gay men are just sissies you can talk to like dirt. one day you may meet one who is armed and has had about a butt full of your hateful ignorance.!!!!
Huh?
Gays and lesbians, as a group, are not overly prone to violence. They are in fact, much less likely to commit a violent crime than are heterosexuals. We don't murder people for being straight, for example.
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