The view on the election: We didn’t lose, we’re winning - Mark My Words

By Mark Segal
PGN Publisher

We didn’t lose in Maine. We won. Eight years ago in this column, I wrote that the issue of gay marriage was many years away. What it would take is education, and education on the issue is caused by debate. The referendum in Maine on Tuesday gave us just that — a public forum on the issue, just as it did with Proposition 8 in California. Those were battles along the route to victory, which is equality. So how did we win?

This is a battle and the way to judge how you’re doing is public-opinion polls and the votes of the people. Eight years ago, this column predicted that we were about 10 years away from marriage equality. We actually did a little better thanks to states like Massachusetts and Iowa. But here’s the simple fact: When we started this struggle for marriage equality, our polling numbers were in the low 30s. Today, we’re in the high 40s: That’s a march toward victory. But it takes the long view and it’s not an overnight success just because it’s right. We have to be willing to work for it.

Let’s compare this issue with an issue we’ve been working on in this country since the late 1960s: employment nondiscrimination. In polls in the 1960s, job protection for “homosexuals” was supported by only 27 percent of Americans. You read that right. That was the major issue that we, as a community, kept our eyes on for 40 years. And guess what? We can claim victory. On Tuesday, in all places where nondiscrimination was on the
ballot, we won. And many of the LGBT candidates running for office won.  Again, that is backed up by the polls. Today, if you ask any group of Americans — even limit it to churchgoers — the majority do not believe in any job discrimination against the LGBT community. The latest tracking gives us support in the high 70s.

So here are the answers to Tuesday’s election. We’re gaining each time we make marriage a forum. It won’t happen overnight, but we need to use communication as the tool. Keep the discussion going. But let me point out that the best thing we can do for our community — whether LGBT, married or not, in the military or not — is to end discrimination. Not all of us are married, not all of us are in the military, but most of us are employed and need job protection. We’ve already done the education work on nondiscrimination: Now it’s time to do the political homework and bring it home.

Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

The Advocate: Dueling Thoughts

Yesterday, ex-editor of The Advocate wrote a scathing letter in The Huffington Post regarding the editorial direction of the iconic mag. You be the judge.

"What the hell happened? What colossal cluster of f-ups managed to devastate a magazine that was so important even ten years ago that every serious news media in the world turned to it for back up sourcing when covering gay issues?"

Ironically, Paul Colichman, CEO of Here Media wrote a letter
to his readers. In it he states:

Dear Valued Readers,

Fourteen months have passed since Here Media 
integrated the Advocate and Out brands into 
our company. As we are about to release 
our year-end issues, I thought it a good time 
to share our vision regarding these venerable 
and iconic properties.

Read the whole letter here:

Now today, Paul Colichman, CEO of Regent Media, responds 

Now

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Case Seeking to Strip Away Domestic Partnership Protections

Decision Ensures Domestic Partnership Protections for Over 15,000 Wisconsin Same-Sex Couples

(Madison, Wisconsin November 4, 2009) —Today, Lambda Legal and Fair Wisconsin applaud the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to reject a lawsuit brought by Wisconsin Family Action, an antigay group attempting to strip away newly enacted domestic partnership protections for same-sex couples and their families.

“We are pleased that the Court has rejected this challenge to an important law that was validly enacted to protect Wisconsin families,” said Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office based in Chicago. “Because of today’s ruling, Wisconsin’s same-sex couples and their families who depend on domestic partnership protections can take care of each other in times of illness and crisis. Even with the discriminatory amendment excluding same-sex couples from marriage, the Wisconsin Constitution does not prevent enactment of laws that offer basic decency and security for couples. ”

Fair Wisconsin, the statewide LGBT advocacy group, along with national and regional allies, recently helped enact these important domestic partnership protections for same-sex couples. Fair Wisconsin, vigorous opponents of the 2006 amendment banning marriage equality and civil unions, is defending the new domestic partnership law.  Lambda Legal filed to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of Fair Wisconsin and its members to protect the few but fundamental protections granted to same-sex couples through the domestic partnership law. After reviewing the case, Wisconsin Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit.

“We are elated with this decision from the State Supreme Court,” says Executive Director Katie Belanger. “Over 15,000 same-sex couples in our state need the basic protections domestic partnerships provide.”

Supporting "Traditional Marriage" by Outlawing Divorce

Nothing like putting people's feet to the fire. We thought this initiative would really test how sanctimonious pro-prop 8 voters really are. If it doesn't pass, it could actually work in our favor.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Marcotte, a married father of two who voted against last year’s Prop 8, might seem an unusual proponent for a bill designed to further “protect traditional marriage” until he explains how he plans to do it: by outlawing divorce in the state of California.

“When I first heard about Prop 8, I figured that most of its proponents were homophobic, or had unfounded fears that allowing same-sex marriage in California would force classrooms to teach about the subject,” says Marcotte. “But when I learned that Prop 8 was really about protecting traditional marriage, I recognized that there was a real opportunity to go a step further and outlaw divorce, since it brings about the death of every traditional marriage.” 

Marcotte worked with an attorney friend to draft the legal language for his bill, The 2010 California Marriage Protection Act, and paid the $200 registration fee out of his own pocket to submit the proposal for consideration. His wife was initially hesitant to have Marcotte spend money on the idea, but donations quickly rolled into a website he created – http://www.rescuemarriage.org – that have paid for the expense. The website features video PSAs and T-shirts for sale, including one that states: “You said, ‘Til death do us part.’ You’re not dead yet.”

Just two weeks ago, Marcotte received approval from the office of California Secretary of State Debra Bowen for his marriage initiative, which prepared a legal title and summary (http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/2009/db09-063.pdf) that will appear on initiative petitions, the first step in placing the bill on the California ballot in 2010. There’s good news for taxpayers too: according to the Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance, the state could save hundreds of millions of dollars annually due to the elimination of divorce court proceedings.

The onus is now upon Marcotte and the bill’s supporters to collect the signatures of 694,354 registered voters, or 8 percent of the total votes cast in the 2006 election, by the March 22 deadline. Due to signature-gathering irregularities, the proponents of the initiative will likely have to collect more than 1 million signatures to advance their proposed text to the ballot for voters to consider. A rally is scheduled for November 14 in Sacramento, where married couples will renew their vows on the steps of the Capitol. Marcotte has already found a number of supporters from both the right and the left and has accrued more than 7,000 followers on Facebook.

For Marcotte, his Marriage Protection Act is but the first step in raising awareness about the next great battle to protect traditional marriage within California but he hopes that other states will take his lead and join in on the movement. “This isn’t about taking away someone’s rights, it’s about what we value as a society,” he says. “We live in a divorce-promiscuous society. It’s on the television, it’s in the movies, the newspapers. It’s even in our kids’ textbooks. Just because almost half of all marriages eventually end in divorce doesn’t make it okay.”

Marriage Equality USA Redoubles our Efforts to Win the Freedom to Marry by Collecting Stories of ‘Happily Ever Afters’

 
San Francisco:  "Our hearts go out to same-sex couples in Maine who have had their fundamental right to marry stripped away by a slim majority," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA.  "It's absolutely inhumane to put same-sex couples and their children through these grueling campaigns that only serve to promote hatred, ignorance and bigotry.  LGBT Americans deserve the same security and respect that marriage provides to all other families and we will continue on our journey that has brought us this far and continue to share our truth and the impact of discrimination – it is truly only a matter of time.  We, of the generation that has been tasked with the obligation to end legal discrimination against LGBT Americans must learn that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain…and dance and march and sing and pray is what we will do…and as our most beloved Dr. Martin Luther King has said, we will do so, '[u]ntil justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.'"

"We must continue to heed the advice of Harvey Milk and 'come out' to everyone we meet as supporters of marriage equality, as LGBT people, as sisters, brothers, parents and friends of gay people," said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director.  "Last night, we achieved victories in Washington State and Kalamazoo, seven openly gay candidates won in elections spanning the nation from St. Petersburg, Florida to Salt Lake City, Utah and two are in run-off elections in Houston, Texas and the 58th District in Georgia. And as people witness same-sex couples happily married in six states, living their lives, mowing their lawn, paying their taxes and as our families become woven into the seamless web of community and citizenship, the injustice of separate of unequal treatment will grow more and more apparent.  To help highlight our common humanity, Marriage Equality USA is launching a stories project, particularly in states where marriage equality is a reality.  We want to encourage same-sex couples, their families, straight allies, and other community members to share their experiences on the impact and importance of extending the freedom to marry to all loving, committed couples.  The stories we collect will be presented through a digital stories project that we will release during February's Freedom to Marry month."

To have your story including in this project, please complete the on-line survey at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kGFndFxQS4gCHuCU_2bKgBUg_3d_3d

"The diversity of our experiences is important to share because there are so many people to reach and we must reflect the reality that we are truly everywhere, in every community and demographic.  No one will do this for us, we must be the change we want to see in the world and it begins with sharing our truth.  Your story may be the one that will make a difference for some conflicted but potential marriage equality supporter," said Brown.  "So spread the word and send in your story today."

Equality Across America statement on the election

Today Americans in three locations voted on whether to recognize or deny the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people:

Residents of Maine voted on whether to overturn a state law that recognizes the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Residents of Washington voted on whether to overturn a state law that gives registered domestic partners the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations of married couples.
Residents of Kalamazoo, Michigan, voted on whether to overturn a city ordinance that bars discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"It's shameful that America lets majorities vote on the rights of minorities," said Flik Huang, 24, a straight woman and San Francisco resident who helped organize the National Equality March.  "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have been spending precious time and money fighting for something the U.S. Constitution says they should already have, which is equal protection under the law.  It's time for the federal government to end the second-class status of LGBT Americans."

Equality Across America is a network of decentralized organizers in every one of the 435 Congressional districts. These organizers form Congressional District Action Teams (CDATs) that work within their own communities to achieve full equality for LGBT Americans and their families. This includes the right to work our jobs and go to school free of harassment and discrimination; the right to safety in our daily lives, and protection from hate crimes; the right to equitable healthcare, and the right to donate blood; the right to equitable immigration policies; the right to marry; and the right to serve in the military openly.

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