Our Post Prop 8 Strategic Approach

A new study on California's vote to ban same-sex marriage has revealed that far fewer African Americans voted for the ban. Exit polls released shortly after election day showed that about 70% voted for the ban, but the new in-depth study found a much different number: 57% to 59%. Out of roughly 700,000 African American votes, that's a huge difference.

Though I don't want to get into the details of the study, it does conclude that race was less of a factor in determining one's vote - it was more age, ideology and religious beliefs across ethnic groups.

As a community, the LGBT response to the vote has been to focus on minority groups in an effort to educate them more about who we are and how we live our lives, to show them that we are just like everyone else. And though this is good and must continue, this new study shows that only time can make the big change. Why? A quote from The Advocate.com:

"Perhaps surprisingly, the study also revealed that partisanship and ideology trumped the fact of knowing someone who is openly LGBT. About two-thirds of the state’s self-identified conservatives knew someone who was gay and about 4 out of five of them voted for the measure – the same exact ratio of conservatives who voted for Prop. 8 but didn’t know an openly LGBT person. Republicans demonstrated a similar pattern, with about four out of five of them voting to pass the ban regardless of whether they knew anyone who was out or not."

To really make a significant change in society so that, if necessary, same-sex marriage can pass on the ballot, people's beliefs and ideology must change, something that will likely never happen. Reaching out to this group doesn't appear to make that much of a difference because 4 out of 5 of them, who knew someone from the LGBT community, still voted to strip us of our rights.

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So where's the hope? What's the key to our success? The new generation involved in what is currently known as the "youth movement." Just eight years ago, Prop 22 passed with 61% of the vote, while Prop 8 barely made it with 52% (Graph). Many of the "No on Prop 8" votes came from those who weren't old enough to vote in 2000, and not just secular youth. There's a panic in the right wing as they realize their own youth are trending towards support for same-sex marriage (read this illuminating article from ABCNews.com about the shift). This shift isn't just for gay rights, but also abortion.

This new generation is our key to success, our hope. When I say it may take time for our success, I don't mean a lot of time. I'm not going to "wait", a piece of advice MLK rejected in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". I'm going to help educate those who are open-minded, who are willing to look at me as a person and not a plague to "the family", who can see past lifestyle differences and respectfully acknowledge me as a fellow citizen of their country, not a second-class citizen. I'm not going to waste my resources on those who have proven again and again that though they may love me to my face, will continually stab me in the back by voting my rights away. And if we do in fact get a new initiative on the ballot in 2010, a mere year away, to allow same-sex marriage, I have complete faith that, with the help of this new generation of both secular and evangelical youth and our renewed focus on them, it will indeed pass.

Gay Marriage Opponents File Responses to Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown

Claiming that California Attorney General Jerry Brown's brief supporting the invalidation of Prop 8 "failed on every level," gay marriage opponents filed briefs Monday in rebuttal to Brown's "invented an entirely new theory."

Brown's brief relied on the argument that "the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."

Whitewater prosecutor and Pepperdine Law School Dean, Kenneth Starr, co-wrote the brief along with the Protect Marriage Coalition, saying Brown's theory is "utterly without foundation in this court's case law" and "is not only unprecedented but contradicts the most basic understanding of the role of the judiciary in a constitutional democracy."

Gay marriage proponents, surprised by Brown's about face, agreed with the attorney general that Prop 8 should be invalidated, but on the grounds that it was a revision to the state constitution and required a two-thirds majority of the legislature before it could go to the ballot, an argument that Brown rejected.

The California Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on Prop 8 in March.

Marcha Somos Familia: We Are Family March

This Sunday, January 4th, Somos Familia is hosting a march in East Los Angeles in protest of Proposition 8.

As part of their mission statement, Somos Familia is using this march to "not only. . . voice our disappointment on the passing of Proposition 8 but to also encourage dialogue and love among all friends, families, and allies of the LGBT communities."

Hoping to be one of the first large marches in East Los Angeles, it can be effective in reaching those who are not regularly exposed to the LGBT communities. Unlike the prior protests held in allied neighborhoods, this march can bring together immigrants facing everyday discrimination, LGBT community members sidelined as second-class citizens due to Proposition 8, African Americans who face daily racial prejudice and more. Though these communities don't always see eye-to-eye, Proposition 8 is not only a threat to the LGBT community, but to other minority groups as well. If one group of citizens could have their rights stripped away, this makes all minority groups vulnerable.

For more information, see the calendar at the bottom of blog or visit Somos Familia Facebook Event Page.

NEW UPDATE: Events in Response to the Richmond, CA Hate Crime Attack

NEW UPDATE: The four alleged attackers have been arrested. Thankfully, Sunday's leafleting event is no longer needed now that the rapists are in custody. Read the full article with video and images on the arrest.

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On Saturday, December 20th, a 28 year old woman was attacked when she got out of her car, beaten, taken to a desolate area and gang raped by four men. Authorities believe it was a hate crime because of the woman's homosexuality. During the attack, the four men made references to her sexual orientation. Read article for full story. Video

UPDATE: In an email from the organizers of the two events posted earlier in this post, they reported, "It is your compassion and your actions that has given the victim, "Richmond's Jane Doe" and her family something very powerful, HOPE.

"Between Saturday's Candle Vigil & Sunday's Leafleting in Richmond, over 200 people showed up and over 2000 fliers were issued through-out the community.

"It was our energy and interaction with the community that provided several possible leads that are now being investigated by Richmond's police department."

As a result of the success of the above, they are doing a new event.

NEW EVENT

What: Leafleting for Justice on behalf of "Richmond's Jane Doe"
Where: Wal-Mart 1400 Hilltop Mall Road Richmond, CA 94806
When: This Sunday January 4, 2009
Time: 1:00 p.m. Sharp

Two events are scheduled this weekend in response to the attack. See calendar at the bottom of blog for further details.

FIRST EVENT

What: Candlelight Vigil & Protest Against Hate Crimes
When: This Saturday Night, December 27th.
Time: 9:30 P.M. Sharp To 10:00 P.M.
Where: 1500 Visalia Ave, Richmond Ca
Note: Please bring a candle, and do your best to carpool out of respect for the neighborhood.

SECOND EVENT

What: Visibility & Involvement with The Community by Issuing out Fliers of the "Most Wanted Criminals"
When: Sunday, December 28th.
Time: 1:00 P.M Sharp
Where: 4 mins from where the attack took place, meeting In front of Foods company, 1250 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94801
Note: Rain or Shine

The Community Violence Solutions and Rape Crisis Center has set up an account for donations to go to the victim. 100% of the money will go to her so she can replace her car, relocate and take time off from work.

To donate, Click on this link. IMPORTANT: You must indicate that it's fro Richmond Jane Doe.

Happy New Year!

2009 poses to be a year full of hard work ahead for the community, but it also has the potential to have many historical victories for the LGBT community. It's been years since we've been active as a whole, fighting for what is right. Let this inspire us to continue the fight so that we can experience many bright years ahead.

This doesn't have to be just a dream. It can be a reality. Keep up the fight, and it will be.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009! Make it historical!