Proposition 8 2010 Repeal Supporters, Not Swayed by Criticism, Explain Strategy Behind the Five Initiatives Submitted

UPDATE 11/19 8:45am PST: San Diegans kick off Prop 8 repeal signature drive

Original posted 11/18/09:

For a year now, the debate on when to go back to the ballot to restore marriage equality to California and repeal Proposition 8 has raged not only amongst the Golden State's LGBT population and its allies but also nationwide.

After the devastating defeat in Maine, the fundamentalist pundits claimed that it was a sign Americans were not ready for legalized same-sex marriage, despite the many advances in Iowa and New England. Unfortunately, contrary to what the politicians say, legislators in both New York and New Jersey appear to have taken a cue from what happened in Maine and are dragging their heels on voting for proposed marriage equality legislation in their respective states.

Currently, the District of Columbia shines as the one bright spot in the nation with its marriage equality bill predicted to pass before the end of the year, despite the Archdiocese of Washington threatening to end Catholic charities if marriage equality is legalized in the jurisdiction.

Amongst these developments, Love Honor Cherish (LHC), the California based LGBT grassroots group leading the charge for a 2010 Proposition 8 repeal, announced Monday the launch of the signature gathering campaign for its ballot initiative. Alongside the announcement, it kicked off the social site and online campaign hub, Sign For Equality.

"SignForEquality.com today launched a groundbreaking effort to gather signatures to repeal Proposition 8 and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples marking the first time that social networking technology has been used to qualify a California initiative for the ballot," said the group's press release Monday.

On the same day, California Secretary of State issued a statement that five ballot initiatives had been submitted and approved for signature gathering that caused some confusion.

CA SoS Statement on Five Marriage Equality Ballot Initiatives

John Henning, co-founder of LHC, confirmed with Unite the Fight (UTF) that five versions of repeal language were submitted to the Secretary.

"The reason we submitted five back in September was because of ongoing discussions about which five were most appealing to voters," Henning said. "There were some that voters responded to better."

At the time the language was submitted, Courage Campaign was in the middle of conducting research that LHC hoped would give guidance on which version was the best.

"The research that was underway at the time did inform the five ways the language was written, but we didn’t have any conclusive results on which of the five versions was the best. So we made that decision based on our own good judgment," Henning said.

Henning explained that all the language is very similar and was vetted by very prominent lawyers in the marriage movement, along with other leaders and Equality California (EQCA), the state's largest LGBT advocacy group.

Marc Solomon, Marriage Director for EQCA, confirmed this back in October with UTF. "It was mainly Geoff," he said, referring to Geoff Kors, EQCA's Executive Director. "He’s a Stanford educated lawyer and has much more legal expertise than I do."

Version 5 or 09-0042 ended up being the final language behind which the signature gathering campaign was launched. Henning said that the statewide organizing group Restore Equality 2010 (RE 2010) was involved in the decision making process.

"The final decision was made about a week before they were approved," Henning informed. "We allowed for plenty of time to think about it and [RE 2010]'s Interim Administrative Group (IAG) to consider the matter and give advice. We waited to choose because we wanted the input from everybody we could possibly have."

Henning said that the executive committee of LHC was strongly in favor of version 5 and that the IAG voted unanimously for it.

The full language reads:

This amendment would amend an existing section of the California Constitution. Existing language proposed to be deleted is printed in strikeout type. Language proposed to be added is printed in underlined type.

Section 1. To protect religious freedom, no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution.

Section 2. To provide for fairness in the government’s issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

In an email blast sent out Monday, RE 2010 gave a list of actions for supporters of the signature gathering campaign, including donating to reach their goal of $10,000 to cover the cost of the petition drive.

“We set a goal of $10,000 between now and December 1 for a variety reasons," said Jane Wishon, who is part of RE 2010's IAG. "We need money to start the process, update our website and logo, and provide resources for signature gatherers all over the state so that can be out gathering signatures rather than worrying about raising the money needed.”

“At the same time, we need to prove to the larger donors in the community that we’re legitimate, we’re for real and that we can do this,” she added. Monday's email stated they had succeeded in raising 20% of their goal. "I think today we’re at 25% or over $2,500."

LHC will act as the clearinghouse for the signatures that are turned in and will safeguard those submitted either online or mailed to their PO Box that has been set up to receive large amounts of mail.

The Blueprint for Equality, LHC's strategy on a 2010 victory released in July, states that 5,500 volunteers will be needed over the course of 150 days to gather the one million signatures required to qualify for the ballot. 5,000 will each spend one day gathering 100 signatures per volunteer, another 500 "super-volunteers" will spend 10 days gathering the same amount each day.

"What we are looking for is a combination of hardcore volunteers" and others who will give one day said Henning. "The ten days over 150 days is one full day every two weeks for the volunteer. To me it’s a commitment, but it’s not an enormous commitment. We’re looking for 500 people throughout the state to give us that commitment."

"Many of these people we won’t actually ever meet because they’ll be inspired to do it through the website or send them in through the mail," Henning added. "On top of that, they’ll be many people who will be sending just 10 signatures. They’ll have friends and family sign and then send them in."

Gathering 100 signatures in a day is challenge, but Henning doesn't doubt that they'll qualify for the ballot. "I'm extremely confident. I wouldn’t be spending my own time if I didn’t think this will be getting on the ballot."

But LHC and RE 2010 have faced many naysayers, some going as far as urging people to decline to sign the petition. They fear that going to the ballot this soon after Prop 8 will create a backlash against the marriage movement. Others have pointed out that polling has shown no shift in opinion in California on the issue of same-sex marriage, and after the defeat in Maine, believe it is unwise to move forward.

"Sadly, there’s a lot of defeatism in our community," Henning responds. "Some of it comes from the pain of losing Prop 8. You have to have faith that things are going to be better. We can’t just wallow in defeat and fear. People are capable of changing their minds. I know there are people who think we can’t win and they’re always be people who think we can’t win. But there are many people who do."

Henning, whose grandfather is from Maine, has spent every summer of his life in Pine Tree state, claims that Maine wasn't a factor in their decision to move forward. "The defeat in Maine was always possible," he said. "Maine is a relatively rural state. It’s not nearly as diverse of a state as California. Not many people know gay people in Maine. I was amazed that it even got far enough for people to vote."

"What happens in a state that is 3,000 miles away and is 1/30 of the size of California doesn’t really affect what happens in California," he added.

Others resistant to going back in 2010 accuse the groups leading the charge of steamrolling and wonder why LHC should be the ones to heading it up.

"Our group has heart and we represent a part of the pure grassroots in the state," Henning said. "We are not a staffed organization. We are not controlled by big donors. We are doing this because we think it’s the right thing to do. There is no agenda. I think people should look to that, that we have consistently pushed for this with no other agenda."

Henning paused for a moment, then added, "Restore Equality 2010 is another group that has taken a leadership position because these other staffed groups have chosen not to. It was never our intention to be the leader of the 2010 charge, and we’re not going to sit down because a large group that claims to be in charge of the movement has decided not to play ball."

EQCA has stated that if the language qualifies for the 2010 ballot, then they will throw their weight behind the campaign to give the best chances of a victory.

"We’re not going to abandon the effort once the initiative qualifies," Henning remarked. "We’re going to be a part of it. We hope that Equality California will be part of it. They said they will be. I hope we do it all together. We know that a lot of people in the LGBT community want this."

Images by Phillip Minton.

To Give or Not To Give to the "Not-So-Bad-Guys"

The line has been drawn in the sand.

For months now, the growing discontent between the DNC/Obama Administration and the LGBT population has been boiling, and not so much under the surface. But with America Blog's announcement on Monday of the "Don't Ask, Don't Give" DNC donation boycott, the tension has erupted.

Though many have already decided not to give to the DNC, and big names demonstrated their annoyance by declining to attend the DNC LGBT fundraising dinner after the infamous DOMA brief from the DOJ comparing same-sex relationships to incest, this is the first organized action where people will sign their names and pledge not to give.

But for how long?

We are asking voters to pledge to withhold contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, and the Obama campaign until the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is passed, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) is repealed, and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is repealed -– all of which President Obama repeatedly promised to do if elected.

And why now?

Joe Sudbay and John Aravosis give a long list of reasons to do this now, some of which I agree with, some I don't. But a majority is undeniable fact and reading the list sure stokes the embers of anger I've been feeling for some time.

I believe the tipping point came when Obama refused to acknowledged the ballot initiatives in Maine and Washington and the controversy that erupted when the DNC sent a pre-election email out to supporters telling them to support Democratic candidates, but failed to mention the LGBT issues. Even worse, the email went to Mainers urging them to go to New Jersey to help incumbent Gov. Corzine keep his office. (He didn't.) The email did not urge Mainers to vote NO on Question 1 nor to volunteer for the campaign.

So who's behind this boycott, or a more accurate word, "pause"?

Joe and I are launching today a donor boycott of the DNC. The boycott is cosponsored by Daily Kos, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake, Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Paul Sousa (Founder of Equal Rep in Boston), Pam Spaulding, Robin Tyler (ED of the Equality Campaign, Inc.), Bil Browning for the Bilerico Project, Andy Towle and Michael Goff of Towle Road, and soon others.

It’s really more of a “pause,” than a boycott. Boycotts sounds so final, and angry. Whereas this campaign is temporary, and is only meant to help some friends – President Obama and the Democratic party – who have lost their way. We are hopeful that via this campaign, our friends will keep their promises.

News of the pause has burned up the internet since the announcement yesterday and already many more are joining up.

Long-time activist David Mixner, who originally made the call for the National Equality March, said on his blog today, "How many times has the LGBT civil rights movement been told over and over and over again to wait until after the next set of elections? Do they really believe we are that dumb? That we don't realize that politics and elections change can change the political complexion of a nation overnight? We know that in the near future we will not see a time again when we will have sixty Democratic senators and a comfortable margin in the House. What makes our Democratic leaders think it will be better in 2011? Won't we be told then to wait until after President Obama is re-elected?"

"This craziness has to stop and it has to stop now," Mixner continued. "This is not about politics, it is about freedom and justice."

Emmy Ruby-Sachs wrote on the Huffington Post:

...for gay voters, the two party system is particularly offensive. Republicans are outwardly horrible on gay issues and the bulk of the gay vote will, automatically, go to Democratic candidates. There are no alternative candidates ready to take a stand for equality and thus, there are no consequences for Democrats when they fail to promote the equal rights agenda.

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It's a scary thought: taking dollars away from the not-so-bad guys only helps the really bad guys on election day. But the boycott has its timing right and that might make all the difference in this fight: there is still an opportunity for the Democratic Party to take concrete strides towards eliminating the legal discrimination against LGBT Americans before the campaign dollars really matter. If they show progress, the boycott (or the "pause" in fundraising as AMERICAblog calls it) will end.

I think the freeze in fundraising is a great idea. I also think the problem with the gay rights agenda in Congress has more to do with the political system than the particularly spineless nature of most Democratic representatives.

Even more surprising, the HRC, which is usually not for rocking the boat especially when it comes to the Democrats, has given "tacit endorsement" says David Dayen at Fire Dog Lake.

Asking them what they thought of the pause, HRC responded to Dayen, "Individual donors should always make their own careful assessments of how to spend limited political contributions. We all need to focus on the legislative priorities identified by AmericaBlog and with whatever tactic individuals decide to employ, the ultimate objective needs to be securing the votes we need to move our legislative agenda forward."

So if you want to put some good ol' grassroots pressure on the Democrats, go sign the pledge "Don't Ask, Don't Give."

Reject Referendum 71 Supporters Appealing Signature Release Order to U.S. Supreme Court

UPDATE: Turns out Randall was right. Justice Kennedy has intervened, putting a hold on the federal ruling until he reviews the request to hear the case.

Gary Randall, leader of the Faith & Freedom Network who is also a leader in the Protect Marriage Washington/Reject Referendum 71 campaign (see their ridiculous ad), has announced that they plan to appeal the 9th Circuit Court's ruling that they release the petition signatures that were responsible for getting the anti-LGBT initiative on Washington state's ballot. If Washingtonians reject Referendum 71, they will strip gays and lesbians of their new domestic partnership rights.

The Olympian reports that Randall wrote:

I received an email from attorney James Bopp, Jr. this afternoon, filling us in on some further developments on R-71.

He said the three-member panel was very liberal leaning and sometimes hostile toward our positions. Not a big surprise.

Attorney Bopp is taking the matter to the Supreme Court and has contacted Justice Kennedy. As I am typing this update, I just received an email telling us that Justice Kennedy has called for a response to the application to vacate the stay. The response is due Monday, October 19. This is very positive. The vast majority of times the application is denied without requiring a response.

I cannot give more detail, but we all want you to know we are doing everything humanly possible to protect your rights and freedoms to participate in the election process with out the fear of retribution.

There is another action item in play this weekend that I cannot discuss publicly at the moment, however, it will play out over the next couple of days.

This is yet another obstacle facing Secretary of State Sam Reed's office, who planned to release the signatures claiming its a matter of public record, but they also face another suit filed by a petition supporter.

LGBT-rights opponents fear harassment if the names are released. Tom Lang, director of knowthyneighbor.org, working in conjunction with Washington activists of whosigned.org, plans to post the names on his site.

Get involved. Go to Approve71.org!

Federal Appeals Court Fast Tracks Referendum 71 Hearing on Release of Petition Signatures

Washington state's public records law is a stake in the case over petition signatures that enabled anti-LGBT Referendum 71 to get on November's ballot.

Those who opposed Washington's "everything but marriage law", which extended all the rights and benefits of marriage to domestic partner,s were responsible for Referendum 71, but they want the identities of those who signed to get it on the ballot private fearing harassment from LGBT advocacy groups. Brian Murphy, who blogs as the Gay Curmudgeon, vowed to post the names on his website, similar to what Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate did to those who signed to get Prop 8 on the ballot.

Yet keeping the names private violates the state's public records law.

Earlier this month, Federal Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction against releasing the names, but state Attorney General Rob McKenna appealed.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has granted McKenna's request for a fast-track appeal. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 in Pasadena, California.

"The bottom line for us is that we will do what is necessary to protect our public records law," says AG office spokesman Dan Sytman. When asked if they'll take the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary: "We are very serious about defending our public records law, so I think we have a record for going the distance on that."

Vote to APPROVE the new domestic partnership law. APPROVE REFERENDUM 71.

Iowa Ethics Board Sends Sharply Worded Warning to NOM

One Iowa, an LGBT advocacy group, posted this morning that National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has received a sharp warning from Iowa Ethics Board for their involvement in Iowa politics.

This week NOM started airing almost $90,000 worth of ads concentrated on a single rural Iowa House District. NOM's goal: to elect anti-gay candidates and overturn the freedom to marry in Iowa and across the country.

In a August 27 letter, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, warns the National Organization for Marriage about their campaign activities in Iowa. Here are the key points of the warning (full letter at bottom of post):

• Only an “insignificant and insubstantial amount” of NOM’s income is permitted to come from business organizations
• If advocacy activities in Iowa exceed $750, NOM must form a PAC and disclose contributors
• “To continue to file an independent expenditure statement for future elections in Iowa would mean that your organization is not raising more than $750 from outside sources for such purposes”

Last Friday NOM filed an independent expenditure report for nearly $90,000 worth of ads. The letter makes clear that to continue to file in this manner would run afoul of Iowa election laws.

One Iowa has been calling for NOM to release the names of their contributors since Monday. Please sign our petition now to keep their feet to the fire!

NOM had previously marketed the following claim to perspective donors: “NOM has the ability to protect donor identities, ensuring that you, your family, and your business are not targeted by gay marriage advocates for harassment.”

The anti-gay marriage group has spent thousands to flood rural Iowa with ads for an anti-gay legislative candidate and has raised funds specifically for their “Reclaim Iowa” campaign. The special election is set for next Tuesday and reports show that NOM has spent more than either of the candidates have spent on the race!

NOM is trying to buy this special election! Demand that they release their donors!

NOM has a history of funneling money from the Mormon Church into anti-gay measures, while refusing to disclose the source of their funds.

Demand NOM disclose who is funding their anti-marriage equality campaign ads by signing One Iowa's petition!

Iowa Ethics Board Warning to NOM

People for the American Way Send Obama Letter Imploring Him to Act on Promises for LGBT Equality

This amazing letter was sent to President Obama today from Michael B. Keegan, President of the People for the American Way.

June 23, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

I am writing to respectfully urge you to bring the energetic moral vision that you championed as a presidential candidate to the cause of equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

Among the reasons that millions of people were inspired by your candidacy was your eloquence on behalf of an America in which everyone is offered respect and equality under the law. At People For the American Way, we disagreed with your decision to stop short of supporting marriage equality, but we welcomed the clarity with which you articulated the constitutional principle of equality in so many other areas. That vision energized not only gays and lesbians, but many other fair-minded Americans who recognize discrimination as a national moral failing, who view equality under the law as a defining part of the American Way, and who believe the country is ready to discard discrimination based on bigotries that should be left in our past. That vision would be even more powerful coming from you as president, but since your election we have heard very little.

Any reasonable person is aware of the extraordinary challenges that faced the nation as you took office, including a dire financial crisis that has cost millions of Americans their jobs, homes, and access to health care. You have not shied from these most daunting of challenges. But it seems that you have shied from promoting the vision of equality that you articulated during your campaign.
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Legislative change is needed, and we will continue to push Members of Congress and the Democratic leadership to move forward to end discrimination against LGBT Americans even as they grapple with other urgent national priorities. We are counting on you to call for and help win passage of legislation that you pledged to support.

As importantly, Mr. President, you are uniquely capable of communicating to the American public the moral and constitutional values at stake in ending discrimination against gay Americans. Beyond the clear harm to gay and lesbian Americans, the lack of your leadership on these issues damages both America’s sense of fairness and the credibility of your administration.

Your recent action to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, and your statement from the Oval Office committing yourself to work tirelessly toward equality, could have been the kind of moment that was celebrated as a milestone on the march toward equality. But instead it had the feel of, and was reported as, an incremental half-measure rushed onto the stage to placate a discontented political constituency.

While your comments in opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act at the recent signing ceremony were welcome, they would have carried more weight as part of a larger ongoing effort to educate the American public about the moral need for LGBT equality. Moreover, the impact of your words was blunted coming so soon after your administration’s brief in support of DOMA using arguments that degraded gay and lesbian couples. You may have felt it was your duty to defend the law, but your argument that discrimination against same-sex couples doesn't count as discrimination and citation of case law on incest to claim that marriages of gay couples are unworthy of legal recognition was beyond the pale. Americans who support equality would not have been at all surprised if that brief had been filed by the Bush Administration. Coming from you, particularly without a broader public affirmation of your commitment to equality, it had the force of a hard slap in the face by someone we trusted.

Moreover, in the absence of a stronger statement about the importance of equality for all Americans, it has been equally difficult for your supporters to understand the continued discharges under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell of service members devoting their lives to our country. Congress should vote to repeal the destructive law that destroys military careers and robs the armed forces of highly trained soldiers, but until that happens, you should use your authority as commander-in-chief to suspend discharges of these personnel until that law is changed.

We have seen you change a nation’s conversation with an extraordinarily compelling speech on the issue of race in America. We have seen you change the perceptions of the world with a historic speech on history, pluralism, respect, and democracy to the world’s Muslims. We have seen you bring grace and conviction to the debate with your speech at Notre Dame about preserving a woman’s right to choose.

On the question of LGBT equality, it’s time to make that speech.

Mr. President, you have the opportunity to be on the right side of history. Every day, LGBT Americans face discrimination and are being denied their constitutional rights. There is no one in public life who could, and based on your stated principles and promises should, do more to move America forward toward becoming a country in which LGBT people are respected and treated as fully equal under our Constitution and laws.

We ask for your leadership and voice. When you lead, we will back you with every bit of heart and determination we can muster.

Sincerely,

Michael B. Keegan
President
People For the American Way


ACTION: Sign the People for the American Way's petition to President Obama and Congress to Dump DOMA.

Petition Started Urging Reconciliation Between LDS Church and LGBT Population

A petition has been created seeking the reconciliation between the Mormon LDS Church and the LGBT population and will be delivered to the church's headquarters on the first anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8.

The petition's website, LDSApology.org states:

By signing the Petition and spreading the word about it, you will be sending a message to the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that it is time for reconciliation. More importantly, you will be showing support for those who have been harmed by Church policies and practices because of their sexual orientation.

A part of the petition reads:

True reconciliation requires that parties on both sides of this issue be willing to honestly examine their attitudes, behaviors (including past behaviors), policies and practices—and be open to understanding, forgiveness (both asking for and accepting), and apology.

For individuals who have suffered or been forced to watch a loved one suffer mistreatment, misunderstanding, or demonization as a consequence of the LDS church's official policies, actions, and teachings regarding sexual orientation, we understand that true reconciliation will require rejecting redress through hostility, will take time, and be a difficult process.

For Church leaders, reconciliation requires examining ways in which official statements, rhetoric, policy and practice have been injurious to gays and lesbians and their families and friends; have caused unnecessary pain and suffering, rejection, psychological and spiritual damage and even death. This means scrupulously acknowledging such practices as “reorientation”-- reparative, revulsion, and shock-therapies; such teachings as homosexuality being an evil perversion, a condition that is chosen and changeable and one that can be overcome through fasting, prayer, sacrifice and heterosexual marriage; and using scriptures that are taken out of context, mistranslated or that are highly selective to condemn homosexuality. It also means to repudiate publicly circulated articles, essays, books, speeches, and conference addresses that have stereotyped or demonized gays and lesbians.

Though I am always for reconciliation between disputing parties, true reconciliation requires action on both sides to change behavior. To be constructive and not just empty words, full faith must be given to create a new beginning.

In this case, I don't see the Mormon church staying out of the 2010 marriage equality referendums facing both Maine and possibly again in California. Currently, the National Organization for Marriage is being investigated as being a front for the Mormon church, and whether or not it's true, asking the LGBT population to trust the church to keep to its promise of reconciliation will be near impossible. Nor will they ever believe the church will stick to its proper place when it comes to politics and voter referendums.

I truly wish that we could all come to a place of understanding, and I support the amazing intentions of the petitioners. From the beginning of this blog, I've stated that I was against focusing our anger on the Mormons for what happened here in California, and as this petition shows, not all Mormons agree with the church leaders. But I disagree with the website's notion "that the time is right for healing over this issue to begin." The harm is still too fresh and painful and ongoing.

I think true healing will begin once the LDS Church renounces its theological stance against the LGBT population, similar to what it did in regards to African Americans and polygamy. Maybe then can the long path to true reconciliation begin. Until then, I don't see this petition as anything more than empty words falling on the deaf ears of the church leadership, despite the good intentions. And that makes me sad.

But hopefully, it will begin a dialogue with the church. And that, I can support.

If you wish to read and sign the petition, you can find it at LDSApology.org.

To find out more about other Mormon groups that support marriage equality, check out Mormons For Marriage and Affirmation.

Reports Claim Lies Used to Gather Signatures for Maine's Anti-Marriage Equality Initiative

The Sun Journal reports that signature gatherers for an initiative to overthrow Maine's marriage equality law are lying to voters to get their John Hancocks on their petition forms.

One voter told the Journal that when a signature gatherer approached him, she had two petitions - one to support marriage equality, one to overthrow it. The voter asked her why she would have one to support a law that already exists, but when she didn't respond, he looked at the form and realized it was the exact same one as the petition against it.

"It's a buyer beware situation for the voter; they really need to be sure of what they are signing," said Julie Flynn, deputy secretary of state. "But people can say what they want, it's a First Amendment issue. We don't have anything in law that allows us to monitor or enforce signature gatherers."

Both sides of the issue agree it's a First Amendment right to say whatever you want to get people to sign, even if it is lying. So voters need to be more aware.

But the Catholic Church claims it frowns upon such practices. Telling the Sun Journal that they don't condone lying, Marc Mutty, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and chairman of the StandForMarriageMaine political action committee backing the repeal effort, said, "We've been very clear, certainly with our volunteers, and the paid people as well, they are not to use any kind of tactics that would divert from the truth about what you are collecting signatures for."

However, I'm not surprised they're resorting to such tactics. Having already lost in the state's legislature, a method in which marriage equality opponents used to say was the route to take to determine the fate of same-sex marriage (until they lost), they're desperate now to take the issue to a voter referendum. Why? Because marriage equality has never won a referendum.

This also reeks of the same smell Prop 8 in California secreted. Why? Because the same people who were behind Prop 8 are the ones pulling the strings to take away the rights of LGBT to marry in Maine.

To get involved locally, go to Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition and EqualityMaine.

Gay Iraqis Tortured, Killed Using Superglue to Close Anus

From GayRightsWatch.com:

This is incredibly disturbing.

A prominent Iraqi human rights activist says that Iraqi militia have deployed a painful form of torture against homosexuals by closing their anuses using ‘Iranian gum.’… Yina Mohammad told Alarabiya.net that, ‘Iraqi militias have deployed an unprecedented form of torture against homosexuals by using a very strong glue that will close their anus.’

According to her, the new substance ‘is known as the American hum, which is an Iranian-manufactured glue that if applied to the skin, sticks to it and can only be removed by surgery. After they glue the anuses of homosexuals, they give them a drink that causes diarrhea. Since the anus is closed, the diarrhea causes death.

Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cellphones in Iraq.’ According to this human rights activist, for the past 3 weeks a crackdown on homosexuals has been going on based on a religious decree that demands their death; dozens have been targeted. She says that the persecution of homosexuals is not confined to the Shiite clerics. Some Sunni leaders have also declared the death penalty for sodomy on satellite channels.

This has got to stop! With the U.S.'s occupation of Iraq, we are equally responsible for this horrendous violation of human rights and downright sadism. As earlier reported on Unite the Fight, reports of LGBT executions have also taken place in Iraq.

Take responsibility and sign Change.org's petition that will be sent to President Obama and Congress to investigate and put an end to this atrocities.

It only takes a minute. The goal is 2,500 signatures. We need 2,000 more.

Sign it now!

PETITION: Demand the US Tell Iraq to Stop Persecuting Its LGBT Citizens

REMINDER: With the recent executions of gays in Iraq, this petition to the President and Congress to put a stop to this NOW is more important than ever. Change.org only has 481 signatures and need 1,000!

Spread the word! Help this atrocity come out of the shadows and demand something be done!
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Periodically, UTF will address concerns outside same-sex marriage, including focus on the treatment of LGBT individuals internationally and the lack of U.S. involvement.

Another case of extreme persecution has come up in Iraq, where the U.S. holds the most influence over any other nation in the world.

And now there's a call to ACTION.
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From Change.org:

Targeting: the President of the United States, members of the US Senate and members of the US House of Representatives

Started by: Michael Jones of Change.org.

In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that the LGBT community in Iraq is facing dire safety concerns, with many reportedly scheduled to be executed by the Iraqi government. The situation in Iraq has gotten so egregious for LGBT citizens, an underground network has started to escort gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Iraqis out of the country.

These abuses need to be investigated by the U.S. government. As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her recent trip to Europe: "Human rights is and always will be one of the pillars of our foreign policy. And in particular, the persecution and discrimination against gays and lesbians is something that we take very seriously. It is terribly unfortunate that right now in unfortunately many places in the world violence against gays and lesbians, certainly discrimination and prejudice are not just occurring but condoned and protected. And we would hope that over the next few years we could have some influence in trying to change those attitudes..."

The U.S. has the power to help change these attitudes in Iraq, and we should focus on doing so before one more LGBT Iraqi is sentenced to die.

Read and sign the petition by June 28, 2009.

Still Mad About Those Ads? Another Action Against Them!

The now infamous National Organization for Marriage ads that spew anti-gay lies about same-sex marriage are now headed to Iowa where the organization's agenda to end all same-sex marriage rights suffered a major defeat.

Watching the ads is like watching a child throw a hissy fit.

One Iowa is starting a petition opposing out of state groups from using their money and influence to take away the rights of Iowans. Which makes sense, since NOM is the same group that pumped tons of money into ads supporting Proposition 8 in California.

Use your anger productively. Sign One Iowa's petition and let it be known that NOM is not welcome in the Hawkeye State.

Yesterday, I also told how you can fight back in a more strategic since by supporting Camp Courage, or even better, by attending. The more tools we have to fight with, the less we'll see of groups like NOM.

ACTION: Sign Petition to Support Domestic Partnership Expansion in Washington State

As earlier reported on Unite the Fight, Washington State is considering a domestic partnership bill that would expand the benefits of this institution to equally resemble marriage under state law. It passed the Senate and is posed to appear in the House.

However, Larry Stickney of the right-wing Washginton Values Alliance is having none of it. Washington law defines marriage as only between a man and a woman and the state Supreme Court has upheld it. But Stickney feels sure this bill, if it becomes law, would be used to again try to legalize same-sex marriage by judicial fiat.

So he's planning an initiative to ask voters to repeal it before a judge gets hold of it.

ACTION: Sign Equal Rights Washgington's Petition that will go to the legislature asking for their support of domestic partnerships benefits expansion. This will help us identify who our strong supporters are in case an initiative actually does reach the voters.

Time to build our support base now.

Equal Rights Battle Building in Washington State

The state Senate has approved a bill giving same-sex domestic partners all of the rights and benefits the state offers married couples have.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Senator Ed Murray, was passed on a 30-18 vote and now heads to the House.


However, this bill faces many obstacles. Opponents claim the legislation will open the door to gay marriage in Washington, and with the success of Proposition 8 in California, they feel very motivated to repeat that victory in their own state.

"We're fighting with a great sense of urgency," Larry Stickney, president of the Washington Values Alliance, told the Seattle Times. "In light of the California Supreme Court decision, it inspired us that if we didn't fight, it's lost. We feel backed into a corner."

As a result, they plan to rally and protest this measure, flooding lawmakers with phone calls and packing legislative hearings.

Show your support for the local LGBT community. Visit Equal Rights Washington and Pride Foundation to see how you can get involved. Sign their Marriage Equality Petition 09. If you live in Washington, send it to your government representatives. And check out Equal Rights Washington's rally event they're having today!

Petition Scottish Parliament for Marriage Equality

The fight for Equal Marriage in Scotland was brought back to my attention from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Network in the UK. They are asking to bring our enthusiasm for equal rights, expressed here at home, to their shores by signing the petition by March 6th that will urge the Scottish parliament to discuss same-sex relationships.

Here is their email:

"This petition is different from many others. With enough support, the Parliamentary Committee will hold hearings on it, invite responses from different groups, and will make concrete recommendations to the Scottish Government.

"Without any Members of the Scottish Parliament as yet willing to introduce a same sex marriage bill, this is currently the only way to get the issue onto the agenda in a country where many people, both gay and straight, believe that the fight equality is over since the introduction of separate but equal Civil Partnerships.

"With the UK Government opposing full marriage rights, your support to this petition is vital. The great thing about it is that anyone from anywhere in the world can put their name to it, and that will be counted as equal to any Scottish persons’ signature. If you can not only sign this, but activate the same strength of numbers that have fought for marriage equality across US, then gay rights opponents in Scotland don’t stand a chance.

"The previous Administration in Scotland, the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition of Jack McConnell, refused to even legislate for Civil Partnerships in 2004, having been so burned by the massive homophobic outcry over their successful repeal of Section 28, the old Thatcherite law that banned discussion of homosexuality in schools.

More...

"Then Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson stated in 2004 that laws to give same-sex couples the same rights as married heterosexuals was not "an immediate priority for the overwhelming majority of Scotland's people".

"Equality is a priority for all. There is however a real danger that the current minority government of the Scottish National Party will treat this exactly the same way. Their 2007 election campaign was funded by the same man who bankrolled the homophobic campaign over Section 28, Stagecoach boss Brian Souter. Scotland has a strong Catholic church and is generally more socially conservative than England or Wales, yet the Scottish Parliament
has equality as one of its founding values.

"Scotland has been willing in the past to make a moral point in the face of opposition from the rest of the UK. It was the first to ban hunting of foxes, and the first to ban smoking in public places, with the rest of Britain following shortly afterward.

"It can be the same with marriage equality. If we can get enough backing to show that this is a real, live issue that ignites passion among Scots and those from across the plant, then those opposing this will be forced to defend the notion that separate but equal is equal.

"But we cannot do this without the support, advice and solidarity with all those others around the world who have been fighting long and hard for Marriage Equality. We have been truly inspired by the movement for Marriage Equality in America, it made us realise that we too have the right to be treated as equals by our government and with your help, we can."

Please sign the petition here by March 6th.

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Thanks to the amazing Queers United blog, I've been made aware of a petition to get the Scottish government to recognize same-sex marriage. Read Queer's United post on what you can do to expand marriage equality beyond our borders.

Expand the Civil Rights Act to Protect LGBT Rights

"The Power" is commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots by starting a petition to expand the Civil Rights Act to the LGBT community.

Objective: Expand the Civil Rights Act to declare it the public policy of the United States that discrimination based on LGBT status is prohibited.

Target: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, United States House of Representatives

Delivery Date: June 1, 2009, the first day of the 40th annual Gay Pride Month

Copy to: Majority Leader Harry Reid, United States Senate
Brian Bond, LGBT Liason to President Barack Obama

Read and Sign the Petition!
Contact The Power at ThePowerNY@gmail.com

Statewide Canvassing to Repeal Prop 8

On March 15, 2009, Gays United Network is "hosting a statewide canvassing day where we go out into outlying communities--especially those that voted for Prop 8--to collect signatures for a Petition drive on behalf of the Courage Campaign to restore the integrity to our Constitution and dignity to our Community by putting our own Constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2010."

They call for us to show our faces and have direct contact with those who have opposed us, to educate them on who we are, and to dispel any falsehoods that they may have against us. This is true grassroots. Door to door, person by person outreach. Changing the individuals mind to impact overall change.

To find out more, visit Gays United Network Facebook Event. Time to take some action.

Ethnic Civil Rights Groups Petition

One of biggest challenges in the gay community as we move forward with this movement is to unite us, and I don't simply mean coordinating and communicating. It's reaching out to all aspects of our community - Asian, Pacific Islanders, African-Americans, Latinos, Indian, White, male and female. We are one diverse group, and that's something to be proud about!

On top of this, we have many ethnic straight allies. Uniting as a group will only give us more opportunities to reach our allies. And our allies are already acting! They're coming together to petition the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Prop 8.

Read: Equal Justice Society
Read more: Here
Read the lawsuit petition: Here

Take action and show your support of their work!