Fight? You Bet! (A Message From the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on November Ballot Initiatives)
On November 2, voters in 11 states - or one out of every five voters nationwide - will be casting a ballot on a state constitutional amendment which seeks to forbid the recognition of same-sex marriages. In 8 of these states, the measures would also ban any form of partner recognition whatsoever. This is only round one of our new reality, where our lives and relationships are fodder in American politics. We will face more of these ugly, divisive assaults next year and the year after that.
We need to face the obvious: we are huge underdogs in every one of these battles. Not because marriage equality is simply a losing issue. It is not. Not because we don't have talented and courageous leaders and organizations on our side throughout this country. We do. Instead, it's because -- with only a handful of exceptions -- our side simply does not have the time, the resources, or the infrastructure to beat back the forces being unleashed against us in this election year.
What are the forces working so hard against our allies in these embattled states? Nothing less than the combined forces of the evangelical right, with their vast network of congregations and radio and television stations, and the might and money of the Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist churches, and a carefully orchestrated effort by the Republican machine to exploit 'gay marriage' in order to re-elect George Bush and his ilk, and literally hundreds of years anti-gay venom and hatred that's been inbred in our culture.
And what does our side have to stand up against these evil forces? Again, with only a handful of exceptions, our brave leaders and organizations are quite literally fighting unarmed. The statewide LGBT organizations in three-quarters of the states now under siege operate on less than $200,000 a year; none has an annual budget over $600,000. Is it realistic to expect these valiant souls to now suddenly be able to raise the millions it takes to wage a full-scale campaign? Of course it isn't.
Why are our state infrastructures starving? Because for the last 25 years, our community's political resources have been focused on federal politics, while state and local leaders and grassroots work have largely been ignored and frequently denigrated. During this same period, the right has meticulously built its own grassroots base. The results are plain for all to see. The right wing now exerts enormous and disproportionate influence at all levels of government. We, on the other hand, have seen pro-LGBT federal legislation stymied for years and are on the legislative defensive in 40 out of 50 states, and in our nation's capital.
Clearly, this is not a fair fight.
Being honest about the situation, however, does not mean that we should not fight back. In fact, the opposite is true. Now is the time to give every nickel and every spare hour we have to the anti-amendment campaigns. If we don't fight, we have absolutely no chance of winning - and underdogs can and do win. The consequences of not fighting are unbearable and unacceptable.
We lose much more than an election when we give up without a fight. We potentially give up our self-respect. Glenda Russell's research on LGBT people who live through anti-gay ballot measures shows that the best predictor of resilience and the ability to psychologically cope with and get beyond the pain of losing is knowing that we did our best -- that we fought back to the best of our ability. Anyone who chooses not to fight may think they are protecting themselves, but Glenda's research shows the opposite is true.
Intuitively, many of us may have recognized the same thing if we ever had a bully pick on us when we were kids. The biggest danger is not fighting back. If we don't fight back, the attacks never stop. Our vulnerability becomes only clearer to more and more potential bullies and the attacks continue and intensify.
We didn't choose to have state after state vote on us and the worthiness of our relationships. But we do get to choose whether the experience is psychologically devastating for a huge swath of our community. We can prevent mass demoralization and the resultant hopelessness and despair - but only if we fight.
If we don't fight, the strength of every LGBT community institution we care about is at stake. For when we don't fight, in the aftermath, it's all too easy for our community to turn inwards and wallow in blaming, division and acrimony. The experience of losing without having done our very best has decimated communities, sometimes for decades. Our confidence in each other and in everything we've built together is weakened if we lose heart about our ability to make a difference in this hostile political world.
Moreover, if we do fight, we can win in three important ways even if we lose at the ballot box. First, these amendment fights represent an unprecedented opportunity to talk to the public openly and honestly about our lives and families, and yes, about marriage, and bring them along. In 10 of the 11 states under attack now, this is the first time a gay issue of any kind has been on the statewide ballot. Public support for marriage equality - which would bring us much closer to complete equality - is increasing much more quickly than anyone could have imagined just four years ago. Fighting hard and loud can move us toward equality even faster.
Second, by fighting hard and smart, our state and local communities can emerge energized and ready to fight on and win in the legislative sessions that begin in early 2005. California provides a shining example. There, in 2000, Proposition 22 - an anti-marriage ballot initiative -- passed 61% to 39%, even though our side raised $4 million and fought hard. Instead of being defeated, however, our community bounced back and in less than four years, has won the nation's third most comprehensive relationship recognition laws (just behind Massachusetts and Vermont) and the nation's toughest non-discrimination and safe schools statutes.
Finally - and most importantly - we can use these struggles to build our state and local infrastructures. Indeed, if we emerge having identified thousands of new pro-LGBT voters, increased donor rolls by hundreds or thousands, and attracted scores of new volunteers willing to do the hard work of grassroots politics, then we will have won.
For all these reasons, we have to fight. We have to fight as hard as we can.
Don't wait one more day to get involved. There are less than twenty five days left. There's no time to waste. Look at the list of states below. Pick one or more to support. Give your time or your money or both. On November 2 - and November 3 - and every day for the coming year - you will be grateful you did.
Matt Foreman, Executive Director Rea Carey, Deputy Executive Director Dave Fleischer Director of Organizing & Training
Statewide Campaigns:
Arkansas: Arkansas ACLU - 904 W. 2nd Street, Suite One, Little Rock, AR 72201
Georgia: Georgians Against Discrimination - 404-378-9082 http://www.georgiansagainstdiscrimination.com/donate
Kentucky: No On the Amendment - 502-893-1330 http://www.noamendmentky.com
Michigan: Coalition for a Fair Michigan - 248-477-7504 http://www.coalitionforafairmichigan.org
Mississippi: Equality Mississippi - 601-936-7673 http://www.equalityms.org
Montana: Montanans for Families and Fairness - 406-439-3629 http://www.familiesandfairness.org
North Dakota: Equality North Dakota - 701-388-9227
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Fairness & Equality Coalition - 918-810-4190
Ohio: Ohioans Protecting the Constitution - 614-586-1003 http://www.opcpac.com
Oregon: No on Constitutional Amendment 36 Volunteers - 503-236-8286 / Contributions - 971-244-1399
Utah: Don't Amend Alliance - 801-746-1314 http://www.dontamendalliance.com

posted by Joshua P. Angell  @ 9.10.04

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