Gay Marriage Returns to the Ballot Box in 2012 - Maybe

Equality California announced today that 2012 would be the best year to put gay marriage back on the ballot despite the overwhelming desire by grassroots groups to do the same next year.
   On a conference call with media from across the nation, Equality California officials outlined their reasons for waiting three years before putting the deeply debated issue on the ballot.
   Officials at Equality California, the statewide gay rights organization, said they have conducted a deep and wide investigation, taking with everyone from the general public, grassroots organizations, ethnic and racial minority groups, politicians, major financial donors and others about the best strategy to win back marriage equality in California.
    While the community is eager to win back its right to marry, there is a lot of work that needs to be done in order to change the mind of just enough voters to win the fight, said Marc Solomon, Equality California marriage director.
   “We’ve already talked to thousands of voters across the state. The real issue has been whether it will take 15 months or 39 months to change enough hearts and minds so that future generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians never have to fight again at the ballot box for their basic humanity,” Solomon said.
   The problem is that many gay leadership and grassroots organizations are still in a disagreement about when to return to the ballot box. The Courage Campaign, another statewide organization fighting for marriage equality, wants to collect the 1.1 million signatures to put the issue back on the ballot next year.
   They are actively raising money now to pay for signature collectors. These organizations have up until next April to get enough valid signatures to get gay marriage before the voters in November 2010.
   Some activists have suggested that the community keep putting the issue on the ballot until it passes, letting Californians know the gay community is not going to give up on fighting for the right to marry.
   Geoff Kors, executive director for Equality California, said that any campaign, even the tasks of collecting 1.1 million signatures, is expensive, along with being physically and mentally draining. And multiple losses could damage the moral of the gay community.
   “We must be strategic in selecting the election that gives us the best opportunity to permanently secure the freedom to marry. Fro the first time in our state’s history, our community will determine the timing of an election for our equality instead of having to defend ourselves at the election chosen by our opponents,” Kors said.
   Equality California has already begun the critical work of talking with voters and learning what it will take to change minds on gay marriage, an issue that generates a lot of passion on both sides.
   Equality California has hired 18 full-time organizers in many areas that have been traditionally ignored such as San Jose, Orange County, Central Valley, and Coachella Valley. They have recruited more than 16,000 volunteers, knocked on more than half million doors and aired three TV commercials featuring stories about same-gender couples and their family.
   Kors said that if another organization gets gay marriage on the ballot next year then Equality California would support the initiative, however. Given their own research and expert opinion, the community should wait until 2012 for two primary reasons.
   One reason is to give supporters of marriage equality enough time to win the hearts and minds of more than half of the voters. Second, there will be far more young people able to vote at that time and the youth vote is overwhelmingly in favor of gay marriage.
   OutNow Magazine will stay on top of this very important civil rights issue for so many gay couples who are seeking equality. We will keep you informed of developing news.

Submitted by Editor on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 7:48pm.

• Same-sex marriage (CA)