Proposition 8 & sadness

I’m interrupting your regularly scheduled goodness programming to contemplate an issue of politics and civil rights, and to take note of the federal court ruling overturning Proposition 8. To my thinking, this decision is a very good thing, but I don’t want to focus today on the issue of goodness so much as the issue of politics and mood.

When I see people celebrating around the country, I feel sad, not for them, but for me. I wish I had their innocence. I wish I could feel their joy. Read More.

Today's Must Read: The New Yorker on marriage equality & the Prop 8 case

Margaret Talbot has produced a beautifully researched and written story.

More Proposition 8 coverage

Also check out the Prop 8 Trial Tracker for updates.

A guide to watching the Proposition 8 trial from the cheap seats

Today lesbians, gays and bisexuals and the worth of our love went on trial, and no, I'm not kidding. The case in point is Ted Olson and David Boies' federal challenge to California's Proposition 8. Since the U.S. Supreme Court blocked plans to broadcast the proceedings on YouTube, the only way for those of us in the cheap seats to "watch" what's happening is to read about it online or tune into TV news.

So far, the quickest and most complete updates are coming online. There are the usual MSM suspects posting about the trial like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle (and its Twitter feed).

However, the best coverage I've seen so far is from journalist Karen Ocamb on her LGBT POV blog. Bilerico has also set up a live Twitter feed. The hashtag for most of the trial tweeting is #prop8.

Other places to look for informed coverage are The Advocate, 365gay.com, the Keen News Service and the Bay Area Reporter.

By the way, Emily Bazelon of Slate published the best overview I've seen on why this trial matters, and why it's so incredibly scary. The Cliff Notes version: If Olsen and Boies get the case to the Supreme Court and the nation's highest court rules against them, then my friends Laurie and Deb who are legally married in Massachusetts, along with every other married same-sex couple in this country, could be forcibly divorced. Marriage equality could be blocked in every state for decades. The flip side of the nightmare is that a Scotus victory would bring marriage equality to every corner of the United States.

Courage Campaign & Lambda Legal target 2012 to repeal Prop 8

Two of the leading groups seeking repeal of California's Proposition 8 just made it more likely that the effort will target the 2012 and not the 2010 election. Andy Towle passes on the announcements from the Courage Campaign and Lambda Legal.

This is a good move because it gives equality advocates time to change people's minds and to ramp up their campaign. The worst thing we could do right now would be to launch a campaign and fail. Such a fruitless effort could demoralize the movement and waste precious resources.

Meanwhile Love Honor Cherish is continuing its campaign to get enough signatures to put the Prop 8 repeal on California's 2010 ballot.

Marriage Equality: Maine can be won, but only if we act now

Kerry Eleveld weighs in on the similarities and differences between Maine's Proposition 1 and California's Proposition 8. The key difference: Maine looks winnable, but that won't happen if LGBT America and our straight allies sit on our hands.

Today's Must Read: Eating ourselves alive won't repeal California's Prop 8

If you want to repeal the Proposition 8 ban on marriage equality, you need to read the reports of Karen Ocamb, news editor of IN Los Angeles magazine. Ocamb is the only full-time reporter who attended the leadership summit in Los Angeles on July 25, and her reports provide context and detail that other blog posts lacked.

Her reports also show that that California's LGBT community is in trouble if it really wants to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage. Part of the problem comes from the complexity and difficulty of the task itself, and part of the problem comes from divisions within the community.

Ocamb has the best perspective I've seen so far on what happened in LA. I'm going to quote her at length because I think what she says is so important. (I've added emphasis.)

The real problem, from my perspective, is that right now - and for the past seven months - the acrimony among institutional leaders and grassroots activists is only deepening. It's as if all the 8hate has been turned inward - we are the enemy, anyone who is not immediately, completely, absolutely with us now and forever more.

The rivers could part and a charismatic general who meets everyone's leadership criteria could emerge carrying unlimited funds and access to the latest technology and voter data bases - and still we'd fight and hurl nasty invective at our LGBT enemy in public - and do it with a self-satisfied sneer.

I was disappointed that no one during the entire seven hours talked about how the issue of marriage is "different" from any other social issue - different enough to enable a constitutional scholar such as Barack Obama to deny his previous belief in full equality and now embrace separate-but-equal civil unions because "God is in the mix." But one principle that both sides called for and all the consultants cited as necessary to win - was unity.

It seems to me that the first step to winning back marriage equality is finding a mediator who can help this community find common ground and learn to keep our eye on the prize so we can move forward together. There are now so many LGBT folk who want to be leaders - let this be their first real test of leadership: find a way to bring us together.

I know what it feels like to be in a losing campaign, and to be in the middle of a firestorm as the community attacks itself. I was at the center of the same kind of fury after LGBT Kansans lost a similar vote in 2005. The anger and frustration -- and the need to scapegoat someone -- was enormous, and this happened in a state where few thought we ever had a real chance of winning. I can only imagine how much more painful it is to be in California right now and to have lost when so many thought victory was at hand.

But as Ocamb said this is the moment when real leadership has to arise. No matter how much it hurts, how angry we are and how much we want to find someone to blame, we have to transcend those feelings and find a way to work together. Without unity within the LGBT community and with our pro-equality allies in California and in the rest of the nation, we will all fail. By attacking each other, we are doing the homophobes work for them.

Please read each of Ocamb's reports. They're posted on Bilerico:

• What Really Happened at the Repeal Prop 8 Summit
• Repeal Prop 8 Summit: The Expert Point of View
• The Unnoticed Power Player at the Repeal Prop 8 Summit

By the way, I met Ocamb through the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, and I respect her work. She has more than 30 years experience as a journalist, having started her career at CBS News in New York. She eventually became a producer, leaving CBS after producing coverage of the 1984 Olympics for CBS affiliates.

Today's Key Reads: AmericaBlog's credibility problems & Prop 8 repeal

Law Dork once again raises important questions concerning the credibility of one of the most popular sites in the progressive blogosphere - AmericaBlog. Since I started blogging -- interestingly enough, after hearing AmericaBlog founder John Aravosis speak -- I've been both fan and critic of his work. I love the fact that he picks up on issues quickly. I love his fighting spirit, but too often I've clicked on his links only to learn that his posts exaggerated, or even twisted, the facts. This isn't always true, but I've seen it happen often enough to cause me to worry when I read AmericaBlog.

I agree with Law Dork in this instance. While Aravosis claims that Obama's CNN interview proves that the President no longer wants to get rid of "don't ask, don't tell," I don't see it. Watch the video, and decide for yourself.

Meanwhile, Pam Spaulding is pleased that a coalition of LGBT activists representing people of color want to delay repeal of Proposition 8. While other activists want to mount a repeal campaign as early as 2010, the Prepare to Prevail coalition has announced that it wants to hold off until 2012. We are still waiting word from Equality California on its plans for Proposition 8.

Personally, I'm torn. A 2010 campaign could capitalize on the newly energized movement, but it could also fall flat because of tight resources and a lack of time to organize. The communities represented by Prepare to Prevail also may well prove to be the key to victory. Ignoring their wishes could be a very bad idea.

New column: Beyond Proposition 8

Another new Political IQ is out.

The California Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8 is the best thing to happen to the GLBT movement in years – and no, I’m not joking. Read more.

My latest op-ed on Proposition 8

Now posted on the McClatchy website, my newest op-ed. I originally entitled this column, "Why We Fight."

What if we all voted on your marriage?

This is too good not to share. Here's the video Gary Bachamn recommended.

What if we could vote...

The battle of the marriage videos begins. This is from the Courage Campaign.

Prop 8 rumors rampant

The LGBT blogosphere is bubbling with rumors that the California Supreme Court will issue its Prop 8 decision tomorrow. The court will to notify the public today by 10 am Pacific Time (noon Central) if it will issue the ruling. Alas, the early betting is that the court will uphold the proposition, but one never knows.

No matter how the court rules, rallies are being planned throughout the nation. For an event near you, check out Day of Decision.

You can sign up via the National Center for Lesbian Rights to get a text message alerting you to the decision.

UPDATE - False Alarm.

First Thoughts: Prop 8 may stand

[updated with links]
The Los Angeles Times has read the tea leaves from today's oral arguments before the California Supreme Court. The reporters' conclusion is that the justices appear ready to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage, at the same time that they may also allow the 18,000 couples who married before Prop 8 passed to stay married.

After all of today's breathless live blogging and Twittering on the hearing, however, no one will know anything for certain until the court issues its ruling. That may take up to 90 days.

Stay tuned.
----------------
Andrew Sullivan provided a list of links to a range of blogger thoughts on the day's events.

Love will prevail

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Today in Gay: The inauguration & ministers, race &, Proposition 8

--> Slate runs down the newly released and expanded list of pastors appearing in Barack Obama's inauguration. Slate also clarifies that the Rev. Joseph Lowery is pro-gay rights, but not pro-gay marriage. Previously, I and a lot of other folks reported that incorrectly. (Apologies!)

--> Bishop Gene Robinson talks to the New York Times about his role in the inauguration, while Rick Warren jabs gay folks and the Episcopal Church in the eye.

--> Atlantic blogger Ta-Nehisi Coates does a great job of debunking the early exit polls and showing, once again, that black voters were NOT the reason Proposition 8 passed. I agree heartily with his call for LGBT Americans to engage the black community in the debate over marriage. The comments to his post are worth reading.

--> Obama's appointments of LGBT folks seem to be building steam. We haven't broken into the sacrosanct inner sanctum of the cabinet, but we are gaining elsewhere. Today's news: John Berry as director of the Office of Personnel Management. For those of you keeping score, we now have five openly queer folk named to the Obama Administration. These also include:

• Fred Hochberg as head of the Export-Import Bank of the United States
• Brian Bond as the deputy director of the White House Office of the Public Liaison
• Nancy Sutley as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Mark Dybul, an appointee under George W. Bush, who will stay on as the global AIDS ambassador

--> A study released by Freedom to Marry reports that state politicians who vote for marriage equality do get re-elected.

--> A marriage equality bill goes to the Legislature in Maine. Meanwhile, Indiana heads in the other direction.

--> A Tennessee hotel fires two gay men for the crime of being (a) gay and (b) talking about it.

--> Finally, under the category of Biggest Bummer of the Day, city commissioners in Kalamazoo, Mich., rescind their vote to protect their LGBT citizens from discrimination.

Jan. 12: Today in Gay

I'm experimenting with what I hope will be a regular roundup of the most important, interesting and/or funky news of the day in LGBT America. Think of this as an extremely idiosyncratic queer front page.

Under the category of We Always Meant to Do This (and do attach a chagrined look to this link), Obama has given a role in the inauguration to openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson. (For anyone who has been living under a rock: See Rick Warren.) As Ezra Klein very astutely notes:

Yeah. I'm sure the two (outrage over Warren and appointing Robinson) had nothing to do with each other. They just didn't want to announce Robinson till after they'd endured a month of harsh criticism and a thousand calls from furious gay donors threatening to withhold support from the party and an outpouring of anger from those who'd worked endlessly for Obama's nomination. All part of the plan. Sure guys.

Political Animal weighs in Robinson's role and reports on the growing lists of progressive pastors now involved in the inauguration.

Saturday marked another day of protest over Proposition 8. Karen Ocamb reports on the happenings in Los Angeles. The MSM reports on the Pittsburgh rally. Attendance at these rallies seems down from the Nov. 15 protests and other early demonstrations. My concern is that Stonewall 2.0 may sputter because the new activists are not coming up with a 2nd act. (Act 1 of the play: Take to the Streets. Act 2... um...) My feeling is that without political action, protests can be a dead end. Wockner is more optimistic as he rounds up news reports via Google News. The online organizers, Join the Impact, continue to push forward.

This is a teeny bit stale, but still news... Obama's incoming Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says our new president WILL keep his word to get rid of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban on gays in the military. Gibbs' comment comes at 4:21 in this video. This sounds great. I love the short, sweet answer, but words mean little, especially now that the campaign is over. It's time to govern. What I want to see is action. On the other hand I'm reasonable. I'll settle for a timeline and a plan.

Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard says he's "heterosexual with issues" as a new HBO documentary chronicles Haggard's fall. (Note that the documentary is by Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra Pelosi.)

A candidate for Republican National Committee chair claims we can all be "cured" of our gayness. My question: Can he be "cured" of his straightness?

Finally, a mental health break from the satirical site 23/6 video. For those of you, like me, who vividly remember those awful school films from the Fifties, this is truly eerie.

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

What to Watch in 2009

My new Political IQ column is out.

After a gut-wrenching 2008, should we expect more of the same this year? Not necessarily, but we do need to pay close attention to the political landscape. Here are three milestones to watch this year. Read more.

Some unsolicited advice for California's Equality Summit organizers

Reading about the internal struggle over organizing an Equality Summit in California is giving me flashbacks. Hold on a moment while I do some deep breathing. It's a tad like being slapped when you're not expecting it.

Before I stuck my journalist hat firmly back on my head, I worked in gay politics, serving on campaigns and helping to birth two LGBT rights organizations. That experience shook my faith in just about everything, but particularly in the idea that LGBT Americans could ever get along well enough to make political progress.

At first, I thought the infighting was because we were all volunteers. No one was getting paid, so we were a bit cranky, at least that was my theory. I next decided that perhaps the Religious Right was correct, and that we were all crazy, mean, nasty and just plain stupid.

But then I began to look at other groups. I peered closely at some of the dysfunctional non-gay organizations I had worked for. Filled with paid and highly trained professionals, they were in desperate need of group therapy. One of the biggest eye openers came when I hung around executives who gave me the inside scoop on their own decidedly mainstream and non-gay organizations. And to top it off, we all got to see the meltdown and very public infighting of John McCain's campaign last year, not to mention the sniping within the Hillary Clinton campaign.

And so, I am writing to provide some totally unsolicited advice on our current troubles.

First, a word to those of us watching from the outside: Giving feedback to the folks in the inner circle in California is good, but attacking their integrity and intelligence is a truly lousy idea. No one wants to lose. No one wants to hurt LGBT America. There are no evil doers here. There are, however, good ideas, bad ideas and disagreements over strategy and tactics.

For the folks currently tussling with each other over the Equality Summit: Take a deep breath. Take a walk in the woods or on the beach. Take two or three walks. Have a good scream or beat up an unsuspecting tree or pillow if you're really furious.

From a more practical point of view, consider bringing in an organization expert for advice and guidance, but most of all remember that what you're doing is inherently difficult. It's made nearly impossible by the fact that you're working with other human beings. (We are such an unruly and emotionally touchy species.) It's also made nearly impossible by the fact that we've been losing a lot lately. (See McCain campaign for reference.) A smooth and non-emotional effort is also complicated by the fact that you are literally fighting for the security of your children and your friends and neighbors. The issues are so emotional and so personal that screaming meltdowns are to be expected.

May you survive it all better than I did.

Human Rights Campaign blasts Obama

Recently, I've criticized the Human Rights Campaign. Today, I applaud them. HRC President Joe Solmonese writes (I've added emphasis):

Dear President-elect Obama -

Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans. Our loss in California over the passage of Proposition 8 which stripped loving, committed same-sex couples of their given legal right to marry is the greatest loss our community has faced in 40 years. And by inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table.

Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, “there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today.

Rev. Warren cannot name a single theological issue that he and vehemently, anti-gay theologian James Dobson disagree on. Rev. Warren is not a moderate pastor who is trying to bring all sides together. Instead, Rev. Warren has often played the role of general in the cultural war waged against LGBT Americans, many of whom also share a strong tradition of religion and faith.

We have been moved by your calls to religious leaders to own up to the homophobia and racism that has stood in the way of combating HIV and AIDS in this country. And that you have publicly called on religious leaders to open their hearts to their LGBT family members, neighbors and friends.

But in this case, we feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination. Only when Rev. Warren and others support basic legislative protections for LGBT Americans can we believe their claim that they are not four-square against our rights and dignity. In that light, we urge you to reconsider this announcement.

Talking Points Memo reports that other liberal groups are also protesting. I can't overstate how it feels to hear this announcement. It's like a kick in the stomach.