Capitol Hill Blue Forums We shall overcome

I like Rolling Stone's take on this issue. Their basic view is that the "No on 8" was outgunned, plain and simple. The "yes on 8" people had more money, better advertising, and more man-power. Ironically, the "Yes on 8" group were the ones who took the ground game strategy to heart:

So, yes, get better advertising, but also get people out and involved in the campaign early on. (Hey, I read about all the protests. Surely they could have volunteered to help before the vote, if only the campaign organizers had asked.)

erinys
I agree with all you said. And also find it more than a bit sad that some of our citizens could wake up and find their rights stripped for the lack of better advertising

What this will take is straight people talking to their friends about human rights and the separation of church and state. You folks are more likely to have access to those who are willing to listen than most gay people are. You have their trust and confidence so when you say something, it may get listened to.

The civil rights movement may have been led and inspired by Rev. King and other black men and women, but it gained power when whites joined them and used their influence and power.

I am tired of being told how we should do this or that. If you truly believe this is a human rights issue it is just as much your issue as mine.

I hadn't noticed that folks were doing that. All along, I've felt it was a failure of the opponents of Prop 8, whether gay or straight. Has there been much opinion expressed that it was a failure of "y'all gay people"?

Because what you say about the Civil Rights movement is totally an appropriate analogy. Whenever discrimination occurs, it is ultimately up to the dominant groups to give in to the rights of the other, simply and entirely because they have the power to withhold them.

Jeffro and I have expressed our opinions that the failure lies with gays who were the primary opposition to Prop 8.

(...but then again, Jeffro and I are close in age )

Don't you advocate Native American "story" telling? Is it not the repsonsibilty of older gays to pass on to younger gays our history and what works and what doesn't work politically?

Why does the wheel need to be reinvented every generation - only to have older gays then say: Been there, done that, girlfriend (then give a "Z" snap).

Since, presumably, heterosexuality is the predominant condition, say, 90% of the population (rough guess, that), it follows that it will take a majority of the majority to win this issue. I would be willing to bet that if the vote were held today, the result would be different. I, for one, am a strong, vocal, and insistent advocate for full equality, including full equality based upon sexual orientation. I am also a strong proponent of separation of church and state. Unfortunately, I am not a California voter.

NWP, I appreciate your stance and that of virtually everyone here. As you say, however, it will take a healthy portion of the 90% to speak out and vote for equality.

I did not mean to imply that you or anyone here should do anything. But I do say that it will take heteros being outspoken and probably a bit uncomfortable by raising the issue even when it doesn't seem natural.

Somehow my parents managed to imbue that principle in me as a child. I take it for many here the same happened or that you have learned and adopted that stance about your role as a responsible citizen.

I just want to shoot down the implied notion of some that this is an issue of concern exclusively or even primarily to gays and lesbians. It is not. It is an issue for all. All.

Truthfully, if the straight people on this site thought it was only a gay issue, do you think the discussion would have been so active, and so supportive, for so many pages?

I think I already indicated my answer, Mellow. And I would bet many here also speak out to the world around you. I accuse no one of anything. I appreciate everyone who has voiced support.