Prop 8 News from Stop8.org: September 2009

New Maine Marriage Polling Numbers Wednesday, 09/30/09
Daily Kos

A new public poll from Democracy Corps was released yesterday, showing us with a slight lead this race 50% to 41%, a significant jump from kos's numbers from the other week of 46-48.

The numbers are encouraging, but it's that 9% undecided that will determine this race. The investment of our supporters has allowed us to get on TV before our opponents and counter every lie they have tossed at us.

Tonight at midnight is the end of the third quarter and all of you kossacks know what that means: we will need to turn in our fundraising report.

Our campaign will be judged on the strength or weakness of this report.

Your help today is crucial to keep our campaign knocking on doors, calling voters and airing our television ads. Can we double the $4,733 raised on the Orange to Blue page?

[Read the article or read more articles from Daily Kos.]

The Many Ways to Contribute to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality Monday, 09/28/09
Open Left

In Maine, the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign has to win - and we need help.

We have to win in Maine not only to secure full equality for Maine's same-sex couples, but to help shut down the conservative agenda.

In addition to sending Adam to Maine, you can donate to our campaign via OpenLeft's very own ActBlue page. Help us make sure we have the resources to keep our ads on the air. In a small state like Maine, every little bit helps. I call it a "cheap-date" state.

Also, you can join Adam in Maine through our Volunteer Vacation Program, which begins the first week of October. People from all over the country are coming to Maine to be full-time volunteers on the ground in targeted towns for one week. We'll provide the housing for anyone who can get to Maine. Our friends over at Travel For Change are helping arrange travel and are more than willing to help you sponsor another volunteer if you can't make it yourself, including taking your donated airline miles.

At the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign, we've been very appreciative of the support from progressives around the country. This is about marriage equality in Maine, but it's about much more, too.

[Read the article or read more articles from Open Left.]

Discovery Fight in Suit Challenging Calif. Ban on Gay Marriages Sunday, 09/27/09
Law.com

Gay marriage opponents trooped into Northern District of California Chief Judge Vaughn Walker's courtroom Friday to quash requests for internal campaign e-mails and other documents from last year's "Yes on 8" effort. Marriage supporters, meanwhile, argued that the motivations of those behind the ballot initiative are highly relevant because discriminatory intent would undermine opponents' claims of a rational state interest in the ban.

[Read the article or read more articles from Law.com.]

Restore Equality 2010 campaign chapter unveils statewide plan, elects leadership Saturday, 09/26/09
Gay and Lesbian Times

Once the campaign's ballot language is accepted, its signature drive will begin, most likely this November, Brooks said. After that, the campaign will have 150 days to collect 1.2 to 1.3 million signatures to qualify its referendum on the November 2010 ballot.

[Read the article or read more articles from Gay and Lesbian Times.]

Prop 8 Campaign Seeks To Shield Internal Memos Friday, 09/25/09
KPIX

A federal judge is considering whether to order the sponsors of California's voter-approved gay marriage ban to produce their internal campaign records to lawyers now suing to overturn the law.

[Read the article or read more articles from KPIX.]

Groundbreaking study on LGBT Parents Released by APA Friday, 09/25/09
Windy City Media Group

Last week the American Psychological Association published Dr. Abbie E. Goldberg's Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children: Research on the Family Life Cycle, a comprehensive summary and analysis of the research on gay and lesbian parents and their families to date. Goldberg's new book is the first full-length analysis of the research on gay parenting, summarizing research data on the subject from the 1970's to the present day. The research is consistent in suggesting that the outcomes and well-being of children raised by gay and lesbian parents are no different than those of children raised by heterosexual parents.

[Read the article or read more articles from Windy City Media Group.]

2010 Prop 8 repeal ballot language submitted Friday, 09/25/09
Bay Area Reporter

As expected, ballot language to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010 was submitted to the state attorney general's office, though it is unclear whether the language submitted this week will be the actual wording of any proposed ballot measure.

The proposal, submitted Wednesday night by Love Honor Cherish, removes Prop 8's language in the state constitution that says, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California" and replaces it with "Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion."

The proposed ballot language also prohibits courts from requiring priests, ministers, rabbis, or other religious authorities "to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs."

[Read the article or read more articles from Bay Area Reporter.]

New Study Proves this Ad Works - Watch it here and support Equality in Maine and California Tuesday, 09/22/09
Daily Kos

Yes! The focus group study of this ad by HCD Research reported the ad was considered effective by 83% of Democrats, 77% of Independents and 58% of Republicans. "Happiness" and "Inspiration" for both Democratic and Independent voters, were the most often reported reactions to the ad studied by HCD. Republicans reported feeling "Disturbed" (24%) with "Happiness" (20%) being a close second. Complete study details here.

Certainly one ad viewed one time is unlikely to change hearts and minds on such an emotional subject, but as we share this and other stories over the coming weeks time and again that is just what we will do. This debate is only won on an emotional level, and the initial study indicators were not only that the ad was deemed effective, but elicited emotional rather than intellectual responses, which means we are on target.

We need your help right now:

There are two ways to support this work directly - Contribute here to support airing this commercial in Maine

And also - Contribute here to support production of more educational spots like this for California.

[Read the article or read more articles from Daily Kos.]

September 27- National Day Of Action to Save Marriage Equality in Maine! Tuesday, 09/22/09
Pam's House Blend

**All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing- the web-based software does it all.**

With 500 people ACROSS AMERICA, donating 2.5 hours of time, we can accomplish 1250 volunteer hours!

This is a VIRTUAL PHONE BANK on Sunday, September 27th to SAVE MAINE FROM RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, and pave the way for a repeal of Proposition 8 in California!

[Read the article or read more articles from Pam's House Blend.]

When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize Same-Sex Marriage Tuesday, 09/22/09
PopMatters

So gay marriage seems to be good for gay people: how does it affect straight people? According to the conservative commentator Stanley Kurtz, it hastens moral decline by separating the act of procreation from the act of marriage. He points to decreasing marriage rates in the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, the increase in unmarried heterosexual couples, and increasing numbers of children born outside of wedlock as evidence that straight people take legal recognition of gay marriage as a sign that parenthood and marriage need no longer be connected.

But Badgett refutes these conclusions by looking at marriage rates in six countries, five of which have a long history of granting rights to same sex couples: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the United States. All six have seen a decline in marriage rates since the 1970s, but several of the countries which allow gay marriage have seen an increase since the '90s (while the US has not). She doesn't attribute the increase to the influence of gay marriage (the trend started earlier) but points out that the historical data offers no support for Kurtz's opinions. Similarly, divorce rates and nonmarital birth rates showed little change after the legalization of same-sex marriage.

[Read the article or read more articles from PopMatters.]

Poll: Gay Marriage Trailing in Maine Sunday, 09/20/09
Advocate

A new Research 2000/Daily Kos poll in Maine suggests that the state's marriage equality law would be repealed if the issue went to voters today.

The survey of 600 likely voters between September 14 and 16 posed two questions pertaining to marriage equality, according to Daily Kos. In each instance, a greater percentage of respondents with a firm opinion chose an anti-equality position, although a pivotal percentage remained undecided.

[Read the article or read more articles from Advocate.]

Poll: Marriage Equality Trailing in Maine; Don't Let Another Prop 8 Happen! Sunday, 09/20/09
Unite the Fight

Results from a Research 2000/Daily Kos poll indicates that if Mainers voted on the new marriage equality law today, they would vote to overturn it, repeating what happened in California with Proposition 8.

[Read the article or read more articles from Unite the Fight.]

It's a three-year campaign before us Friday, 09/18/09
Gay and Lesbian Times

Smart leaders of ballot measure campaigns have three key factors at the top of their minds: coalition, money, and timing. All three loom large in weighing how to go back to California voters with a measure to overturn Prop 8. For those of us whose goal is regaining the right to civil marriage for committed same-sex couples, evidence should drive our decisions. On all three fronts, a growing corps of leaders has reached the same conclusion. We need to work together in a three-year effort to build the pro-equality majority required to win a "yes" vote for equality in 2012.

[Read the article or read more articles from Gay and Lesbian Times.]

Political Notebook: Gay GOPer has star role in same-sex marriage fight Thursday, 09/17/09
Bay Area Reporter

Last year Karger was astounded to read how much money anti-gay groups pushing Proposition 8, the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, were able to raise in San Diego, a place he knew well from his political campaign work.

"It was surprising because it is not a socially conservative place," said Karger, who was especially irked to see hotel mogul Doug Manchester "gloating" about donating $125,000 to help put Prop 8 on the ballot.

Another quote in the news article also struck a chord with Karger.

"This one guy said we should boycott these businesses supporting the anti-gay groups," recalled Karger.

Inspired, Karger founded Californians Against Hate, a 501(c)4 organization, and set out to do just that; he led a successful boycott of Manchester's hotels that continues to this day. Knowing how to draw a media crowd, he chose to launch the boycott the Friday of San Diego's Pride weekend and invited parade grand marshals Cleve Jones, founder of the AIDS Quilt, and Gilbert Baker , creator of the rainbow flag, to speak.

"My bottom line is you have to change people's opinions. You got to think big," said Karger, who donated $2,500 of his own money to the No on 8 efforts.

[Read the article or read more articles from Bay Area Reporter.]

Gay Latino Americans are 'coming of age' Wednesday, 09/16/09
CNN

The Latino community has long had a reputation for being notoriously homophobic. But some surprising developments within the Latino world -- in the United States and abroad -- suggest that may be changing, gay scholars and activists say.

[Read the article or read more articles from CNN.]

In spite of hard times in Sacramento, LGBT rights advance Wednesday, 09/16/09
California Ripple Effect

What's next? The resolutions have all passed, but the five bills -- on Harvey Milk Day, the status of couples married out of state, the Equal ID Act and the domestic violence bill -- are awaiting the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger. Then it is time to look ahead to next year. We already know we'll keep working to preserve the critical infrastructure and HIV/AIDS services that our community has labored so hard to establish. This is simply too important of a battle to lose.

What do you think our next legislative priorities should be? If you have a suggestion, please leave us a comment. Thanks for your commitment and hard work in building a state of equality here in California!

[Read the article or read more articles from California Ripple Effect.]

Rep. Barney Frank Won't Co-Sponsor DOMA Partial Repeal; Bill Author Rep. Nadler Responds Monday, 09/14/09
Unite the Fight

Openly gay Rep. Barney Frank has declined to co-sponsor Rep. Jerry Nadler's partial Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) repeal because he doesn't believe in the strategy and feels different issues are more pressing for the LGBT population.

"It's not anything that's achievable in the near term," Frank told the Washington Blade. "I think getting [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act], a repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and full domestic partner benefits for federal employees will take up all of what we can do and maybe more in this Congress."

[Read the article or read more articles from Unite the Fight.]

Large Legal Conference Split by Prop 8 Hotel Boycott Monday, 09/14/09
XETV

An ongoing dispute regarding a San Diego hotelier's support of the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 has caused a spilt amongst attendees of the annual California Bar Association Annual Meeting.

The Conference of Delegates has moved to a new venue apart from the annual State Bar meeting being held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, which is under regular protest due to part-owner Douglas Manchester's contributions to the Prop 8 campaign to ban same-sex marriage.

[Read the article or read more articles from XETV.]

The Lesson of Danny and Marilyn Friday, 09/11/09
Advocate

Advances in Iowa and Colorado -- where it took a coordinated and determined coalition of progressive voters and donors to oust antigay state representative Danny Carroll and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave -- are a perfect model for the first step in winning full federal equality. But what comes next? The Gill Action Fund's Tim Gill and Patrick Guerriero have it all mapped out.

[Read the article or read more articles from Advocate.]

Overwhelming Support for Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act Friday, 09/11/09
Change.org

Efforts are underway in Congress to introduce a bill calling for a repeal of DOMA, with Rep. Jerry Nadler from New York taking the lead. Going hand-in-hand with the proposed legislation is an initiative from the Human Rights Campaign -- RepealDOMANow.org -- that hopes to mobilize tens of thousands of letters from folks urging their Congressional Reps to overturn DOMA. You can take action here to help make that happen.

[Read the article or read more articles from Change.org.]

Interview with John Marcotte, Author of the 2010 California Protection of Marriage Act Friday, 09/11/09
Rob Cockerham

Rob Cockerham: John Marcotte. You've filed a petition with the Secretary of State, in an effort to get a voter's initative on the California 2010 ballot.

John Marcotte: Yes. Filed the paperwork on September 1. It's the "2010 California Marriage Protection Act." I am trying to ban divorce in the state of California.

RC: Ok. So your act, if it became law, would make marriage undissolvable.

John: Exactly. The only exception would be if the marriage was "voidable" -- if you married an 8-year-old, you don't get to keep her. She goes back on the shelf. You can't marry the mentally incapacitated, etc.

RC: Ah, ok, so most normal marriages would be irreversable.

John: 99.99% of all marriages would be set in stone. It's a return to traditional values.

[Read the article or read more articles from Rob Cockerham.]

New wrinkle in Perry case: conservative group appeals denial of intervention Friday, 09/11/09
Reeuq

The Campaign for California Families, which had sought to intervene as additional defenders of Prop 8 in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, has filed a notice that it is appealing the denial of its intervention motion.

What's afoot here is an intra-movement split on the anti-gay side.

[Read the article or read more articles from Reeuq.]

Maine: An easy way to double your money Tuesday, 09/08/09
Bilerico Project

For the next 48 hours, a generous Projector has made an offer to the Bilerico community that can't be ignored! Our reader will match up to $1000 total raised on Bilerico if at least 12 people donate in the next 48 hours.

[Read the article or read more articles from Bilerico Project.]

Where's The Change? Gay Activists Ask Sunday, 09/06/09
NPR

Vermont on Tuesday joined five other states that have given same-sex couples the right to marry. That situation was almost unimaginable a decade ago, when, after rancorous debate, the state became the first in the union to enact same-sex civil unions.

But despite the historic gains made by the nation's gay community, this year has largely been one of disappointment for many whose hopes were pinned on President Obama's promise of change after two terms of an openly hostile Republican administration.

[Read the article or read more articles from NPR.]

Defense of Marriage Act Repeal Bill to Circulate U.S. House in Weeks Saturday, 09/05/09
Unite the Fight

Politico reports that U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who announced in July he would be working on a partial repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), will be ready to circulate his bill to his colleagues to garner support in a matter of weeks, putting the Obama Administration on the spot. Politico believes it will garner dozens of co-sponsors.

[Read the article or read more articles from Unite the Fight.]

Coalition developing structure for 2010 Prop 8 repeal effort Saturday, 09/05/09
Bay Area Reporter

Marriage equality advocates from across the state hoping to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010 met last weekend in San Francisco to adopt a structure for a statewide signature gathering campaign and elect an interim leadership team to develop a political action committee.

[Read the article or read more articles from Bay Area Reporter.]

The road to Marriage Equality runs through Maine Friday, 09/04/09
Daily Kos

Maine has been through statewide elections on LGBT equality issues before. In 2005, I managed the campaign against a people's veto of the new law adding sexual orientation and gender identity to our human rights act. We won 54% - 46%.

I'm a lifelong Mainer and I do believe the people of this state are inherently fair-minded. But, Markos is right:

A victory here for the forces of equality would be fantastic momentum heading into new equality battles in places like California and New York in the coming years.

[Read the article or read more articles from Daily Kos.]

Paterson Re-ups N.Y. Marriage Pledge Friday, 09/04/09
Advocate

New York governor David Paterson recommitted himself to including same-sex marriage on the agenda if he has to call a special session this fall in order to shore up the state's budget woes.

"I am anticipating a special session and I am anticipating this is one of the issues that we will address," Paterson told The Advocate Thursday night, shortly after leaving a meeting that included representatives from the Empire State Pride Agenda, the Human Rights Campaign, and Gill Action Fund. State senator Thomas Duane joined the discussion by phone.

[Read the article or read more articles from Advocate.]

Increase in Iowa's tourism could help federal case against Prop 8 Thursday, 09/03/09
Examiner

The city of San Francisco was given permission to intervene in the case to argue a unique perspective regarding government concerns. District Attorney Dennis Herrera will bring up financial concerns on the negative impact Proposition 8 has on tourism income, public health care costs, and small business revenue.

[Read the article or read more articles from Examiner.]

Alice B Toklas LGBT Dem. Club: LGBT Community Needs a Cohesive Plan Tuesday, 09/01/09
Calitics

We propose that a new campaign structure be formed that will govern the longer-term aspects of both the 2010 and 2012 efforts that are compatible.

Campaign structures must be set up to govern both the 2010 and 2012 efforts anyway, and there is no time to lose.

The new organization that we propose will have two distinct branches, both responsive to a central, governing body. One branch will focus on the efforts to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010. The other unit will focus on repealing Proposition 8 in 2012 and presumably will execute the public outreach plan for the 2012 election.

[Read the article or read more articles from Calitics.]

Interim group elected to oversee 2010 Repeal Prop 8 signature gathering campaign Tuesday, 09/01/09
Examiner

More than 80 activists from across California met last Saturday as part of the California Coalition for Marriage Equality, an ad-hoc group comprised of more than 75 organizations across the state that are dedicated to the single and common goal of restoring marriage equality in California as quickly as possible. The group met at San Francisco State University to create a structure for the signature gathering effort that would restore marriage equality in California in 2010.

[Read the article or read more articles from Examiner.]

Olson + Boies Want to Prove Sexuality Is Not a Choice. Is That a Terrible Legal Strategy? Tuesday, 09/01/09
Queerty

If a decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger concludes that sexuality is not a choice and cannot be the basis for denying marriage rights, what we could end up with is a federal ruling that says, flat out, gay Americans cannot be discriminated against. And while we certainly expect Congress to pass ENDA before Perry wraps up, wouldn't it be lovely to have both legislative decisions and court rulings backing the obvious?

[Read the article or read more articles from Queerty.]