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Wrong Lessons Learned from Prop 8? Tuesday, 08/03/10
Edge

Among the report's "Top Ten Recommendations" is the observation that it is crucial to "Counter Anti-Gay Prejudice." "We must develop effective arguments to keep voters from being misled by false and defamatory allegations of harm to children historically used to instill fear in voters," the report states. "In Prop 8, our base of supporters shrank in the final six weeks when the ads exploiting prejudice went on the air."

Talking honestly with the public was also identified as a key recommendation. "In three different realms, No on 8 demonstrated the power of honesty," the report observes. "Honesty with our supporters was motivational: they donated in massive numbers when No on 8 honestly shared the bad news that we were in danger of losing. Avoidance of the most direct, honest response cost us a key slice of the electorate that started out with us: parents fell for the anti-gay 'Princes' argument when we waited too long to reply with the truth." Moreover, "Being less than fully honest with ourselves affected part of the No on 8 polling; it tested messages in a way that yielded misleading answers."

The report suggested that valuable lessons be learned, and remembered, not only from families' defeat in California but elsewhere as well, such as in Maine, where, a year after Prop 8, a law that would have extended marriage parity was rescinded at the ballot box in before it could take effect. "From Maine, California can learn at least three lessons," the report says. "First, although pro-LGBT forces in Maine raised and spent 50% more money than anti-gay forces, their experience showed that money alone can't solve the problem with 'Princes' and its appeal to anti-gay prejudice.

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Religious leaders helped secure marriage for gays and lesbians in D.C. Friday, 03/12/10
Edge

The Rev. Robert Hardies, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church, worked alongside the Revs. Dennis and Christine Wiley, married co-pastors of Covenant Baptist Church, to organize a multiracial and multi-denominational coalition of faith in support of marriage for same-sex couples. With more than 200 clergy members, the alliance held press conferences and religious services in support of nuptials for gays and lesbians. Members also turned out en masse to testify for the bill. Hardies told EDGE he decided to form the coalition after California voters overturned Proposition 8.

"Prop 8 told us two things: One that we hadn't done a good job organizing in religious communities-and two that there was a real divide between people of color and white folks," he said. "As a minister who pastors a multiracial congregation, both of those things broke my heart. I said to myself that night when this movement comes to D.C. we can't have it turn out the same way."

In light of Prop 8, Hardies organized outreach efforts to the African Americans in the District. He said their support was critical in the passage of the marriage bill, and he hopes surrounding states will follow the coalition's example.

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Maine commission's investigation into NOM fundraising practices continues Wednesday, 03/03/10
Edge

Nearly four months after Maine voters approved a referendum that overturned their state's law that had allowed gays and lesbians to marry, the National Organization for Marriage continues to stonewall requests for information from a commission investigating its contributions to the successful campaign.

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NY group uses guerrilla tactics against anti-marriage legislators Friday, 01/08/10
Edge

The Monserrate party-crashing was the first in a planned series of acts of civil disobedience the group plans, according to Bounville. In a Jan. 4 phone interview with EDGE, he wouldn't divulge details on targets, dates or locations, but the group is now called Queer Rising. Bounville said its mission is "demanding queer rights through direct action."

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Voters Shunning Gay Rights--But Supporting Gay Candidates Tuesday, 12/29/09
Edge

Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson declared, "The fact that an openly gay candidate wins for mayor in the nation's fourth largest city, in the South, in Texas, shows that when Americans get to know gay people as people, not as stereotypes, their resistance to treating gay people equally reduces."

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Religious groups play major role in campaign to repeal Maine marriage law Wednesday, 08/19/09
Edge

The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into Stand for Marriage Maine, the organization that has submitted more than 100,000 petition signatures.

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2010 Prop 8 Repeal Effort Up in the Air Wednesday, 07/29/09
Edge

Now the heads of the various organizations represented at the meeting will need to present the question to their groups; organizational structure will need to be developed and implemented; funding strategies will need to be developed, and plans laid for training volunteers to help move the process along.

All of that has to happen starting now, even if the initiative doesn't get onto the ballot until 2012; the ballot initiative that rescinded marriage rights for gay and lesbian families in California last year involved a bruising campaign battle and about $80 million dollars, half of which was raised by anti-gay activists.

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U.S. DOMA Repeal Would Include Recognizing Out-of-State Gay People Wednesday, 07/29/09
Edge

The effort to repeal the federal ban against equal marriage will not include extending rights to LGBT couples in domestic partnerships or civil unions, the Bay Area Reporter has learned. But it will include a "certainty provision" requiring states to recognize marriages performed in other states.

Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-New York), in an exclusive interview with the B.A.R. while attending the annual Human Rights Campaign gala in San Francisco Saturday, July 25, ruled out including anything other than legally recognized marriages in the legislation he plans to introduce either this week or once Congress returns from its August recess.

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For Gay Leaders, Obama's Silence on Prop. 8 Speaks Volumes Saturday, 05/30/09
Edge

But one major source of leadership has been silent on the issue: President Barack Obama, who pledged while on the campaign trail last year to advocate for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

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Republicans could play decisive role in New York marriage bill Saturday, 05/02/09
Edge

"Over 30 Republican legislators have stood up for marriage equality in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont and none of those people who voted for marriage lost re-election in their respective cycle," he said. "The idea that a Republican who is for gay marriage has put themselves on the hot seat is a bit overblown."

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Maine Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill Thursday, 04/30/09
Edge

This morning, April 30, the Maine Senate voted 20-15 in favor of LD 1020, a marriage equality bill. It now moves to the House of Representatives. The Senate defeated an amendment to the bill that proposed putting the question of marriage equality for same-sex couples before voters.

According to most polls, the Maine electorate is about evenly divided on the issue.

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Has Being Anti-Gay Become Uncool: Dr. Laura, Rick Warren & Many Others Now Think So Tuesday, 04/21/09
Edge

Several major media personalities have either renounced their past homophobia or have attempted to distance themselves from it, as evidenced by the recent statements by Dr. Laura Schlessinger and the Rev. Rick Warren.

Many in the LGBT community were stunned when Schlessinger, a conservative talk show host and author, told CNN that while she's no supporter of gay marriage, she supports same-sex relationships as a "very healthy and very positive thing." Schlessinger's statement was a dramatic turnaround from her demeanor toward gays in 2000, when she called homosexuality a "biological error."

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Gay Marriage Hearings in Rhode Island Set for February 26 Wednesday, 02/18/09
Edge

The fight for marriage equality in the Ocean State will be front and center on Thursday,February 26, as the Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony pertaining to two bills - one prohibiting same-sex marriage and the other granting equal access to marriage for same-gender couples.

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Portugal May Be Next in Line for Gay Marriage Sunday, 02/01/09
Edge

The leader of Portugal's ruling Socialist Party, Jose Socrates, has announced that he support gay marriage.

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Gay marriage on NH agenda Monday, 12/29/08
Edge

New Hampshire's law gives couples in civil unions the same rights and responsibilities as married couples in all aspects but name, but that promise, though largely untested, has clear limits.

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'No on 8' Heads Justify Their Losing Campaign Thursday, 11/27/08
Edge

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Activists debate marriage, Prop 8 fallout in New York b Tuesday, 11/25/08
Edge

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HRC President Urges Peaceful Battle against Prop.8 Thursday, 11/13/08
Edge

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