Roundup: The Struggle for Marriage Equality is Not Over
Though it’s easy to be disappointed by the results of Proposition 8 in California, the amount of work, effort, money and time that supporters of LGBT rights put in toward defeating this discriminatory proposition has to be commended. Given the results, one might lose track of the massive campaign organized by opponents of Prop 8, as well as the efforts of those in Arizona, Arkansas and Florida to combat equally offensive ballot measures banning gay marriage and gay adoption. Despite the fact that we didn’t win this time, it’s just a matter of time before victory is ours and this country recognizes marriage equality in all fifty states.
Given the importance of Proposition 8 these past few months, this week’s roundup will include excerpts from a number of statements from LGBT rights organizations and activists in the wake of Prop 8’s passage. This is not meant to read like a eulogy; rather, these statements reflect the best that supporters of marriage equality had to offer, and show that even in the face of defeat, there’s hope. To the roundup.
Today, we fought to retain our right to marry and millions of Californians stood with us. Over the course of this campaign everyday Californians and their friends, neighbors and families built a civil rights campaign unequalled in California history. You raised more money than anyone believed possible for an LGBT civil rights campaign. You reached out to family and friends in record numbers—helping hundreds of thousands of Californians understand what the LGBT civil rights struggle is really about. You built the largest grassroots and volunteer network that has ever been built – a coalition that will continue to fight until all people are equal. And you made the case to the people of California and to the rest of the world that discrimination — in any form — is unfair and wrong. We are humbled by the courage, dignity and commitment displayed by all who fought this historic battle. Victory was not ours today. But the struggle for equality is not over.
Tuesday's vote was deeply disappointing to all who believe in equal treatment under the law. All Americans are harmed when any of us are discriminated against or have our fundamental rights taken away. Make no mistake, this fight is not over. We remain committed to ensuring full equality under the law, just as the thousands of same-sex couples who joyously married in California are committed to each other. While it is understandable to be angry that a deceptive campaign could lead to such an unfair and wrong outcome, we need to keep focused instead on the progress we have made.
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign:
Like many in our movement, I found myself in Southern California last weekend. There, I had the opportunity to speak with a man who said that Proposition 8 completely changed the way he saw his own neighborhood. Every “Yes on 8” sign was a slap. For this man, for me, for the 18,000 couples who married in California, to LGBT people and the people who love us, its passage was worse than a slap in the face. It was nothing short of heartbreaking. But it is not the end. Fifty-two percent of the voters of California voted to deny us our equality on Tuesday, but they did not vote our families or the power of our love out of existence; they did not vote us away.
Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund:
With so many other bright spots and celebrations coming out of this election — especially the history-changing election of President-elect Barack Obama, which promises to be the most LGBT-friendly administration ever — it is particularly painful to have this and the other ballot measure losses in Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and the anti-LGBT measure in Hamtramck, Mich. The anger of many in our community is intense and palpable but somehow we will all need to dig deep and channel our anger and sadness into fulfilling the promise of marriage equality across the country. We will get there.
National Center for Lesbian Rights:
In communities across the state, leaders vow to continue moving the issue of equality forward, underscoring that it will only be a matter of time before all Californians understand that the freedom to marry is about love, commitment and treating others as you’d want to be treated, with equality under the law.
Jeff Lutes, Executive Director, Soul Force:
For even as America's historic presidential election ushers in a new dawn of fairness and inclusivity, a majority of voters in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Florida have voted, once again, to exclude some Americans from the fundamental promise of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Ironically, from the very beginning of his campaign, President-elect Obama abjured the politics of division and exclusion that have marred our political process by depicting some groups -- immigrants, poor people, people of color, and LGBT people -- as dangerous "others" who threaten our national identity. Obama's own story gives us hope for a more perfect, and more fully inclusive, union. But, as always in our nation's history, there remains more work to be done in order to make our most cherished ideals a reality.
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation:
The elimination of the right for same-sex couples to marry in California is a setback. But we must not and will not give up in our pursuit of fair and equal treatment under the law. And this discouraging news out of California provides us with the need and the opportunity – as an organization, as a movement, and as a community – to renew our dedication and work harder than ever toward our goal of equality.
We have already put our heels back on, straightened our veil, dusted ourselves off and re-calculated our new trajectory on the longer path that we will have to travel to reach the finish line - alright - we are officially re-enlisting for another tour of duty - bring it on - we will continue to march forward towards equality - with all the new leaders who have emerged and become veterans in this work of the heart, and by the way - everyone who worked on this election, earned their purple hearts. And with all of our new allies and alliances forged and with a clear map of where additional work and resources must be devoted to secure marriage equality in California, Florida and Arkansas, we march forth - and won't let no one turn us around. There is no turning back, there is no going back. That closet door is slammed tight and we are ready to shine with our rainbow light for all the world to see - we are ready to fight for our dignity as full LGBT American citizens endowed by our Creator with "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Michael Jones
is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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