Sorry Ronald Reagan but it's becoming really clear to me why communism doesn't work. It wasn't the might of our military, the strength of our conviction, or the intoxicating power of Levi's going with everything. It's because when given the option to do less or more without consequence, people will do less.
Swallow that...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Meet Sam & Julie Thoron
This is the first ad in the marriage equality debate California is about to engage in. The No on Prop 8 side was the first on the air, an important benchmark in the campaign.
The Thorons bring the tough reality many California families will face should the bigots behind Proposition 8 win. Equality for All has ambitious plans to make sure everyone in California meets the Thorons. I wouldn't be surprised if we meet a lot of different families during this campaign.
We can help keep this ad on the air. I'm trying to raise $10,000 for my birthday -- which would help this and other ads run dozens of times during across the state.
You can give here just don't forget to include REFERRAL CODE 503.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
30 Years In...
Almost 30 years ago, who would’ve thought we’d be where we are today? The Democratic Party has nominated a progressive black man for President and the Republican Party has nominated a conservative hockey mom for Vice President. All of Europe trades in one currency. Formerly hostile nations like Libya are choosing to lay down their weapons in the spirit of peace. And gay men and lesbian can legally marry in six countries and two states.
I couldn’t have imagined it because 30 years ago, I wasn’t around. I was close, but not there yet. I couldn’t have stood along side of Harvey Milk and George Moscone of San Francisco when they lead the charge to stand up for gay rights in California. And 30 years ago, they were in the fight of their lives – working to defeat the Briggs Initiative and push back against Anita Bryant and the powerful forces of hate.
I consider myself lucky to have been born when I was. That victory 30 years ago, soundly defeating the Briggs Initiative and sending Anita Bryant back to Florida, helped create an environment where I could grow to become the man I am today. Without that victory, who knows what shame would be slung on the backs of gay men and women and what impact that would have had on me.
Today, I can be open and honest as who I am and still keep my job, get insurance, live wherever I chose, be with whomever I want, and, in my state of California, one day get married and have the family that my parents raised me to have. Much of this is possible because of that fight that Californians were in right when I was born.
As I prepare for this milestone birthday it is impossible not to recognize that we are on the threshold of history this year. Whoever moves into the White House will make history. And frankly, the impact of their administration on my life is limited to tax policy and personal satisfaction. But on the same day, millions of Californians will make a decision that will profoundly affect my life – they will decide Proposition 8, the first movement since prohibition to strip rights and freedoms away from Americans.
We must defeat Proposition 8. Thirty years ago, it was about coming out and making ourselves known. Harvey Milk, who was murdered because of his defiant honesty, implored us to “come out, come out, wherever you are!” Coming out won’t do it this time. And in reality, it doesn’t matter. Most of us are out these days because of the pioneering work of these early fighters. It also won’t work because many who are this fight aren’t gay. We are men and women, straight and gay, single and married, with children and without. We believe in justice and equality. And we need to do something.
If we fail, the proprietors of hate will drag their carnival to the next state and the next. They will ride the wave of victory across this country and deny tens of millions of Americans equality under the law. It will take another generation just to get where we are today, 30 years after Briggs – 30 years after I was born.
If we win, we can stop them. The defeat of Briggs slowed down the conservatives who sought to strip every city and town of their modest protections for gays. We can cause their war chests to dry up. We can take gay marriage out of the political debate and focus on real issues. But most importantly, we can marry. That is the tangible product that they won’t ever be able to take away. Everyone in California will be equal under the law.
This will not be an easy fight. The forces on the right have rallied. Opponents of equality have upped the stakes and are planning to spend a lot of money in pushing this dangerous constitutional amendment on California. It is estimated that we’ll need more than $25 million to get our message out and encourage a “no” vote. For some perspective, in 2000, organizers working against Proposition 22 – which was thrown out by the court this past year – raised only $6 million. They lost. With this amendment taking away a right guaranteed by the California constitution, we can not stand to lose. We must defeat this initiative.
Come back often. I’ll tell you what you can do! (And I won’t cut and paste. It’ll be my own, original writing.)
Start with a promise to vote no!
I couldn’t have imagined it because 30 years ago, I wasn’t around. I was close, but not there yet. I couldn’t have stood along side of Harvey Milk and George Moscone of San Francisco when they lead the charge to stand up for gay rights in California. And 30 years ago, they were in the fight of their lives – working to defeat the Briggs Initiative and push back against Anita Bryant and the powerful forces of hate.
I consider myself lucky to have been born when I was. That victory 30 years ago, soundly defeating the Briggs Initiative and sending Anita Bryant back to Florida, helped create an environment where I could grow to become the man I am today. Without that victory, who knows what shame would be slung on the backs of gay men and women and what impact that would have had on me.
Today, I can be open and honest as who I am and still keep my job, get insurance, live wherever I chose, be with whomever I want, and, in my state of California, one day get married and have the family that my parents raised me to have. Much of this is possible because of that fight that Californians were in right when I was born.
As I prepare for this milestone birthday it is impossible not to recognize that we are on the threshold of history this year. Whoever moves into the White House will make history. And frankly, the impact of their administration on my life is limited to tax policy and personal satisfaction. But on the same day, millions of Californians will make a decision that will profoundly affect my life – they will decide Proposition 8, the first movement since prohibition to strip rights and freedoms away from Americans.
We must defeat Proposition 8. Thirty years ago, it was about coming out and making ourselves known. Harvey Milk, who was murdered because of his defiant honesty, implored us to “come out, come out, wherever you are!” Coming out won’t do it this time. And in reality, it doesn’t matter. Most of us are out these days because of the pioneering work of these early fighters. It also won’t work because many who are this fight aren’t gay. We are men and women, straight and gay, single and married, with children and without. We believe in justice and equality. And we need to do something.
If we fail, the proprietors of hate will drag their carnival to the next state and the next. They will ride the wave of victory across this country and deny tens of millions of Americans equality under the law. It will take another generation just to get where we are today, 30 years after Briggs – 30 years after I was born.
If we win, we can stop them. The defeat of Briggs slowed down the conservatives who sought to strip every city and town of their modest protections for gays. We can cause their war chests to dry up. We can take gay marriage out of the political debate and focus on real issues. But most importantly, we can marry. That is the tangible product that they won’t ever be able to take away. Everyone in California will be equal under the law.
This will not be an easy fight. The forces on the right have rallied. Opponents of equality have upped the stakes and are planning to spend a lot of money in pushing this dangerous constitutional amendment on California. It is estimated that we’ll need more than $25 million to get our message out and encourage a “no” vote. For some perspective, in 2000, organizers working against Proposition 22 – which was thrown out by the court this past year – raised only $6 million. They lost. With this amendment taking away a right guaranteed by the California constitution, we can not stand to lose. We must defeat this initiative.
Come back often. I’ll tell you what you can do! (And I won’t cut and paste. It’ll be my own, original writing.)
Start with a promise to vote no!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
