Watch My Life on the D List Monday at 8 on Bravo! Watch for reruns all week!

In San Francisco on the Day of Decision we saw 175 protesters arrested for sitting down and blocking an intersection near the court building. My feelings were mixed about their display of civil disobedience. On one hand I felt emboldened and proud of the courage my community demonstrated and on the other I wondered if such displays were useful, if not harmful.

Early in March when Long Beach Equality, a LGBT grassroots civil rights organization I’m part of, was planning our D-Day march and rally we discussed the use of civil disobedience. We had received emails from people involved in the movement encouraging it and giving examples. They ranged from picketing the City Hall to closing off streets and off-ramps to freeways. Ultimately we decided that our problem was with the legislation and not our city politicians nor law enforcement. Putting them in the position to defend us to a possible angry public wouldn’t serve any purpose.

In April I went to an Equality Network Teach-In and talked with Professor Walter Williams. He teaches history and gender studies at USC and we discussed the different types of strategies and philosophies that were used to advance the gay civil rights movement. I asked him which did he feel were important. “All of them” he replied. They each addressed a specific voice and purpose in the community. Activism of all kinds including civil disobedience has its place but what role does civil disobedience have in today’s struggle?

Back in the 80′s when AIDS was devastating the gay community it is easy to understand the use of civil disobedience. Organizations such as ACT UP closed down the Golden Gate Bridge and temporarily interrupted the broadcast of the CBS Evening News (Dan Rather wasn’t amused). Hunger strikes and various forms of sit-ins were also not uncommon with them.

Today in California we deal with a different situation. The inequality we face, though extremely important, doesn’t have the life and death urgency AIDS did in the 80′s and 90′s. Back then thousands were dying. We also didn’t have the Governor and legislature on our side. Even Obama, who isn’t supportive of gay marriage, came out against Prop 8 and the courts, though deciding to uphold Prop 8, initially struck down California’s same-sex marriage ban paving the way for New Hampshire, Main and Iowa.

In spite of these advancements the supporters and non-supporters of Prop 8 are split evenly down the middle with 5% on the electorate undecided. Eric Nakano, a fellow activist who has worked in Washington DC and on presidential campaigns warned, “with margins of undecided voters somewhere around 5%, angering a small group enough to shift against us decisively is not out of the question.”

If we as a community decide to go back to the ballot in the next four years, especially in 2010, then we are going to need every vote we can get. The use of civil disobedience, though never off the table, will need to be carefully scrutinized if we are to gain the support needed for long-term social change.

Ask any politico and she will agree that the most effective way to change voter’s mind is having a personal conversation with them. Voter canvassing was a tool used very successfully by the Obama campaign in establishing that dialogue.  But to create and implement a canvassing program is highly laborious and time intensive.

I’ve been working with Vote Equality, the LA Gay and Lesbian voter canvassing program, and I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to get voter outreach moving forward. You have to cut turf (target the areas to be canvassed), prep that info, and then scout locations even before you can train and send out a single volunteer. Then there is the data collection and entry afterward to see how effective you were.

Statewide 300,000 voters will need to change their minds in order counteract Prop 8. In LA County alone we need to change 70,000 voters’ minds or around 23%. It will be at least 4-6 months before we have a strong effective state-wide canvassing program.

I’m going to layout a scenario that will give context to the enormous challenge the LGBT community faces. Let’s say in 5 months we have a solid running state-wide canvassing program and have persuaded 10,000 people in the process. We still have 12 months to change 60,000 people. That equates to 5,000 people per month which mean you will need to have 3-4 times as many conversations per month. That’s 15-20,000 interactions.

That’s a lot of doors to knock on especially when you consider that on average a person will be knocking on 30-40 doors in a 2 hour canvassing period and will talk with on average 3 people. Keep in mind that some of those will already be for us and those that aren’t won’t necessarily change their minds.

Now, let’s say you could do all of this in one 2 hour canvassing each month. You’d need 5,833 canvassers in LA County to do make those 3 connections apiece. 5,833 canvassers that need to be trained, fed and directed. And that is not taking into account the turf cutting, canvass prep, etcetera.

Add to these challenges voter resistance. The closer you get to election day the harder it is to change hearts and mind as voters become more resistant to persuasive political solicitations. In fact, these solicitations sometimes have the opposite intended effect.

Do you understand my concern?

Some have chided me for what they see as fatalistic accounting. Many of these passionate individuals have spoken on the principle of our urgent need for civil rights. However, passion and principles by themselves don’t win campaigns. You need a well thought out strategy and the superb implementation of it. And of course, the time with which to do it in.

This doesn’t mean we throw our hands up in defeat. If we shoot for 2012 we need to canvass now. If 2010 is chosen I am not without hope as the LGBT community proved in the latter 2 months of the No on Prop 8 campaign it could mobilize quickly. But if we lose, the irony of losing in 2008 for starting too late and in 2010 for starting too soon will be disastrous.

The day of decision is finally here.  Tuesday May 26th at 10:00 am the Supreme Court will announce their decision on the challenge of Prop 8.    There are a few possible outcomes and the action plan for our community is outlined below.    Regardless of the outcome we must ALL come out on Tuesday night for the rally.  Whether we are celebrating or protesting we must show the rest of America our strength by our numbers!! 

For more information about Tuesday’s rally visit lbequality.org or dayofdecision.org.

Posted on DayOfDecision.org

DAY OF DECISION ACTIONS TUESDAY NIGHT!!
We have just learned that the California Supreme Court will announce its decision on Proposition 8 Tuesday, May 26th.  If it follows past practice, the court will make its announcement at about 10 AM Pacific Time (1 PM, Eastern / 12 noon Central).
Depending on what the court decides, we will either PROTEST or CELEBRATE

We will PROTEST if:
–  The court upholds Prop 8, and invalidates the 18,000 same-sex marriage licenses that California already issued;
or,
–  The court upholds Prop 8,  but upholds the 18,000 same-sex marriages already performed, which would be a cruel, but phyrric victory for equality.

We will CELEBRATE if:
–  The court rejects Proposition 8 and says that same-sex couples are entitled to the marriage rights that heterosexual couples already have.
So call, email, Facebook, Twitter your friends – DAY OF DECISION actions are TUESDAY NIGHT!

Robin Tyler
Andy Thayer
Co-founders, www.DayOfDecision.org

Over 100 people gathered at the Art on 4th in Long Beach last night for a town hall meeting sponsored by LBequality.com and The Center Long Beach.  Similar events have been held around California in preparation for the Supreme Courts ruling on Proposition 8. A decision is expected before June 3rd, 2009.

Speakers at the meeting discussed strategies and outreach efforts to gain support from the Californians that voted for the Proposition this past November.  John Ireland of  GetToKnowUsFirst.Org discussed the importance of showing real families and real faces of same sex couples in the media.  GetToKnowUsFirst.Org has organized a media campaign showing the lives of five lesbian and gay couples.  Some may have seen the 30 second PSA announcements that have been airing throughout the state.  It was announced at this meeting that a new campaigns has been launched and will target faith based organizations such as churches and synagogues in an effort to change the hearts and minds of those opposed to marriage equality by identifying the similarities of gay and lesbian couples and families and not the differences.

Legal experts discussed the possible rulings on Proposition 8 by the California Supreme Court.  Devon Lyon, local attorney didn’t seem optimistic about the  upcoming ruling going in our favor , ” We are hoping for the best but planning for the worse.”   She did emphasize the importance of participation in the community and that if an attempt is to be made to put another ballot initiative up for vote in 2010 or 2012 that , “We would need every member to pass our proposition and would need everyone to participate.”   Jenny Pizer of Lambda legal also spoke to the crowd explaining the importance of the rulings in other states that have gone in our favor and that significant progress has been made in the fight for marriage equality.  She explained the damaging effects passage of proposition 8 would have regarding protection of minorities at the state and federal levels, “ Turning equality guarantees into swiss cheese.” She also stated, “Majority should never vote on rights for a minority.”  She also stated tha win or lose come June 3rd, 2009 that the fight is not over.

Tom Crowe of LBequality.com spoke to announce a D-Day rally and march.  He encouraged the crowd to meet at 7pm on the day the decision is handed down from the Supreme Court.  The march will begin at Alamitos and Broadway and end at Junipero.  A rally will then begin at Bixby Park.  He encouraged everyone to come out and to bring your signs, walking shoes and drums.

This town hall meeting can be viewed live at  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1424362 This video and more information about can be found at lbequality.com.

On April 23, at 7pm – 8:30pm, The Center Long Beach and Long Beach Equality will be hosting a townhall meeting at The Art Theater in Long Beach, CA. These townhall meetings are happening through Centers across California. Come and participate in this live webcast townhall where the following will occur:

~ D-Day
~ Meet in the Middle
~ GetToKnowUsFirst.org, John Ireland, Project Organizer
~ Lambda Legal, Jenny Pizer, Esq., Sr. Counsel and Marriage Project Director
~ Tom Crowe and Ján Montoya, LB Equality
~ Q and A. Learn how to get involved. Learn how to contribute to the Statewide LGBT response to Calif. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision.

Please join us for an evening of answers to our many questions regarding Prop 8. Have a question regarding Prop 8 that you’d like answered? You can submit your questions in advance to QUESTIONS@LBEquality.org.

Stay tuned for more details. For more information on other townhall meetings, go to Equality California’s website (http://lbequality.org/).

If you’re unable to attend you can view the event at either: http:// www.ustream.tv/channel/lb-equality-town-hall or www.centerlb.org

The Art Theatre is next door to The Center: 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach.

Yes! On Equality Allies With Progressive Groups To Collect Signatures for the California Marriage Equality Act

On Thursday March 19th, 2009 the Attorney General released the official title summary for Yes! on Equality to start gathering signatures. Yes! on Equality is uniting with statewide progressive organizations for a new marriage equality campaign.

Since January 2009 this initiative has served as a placeholder highlighting the need for a timely and thorough response to Proposition 8 if pending court challenges to Prop 8 do not succeed. Yes! On Equality is presently developing strategies with the LGBT community, allies, and professional entities to create an environment conducive to success. Extensive work is also being conducted at the grassroots level statewide to make sure that the movement and campaign is carried with attention to all parts of California. In the coming weeks the campaign and allied groups will begin to collect signatures statewide.

The initiative underlines how marriage equality in California does not threaten state schools or religious institutions. The proposed law reads as follows:

An act to repeal Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution; therefore provisions to be repealed are printed in strike-through text.

Section 1.

This measure shall be known, and may cited, as the “California Marriage Equality Act.”

Section 2. (a) Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution

shall be repealed, stricken, and removed as such:

Sec. 7.5 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California

(b) This section is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, modify or change the curriculum in any school.

(c) This section is not intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, mandate or require clergy of any church to perform a service or duty incongruent with their faith.

By gathering signatures for the California Marriage Equality Act, Yes! On Equality aims to provide a timely, basic tool to advance equality in California. This campaign seeks to compliment existing grass-roots networks and long-standing community and public-service organizations in California that have struggled to ensure equality for all. The Yes! On Equality website yesonequality.com serves as a portal for coalition-building and information for volunteers and everyone interested in marriage equality in California. For more information contact the campaign at media@yesonequality.com, (800) 778-2998 or (916) 273-4930.