LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Freedom-to-Marry Call to Action |
The countdown to the crucial votes in Hawaii and Alaska has begun.
On November 3, voters there will decide whether to ratify or reject discriminatory anti-gay amendments that aim to write gay and lesbian inequality into their state constitutions and burden our advance toward winning the freedom to marry. Both the Hawaii and Alaska amendments are products of the fierce national right-wing assault on our lives, families, and equality. Both are intended to keep us from winning the freedom to marry, a breakthrough that is otherwise so close to being within reach, especially in Hawaii. Both are funded and pushed by a group of organizations, and even some religious entities, that fully appreciate how significant it would be if we secure such a breakthrough. Both amendments are aimed at strangling our baby in its cradle in Hawaii and Alaska, as well as shutting down the vital national discussion about our freedom to marry and our entitlement to full equality. While local non-gay and gay people rally to fight in Alaska and, especially, Hawaii, those of us in the rest of the country must help counter the right-wing campaign there and at home in our own communities. And most of all, because this is a critical chapter in our national civil rights movement, we must redouble our own work in our own circles and communities. We must work diligently until election day. Here is what the future holds in store. August: In Hawaii (and Alaska) right-wing forces around the country will continue to flood in money to gear up their attacks. In the rest of the country, while continuing their assault on gay people generally, our opponents will hope to squelch any public dialogue about our freedom to marry. They know that the more we get non-gay people to keep talking about our stories (rather than stereotypes), hearing from couples and our non-gay clergy, families, or neighbors, the more the public becomes receptive to our freedom to marry (and ready to accept it once a breakthrough comes from the courts, as we hope it will soon). September/October: In Hawaii (and Alaska), these opponents will launch their media attack campaign to try to frighten people there into voting against our equality. In the rest of the country, they will try to distort or stifle the non-gay dialogue about our freedom to marry, putting forth stereotypes rather than the truth about our lives and what marriage means. They will try to usurp the mantle of religion and "family values" as if they belonged to their side, rather than to those of us fighting to protect all families. They will gamble that we will be distracted and fail to speak out, and thereby miss the opportunities to reach out to fair-minded potential allies in the non-gay world, especially clergy and community leaders. Also in September/October: The Vermont Supreme Court will most likely schedule oral argument in the promising freedom-to-marry case brought by local Vermont couples and attorneys and New Englands GLADD. Like the attacks in Hawaii aimed at blocking the Hawaii Supreme Courts final ruling, and like the vicious backlash campaign in Alaska, the Vermont Supreme Court argument will be yet another golden opportunity for all of us to focus peoples attention on how inequality harms our families. We must show people how (as with race discrimination in marriage a generation ago) the government does not have a good reason for discrimination in civil marriage. November: In Hawaii (and Alaska), the voters will ratify or reject the discriminatory amendment proposals. They will thus either make an important statement about preserving the Bill of Rights, independent judiciary, and equality under the law for all, or invite a new wave of litigation. If we beat back these amendments, the path will be clear for what we hope will be a swift decision from the Hawaii Supreme Court. We could see oral argument, a decision, and, we hope, the breakthrough victory by the end of the year. Such a breakthrough would allow same-sex couples to wed, and allow non-gay people all across the country to see that, in fact, the sky doesnt fall and equality is good for all. A whole new chapter of unprecedented possibilities and transformation will then open nationwide. NOW is our chance to influence that cultural and political outcome. So how can youhow can wemeet the challenges and opportunities of this critical countdown? Step 1: Support the efforts in Hawaii (and Alaska) to counter right-wing outside meddling with the State Bill of Rights and Constitution by sending a check NOW to: The Alliance For Equal Rights, 2139 Chamberlain St., Honolulu, HI 96822, or to the Human Rights Campaign/Protect Our Constitution, 1101 14th Street, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005 Step 2: Begin working now to have September/October Day(s) of Action on the Freedom to Marry aimed at generating positive attention and understanding from the persuadable non-gay public, rather than just preaching to the converted. Step 3: From now through October, mount a specific targeted initiative to identify, approach, and enlist clergy and congregations in your area. Ideally, we should ask them for support, but at least, for dialogue and education. Step 4: Beginning now, prepare to generate letters to the editors in a variety of local and state publications throughout September and October on our freedom to marry. Please join in the battle this fall. THIS IS THE COUNTDOWN, capping our last several years of hard work to come close to winning the freedom to marry. Shape your communitys and our countrys history, defend equality, and make justice. The National Freedom to Marry Coalition is a diverse group of non-gay and gay civil rights organizations committed to local, state and national work to end sex discrimination in civil marriage. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 12, August 28, 1998. |