Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from July 2009

	60,000 Mainers sign on to defend marriage equality Marriage equality organization Maine Freedom to Marry announced today that 60,000 Mainers have signed pledges defending the state's marriage equality bill. "Volunteers, ready and willing to go door to door and speak neighbor to neighbor to protect marriage equality, are the fuel of our campaign to defeat Question 1," Jesse Connolly, Campaign Manager of Maine Freedom to Marry, said in a statement ... Bay Windows • Jul 31, 2009

	Quakers to allow equal marriages One of the UK's oldest Christian denominations - the Quakers - looks set to extend marriage services to same-sex couples at their yearly meeting later. The society has already held religious blessings for same-sex couples who have had a civil partnership ceremony. But agreeing to perform equal marriages, which are currently not allowed under civil law, could bring the Quakers into conflict with ... BBC • Jul 31, 2009

	Despite what Church Says, Many Catholics Support Same-Sex Marriage The bishops have campaigned long, loudly and clearly against same-sex marriage but the Catholic Church also offers a pervasive message of social justice, an umbrella many liberal Catholics stand under when they argue for marriage equality or life issues such as abortion, contraception and end-of-life decisions.... Change.org • Jul 31, 2009

	Repealing Prop 8: Should We Do it in 2010 - or 2012? I still don't understand who "the movement" is, and how any "decision" can be binding on everyone in the movement.... Beyond Chron • Jul 30, 2009

	The Unnoticed Power Player at the Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit It goes without saying that marriage equality is the life force of the LGBT movement today. We clearly have two different tracks going on in our community. We have the track that's typically guided by the professionals that looks at the polling data and sees 2012 or 2014 as far better opportunities for us. And then we also have this grassroots groundswell, which is angry and emotional that wants u... Bilerico Project • Jul 30, 2009

	Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit: The Expert Point of View The real problem, from my perspective, is that right now - and for the past seven months - the acrimony among institutional leaders and grassroots activists is only deepening. It's as if all the 8hate has been turned inward - we are the enemy, anyone who is not immediately, completely, absolutely with us now and forever more. The rivers could part and a charismatic general who meets everyone's le... Bilerico Project • Jul 30, 2009

	Los Angeles: Repeal Proposition 8: Signature Gathering Summit * Ballot language: we intend to decide on a few options, and plan polling/testing of the options. * Fundraising: we'll form a committee to begin the fundraising process, especially in the small-donor arena as we begin. * Signature gathering logistics: we'll talk about deadlines and auditing to create a workable roadmap for success within the narrow window required to gather 1,000,000 n... Eventbrite • Jul 30, 2009

	Oregon: BRO Needs You for Marriage Matters Campaign The folks at Basic Rights Oregon are stepping up their Marriage Matters canvassing program and need your help.... Just Out • Jul 30, 2009

	Gays squabble over Prop 8 repeal debate Asked about what the discord said about the community's ability to pull together as a mid-September deadline for November 2010 ballot language nears, Solomon suggested it's time to get to work. "I think it's incumbent on groups like Equality California now and others to step up and to offer a vision and a plan for the community and rally support behind it," said Solomon, who came to California fr... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 30, 2009

	Human Rights Campaign President and Prop. 8 Architect Become Friends Neither Solmonese nor Garlow said his mind was changed by the meeting. But both said they're interested in sitting down again. "I don't know how we can hope to change people's views if we don't keep the dialogue open," says Solmonese. "We need to take the time to engage religious leaders and see if there is any opening or any possibility of finding common ground."... U.S. News and World Report • Jul 30, 2009

	Returning to the Ballot: It's Not About When Anymore, It's About Uniting. And Other Points of View I will support either date, or a later date, because now, it doesn't matter to me when. (And yes, I want to marry my partner. It's devastating not to be able to NOW.) What matters to me most is that we have a united front working together to WIN.... Unite the Fight • Jul 29, 2009

	Can Minorities Derail the Equal Marriage Express? At the end of the day, what may very well stop the equal marriage agenda in its track, will not be the efforts of repackaged Falwells, Reeds or Robertsons. The equal marriage train may not reach the station of National and Federal acceptance because it did not count with the fact that along the way it needed to pass by the Garcia, Rivera, and Jackson stops.... Washington Post • Jul 29, 2009

	2010 Prop 8 Repeal Effort Up in the Air 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 un... Edge • Jul 29, 2009

	Prop 8 Federal Hearing Transcript Released This case is incredibly important to gay Americans, and the country, and I'm grateful the folks at the American Foundation for Equal Rights are working with me to bring expanded transparency and engagement to the whole process. Thanks, Chad and Yusuf.... Michael Petrelis • Jul 29, 2009

	U.S. DOMA Repeal Would Include Recognizing Out-of-State Gay People 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 ... Edge • Jul 29, 2009

	2010? 2012? The Fight in California Continues Despite a weekend summit that brought together more than 150 marriage equality activists, consensus over the timing of an attempt to repeal California's Proposition 8 at the voting booth remains elusive. But that hasn't stopped some gay groups from preparing for the earlier option. Reactions to the heated LGBT Leadership Summit, organized by Marriage Equality USA and held in a San Bernardino, Ca... Advocate • Jul 29, 2009

	MUST-READ: Oh California! The room was intense and packed. Angry people from both sides stood up to give righteousness to their view on rather we should fight the ballot initiative coming up. Major donors said it couldn't be won and they wouldn't finance it. The leader of The Advocate said if they attempted to go for it he would destroy those who wanted to proceed. Polls showed that we couldn't win and the focus groups wer... David Mixner • Jul 29, 2009

	What Really Happened at the Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit A blog for the San Francisco Chronicle came out fairly quickly after Saturday's statewide LGBT "Leadership Summit" in San Bernardino, California with the results of a non-binding straw poll about when the LGBT community wants to return to the ballot to repeal Prop 8: "93 people voted to go in 2010, 49 in 2012 and 20 undecided." I was there. The count's accurate but it's far from the whole story.... Bilerico Project • Jul 29, 2009

	Recipe for Disaster? The major conflict in the room was between those groups that felt it imperative that the community go back to the ballot in 2010 to repeal Prop 8 and those groups that feel it is better to wait until 2012 or later. Numerous blogs and letters have been circulating in the California LGBT community in recent weeks advocating one of these positions - and the rhetoric has led many to worry that infight... The New Civil Rights Movement • Jul 29, 2009

	Anti-Prop 8/Pro-Gay Marriage Summit Deemed "a Disaster" The gathering revealed a schism within the movement between activists who want to get a Prop 8 counter measure on the 2010 ballot and a leadership that, staring down the political realities, sees 2012 as a more likely year such a measure would pass.... The OC Weekly • Jul 29, 2009

	Analysis of Polling Data Finds Growing Support for Equal Marriage According to a comprehensive new analysis of public opinion surveys conducted over the last 15 years, support for the legalization of equal marriage has grown substantially in the United States. Among other conclusions, two political science professors at Columbia University found reluctance among state and local policymakers to expand equal rights laws and protections even where majorities of vot... Columbia University • Jul 29, 2009

	MUST-READ: Four Principles for a United Movement 1. Our campaign to win must begin now, regardless of when the movement decides to place a marriage equality initiative on the ballot. 2. To unite the strength of activists across California, the campaign must be independent, accountable, and not dominated by any one organization. 3. To gain the trust and full commitment of supporters, the campaign needs a representative and functional governance... Courage Campaign • Jul 28, 2009

	Unite the Fight: CA Marriage Equality Leadership Summit an Utter Failure - Shame On All of Us Our community has splintered into factions lead by no one, going in all different directions with various agendas, some with good intentions, but many motivated by egos in attempt to out maneuver the other, causing us to fight each other instead of those who have taken away our rights. And why? Because our leadership once failed us in a disastrous campaign which ended not with rights being denied ... Unite the Fight • Jul 28, 2009

	Repeal Prop 8 Leadership Summit Recap The bottom line of the LGBT Leadership Summit on the repeal of Prop 8 is that while marriage equality advocates are in unanimous agreement that the injustice of Prop 8 must be undone, that is where the consensus ends. As far as the when, where, and how of getting there is concerned, there is no agreement at all.... The Liberal OC • Jul 27, 2009

	The Elephant In The Room So, if you wonder what's next for marriage equality in California? Work. It's time to get to work, California. The campaign to win your rights back starts today. Already there are groups canvassing across the state, some on a weekly basis. Groups like Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), Courage Campaign, and Equality California (EQCA) have structures in place for canvassing and phone banking. Join a lo... Pam's House Blend • Jul 27, 2009

	Are There Any California Activists Who Know How to Play Well With Others? The serial in-fighting between groups like Equality Calfornia, the Courage Campaign, and Love Honor Cherish probably isn't helping things. Which suggests the question: Will it actually take until 2012 for everyone to learn to play nice? Because Maggie Gallagher is laughing at you.... Queerty • Jul 27, 2009

	California Activists Not Going to Bother Overturning Prop 8 Next Year Last year, a well-funded, well-coordinated campaign to ban gay marriage in California won by a slim margin, partly because opponents forgot to organize and campaign until after the vote. Now they are not going to bother trying again next year. Why? Because since last year's vote, in the absence of a campaign of any kind, polling on gay marriage hasn't shifted. So it's not even worth it to try to ... Gawker • Jul 27, 2009

	Backers of Gay Marriage Rethink California Push Sarah Callahan, chief operating officer of the Courage Campaign, a 700,000-member advocacy group in Los Angeles, told the gathering on Saturday that the two critical elements to persuade donors were organization and a winning plan. "No one is going to invest in chaos," Ms. Callahan said, adding, "The money will come if you can show you can win." With less than 16 months until possible voting in 2... NY Times • Jul 27, 2009

	Meg Whitman's Elusive Positions on Marriage Equality You would think that a former CEO renowned for her objectivity would be able to understand that concept. Funny what tying yourself to the Republican Party's more social conservative elements (including Romney) does for your sense of objectivity.... Change.org • Jul 27, 2009

	LA Times Interview with Theodore Olson A woman came up to me in our library in our law firm and said, "You and I haven't worked together, but I'm a lesbian. My partner and I have two children." And she burst into tears. I put my arm around her and she put her arms around me. This stands for what we're trying to accomplish here. It's a principle, but it's a principle that deeply touches human beings. If we're successful, we can help the... LA Times • Jul 26, 2009

	Pro-LGBT Republicans come out of the closet in Blue states While this is all well and good to diversify in a party in disarray that has lost big, the cautionary note in the column is that the "pro-gay" party in name only, the Democrats, are doing the flip side in the South by throwing us under the bus, trying to craft wins by fielding anti-gay, forced-birth advocate candidates who do a lot of bible-quoting and family values shilling.... Pam's House Blend • Jul 26, 2009

	MUST READ: Thoughts on Tomorrow's Summit (by EQCA's Marc Solomon) My deepest hope for tomorrow is that we listen to one another, and that we hear one another. We can put our best efforts forward, but only if we battle one another less and respect and listen to one another more (even through some real disagreements). The meeting will be much more effective if we are not so locked in to our positions that we cannot hear and appreciate what the other is saying. I'... California Ripple Effect • Jul 25, 2009

	Unite the Fight to Provide Live Stream of Tomorrow's CA Leadership Summit on Marriage Equality Unite the Fight will provide a live stream of tomorrow's Leadership Summit in San Bernardino, CA. The summit will be a large gathering of California LGBT organizations' leaders, individual activists, community organizers and allies. Many items will be discussed, but most prominently, next steps towards winning marriage equality back in California. (I will provide an agenda once it becomes availabl... Unite the Fight • Jul 25, 2009

	While San Fran Attempts to Butt Into Legal Challenge to Prop. 8, Pair of Gay Supe Hopefuls Plead for Patience Is 2010 too soon to change public opinion? Will the issue go stale by 2012, with voters even more entrenched in their views?Two openly gay politicos who've registered their intent to run for supervisor in District 8 -- home of the liberal Castro and Inner Mission where moderate Bevan Dufty currently reigns -- nibbled on the question, and came to, more or less, the same conclusion: Wait.... SF Weekly • Jul 24, 2009

	Moreno: History Is on My Side on Proposition 8 Asked if Prop 8 would have been upheld if it banned interracial marriage, he said "clearly not." The court, he said, would have been obliged to follow Loving v. Virginia , 388 U.S. 1 , the U.S. Supreme Court's 1967 ruling that ended anti-miscegenation laws. "Even if looking at the California Constitution, race is a protected class," Moreno said. "So under state or federal law, this kind of discri... Law.com • Jul 24, 2009

	Terry Stewart: Oh, Now You Want a Gay-Marriage Factual Record ... San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer let the city submit its factual record, but wound up deciding the case without using it. So when Walker made it clear earlier this month that he wanted a record -- on such things as whether sexual orientation can be changed or whether gay marriages destabilize straight ones -- it was a hallelujah moment for Stewart and her colleagues. "I'm not af... Legal Pad • Jul 24, 2009

	Speaking to the Experts: Courage Campaign's Sarah Callahan Takes on 2010 and 2012 and Beyond In a combination of emails and phone calls, Unite the Fight was able to get from Sarah a broad glimpse of the campaign to come, who characterized its complexity as "threading a needle" by being "super, super targeted" or by "micro-targeting", which she described as ID'ing the voters and where they stand on marriage equality, finding out what messages resonate with them, breaking that information d... Unite the Fight • Jul 24, 2009

	http://www.davidmixner.com/2009/07/observations-from-turkey-hollow-on-the-lgbt-civil-rights-movement-part-four-what-now.html There are so many options an individual, straight or gay, can put their time and resources toward. Some might chose the political path, others the grassroots and others work within the legal system. They all are needed and appropriate places for one's time. However we choose to participate we should always have foremost in our minds - "Is this good for the community or am I doing this to please ot... David Mixner • Jul 24, 2009

	Observations from Turkey Hollow on the LGBT Civil Rights Movement: Part Two: Learning from History. The community should not waste time and resources attempting to stop those with whom we tactically disagree. Celebrate our differences! If you don't think someone is proceeding in the right fashion, stop attempting to bring them to a halt and create your own way if you feel it would be better. Embrace and acknowledge that we are indeed in the midst of the greatest civil rights battle of this gene... David Mixner • Jul 24, 2009

	San Francisco wants a say in Prop. 8 lawsuit The city would add "a unique local government perspective" to the case, along with its extensive legal experience in defending gay and lesbian rights, if allowed to intervene, City Attorney Dennis Herrera's office said in court papers. The city and leading gay-rights groups have been allowed to file written arguments supporting the challenge to Prop. 8. But only the plaintiffs -two couples and an... SF Gate • Jul 24, 2009

	CA Grassroots Organization "Love Honor Cherish" Releases Blueprint for Successful 2010 Campaign to Repeal Prop 8 Love Honor Cherish, a California LGBT grassroots organization known for its strong support for a 2010 campaign to repeal Prop 8, has released a 21-page outline of a future campaign entitled "Blueprint for Equality: How We Will Restore the Right to Marry in 2010." The Blueprint shows how activists can gather the 1 million signatures needed to place a new ballot measure on the November 2010 ballot ... Unite the Fight • Jul 24, 2009

	Maine campaign heats up The Gill Action Fund, a Colorado-based LGBT political action fund that, according to the Los Angeles Times, contributed more than $350,000 to California's failed "No on Prop 8" campaign, has not yet contributed to Maine Freedom to Marry. Joanne Kron, spokesperson for Gill Action Fund, said the fund does not comment on its donations to state campaigns.... Bay Windows • Jul 23, 2009

	Action Alert: Help Protect the Rights of Married Same-Sex Couples in California Call your legislators and ask them to support SB 54. Then, call the Governor and ask him to do the same.... NCLR • Jul 23, 2009

	NAACP weighs support of gays who want to marry The NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights organization, today will consider approving a task force's recommendation to support gays who want to marry, a step that one national board member hopes could move the group toward supporting equal marriage. President Obama's speech at the NAACP's national convention, which ends today in New York, will be a headline-grabbing emotional moment for the nat... SF Gate • Jul 23, 2009

	San Diego, Why Don't You Come To Your Senses? In 2008, Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to the successful effort to strip California of same-sex couples with Proposition 8. For the past 12 months there has been an organised boycott of Manchester's three hotels - the Grand Hyatt and the Grand del Mar in San Diego, and the Whitetail in McCall, Idaho. The boycott does not apply to other Hyatt-operated hotels. Labour leaders and equal rights gro... The Post-Game Show • Jul 22, 2009

	Observations from Turkey Hollow on the LGBT Civil Rights Movement: Part One "Oh Lord Not Now!" The cabal of powerful decision makers wants everything to be safe, clean and perfect before moving. Don't upset anyone, don't jump ahead of ourselves and most of all don't deviate from a well-laid plan that hopefully will eventually lead to victory. Every one of our allies has to be comfortable, the polls have to show us way ahead, and proof of victory has to be assured before trying anything new.... David Mixner • Jul 22, 2009

	Yes on 8 Organization Canvassing Same Areas as LGBT Organizations, Actively Countering Our Efforts Protect Marriage, the group behind Proposition 8, have been out canvassing in the same areas that many LGBT organizations have begun going door-to-door, holding conversations with those who voted in favor of Prop 8. They will be focusing their teams in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and the Central Valley.... Unite the Fight • Jul 22, 2009

	California legal newspaper reports on attempt by gay rights groups to intervene in Perry v. Schwarzenneger; San Francisco may file motion to intervene Mike McGee of The Recorder covers what is by now familiar ground. But he also reports on something new: Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart confirmed Friday that San Francisco is contemplating intervention and likewise wants to ensure a complete factual record. She said it's in the city's interest to ensure stable families that don't wind up on the public fisc.... Legal Commentary on Proposition 8 and the Right to Marry • Jul 22, 2009

	From the field: Sacramento field office opening Win Marriage Back, Make it Real is now in full force here in Sac. Our office opening took place on Friday, July 17th and was a HUGE success! Coalition partners from EAN, Sac NOW, Courage Campaign, CA Faith for Equality, Sac Transgender Coalition and more showed up to give thanks.Take a look at some pictures below.... California Ripple Effect • Jul 22, 2009

	Councilmen waver on new equal marriage bill Porterville city councilman rehashed a contentious issue Tuesday night -- equal marriage. At their regular city council meeting, former mayor Cameron Hamilton proposed that they show adamant opposition to a bill circulating among state senators. The bill, No. 54, proposes that same-sex couples married outside the state and before the passage of Proposition 8, are warranted the equal recognition a... Porterville Recorder • Jul 22, 2009

	All Hands on Deck in the Prop 8 Litigation I was one of those voices that raised questions about timing and strategy when the federal lawsuit was filed. I am willing to admit that I may have been wrong, and that the Olson-Boies team may prove to have been visionary. Only time will tell. Our goal right now must be to ensure the best possible outcome for this lawsuit. We all agree: Proposition 8 is an unconstitutional and discriminatory den... Huffington Post • Jul 22, 2009

	Prop 8's Not Ready for 2010 Given the experiences of the "No on Eight" effort, it should have been rather obvious that 2010 was never a realistic option. Our efforts last year were hampered by disorganization, indecisiveness and lack of a consistent and coherent message, all compounded by the compacted time frame in which campaigns are waged. A thoughtful and coherent strategy needs to be in place way before the electionee... WeHo News • Jul 21, 2009

	Maine: What We're Up Against - Please Help In combination with the $280,000 that national groups have pumped into Maine, the campaign to take away the rights of same-sex couples is heating up.... Maine Freedom to Marry • Jul 21, 2009

	MUST-READ: Seven Out of Seven Political Consultants Advise Against a 2010 Initiative to Repeal Prop 8, But David Mixner Says Don't Wait On Monday, Marc posted the consultants' responses to the 2010 vs. 2012 question, and even addressed concerns about using consultants at all (and directly responded to Unite the Fight under our comments section) saying, "I understand, following the No on 8 loss, the skepticism that many people have about [consultants]. I get it. At the same time, it can be helpful to at least consider the thinking ... Unite the Fight • Jul 21, 2009

	Going back to the ballot: top political consultants give their perspectives We asked the consultants to give us their best advice, free from any pressure to choose one year over another. I asked a representative group of seven to write up what they were telling me, and why. I wanted our community to hear and benefit from what they have to say.... California Ripple Effect • Jul 21, 2009

	Go Team Win: an update on EQCA's field program Our program is based on the two concepts that--in our experience - are most effective in moving voters our way: 1. Personal persuasion. Sharing why we support marriage equality, face-to-face, person-to-person, in a way that engages people and draws them in. 2. Organizing locally. Having conversations where people are (at their doors, at local festivals, etc.), preferably from people who live in ... California Ripple Effect • Jul 21, 2009

	Navigating a sea of LGBT lawsuits A raft of court cases pending throughout the country could advance marriage rights and other priorities for LGBT Americans.... Washington Blade • Jul 20, 2009

	Success comes one state at a time In every state we are at different stages in fighting for our rights.... Washington Blade • Jul 20, 2009

	Equal Marriage and the Constitution Gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters, our teachers and doctors, our friends and neighbors, our parents and children. It is time, indeed past time, that we accord them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It is time, indeed past time, that our Constitution fulfill its promise of equal protection and due process for all citizens by now eliminating the last remnant of centur... Wall Street Journal • Jul 20, 2009

	IMPORTANT NEWS: POC LGBT Organization has confirmed that it will come on board if majority decides to go in 2010! Of course we'll come on board and help with the 2010 Campaign if that is what the majority decides. It's never been a matter of if but a matter of when for us. We just wanted to make sure that we're at our best before we proceed with the Campaign to win back marriage in California.... SoCal Voice • Jul 18, 2009

	Calif. removed from federal gay marriage case The U.S. government remains a defendant. The U.S. Department of Justice is arguing to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act. The department's position has angered equal rights activists, who see it as a betrayal of President Obama's campaign pledge to work for the act's repeal.... 365Gay • Jul 18, 2009

	Meghan McCain Will Be Heard But it's her position on equal marriage that has garnered McCain the most attention. In a speech to the Log Cabin Republicans, she said that "old-school Republicans" were "scared shitless" of the future and retreating further and further into an ultraconservative crouch. In late May, a week after the New York State Assembly passed a bill that would legalize equal marriage, she penned an open lette... • Jul 17, 2009

	National Gay and Lesbian Task Force backs 'Prepare to Prevail' statement It will be interesting to see the response to this announcement by the 2010 proponents. While these conversations are difficult, I think it's healthy to think things through in clear view.... Pam's House Blend • Jul 17, 2009

	Inequality is Messy Business The rights of same-sex couples should not depend on whether they married before or after a particular date. Moreover, whether or not a couple is entitled to have their marriage respected by the government should not depend on whether they married before or after a certain date. We cannot have one set of laws for some Californians, and another set of laws for others. It is nonsensical that some sam... California Progress Report • Jul 17, 2009

	Equal Marriage in Ten Years? The epoch of the cultural wedge issue is ending, says Democratic political analyst Ruy Teixeira, in his new report, "The Coming End of the Culture Wars" (PDF). And equal marriage will soon lose its political potency. It's baked in the demographic cake. That's because of generational change, as culturally progressive Millennial voters surge into the electorate. It's also, more immediately, because... Independent Gay Forum • Jul 16, 2009

	Maine: Equal-marriage foes take early lead in fundraising The coalition seeking to overturn Maine's equal marriage law with a people's veto has raised more than $343,000 to date, according to papers filed with the state Wednesday, much of it going to professional signature gatherers. The group fighting the people's veto has raised $138,640, including $50,000 from a Harpswell woman, according to filings with the State Ethics Commission.... Kennebec Journal • Jul 16, 2009

	Report from the SF "Get Engaged" townhall meeting So, I went to the "Get Engaged" meeting at the LGBT Center on Tuesday night. It was part of a statewide series of town halls, designed to show off the data being gathered to fight Prop 8. A good time was had by all. Here, I think, was one of the more interesting findings: the room was surveyed both before and after the meeting to see what year everyone preferred. In both surveys, the room heavily... • Jul 16, 2009

	MUST-READ: Going Back to the Ballot--Update from Marc Solomon In late May, we told the community that, preliminarily, based on all we knew at the time, we believed we should return to the ballot in 2010. We also promised that we would not go back to the ballot on our own, but only together with coalition partners. And we said that, before we concluded what the right timing was, we would perform extensive "due diligence," speaking with and listening to our co... California Ripple Effect • Jul 15, 2009

	When Do We Go Back to the Voters to Repeal Prop 8? Those initiative campaigns convince us that rather than asking what year we should go back to the ballot to repeal Proposition 8, we should be focusing on where we need to be with the voters to stand a solid chance of winning. We should, we believe, go to the ballot when we've established the predicates we need to win, and not a moment later or sooner. We think that we haven't established the pre... ACLU • Jul 14, 2009

	Courage Campaign Statement on "Prepare to Prevail" Letter Back in May, we asked our members to vote on which year -- 2010 or 2012 -- the Courage Campaign should support going back to the ballot to restore marriage equality. The response was overwhelming -- 82.5% expressed support for a 2010 ballot measure. The Courage Campaign is doing its part by helping to build an electoral road map to victory, as are several other organizations that are laying the g... Courage Campaign • Jul 14, 2009

	Equal-rights coalition urges measured pace on equal marriage amendment "There is a majority of the community . . . that favors going forward in 2010," said John Henning, executive director of the pro-equal-marriage group Love Honor Cherish. "The fact that some favor waiting should mean only one thing: They can wait, if they need to wait, but we are going to go ahead." Henning said his group along with a coalition of others is exploring introducing ballot language th... LA Times • Jul 14, 2009

	MUST-READ: CA Gay Groups Advise Waiting, Waiting I'm not saying that we should have committed huge sums or that we should have exhausted our resources, but we should have made the citizens of those states face this question for the rest of their long-lasting lives until they tired of their own bigotry and - faced with scorn from their children - reversed their position and removed discrimination from their constitution. Had we been battling in ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 14, 2009

	2010 vs. 2012: The Brewing Debate In California Over When to Go Back to the Ballot Boils Over But something smells bad here. Though many of the points in the "Prepare to Prevail" statement are extremely essential and must be discussed and met, the statement's timing and how it was released couldn't be more divisive and is being seen as attempt by the major LGBT organizations to wrestle back control of a movement moving beyond them.... Unite the Fight • Jul 14, 2009

	LGBT coalitions of color - forego 2010 Prop 8 repeal initiative; need more time to secure votes If we have POC groups, communities where outreach was poor, ineffective or non-existent the last time around concerned that the train is leaving the station too soon, I think it's time to listen to the full rationale for holding off until the ducks are in a row.... Pam's House Blend • Jul 14, 2009

	Clinton To Gays: "Sorry 'Bout That" "I personally support people doing what they want to do," Clinton said. "I think it's wrong for someone to stop someone else from doing that." In related news, I am too completely outraged to add any additional commentary.... The Awl • Jul 14, 2009

	Equal Marriage Bill Clears Calif. Assembly Panel A bill that would recognize what may be thousands of marriages performed outside of California sailed through a policy committee Thursday, increasing the likelihood that the latest post-Proposition 8 dilemma will be thrown into the lap of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.... Law.com • Jul 12, 2009

	Prop. 8 Challenged In Court...And At The Voting Booth? No single entity or oligarchy is in charge of the gay equality movement in California. Conference calls and discussions between groups now focus on how a decision will eventually be made on whether or not to put equal marriage on the ballot--a framework for making the call. "It's a process of trying to figure out what a campaign structure would look like, and how we should decide whether to launc... The Atlantic • Jul 12, 2009

	Three Pro-Gay Groups Respond To AFER's Letter "People can disagree about when and whether to jump into the pool, but once you do it makes sense to swim as hard as possible to get to the other side. . . . We're all in the pool; it's not just those plaintiffs."... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 11, 2009

	Civil Rights Group Divided Over Civil Rights "The black church played a significant role in Proposition 8 passing," he said. "The failure of the campaign was to presume that African-Americans would see this as a civil rights issue."... NY Times • Jul 10, 2009

	AG candidates express support for repealing Prop 8 Several of the candidates responded to interview requests from the Bay Area Reporter. All said they oppose Proposition 8, the equal-marriage ban upheld by the state Supreme Court in May, and would seek to repeal it.... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 10, 2009

	Gay legal groups want in on Calif court case But the newly formed political group funding the case, the American Foundation for Equal Rights, is opposing the request. The foundation scored a public relations coup when it persuaded the high-profile lawyers who squared off over the disputed 2000 presidential election to take on the lawsuit. In a letter to the legal groups sent Wednesday, board president Chad Griffin, a Los Angeles-based polit... AP • Jul 10, 2009

	Maine: Equal Marriage Opponents: Enough Signatures For Referendum The group that wants to repeal Maine's new gay marriage law with a referendum vote says it has gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot in November.... WCSH • Jul 8, 2009

	The National Education Association Passes Resolution Supporting LGBT Equality One of the major reasons Prop 8 passed here in California was the lie that the Yes on 8 campaign told in that children would be taught about same-sex marriage in schools, even worse, without any say from the parents. This was the turning point in the campaign which led to Prop 8 passing. Do you think the NEA's resolution could backfire on us by giving more fodder for opponents to twist and lie ab... Unite the Fight • Jul 8, 2009

	Mass. AG sues U.S. over equal marriage Attorney General Martha Coakley is suing the U.S. government to force it to extend a wide range of benefits to some 16,000 gay and lesbian couples legally married in Massachusetts.... Boston Herald • Jul 8, 2009

	Maryland: O'Malley open to recognizing equal marriage in MD "I think that it's very difficult to deny equal rights to people when it comes to rights that are disbursed by a government rather than a faith or a church," O'Malley said Monday on WTOP's Ask the Governor Program. "If the person has these rights under another state, I think we're sort of pressed to deny those rights. So, yes, we probably should respect those rights."... WTOP • Jul 7, 2009

	Senator Leno Announces Bill Clarifying Rights of Same-Sex Couples Married Outside of California The bill confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California before the passage of Proposition 8 on November 5, 2008, are entitled to full recognition as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in-state or out-of-state. That rule is consistent with existing law, including the California Supreme Court's prior holding in In re Marriage Cases that California cannot ... NCLR • Jul 7, 2009

	Obama--Ask For Equal Rights for Gays According to Gallup, 69 percent of Americans believe gays should be able to serve openly. To put that number in perspective, it is 25 points higher than the percentage of Americans who endorse Obama's handling of health care, 19 points higher than the percentage who currently support the war in Afghanistan, and 18 points higher than the percentage who approve of the administration's economic polic... The New Republic • Jul 6, 2009

	Steps to Take to Protect Marriage in Maine Just a few months ago the state of Maine made history by legalizing equal marriage, but right wing opponents are ready to bring the issue to a vote on the ballot come November. Mainers are equally split similarly to how the voting turned out in California's proposition 8 on whether same-sex couples should have the right to marry.... Queers United • Jul 5, 2009

	Long, but a MUST-READ: 5 easy steps to marriage freedom I tracked down a number of people in the Sacramento region who are concerned with marriage rights--not all of them gay, not all of them activists, but all of them committed to seeing GLBT people treated equally. I asked them about what they thought went wrong last time, and how we might win next time, whenever it comes. They had plenty to say, and their suggestions break down into five simple cat... Sacramento News and Review • Jul 4, 2009

	Equal marriage case will go to Supreme Court: attorney The attorney representing two same-sex couples who were denied a right to wed in California said on Thursday he expected the case to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, which has yet to hear a case on the equal marriage issue. "When it does get to the United States Supreme Court, we expect to win," Theodore Olson, who was solicitor general under former President George W. Bush, told reporters a... Reuters • Jul 3, 2009

	MUST READ: July 2nd Could Spell The Beginning of the End for Prop 8 - The Team Behind the Case There's been a lot of talk about the case reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, but I wanted to know what had to happen first before it got there. Boutrous helped break it down for me. First, the case must be heard in the North California U.S. District Court by Judge Vaughn Walker. As mentioned, the hearing begins on July 2nd, and on this day, Judge Walker and the attorneys on both sides of the issue... Pam's House Blend • Jul 2, 2009

	Equal marriage stalls as RI lawmakers wrap up The lack of Statehouse action on gay equality means that Rhode Island is unlikely to allow equal marriage anytime soon, despite decisions this year by lawmakers in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont joined Connecticut and Massachusetts in legalizing equal marriage. "I was hoping the momentum that was going around New England and the support we had in the House would get enough representatives to as... Boston Herald • Jul 1, 2009

	New Orleans same-sex couple sues for marriage license Kristoffer Bonilla and John Thomas Wray argue in a lawsuit that the state has "permanently deprived them of the ability to sanctify their committed relationship and to exercise all of the rights and benefits attendant to marriage." The couple was turned away by officials at the Orleans Parish marriage license office on April 2 solely because both were men, the lawsuit says. "We just want a marri... New Orleans Times-Picayune • Jul 1, 2009

	Judge favors trial soon on Calif. gay marriage ban Ordinarily, a civil lawsuit could take a year or more to be heard in court. Given Walker's favoring a faster timeline, it would not be unreasonable to expect him to hear the Proposition 8 challenge by the end of the year, Olson said.... AP • Jul 1, 2009

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