Why the Prop. 8 Trial is So Important

In the context of the equal protection clause in particular, this will be, by definition, anti-majoritarian. Courts must, as part of their job description, sometimes be asked to decide whether the majority is giving itself legal advantages that it is denying to a minority. Sometimes that can be justified, sometimes not. It all depends on the evidence and the reasons offered. If the court's rea...

Independent Gay Forum • Jan 8, 2010

VIDEO: Next Steps Working Meeting Creates 'Coalition for Marriage Equality'; Decides on San Francisco Convention to Determine Next Campaign Structure

The key next step that developed from the meeting was the decision to have a convention of delegates from different organizations statewide to come together and hammer out a campaign governing structure. The convention will take place August 22nd and will be hosted in San Francisco....

Independent Gay Forum • Aug 14, 2009

The Gay Agenda after Marriage

Some of my friends have been discussing what should be the "gay agenda"--or even if there needs to be such a thing--after we obtain marriage and military access. Well, yes, there are a number of concerns that will still need to be addressed, but I think the whole discussion is a little premature....

Independent Gay Forum • Aug 5, 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

Clueless

The ball is now in the President's court. He owes us an apology - and not one of words, but one of action. Signing a hate crimes bill won't do it. Nor will an additional imprecation to Congress to do something about DOMA. It is he who was elected President with the explicit promise that gay equality would be on his agenda. What Presidents do is lead, and after this anything less than the kind...

Independent Gay Forum • Jun 14, 2009

Barack Obama Demonstrates His Committment to Gay Rights

It is gratuitously insulting to lesbians and gay men, referring (unnecessarily) to same-sex marriage as a "form" of marriage, approving of congressional comparisons between same-sex marriages and loving relationships between siblings, or grandparents and grandchildren, and arguing (with a straight face, I can only assume) that discrimination against same-sex couples is rational because it saves th...

Independent Gay Forum • Jun 14, 2009

MUST READ: The Folly of 2010

The $60 million or more that will be spent in 2010 could go to other things, like state and congressional elections or fighting a possible SSM repeal (Maine? Iowa?) or amendment ban in another state. Those volunteers and organizers could be doing other productive things with their time. And losing in 2010, especially if the margin is greater than in 2008, will be deflating. It will harm morale. It...

Independent Gay Forum • Jun 11, 2009