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In a significant boost to the effort calling for opponents of Prop 8 to forego a ballot initiative in 2010, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has signed onto the “Prepare to Prevail” campaign publicly launched this week by API Equality-LA, HONOR PAC and the Jordan Rustin Coalition. Rea Carey, Executive Director:
“As a state that has often served as a political and cultural trendsetter for the rest of the country, what happens in California has national significance for the LGBT movement. That’s why for well over five years the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has devoted significant human and financial resources to winning the freedom to marry in California. This commitment remains steadfast as we continue to work on the ground in California with the Vote for Equality Project of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and Equality California to build effective models of person-to-person voter persuasion about marriage equality.“We support the soonest possible return to the ballot box to repeal Prop. 8 that gives the LGBT community a fighting chance to win. The priorities expressed in ‘Prepare to Prevail’ are about the hard work it will take at the grassroots to move towards a solid victory, and we look forward to continued work with our partners in California to build a strong, diverse and successful campaign for marriage equality.”
In its decision, the NGLTF stressed the importance of accomplishing key goals before getting a repeal effort on the ballot:
• Build solid majority support for the freedom to marry before returning to the ballot. Multiple polls have shown that support for marriage equality has remained flat since November 2008. The LGBT community will be in a stronger position to win if we’re defending, and not attempting to create in the midst of a campaign, majority support at the ballot box for the freedom to marry.• Demonstrate a proven ability to move former Yes on 8 voters to support marriage equality. Both polling and real-world testing door-to-door have shown that following the public debate over Prop 8, many voters’ positions have hardened; consequently, few voters remain undecided about whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
• Develop persuasive messaging capable of moving former Yes voters that can also withstand vigorous campaigning from the opposition.
• Build a campaign infrastructure that’s able to raise the significant amount of money and recruit the army of volunteers needed to prevail. The LGBT community could measure its readiness to return to the ballot by establishing a set of benchmarks to be met, over time starting from now, for fundraising, volunteer recruitment and other campaign infrastructure goals.
The rest of the release, documenting the organization’s commitment to the equality fight in California, is here. 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.
Related:
* CA: LGBT coalitions of color – forego 2010 Prop 8 repeal initiative; need more time to secure votes
25 Comments
I think you hit the interesting…
I think it’ll be interesting to see if the Task Force’s joining in with the other “Prepare to Prevail” Campaign organizations will cause pause.
It’s not the date, it’s the politics behind it. Fundamentally, and whatever it’s professed motive, opposition to the defense of same sex marriage rights provides aid and comfort to the enemy by furnishing political cover for the increasingly open bigotry of Obama and other supporter of Bill Clintons DOMA.
That said, it’s also critical to point out that the demoralizing failure of the fights against Prop. 22 in 2000 and Prop. 8 in 2008 are sure to be repeated if the fight for SSM (or any other part of our agenda) is run top down, HRC or EQCA style, by Democratic (sic) Party front groups. They pretend to be leaders but their real allegiance is to political hustlers like Obama and the rest. Any effort they lead is doomed. We had a majority before Obama.s bigoted war cry ‘gawd’s in the mix’ galvanized the christian right. The refusal of HRC, No on 8 and EQCA to criticize Obama’s open bigotry abandoned the field of battle to christer bigots. Our lead evaporated and we lost.
Political independence is everything and our efforts will have a good chance of succeeding in 2010 or 2012 if we clearly break from bigots like Obama his allies on the religious right, raise our own money, have a democratic internal life that allows us to pick our own strategies and elect our own leadership. Being directed by political tools of the Democrats is a recipe for disaster as we’ve repeatedly seen.
Those political pre-conditions, and not the date, are critical. It’s the difference between a third defeat in a row at the hands of Democrat front groups or victory, which should be easy in a state whose majority is a combination of minorities.
this won’t help the Task Force’s image in the eyes of many peopleI do agree with the idea of doing more outreach and strategizing before putting it on the ballot again.
Civil warOK, maybe that is me being dramatic, but this battle on the horizon has the potential to be a doozy.
This lengthy post at Unite the Fight was very interesting:
http://unitethefight.blogspot….
The wisdom of WHEN is problematic and must be considered. I understand that the initiative process is a political one that requires strategy and organization (at least some). But the debate between who gets to call the shots is in it’s third round here:
Round one: Should we have a march on DC? Big orgs = NO. Small orgs = Do it anyway
Round two: Should Prop 8 be addressed to federal court? Big orgs = NO (at first). Small orgs = Do it anyway
I’m less concerned with when the repeal hits the ballot than HOW it is handled. As far as I’m concerned it could be on both ballots as long as there isn’t a repeat of the same insane, apologetic, inept language and tactic behind it.
I would much rather lose a campaign that I believed in than one that makes me want to cringe.
Two things that I must hear about before I support ANY campaign to repeal:
1) Will there be a strong message advocating for our rights as citizens worthy of constitutional protections without exemptions or will this be another campaign of passive aggressive pleading for acceptance?
Yes – make this campaign more colorful and racially diverse, but that isn’t to be confused with cowardly. Timidity knows no color. A crappy campaign that is less white is just a darker crappy campaign.
2) I want to know how any plan to repeal in 2012 is going to deal with the competition: Obama’s re-election. I want to know NOW before 2010 is passed over. The idea of sharing a ticket with that man should be a much bigger red flag than any lack of time to appropriately plan anything.
His re-election will draw money, bodies, and attention away from our attempt to repeal. There is no doubt about it. And as the statistics showed, we lose too many Democrats/liberals than we should. Competing with their poster boy will not endear them to our cause.
This is a serious concern and must be addressed before any real decision is made.
As far as I’m concerned, 2012 is not an option.
And if a timid repeal campaign is based on begging our Christian neighbors to reconsider their animosity toward us, I don’t care what year is proposed, I will not participate.
I can’t agree with you more.If we’re going to lose this fight, we need to make the other people defeat us rather than defeating ourselves. At this rate with this “Prepare to Prevail” movement, who needs the religious right?
The Politics vs. the DiscussionThough many, including myself, didn’t agree with how the Prepare to Prevail statement release was handled and criticized the groups for not taking a stronger stand and communicating in the numerous meetings held with pro-2010 groups, we need to get passed that hurt and distrust.
The discussion of the points made in the Prevail statement is vital if we are to win, no matter when we go back to the ballot. Like Pam says, the conversations are difficult, but if it were easy, we would have won in November.
Which big orgs said no to the march?I think of the march idea as a DC-centric rich white male idea that keeps popping up at inopportune times. I love Cleve Jones, but he’s way off base about planning a march on such short notice.
And I disagree about waiting ’til 2012. Yes, we should act strategically, but the 2008 vote was close enough that a very small shift in voter turnout would make the difference, so I am not sure why a near 50-50 split would scare us. We shouldn’t put it on a March or June ballot, lest the right-wingers outvote us, but on the gubernatorial ballot we’ll have plenty of turnout. Put some pro-union measures on there, turn out the Democratic rank and file, and we’ll win.
I think the turnout in a gubernatorial race (in which Republicans hate Arnold and aren’t excited about any potential successors) will be way more favorable to us than for a Presidential election.
My thoughts on Prepare to Prevail overallBoth PtP and NGLT make some good points, even if I’m not (yet) in favor of waiting myself. We do need to work to build alliances, we do need more grassroots work, we do need to work to apologize for and move beyond some of our failures in the Prop 8 campaign, and get it right this time.
I do have an answer for the task force when they say:
Over and above the insane corporate marketing speak here, I’d like to point out that we already know the most effective way to sway marriage opponents. It’s called “coming out.” Look at the difference coming out made in Michigan: http://gayborhoodtimes.blogspo… Whether we move next in 2010, or wait another two years and try next in 2012, being out in our personal and professional lives is perhaps the single most important act of activism we can undertake.
(My own thoughts on why I’m still preferring 2010 didn’t fit in a comment well, so I wrote a diary at http://www.pamshouseblend.com/… .)
For what it’s worth, my $0.02 …I think that the Courage Campaign and other anti-8 orgs have been right to make lemonade with Prop 8′s passage by building lists and training activists. At the same time, as one who believes rights should not be determined by simple majority vote, my preference would be to see an announcement from CC et. al. thanking their supporters but taking a 2010 repeal off the table.
If an excuse is needed, CC now has the Cali Supreme Court ruling that left 18K marriages intact and created the most incongruous situation imaginable and one that I can’t imagine not being resolved fairly soon by the US Supreme Court.
Anyways, at this point, my vote would be to leave the situation in Cali to the courts for the time being.
I’m very disappointed… if not 2010Last wkend was my first walking the neighborhood in support or marriage equality and repeal of prop 8.
Way majority of neighbors ready to vote for repeal….way ready to give their signature to initiative petition….Some were willing to volunteer, most will just vote when it comes around, who knows if they will donate…not a pressing thing for my supportive straight neighbors, they just know the vote was wrong.
Myself..I am not motivated beyond getting it on the ballot and then making my straight friends commit and spread the word amongst their supportive straight friends…
Alright, so the opposition is monied, organized, OMG what if we lose again in 2010. Big deal, I won’t have anything less than I have now, but I will have the esteem that I at least did something.
Pfff to 2012…the spin on the numbers thing, that we have to convince 1000 people per day…give me a break. First of all, there is closer to a margin of 250,000 votes from last year to swing to 50% + 1. Then this numbers spin DOES NOT take into account the voters who voted yes who saw the error of their way already OR the others who have been educated about equality since NOV. Get the “army” of people out there changing minds….I hate this donate money stuff…right I know the pro equality forces need money to run expenses adds, etc etc…shoot me. I want my equality back now.
Well said.
Indeed, I think our bigger fight for equality will only be won when we clearly and forcefully maintain full rights and equality as our goals. Thank you.
Plus…think about the younger voters who will be eligible to vote in 2010…
I know a lot of people younger than myself (I’m 19) and will be able to vote in 2010.
True I only live in AR but CA is pretty damn populated with young people…
“The LGBT community will be in a stronger position to win if we’re defending”Just like last year, am I right?
Whatever. Let them wait, watch the opportunity pass them by. A lot of gay groups have been making such bad decisions when it comes to how to deal with prop 8, these people are just continuing the trend.
2012, eh? Yay young voters. I wonder if they’re donate to us… no, it’ll go to Obama. I wonder if they’ll volunteer for us? No, that’ll be for Obama in Nevada and Arizona. Gee. I guess the 3% increase in young voters is really worth it.
Something will happen in 2010I can’t say it will have the backing of a large organization, but you can bet there will be an effort.
I don’t know about you, but my wallet is extremely rusty right now…and my patience is thin…and as far as I’m concerned, we ought to be pressuring the hell out of the Democratic Party (through political clubs, interrupting appearances and press conferences, and any way possible) until they take the repeal (for example) seriously.
If they get the impression that there will be no peace for them until there is justice for us, they might not be interested in sharing a ballot in 2012.
I’m brainstorming here…looking forward to another organizaitonal meeting this weekend…with a less than mainstream organization.
Show me the numbers.I don’t feel that we’ve been shown enough real evidence to make me support PtP. I just hear lots of thoughts and vague numbers being thrown around, but nothing solid that we can each look at to make an informed decision. In short, I feel we’re being given the top-down catholic treatment, and damn it i’m a protestant and want to assess the scriptures myself. If someone has real data, then lay it out on the table. And so at this point all I can be sure of is that people like Karen in Kalifornia are doing the right thing while this is being slugged out: talking to voters one-on-one. That effort must not be stymied or discouraged during these “when” discussions.
My proposal is to end propositions…PERIODthen go back to the Courts win our Rights…again, and they can’t be repealed by the constant threat of the tyranny of the Majority.
Wait & Be Patient……while we build support was advice that has led many lgbts to direct hostility towards Obama & other democrats.
If it isn’t good advice coming from a straight person, it’s not good advice coming from gay organizations either.
I for one think the presidential election dynamic didn’t work well for us last time, so lets not jump back into that again with a 2012 vote. A lower turn out election means bigots have to be convinced to find time to go out & vote when they weren’t going to vote otherwise, whereas a presidential election where more people are going to vote anyways just requires that they are talked into voting against equality while they are there. On our side this is a much fresher wound, and a much more personal & passionate issue, I don’t think we’d have any trouble getting to the polls even in an off year election.
The vote was so very close last time, I think we can win it.
Does anyone know where Campaign Courage stands on the 2010 v 2012 debate? I know their poll was overwhelmingly in support of 2010 & they said they’d get it back on the ballot then. Is that still their stance?
as someone who’s fought ballot initiativesDON’T discount how well evangelicals can marshall their voters in non presidential elections, that’s their specialty, that and putting people in under the radar positions on school boards and library boards, and city councils.
Binder-Simon pollThe move away from 2010 is based on the data collected from the Binder-Simon poll taken in early may. The results of the poll were shielded from the press and revealed at the Meet in the Middle rally in Fresno that took place following the decision that upheld 8.
Gradually some of the results leaked out. Most often repeated are the parts that show how (basically) nothing has changed in CA since election day and any repeal effort must involve a “hearts and minds” campaign that requires an army of gays/allies to storm the state daily.
If a repeal is to happen in 2010 the gay army must “convert” (their word) 1000 voters between August 1, 2009 and election day in 2010. The number of converts drops to 500 per day if the repeal is scheduled for 2012.
Both scenarios ensure that the campaign will be run by large, mainstream organizations that need to build infrastructure (hire people, pay salaries to “leaders,” rent office space all over the state) and pretty much make an industry out of a repeal effort. And if that doesn’t work…then we just keep doing it again…raising money…paying our leaders…keeping an army of LGBTs donating money to keep organizations in existence.
That is an extremely cynical way to look at this, but it’s not too far from reality either.
The Binder-Simon poll needs to be scrutinized because it contains a lot more information that is being presented at the meetings being held all over the state…and it may deserve to be criticized for asking questions that will elicit responses that support the need for large, mainstream organizations to continue to be “in charge.”
The problem is that the Binder-Simon poll continues to be a closely guarded secret. That is the ammunition being used to discouraage 2010 and they don’t want to share it.
I agree. Low turnout elections are problematic at best; we don’t have the infrastructure in place to GOTV where we need it the most. Worse than that, it’s unlikely that we can build what we need in such a short period of time without big, big money.
We’d have to have a good percentage of our GOTV list building apparatus working within 6-8 months, and I don’t see how that can happen. MOE/VoteBuilders, staff, offices; even if we ignore low population density areas where we’re unlikely to win, we should have started hiring/fundraising about 6 months ago.
I’d have to see the numbers, or run them myself, but we’re 15 months out. Not a lot of time for an initiative that, as far as I know, hasn’t been written yet.
A mistakeyou may not be aware of it but the larger organizations are already in Cal. And more resources are going there (in my opinion more than should be sent, considering a lot of other state programs are suffering).
Last I checked, HRC offices can be found in San Diego, L.A., San Fransisco, and Orange County.
NGLTF has offices in L.A. and San Fran
And you have to work not to trip over an ACLU office.
Just to name a few.
Whats funny, people are talking as if the entire LGBT universe will be shut down until 2012 if everyone agrees on that plan. Maybe what people forget is that there will be an intense amount of work to be done between now and 2012.
BTW to all those who attacked me for suggesting people think about it, Michigan has a nastier law than California. I would like to legally get married and even have the health benefits I had from my husband before our Prop 2. Where are you when we need you? Are you going to argue as loudly about how Michigan should over turn its anti-marriage laws? Sorry I had to get that out of my system, you may not realize it but California is not the center of the universe, although you might not realize that listening to people talk on the blogs.
i know how you feelI would say that I feel sorry for you, but you are already feeling plenty sorry for yourself.
I just had to get that out of my system.
LosersIt is never the right decision to put your self respect on the back burner or at the back of the bus. What a bunch of wimps. No wonder why we lost proposition 8 to begin with.
Look, either lead, follow or get out of the way. In this case NGLTF, get the fuck out of our way.
I am still amazed by how many peoplecan call out Obama & other democrats for a strategy consisting of be patient & wait while we build support, and then in the very next breath say 2010 is the wrong date & that we need to be patient & wait while we build support.
I for one think we do need to keep strong pressure on Obama & the democrats, and redirect our financial support more directly towards equality, but do not need to publicly commit to never supporting another democrat, or working to make sure Obama is a one term president, when he is the closest thing we’ve had to an ally in the Oval Office.
Don’t get me wrong though, I still think be patient & wait is bad advice when it comes from straight democrats & gay organizations a like, and I hope we don’t take the advice from either group, but we shouldn’t demonize either group either.
wrong placethat’s what i get for having too many blog postings up at one time, posted this in the wrong place