Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

On Joining the Impact

(Cross-posted at C4O Democrats)

It wasn’t that long ago when I was just crying in my bedroom, not knowing what I could do next. Prop 8 had passed in California, and it felt like I was completely stripped of my human rights. Why did everything go so wrong when it seemed like the worst had just ended with Barack Obama’s victory?

But in the next few days, hope returned. Lawsuits were filed to protect people’s rights. People soon took to the streets to protest the temporary “win” for hate. And most importantly, a new civil rights movement was born as people began organizing to show the state, the nation, and the world that love conquers all.

So how has a temporary defeat resulted in a sudden push for victory?

In the months before the November 4 election, the “old school” LGBT political organizations (like Human Rights Campaign and The Task Force) and a HUGE group of elite “old school” West Coast political consultants decided to run a top-down, cautious campaign to defeat Prop 8. There was little mention of the married couples about to lose their legal rights. There were no feet on the ground organized by the campaign to talk to neighbors in the community about the threat to everyone’s civil rights posed by Prop 8. There were just a 12-page long phone bank script and rounds of TV ads trying to respond to the constant barrage of lies pounding the airwaves. That was a recipe for disaster.

Fortunately in the days following the disappointing election day results, something changed. Everyday people rose up to fight for their rights. Suddenly, an angry (but peaceful) uprising was transforming into a full-fledged movement. And then, it spread beyond California. It became a national uprising for equal rights.

And really, this is why I now feel a calm sense of reassuring hope. Now don’t get me wrong, I refuse to become overconfident in expecting the California Supreme Court to overturn Prop 8 and/or a successful repeal campaign in 2010 and 2012. Rather, I am glad that so many of us have now realized that we are working to make victory happen.

I was once told by a New Age influenced family member that “you create your own reality”. At first, I scoffed it off. But now, I know what she meant. We create our own reality by taking action, joining the impact, making it happen. We have the power now to make our case to the court, convince the voters, overturn Prop 8, and guarantee civil rights for all.

The power is ours. The time is now. What can we do in the coming days, weeks, and months ahead to end hateful discrimination and let love prevail?




Categories: General.

/ 9 Comments

9 comments

  1. atdleft

    That I didn’t do more to stop this tragedy. But now, I’ll do all I can in the coming days to reverse this and restore the rule of law & the power of love. Will you join me?

  2. John Allen

    I was surprised by the disappointment voiced by the gay community and many Hillary supporters. Many of them said they felt cheated out of sharing the joy Obama’s victory brought to the rest of us. I tried to convince them that they should not be so disappointed. I also felt like their disappointment had nothing to do with me. I was wrong on both counts.

    My first reaction on reading your post was that it is not the most important issue for me. Ten seconds later, I realized how wrong I was about that. It should matter to all of us.

    Civil rights are not a secondary issue. They are the most important issue facing any of us. During the 60’s I cared about civil rights even though I am a white male. Why should it be any different today when it comes to gay rights just because I am a straight male? It shouldn’t be different and it isn’t. Civil rights are at the core of everything for which this country stands.

    I apologize to anyone who feels I have belittled their cause or tried to marginalize their feelings. This goes for the gay community and for the rights of women. Things are better today than they were awhile ago, but they are still a long way from where they should be. I hope you can accept me as a full-fledged partner in the fight for equal rights for all.

  3. spacemanspiff

    … and jump started a movement.

    Prop 8’s passing is the beginning of this movement.

    The power is ours. The time is now.

    Sparta!!!

  4. GrassrootsOrganizer

    My son and I were talking the other day and he explained to me a new understanding he was given of “turn the other cheek”.

    Turning the other cheek, in the context of the times, didn’t mean one should be so peace-loving as to behave like a masochistic bitch to anyone who would slap you.  What it meant was, instead of grovelling and being knocked to your knees by a smack across the face, stand strong, stand proud and offer them the other cheek because their attempts to humiliate you into submission mean nothing to you.

    If I were someone who opposed gay rights I’d be crapping in my boots right now for the bees nest I just kicked over.  The passage of Prop 8 appears to have awoke a sleeping giant and FINALLY the straight world will start to see just how large and committed the gay community really is.  

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