sha v 4.0

As I type, the California State Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments for the lawsuits attempting to overturn Proposition 8. The main argument for overturning the proposition is that it constitutes a revision of the state constitution, rather than an amendment. If this were true, it would require a 2/3 vote of the legislature, which essentially means it wouldn’t pass. The main argument against overturning the proposition is that it violates the will of the people. Well, sometimes the people are wrong. Sometimes they are driven by hate, fear, and misinformation, and it takes a small group of people in power to stand up and set things right. I’m not holding my breath since I’m listening right now and it’s really not going well, but here’s to hoping that if things don’t go our way this time, it will someday soon.

A couple recent polls have shown that the Yes on 8 campaign is now ahead. Part of the reason for this is their $25 million fundraising effort, much of which is coming from outside of California. While this proposition will ultimately be decided in votes, part of what will make the difference is money. If you believe in equality for all people, even if you are not in California, please consider donating to the No On 8 campaign. Any amount will help.

Even if you are not from California, please take a moment to read this message from my friend Cliff, who is volunteering for the No on 8 campaign. Send a message to California and to the country that we won’t stand for writing discrimination into our state constitution.

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As you know, California voters will consider Proposition 8 — a constitutional amendment that would deny marriage equality. The No on 8 campaign is in desperate need of money. The other side has matched our fundraising, has bought early advertising air time and plans to raise around $14,000,000 more (and probably has the capacity to do so). We have to match them dollar for dollar in order to sway undecided voters.

Contrary to the poll results that have received media attention (that show us with a lead of 51-40-9), our private polling shows a different picture. Some such polls show us barely winning, others show us barely losing. The key is the approximate 20 percent of voters who are undecided about marriage equality. It is this undecided block that makes the advertisements — and the money to purchase them — so crucial. The campaign is purchasing another block of advertisements on September 18, so the need for funds is urgent.

I hate doing this sort of thing, but I am asking you to send this message on to anyone who might be willing to give money to fight Proposition 8. People who want to give may do so by going to www.noonprop8.com and donating. Because that organization likes to track how much their volunteers raise, please enter “521″ (without the quotation marks) in the referral code space.

This campaign is about more than marriage (though that would be enough). It is about equal treatment under law; it is about defeating the politics of bigotry; it is about disarming a Right Wing that uses civil liberties as a wedge issue; and it is about lgbt rights in the entire country. Never before have voters considered whether to strip marriage rights away from same-sex couples. A victory for the Right in California would greatly embolden them in every state. We have to succeed and defeat Prop 8, and we have to be sure we wake up on November 5 knowing that we did everything we could to win.