BITTERsweet

On Saturday August 9, 2008 I felt for the first time second class. (see A Mile High and Equally Distant post) On Tuesday, November 4, 2008 I became second class as my civil rights and the afforded equal opportunities here in the state of California were taken away, and discrimination was codified in the constitutions of both the State of California and the State of Arizona.

Who would have thought that on a day where America would elect it’s first African American candidate to the office of President of the United States, it would be the African American community, more than any other voting group, who would vote resoundingly here in California for the discrimination of others. According to Associated Press exit polls, 7 in 10 black voters backed proposition 8. According to the LA Times, blacks represented 10% of the voters. So of the 10,157,038 voters (# will change as the last of the ballots are counted) who cast a ballot, roughly 1,015,703 were black. Of those, 710,992 voted for discrimination while 304,711 voted for equality. A difference of 406,281 votes. (the difference in Prop 8 was around 500,000 votes)

"Today was an affirmation that this is a new world, a new day," said Danny Bakewell, publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the city's oldest black newspaper. "America has risen to the reality that the old days are dead, people are truly created equally and what you do in this world depends on your ability to overcome your personal challenges." (LA Times online-11/5/08)

I researched Mr. Bakewell’s paper and I came away surprised. On the issue of Prop 8 the Los Angeles Sentinel editorialized:

"Proposition 8- Would amend the California constitution to state that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

The Sentinel does not support this proposition. Courts have established that marriage is a right for all couples. The California constitution should guarantee the same freedoms and rights to everyone; no group should be treated differently. California statutes identify nine real differences between marriage and domestic partnerships. Only marriage provides the security that spouses provide one another."

So why? Why Blacks, why Latinos, why orthodox, conservative, and Persian Jews? For people who have experienced so much discrimination and unequal rights through the years, why did so many of you vote to deny others of theirs?

I’m angry! But, contrary to what you might think, I’m not angry at the above ethnic groups or even the Mormons. (as twisted as it sounds I admire the Mormons in how galvanized they became on this issue.) Who I’m angry with are the Gays, Equality California, and the leadership team of the No on 8 campaign.

I attended the rally yesterday evening in West Hollywood and was quite pleased with the turnout and passion demonstrated. A few protest marches even ensued after the rally. But my question is this, where were most of the Gays when they were needed before the vote? While I understand and appreciate the spontaneity and disgust that fueled the passions of last night, I find it disgraceful that so many Gays in attendance and throughout the state did either nothing, or very little, to ensure that their rights would not be taken away.

As for Equality California and the leadership team of the No on 8 campaign, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR LETTERS OF RESIGNATION NOW! In life one must be held accountable for their actions and those results, and throughout this campaign the leadership team of the No on 8 campaign failed miserably. Their failed leadership is as clear as these two emails that many of us received throughout the campaign:

Received on October 14th

Dear Adam,

The latest tracking polls show that if the election were held today among voters who have seen both our ads and the other side’s ads that we would WIN!
Unfortunately, we don’t have sufficient funds to get our ads seen by all the voters who’ve seen the other side’s ads.  So it’s that simple…without more funds we’ll lose. 
But we will win if we have enough money to reach voters. So DONATE NOW!
A powerful array of motivated groups have organized against us. Yesterday’s Sacramento Bee reported that:
“Mormons…have emerged as the leading financial contributors to the controversial Nov. 4 ballot measure. Church members have donated about 40 percent of the $22.8 million raised to pass the initiative since July.”
What is also unfortunate is that only 30,000 people have donated to the No on 8 campaign compared to the 60,000 who have donated to the other side.  
In a state with about two million LGBT people, in a country with millions more and tens of millions of straight allies, we have to get everyone to support this fight. If every LGBT person donates we can win!
Yesterday’s Sacramento Bee also reported on the sacrifices being made by members of the Yes on 8 campaign:
"That's why Auburn resident David Nielson, 55, is giving…He and his wife, Susan, live on a budget. The couple donated $35,000, he said, "because some things are worth fighting for."  The couple will forgo a vacation for the next two years and make other sacrifices to pay for their donation, he said.”
So, what is your equality worth to you? What is your equality worth to your friends and family? How much will you sacrifice for your own freedom?
We are running out of time.  We need your support now.  We need the support of your friends and family now.  DONATE NOW! FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS!

In solidarity,

Executive Director

Equality California


Received on 11/4/2008

Dear Adam,

The polls are now closed. And whatever the outcome, history has already been made. 

Before the results are in, I wanted to thank each of you for all you have done to get us to this moment. 

No matter what happens, we should all be proud of what we have accomplished in this campaign. 

We have built the largest grassroots campaign in California history, with close to 100,000 donors. We have created the largest and most diverse coalition in history to advance the cause of equality. We have worked with incredible partner organizations who have stood with us each step of the way. And for the first time in any anti-gay ballot measure fight, we were not outspent.

EQCA was expected to raise $1 million from our members to defeat Prop 8, an amount close to our entire 2007 budget. But as you have always done, you have shattered all expectations. Together EQCA members have donated close to $14 million, more than a third of the entire amount raised to defeat Prop 8, making us the largest donor to the campaign by far! 

The EQCA staff has been all in, working around the clock on fundraising, field, media, web communications and so much more. And you, our members, have volunteered and served in leadership positions in every corner of our great state. 

Whatever the outcome – and I do believe we will win – we have moved Californians a remarkable amount from 2000 when Prop 22 was passed by a margin of 61% to 39%. 

And together, we have moved California from a state where LGBT people had no rights, to the state with the most rights in the nation. We have passed an unprecedented 50 pieces of legislation to advance our rights over the past decade. We have moved the country from a place where domestic partnership and civil union seemed like a goal that was generations away to a country where marriage equality is gaining support in every state. 

Each of you is part of the most successful state LGBT organization and advancement of our rights that our nation has ever witnessed. It is truly remarkable.

Together, we have done amazing things.



I am forever grateful.

Executive Director

Equality California

It’s extremely disheartening to look back and read the above emails. Our leadership failed us and it was evident in their strategy, their preparation, their message, their organizational structure, and most importantly their ability to galvanize the community for whose rights they have always worked so hard to advance. By the time they got their act together in mid to late October, failure was virtually assured. It was reported in the LA Times that 18% of Los Angeles County and 29% of Orange County voters voted early. The Yes side carried both those counties and overall their campaign kicked our ass. I could cite a litany of additional issues I’ve had with the campaign but at this point it would do no good. The only question that I’d like to pose publicly is this;

Why were there no Gay people or Gay couples in any of the official No on 8 ads?

I take little comfort in the claims that we have advanced the movement since 2000 when the vote was 61% to 39%. (52% to 48% this year) How could you claim advancement when our own campaign did not offer a single ad featuring a Gay, married couple demonstrating what our equal relationships look like? Regardless, the bottom-line is this, WE LOST RIGHTS THAT WE LEGALLY HAD! PERIOD! Time may be the answer, but tomorrow is never a guarantee.

As for me, I’m saddened, angry, but otherwise good. Life for me will progress and I will continue to step forward in my personal, professional, and philanthropic life. As I’ve said before, I feel blessed to have had this opportunity to come out at this time and in this place. I am a better man for having done so and I am pleased that I was able to contribute to a cause that is much greater than I.

I wanted to say thanks to my family, friends, and readers who responded to my emails, calls, and posts over the last few months and made a positive difference during this campaign. Equality is for all, and my fight for it has just begun. (Literrally, I'm off to go run the 5 miles down to the Mormon temple from WeHo for the 2:00PM press conference to go punch someone in the face. I just don't know if it will be a Gay or a Mormon. Equality for all! lol)