Shocking numbers to ponder on World AIDS Day
Which tactics and messages are most effective—and who gets to decide?
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Friday, October 03, 2008
Wall Street is at the forefront of most Americans’ lives right now. The economy is in shreds. Congress is working on a bail out. When that’s not in the headlines, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are plastered on every media outlet in the country. That leaves few column inches or web views for an election issue that should be on every LGBT person’s radar: Proposition 8.
A Nov. 4 ballot measure in California, Proposition 8 would make same-sex marriage illegal in the state—one of only two (Massachusetts being the other) that allow gay marriage.
Proposition 8 would edit California’s Constitution to read “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
“So what? I don’t live in California,” you might ask. Think again. California’s marriage law has no residency requirement, and anyone can get married there. From New York City to Tuscan, all gay couples can travel there to solemnize their relationship. If Prop. 8 passes, that right will be gone, and Massachusetts will become the only state in the country that performs same-sex marriages.
“If we win in California—and this is how the other side is thinking too—the other states are going to go a lot more quickly,” Jason Howe of Lambda Legal told the New England Blade.
While the actual issue hasn’t received that much media attention, the money being raised surely has. Celebrities and philanthropists chipped in; Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg each donated $100,000 in favor of marriage equality.
As of this week, the fundraising totals for and against Prop. 8 are startling. The same-sex marriage opposition has raised nearly $18 million to pass Prop. 8, while same-sex marriage backers are just over $14 million.
Though we lag behind in cash, a recent poll shows voters may be favoring same-sex marriage this time around. The Washington Post reported that a Field Poll released Sept. 18 indicated 55 percent of voters opposed Prop. 8, while just 38 percent backed the initiative to ban same-sex marriage.
Even Google has pledged its support of same-sex marriage and the demise of Prop. 8.
Living in a world where most Americans get their information from parody news shows and ranting blogs, television commercials seem to be the only way both sides of the argument can make their point—hence the need for millions of dollars in funding.
“The anti-gay forces have already been out-fundraising us and are just beginning a barrage of anti-gay ads,” said Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry.
The sad truth is that same-sex marriage supporters must continue to raise money to defeat the religious fanatics who are putting their life savings into making sure other people lose their rights (you’d think these “Christians” would direct their money to help feed the starving or shelter the homeless, but we digress…).
“The Prop 8 battle really could come down to the money,” Toni Broaddus, executive director of the Equality Foundation, told the New England Blade. “It’s so close that whoever spends the most money will have a significant edge.”
So, what can you do? Hold your own fundraiser. Invite everyone you know, ask an openly gay Assembly member, senator or council member to attend and raise as much money for No On Prop. 8 as possible.
Then, call every person you’ve ever known in California—college roommates, aunts, former co-workers—and make sure they will be voting ‘no’ on Prop. 8. If they didn’t already know you’re gay, come out. Studies show that when it becomes a personal issue, people are more likely to vote in our favor.
Same-sex couples have been marrying in California every day since June 17, and thousands more are planning their weddings right now.
Let’s keep our marriage rights legal in California. And then we can spend our money fighting the AIDS epidemic and ensure equality for others.
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