With the general election a month behind us, it seems the gay rights campaign is still going strong. Or it’s been re-launched with more determination than ever. As a social justice movement, it has far more traction than a mere political issue. And proponents and activists seeking equal rights for gays won quit in their lifetime, if it takes all of that. But like so many historic causes of equality, it has the
Many are hoping a progressive Barack Obama presidency will usher in all sorts of steps for the advancement of the American civilization after a slowdown promulgated, in part, by the religious right and conservatives.
Approval of Proposition 102 in Arizona and Proposition 8 in California, plus a similar constitutional marriage amendment measure in Florida, have traditional marriage people saying, “We won. It’s over. Issue settled.” In Arkansas, unmarried, co-habitating adults were banned from adopting or having foster children on Nov. 4. Traditional marriage advocates, who spent more than $30 million in California alone, are shouting, “Sore losers,” but they’d better save up $50 million to try to withstand what is sure to be mounted again in ballot issues across the country to reverse those propositions or keep others from being enacted .
Seemingly, the setbacks have only steeled forces seeking equality rights to regroup as if the next election were next week. My mail and computer have been inundated by messages from both sides. At $70 million, the California Proposition 8 battle turned out to be second to the 2008 presidential campaign as the most expensive campaign in American history. Mormons, Catholics, evangelicals and blacks have repeatedly been identified as the religious groups that significantly voted to support the marriage amendments. So they are taking a beating. Conservative groups are fighting back
On Friday, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty made public a letter, as an advertisement, called “No Mob Veto.” It was signed by some of the staunchest conservative religionists in America including feisty William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship. It deplored “the violence and intimidation being directed against the LDS or Mormon Church and other religious organizations – and even against individual believers simply because they supported Proposition 8.” The letter said that speaking out is OK and “we’re a disagreeable lot” but “when thugs send white powder to terrorize any place of worship, especially those of a religious minority, responsible voices need to speak clearly.” It said religious groups cannot claim immunity from criticism “but violence and intimidation are always wrong, whether the victims are believers, gay people or anyone else.”
The national gay-support organization Soulforce, co-led by Mel White and Gary Nixon, sent a four-page letter this week saying they were “ecstatic to see so many people become involved in the process” of changing national leadership.” Yet for the first time in 10 years, the group was in debt because of its campaign work. There is a plea for funds because “Soulforce still has so much work to do on religion-based oppression.” It appealed for funds for such upcoming projects as a conference to “counter the damage done by ‘reparative therapy’ programs; support “our Lutheran allies” at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America assembly in Minnesota; continuing “outing work” in mega-churches; and unveiling “Sundays of Solidarity” for direct action in communities.
Hang on. It’s going to be a long and costly ride anew.
