Gay Pride... or Hubris?
Moving Forward: What We Can Do
Whether it’s a commitment of time or financial support, everyone who has a personal stake in the continued expansion of LGBT rights under the law can do their part. Lieberman, who identifies the November California ballot vote as a "critical moment for change," emphasizes that it comes down to who shows up at the polls: "It all depends on how many people we can reach and how many of us go out and vote." In the meantime, Lazin encourages couples who are contemplating marriage to "take same sex marriage. There’s no greater political statement than coming out and being married and helping us share in the legal protections and communal value of marriage." Lieberman concurs, stating: "The more people who get married in the next few months, the more others will get used to it and see it as ’normal in their eyes. We can reach a tipping point. It brings it down to the human level, and it becomes harder for non-LGBT people to see us a dangerous amorphous group."
For Wolfson, it’s "not rocket science how you achieve political change. You get involved in campaigns by contributing time and money and asking others to do the same." At what he identifies as a crucial and historic moment, Wolfson encourages "each one of us to personally talk everyone we know, gay and non-gay, about how we need them to step up and support us. We must break our silence and ask people we’ve never asked before to take a political stand to understand what is at stake." He recommends sending e-mail, volunteering, and supporting organizations like Equality California, Lambda Legal, GLAAD, the National Gay & Lesbian Take Force and Freedom to Marry.
Money, which not only talks but has the power to change, can often make the difference when opposing well-funded foes of gay rights. Lieberman notes that gays outside of California can make a difference by opening their wallets to donate money as well as "calling their own call mayor, governor and representatives to tell them they support gay marriage. Let them know you’re a voter and you support gay marriage and civil unions."
For Felkner, "The message I’d put forth to people from other states is that we have to be mobilized as a community politically." Citing what happened in 2000 vs. where we are today, Felkner observes that "we have a very well organized local campaign; we had 50 people come to our first steering committee vs. six in 2000. They understand the issue and they’re motivated." Felkner says the recent favorable poll on the issue have galvanized many: "When you have hope, you’re more likely to push forward. It gives you the boost and energy to take a stand and work at it." On our own local level, he emphasizes that lasting change is created by those with access to initiating and facilitating public policy; hence the need for more LGBTs in all forms of political office: "We need to be getting onto the school boards, the city council, wherever we can get involved in the political process. If you’re not sitting at the table, you’re on the menu."
(Photo: Pro- and anti-gay marriage advocates outside the California Supreme Court in San Francisco.)
