Is there a chance that marriage equality in California will see the light in 2010? I ask this simply because, sad to say, what the hell is going on? What is happening with the 2010 movement? Where is the leadership? What’s with the infighting, childish bullshit? From talking to a number of folk I have heard some disheartening stories of what’s going on and it’s all comes down to people with no knowledge of how to run a campaign. They’ve spread themselves thin with too many leaders and too many voices vying for control. And when they’re asked to quiet down and listen to those that know, they scream and yell and in the end “fire” those in the know who could lead. With more than triple the time than was had for the 2008 campaign, not much is being done for the 2010 cause other than infighting. This was eloquently put in his post “Eating Our Young“ by fellow blogger Robert Polzoni of the Gay Buzz “…the bottom line is that the LGBT civil war in California continues unabated.” Robert’s article is a definite must read to get the story on some of the nonsense that we as a community throw up against ourselves. Which leads me to…

On the other side we have EQCA with their push for 2012. Their help for 2010 would have been invaluable, but since they couldn’t be center stage with 2010 they decided to take their ball and go home, while throwing a wrench in whenever possible, as only they can (i.e., via twitter, blogging, news articles and eloquent speeches that bolster their decisions and reasons to wait). I mean they are extremely well connected — it’s what they do as a well oiled machine with many powerful individuals on their side (it’s all about the greasing). Their connections would have been a great help, but that help comes at a price: the ego of Kors and tantrums Solomon. Still, regardless of my personal feelings of their leadership, the organization’s shortcomings, and their disastrous handling Prop 8 — and never apologizing for it (all stated throughout this blog), EQCA does have what it takes and there is a lot that can be learned from them. It’s a shame they are not willing to teach, while many of the 2010 camp not willing to learn.

Still, there are those that are pushing ahead.

Below is an email I received to help spread the word (sorry I didn’t get it out sooner, but I was on vacation in Mexico):

Jeff:
First time caller, long time listener. You’ve written passionately here and before about the need to press forward for 2010, so I thought you would like to know about SignForEquality.com if you didn’t already. It’s a website I created for Love Honor Cherish, a member of the Restore Equality 2010 coalition, to help organize volunteers statewide to gather signatures to put a repeal of prop 8 on the ballot next year. You can download the petition, watch training videos on the do’s and don’t of signature gathering, and even create an account for yourself to set goals for how many signatures you’ll gather and report your progress towards those goals. Check it out and spread the word! SignForEquality.com

Matt

Hear-hear to Love, Honor Cherish along with Restore Equality 2010. I applaud their tenacity in light of the numbers of voters against putting gay marriage back on the ballot next year. They believe that regardless of the odds, the fight continues.

Yet, since the National March on Washington and the anniversary of the passage of Prop 8 my attitude has begun to change. Especially since learning about the infighting of the California 2010 Marriage Equality movement. Why fight for our rights in 2010 or 2012, and win, just to have the fuckhole conservative christian right come along two years later and take them away again? (Look at what they’re trying to do in New Hampshire). What’s the use of having the right to marry in California, Massachusetts, Vermont, or Ohio, or keep a job or apartment in Kalamazoo, MI., when we can’t adopt a child in Florida, if my husband and I chose to move there. What good is it if hospitals and emergency room doors are closed to us in one state regardless of our marital status in another? And what about my husband, Gustavo? A legal resident alien, by way of Mexico, who, if we were heterosexually married (aka/ federally recognized married) would be on the fast road to permanent residency, but as we are in same-sex marriage limbo, for him — nada! Piecemeal laws will get us nowhere.

Gustavo is a firm believer in the all or nothing rule, and I am now leaning that way too. California marriage equality in 2010 (or 2012) would be great, but now, I want it all. We shouldn’t settle for crumbs! I want all the rights and benefits that come to heterosexual married couples on the federal level. I want all the protections that come from not being viewed as a second-class citizen. I want health care coverage that is affordable for my husband and myself. I want to be seen and treated as an equal by the government (I can deal Joe-Schmoe on the street myself). And I don’t want to have loopholes such as where douche-bag senators can attempt to op out of things such as the Hate Crimes Law because he believes “special classes don’t need special protection.” Tell that to Matthew Shepard or Jorge Mercado.

The Civil Rights movement wasn’t won state by state, nor was the Women’s Movement. They were won at the Federal level. Why should we settle for less?