Calif. Gay Marriage Backers Poised to Try Again in 2010

[jefferson_dem]

Calif. Gay Marriage Backers Poised to Try Again in 2010
'The Right Time Is Now,' Says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
By TEDDY DAVIS
May 5, 2009

Same-sex marriage backers in California, anticipating a loss in court, are preparing to make their case at the ballot box in 2010 rather than waiting until 2012.

"The right time is now," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told ABC News. "And if that means going back in 2010, I couldn't be more supportive."

"Wait almost always means never," he added, invoking Martin Luther King Jr.

California voters approved Proposition 8 in November, a change to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage. Although a decision has not yet been rendered in the legal challenge to Proposition 8, many gay marriage proponents in California expect the state Supreme Court to uphold the voter-approved ban on new gay marriages while leaving intact the gay marriages performed in 2008 when a decision of the state's High Court had temporarily legalized the practice.

The inclination on the part of Newsom, who is running for governor next year, to push for gay marriage in 2010 is in step with the thinking of Rick Jacobs, the chairman of the Courage Campaign, a liberal grassroots organization that is at the center of deciding when gay marriage advocates will launch their next campaign.

"Do we wait? My gut tells me no," Jacobs told ABC News.

The decision on when to push for gay marriage at the ballot box could be a critical one, according to California political strategists, because Democratic voter turnout in the state is typically heavier during presidential election years than it is during mid-term elections.

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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7502090&page=1

[ruggerson]

1. Newsom is a civil rights hero. He understands "the fierce urgency of now."

[cloudythescribbler]

2. what do the POLLS in CA say on overturning prop 8 (overturning props is very hard ...)

[democrattotheend]

3. Is this a smart move?

Yes, I understand that it's important and people may not want to wait 2 more years, but I want it to pass, and wouldn't it have a better chance of passing in 2012?

[cboy4]

4. This is all you need to know:

Civil rights are non-negotiable.

Stop insinuating gay people are threatening the outcome of elections all because they just want the same rights as everyone. :puke:

We're tired of hearing just wait two more years, just wait four more years, just wait ...

No, we're tired.

[mitchtv]

7. you wait

I ain't waiting any longer; The future of the Democratic coalition is on the line.

[Cha]

5. The activists will just have

to make sure that record numbers of Democrats turn out for the Midterms.

I'm glad they're not waiting.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Good. This time it will be different.

This time it will be taken seriously. I'm sure some here will kick me around for saying so but I live in SF and worked the phones last go. I was pissed off that too many people just sat on the once huge point-spread and let it erode away. The wingnuts have been sending a cadre of wingnut-educated attorneys across the country, city by city, state by state litigating and crafting ballot measures restricting freedom in a number of areas. It's way past time to step up in their faces and tell them no more.

[Politicalboi]

8. Something else needs to be done

This needs to be nation wide. You marry in Maine but your not married in another state. That is just ridiculous. If gay marriage is good enough in one state it should be good enough for all states. We can't have "morans" voting our rights away. What if in 2010 the Repukes have a good candidate for Gov. and turn out is weak and the Prop loses again? We cannot wait again and again. This state by state shit is out dated. This is The UNITED States after all. Perhaps we need tax laws that cover gay couples no matter where they live so it would have to be recognized everywhere.

[sarah553807]

9. Hopefully it's a little more organized this time

I'm hoping the second time does the trick.Especially since the election many states now are leading the way on gay marriage.

[cwcwmack]

10. In my honest opinion...

and personal opinion...

They need to approach this thing differently.

I, for example... am in favor of gay marriage but not for the reason some would expect. I'm not gay, nor do I believe that "gay" is natural. I don't believe "gay" is a choice but biological pre-programming. A gay person can't change as they can't change the number of toes on their foot.

Having said that... it's unconstitutional and disgraceful to the American tradition to selectively deny civil rights.

I will vote to permanently legalize gay marriage.

But the supporters need to concentrate on the red/white/blue constitutional angle... make it the "right" thing to do...

And tell Gavin to stfu. He probably single handedly cost gay marriage supporters the election with his "Like it or not..." comment that was used against gay marriage.

[mitchtv]

12. I'd prefer Gavin to an "ally"

who doesn't think Gay is natural , What do you think it is a mutation? Obama's statement was just as damaging printed with his picture

[npk]

11. Here is what I don't understand

The state is expected to recognize the gay marriages that were on the book prior to the passing of Prop. 8 in 2008. Yet they are going to uphold the the voters decisions. Ok. So there are still going to be couples that are going to be legally recognized as married and couples that will not be allowed o marry. Doesn't this conflict with equal rights clause. The state must recognize every individual right clearly and equally. Besides we all know there have been many gay marriages on the book in California for a while. So the people who were for Prop. 8 are going to pretend that there are no gay marriages in the state, even though there clearly are. I guess my point is that since there are going to be some gay marriages recognized then why don't the voters just make it legal. I mean there are already gay marriages in the state. You, meaning the voters who supported Prop. 8, have lost. So just get over your bigotry and fucking move on to issues that actually affect you.