On the eve of the Marriage Amendment vote, some thoughts.

[MuseRider]

We vote tomorrow and I have a few things I want to say. First off, it looks good here for us to win. It will be close and if we are not blind sided by the fundies we just may pull this off. I fear and worry that in the end we will lose by a lot but that is often how the other side works, by hiding and then turning out to vote (anyone seen Fred lately?).

I have seen the posts about it not being just the fundies who are the enemy and I agree. Here though it seems most of our problems come from that direction. I have made countless calls over the last 2 months and the people in this state are just who I thought they were. Slow to ponder such questions but wanting in the end to be fair. It may still be too soon to sway them all, to get them to think deeply but it won't be from lack of trying on our part.

Basically I want to say to you that over the course of the last few months as we have fought for this issue in one form or another we have built a very strong group of friends, a real coalition and we are strong and determined. We have pledged to each other that even with a win we will continue to meet and grow and be prepared for the next onslaught because it will come, probably sooner rather than later.

I want you all to know that whatever happens we are here and we are not going to stop until every last one of the barriers are broken and you can live here as free as anyone. We are not a state full of ignorant haters, we never were, but is certainly has seemed that way often enough.

Send good vibes, prayers and simply good thoughts tomorrow to your favorite fly over red state from hell. We need it all. I am as nervous as I have ever been.

[Bellamia]

1. Sending good vibes, prayers, and good thoughts to you all.

[MuseRider]

5. Thanks.

We need all we can get. :thumbsup:

[beyurslf]

2. I voted early on Friday. I hope things turn out as close as some think

it will....

[MuseRider]

6. That last poll

never came out. Who knows now :shrug:? I am worried but tomorrow should tell.

[beyurslf]

7. Wichita Eagle had a report today that said 62% yes.

Much, much lower than expected I think.

<http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11303697.htm>

According to an Exclusive Factfinder 12 Scientific Survey, conducted by SurveyUSA for KWCH and The Eagle, the amendment would pass 62 percent to 37 percent, with 2 percent undecided. The survey of 579 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

[MuseRider]

8. I was in the main office until

after 5PM and did not hear that at all. Shit, no kidding? That is far worse than anything I had ever heard. No sleep tonight, more work tomorrow but those are big odds to overcome. How did it switch so much? Most of the calls I made were much closer than that, I would guess 60% minimum said they would not vote for this. I guess tomorrow may not be the good day I had hoped it would be.

[beyurslf]

11. I would imagine you are calling Dems or people who lean to

vote Dem. We would need almost all Dems to vote no and a good portion of I's to vote no even to have a chance. Are you working in more Dem friendly areas? I know none of us want this to pass, but I think some very people with very good intentions have gotten a lot of people's hopes up about this one. If we hold it to 65% we have done better than anyone would have guessed. I said at the get-go, they should get 75% yes and anything less was gravy for us.

[MuseRider]

12. Nope, we called them all.

I never thought this had a chance, that is one reason I worked mainly for the councilwoman and not a lot for the amendment, I thought is was as good as passed but then I got a call to come in they needed help so I squeezed it in. The first thing I heard from the campaign manager was that we had a very good chance of winning this. Everyone who had been working on it thought it was going very very well. I was still skeptical until I started in making calls. We did not call just Dems but everyone and I talked to a lot of people outside who are Bush** supporters and they also were voting no. Oh well, we have done all we could possibly do but this just breaks my heart.

[Duncan Grant]

3. MuseRider, you're one of the most inspiring DUers I know.

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. Let's hope that justice and fairness prevail. Good luck tomorrow - if things don't go the way we hope it won't be for lack of trying.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! :yourock: :grouphug:

[MuseRider]

4. You are far too kind.

I really just wanted everyone to know we care here, we really do and that even though it may seem inhospitable here there are so many of us who want to change that. I hope I have reason to be proud of my state tomorrow but I can say this, I am very proud to be among the ones who have done all this work.

[dsc]

9. I wish you all the luck in the world

You took on a tough task and a win would be both an amazing upset and a possible light at the end of the tunnel that is these amendments. We are fighting our own battle here in NC, mainly keeping it off the ballot. We think we will win it, but the summer will tell the tale. If I have to live in Raleigh this summer to defeat that amendment, then live in Raleigh I shall.

[MuseRider]

13. Win or lose

if you need anything let me know. We have some experience now and anything that we could do would be good for us as well as good for you. It is terribly difficult to do all of this. Good luck to you. Several posts up I got my bubble burst but we will see.

[dsc]

15. We are very lucky here

First, it takes 60% of the House and Senate to get the amendment on the ballot. Second, Committee chairs are very powerful here and the chairs of both committees are adamently against the bill coming up. Only a discharge petition would work to get it out and even that will be hard for them.

If it makes the ballot, then we have a real problem. I honestly can't see a way we could win that race but we would have to try our best. I would surely canvas here in Wilson and take my chances. I just hope it doesn't come to that.

[MuseRider]

16. I will send all my hope

and dreams your way. This all just stinks and makes me so very sad.

[dsc]

18. Thanks

I hope you won today. Please keep us updated. Today was a day of lobbying here but I couldn't go to this one since I had used my personal time. I intend to work though over the summer if it is needed. You have done a great thing win or lose and don't let anyone tell you any different.

[TaleWgnDg]

10. HOLY CRAPOLA . . . VOTE "NO" . . .

.

Holy Crapola, there's potential to make legally null and void all kinds of legal stuff that presently favor homosexuals and their children if this STUPID discriminatory Kansas constitutional amendment is passed on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 election. In other words, stuff that's legally favorable now in Kansas for homosexuals and their kids may be chucked out if this amendment wins!

Wow. Is this hateful and despicable crapola!!

This is the Kansas ballot question that would amendment the Kansas constitution if it passes . . . and would not change anything if it does not pass . . .

"Shall the following be adopted?

"16. Marriage (a) The marriage contract is to be considered in law as a civil contract. Marriage shall be constituted by one man and one woman only. All other marriages are declared to be contrary to the public policy of this state and are void.

"(b) No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage.

"YES

"NO . . ."

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11303693.htm (as last visited Monday, April 4, 2005)

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[MuseRider]

14. All anyone knows about this

is that it will keep those awful gays from marrying. All the rest of it has not been covered well, most people do not know any more that the marrying part. It even hurts heteros who live together in a civil union but have they been told that? Nope, not unless they have been called by us. It is so sad and it is a despicable amendment. The hell of it is is the fact that gays can't get married now so why add this? I know, I am sick about it.

[TaleWgnDg]

17. Indeed. As am I.

.
Indeed. As am I.

That being said, the wording of this amendment would impact heterosexual couples that are not married as well. It would reap a vast negative impact unsuspected by many.

It's truly sad that the public is not more informed.


Same-sex marriage supporters at the Massachusetts Statehouse,
during the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, February, 2004


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