My Response to Courage Campaign

I sent a question to the Courage Campaign asking them what steps are being taken to endorse Mayor Gavin Newsom as Governor of California. I was asking this, not only to see if they were going to publicly speak about him and the importance of voting for him, but to also volunteer. This is the response I received:

Dear Patricia,

Thank you for your support of the Courage Campaign!

Whereas we certainly hope that our members would research and actively support the candidates they believe best able to bring progressive change, the Courage Campaign does not endorse candidates or their committees.

We believe our strength comes in holding our elected officials accountable on the issues, and that our efficacy is greatest when we stand up, courageously, in support for what is best for our state and country.

Andy

--

Andy Kelley

Courage Campaign

andy@couragecampaign.org

http://www.twitter.com/andekelley

I was disappointed to say the least, especially when they state that our efficacy is greatest when we stand up, courageously, in support for what is best for our state and country. Isn't this a paradox?

Last year in November I was angry and I felt like a second hand citizen. I went to every protest possible. While protesting along side of us were heterosexual couples and people telling us that if they knew how we would be affected in that campaign they would have voted no. They were also surprised in the number of us. I remember at one protest, in front of City Hall. I had to move my car, the people that worked in the buildings came out and they were saying "good for them". Some were saying, "I didn't know they were so many". I also attended town hall meetings and received information as to what went wrong. They said we didn't contribute our money from the onset, we were not visible from the onset, and we did not get involved from the onset. I made those mistakes. I don't want to make them again.

I look at my twitter and the re-tweets are all the same, a cause happening in another country, someone getting hurt in another state and the past politics that are already being covered by the media. This is all good, to keep informed, but what about starting to educate our brothers and sisters as to why we need to unite and make a difference in California.

Let's begin with the CEO of Ebay running against the Mayor. Are we aware how much money she contributed to Proposition 8? Have we in fact forgotten who contributed to Proposition 8? They weren't just people that lived in California. Now is the time to unite and get others outside of California to contribute. To start signing up to volunteer. To start publicly speaking FOR the Mayor and to start mobilizing for next year. They already have stated he is behind. They are already talking about his private life and they are already mentioning that he supported us in equality.

Basic political science is that all the small states look at us for progression and for hope in their state. Let's make a difference. I will end with a quote from Harvey Milk:

It's not my victory, it's yours and yours and yours. If a gay can win, it means there is hope that the system can work for all minorities if we fight. We've given them hope.

Friday: QUOTE OF THE YEAR!

The award for the quote of the year goes to none other: REVEREND AL SHARPTON
From the pulpit of Tabernacle Baptist Church on Sunday, Rev. Al Sharpton called out the Mormon Church and other conservative faiths for mobilizing to support Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage in California while refusing to be as involved in any other social concerns.

“It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being delegated into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners,” Sharpton told a packed audience on Jan. 11.

“There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people’s bedrooms and claim that God sent you,” Sharpton added.

Taken from the Los Angeles Times blog.
Couldn't have said it ANY better!

Bye-Bye 2008!

As a lesbian in California 2008 was very emotional. What stands out to me is what happened a month ago in November. The passing of proposition 8 has been something that affected me the most for the full year. I was demonstrating and I got involved, to the point of my mom catching me on the news. I don't have a girlfriend and I don't see myself getting married, but I would like to have that choice. The thing about Proposition 8 that didn't satisfy me was the Yes on 8's reason.




The main reason: RELIGIOUS. Many do not accept homosexuality, but because they do not personally believe in it, and they stand by the bible, they are willing to take a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT from a person, a right that they FREELY have. This is why I became passionate about this issue.

I found this, and it fits how the religious zealots are describing the "gay agenda" and the "homosexuals" after the passing of proposition 8:


For the first time in a long time, we are standing up and becoming visible, and that is how they feel we are coming off as. My main hope for 2009 is for everyone in the gay community to be able to hold their heads up high, with that said, proposition 8 needs to be overturned and that is what I strongly hope for. I am hoping that I will meet someone that will love me unconditionally and that I will love HER back the same and if that love is strong as I hope it will be, I will like to have that CHOICE with her. A discussion of MARRIAGE.

Much LOVE, LAUGHTER, and LIFE to everyone out there and especially to MY community!