After the disastrous No on 8 campaign (which Robin Tyler and I talked about), I’m really glad to see cool new grassroots sites like this one launched by my buddy Rick Garman.

Here’s a little background about this important site and how you can help:

How did you come up with the idea for Citizens for Equality and the “We Are” Campaign?

RICK: I actually came up with the idea of an elected body of representatives for the gay community a long time ago when I got frustrated with what I saw as a lack of true leadership and leaders. But it was what I believe was a disorganized and poorly run campaign against Proposition 8 (along with my questions about whether gay marriage is the actual battle we should be putting all of our resources and energy behind) that made me finally do something about it.

The “We Are” campaign became the launching pad for Citizens For Equality as a way to get people involved and engaged.  I got that idea from the sorryeverybody.com website where people sent in pictures of themselves with sign apologizing to the works for the 2004 election of George bush.

I love that all the images use the words, “We Are” — why did you choose that language?

I wanted “We Are” for it’s positivity.  To show the world that we are just like everyone else.  We are doctors and lawyers, mothers and fathers, husbands, wives, strong, weak, young, old, worried about the economy, worried about the environment, bowlers, card players, Christian, Jewish… We are human and if people can see that, they may be a little less inclined to do things like vote yes on Prop 8.  Imagine hundreds, thousands…. More… of those photos saying We Are… What a statement that will make!

What are you asking folks to do?

People can get involved in a variety of ways.  They can send in a picture through the website and encourage others to do the same.  All of the instructions and guidelines plus a bunch of suggestions are on the site.  And remember, our straight friends can participate too. People can also join the organization by filling out a simple form.

We are also actively seeking people to be on the steering committee that will set up the elections for (hopefully) late 2009 and people will be able to register and vote for their representatives and on other issues.  We’ll be seeking candidates and advisors also of course.  But the best way to stay informed is to join on the website.

The Courage Campaign wants to send a message to Ken Starr and the people who want the California Supreme Court to forcibly divorce more than 18,000 couples who married in the state. Do you know anyone who may have their marriage nullified? Or would you just like to express your support for those couples who may be forcibly divorced?

Please take a picture with a plain 8.5″ by 11″ piece of paper that sends a special message, like: “Please don’t divorce us,” “Please don’t divorce my mothers,” “Please don’t divorce my friends, Name and Name,” or “Please don’t divorce Californians.” Print it out, or write it clearly in big, block letters. Then email your pictures to: PleaseDontDivorce@CourageCampaign.org

The past few days since Proposition 8 was passed have been remarkable. What’s surprised me most are the number of women I know who are pretty united in their anger and sadness over the passage of the anti-marriage amendment to the California state constitution.

Ying, in Utah, writes:

“Even from this wacko state that I live in, there are many that are opposed to “8″ and just this last weekend, LDS Mothers Against 8 rallied in SLC.”

Last night, a text from my friend Alexis:

“RU coming 2 the rally? We have 2 show them that they can’t take away our rights.”

My mom writes:

“I can’t even imagine the hurt you and Bronson must be feeling today after California citizens voted to pass Prop 8. You and Bronson are in [our] thoughts and prayers.  We pray that together we will seek to find a peace that brings us to open a dialogue respectful of one another’s values.”

(more…)

“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

As the election returns were pouring in, one of my friends from college asked me last night what I thought about the anti-marriage amendment passing here in California and “what this means” for us.

We may have lost the battle, but we’ve won the greater war by electing Barack Obama president.

I know that California Attorney General Jerry Brown has said that our unions will stand, but in reality, the passage of Proposition 8 likely means that the California Supreme Court will eventually have to decide on the fate of the 18,000+ couples who wed while they had the right to marry. I’ve also heard there’s a possibility that the state high court could repeal the amendment as incongruous with the “equality clause” in the California constitution.

The bigger picture here is that we now have a president-elect who believes in change, and holds that “equality is a moral imperative” for gays and lesbians saying: “I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.”  Obama supports both the Matthew Shepard Act and Employment Non Discrimination Act, indicating he will sign them both into law. He advocates the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because “federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.”  Most importantly, Obama will appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will stand for human rights. (more…)