framing the marriage amendment in California and volunteering this fall

In politics, queer, san francisco on 30 July 2008 with no comments

Check out the new language approved by Attorney General’s office to describe the upcoming November amendment to the California Constitution. For sure this is a linguistic victory, as voters will see the following description on their ballot:

Proposition 8
ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments.

It is much harder to vote for a. eliminating someone’s existing rights and b. loss of revenue. Congratulations to Equality for All and all the people working to stop 8.

Speaking of the campaign, there are lots of worthy causes to donate your time and money to this fall. From the national election, to the statewide marriage campaign, to some contested supervisor elections here in SF… there’s never been a better time to volunteer. You may think that this little activisty foggy city by the bay already has enough volunteers, but our city ranks 20th in percentage of volunteers as compared to other major US cities.

I’ll followup with a post in the next few days about good places to start donating your time (and if possible, your money.)

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