behind the blue: prop 8 is dividing California
To the rest of the country we probably look like one big sea of blue out here on the far left, but California is far from unified. This isn’t the first divisive initiative to hit the ballots, but Proposition 8 is certainly the most insidious since I became a Californian. Even here in the Bay Area tensions are high. If you can stomach it, watch this cell phone footage of anti-gay marriage activists screaming their lungs out, and physical intimidating passers by. The feed cuts off when one of the anti-gay activists attacks the videographer. The footage was shot in my old neighborhood in Oakland.
I am in utter disbelief that with only a week until election day the polls are far too close to call. It is completely unclear how this is all going turn out. Will enough Obama voters come out on election day and remember to check NO to Support Marriage Equality (one poll showed that 70% of Obama supporters lean No) or will bigotry reign?
The silver lining around this dark cloud… Not unlike the Briggs Initiative in the 70s, Prop 8 is bringing people together. Friends of mine who have never volunteered for campaigns before are spending their nights phone banking, making youtube clips, sending emails to their family members and raising money. I have unfortunately had to step away from most of my usual election work due to grad school but I sleep a little bit better knowing that new energy has been mobilized.
I have also been inspired by the creative ways that individuals are using technology fight Prop 8. Affecting the political system is no longer just about walking precincts and fundraising, it is also includes leveraging the democratized media tools available online to let anyone get their message out.
How to help defeat Proposition 8:
>> Donate!
>> Call your friends and relatives. Or your friends’ relatives. Especially to explain that you have to vote NO to SUPPORT marriage equality.
>> Send a message to your contacts.
>> If you are local, volunteer on election day.
Finally, a few clips to inspire you and to pass along:
from BCC, a queer synagogue in LA (the first in the world)
from Adrian Molina, a story artist at Pixar
from Margaret Cho
from Robin Tyler, apparently for the women that watch Lifetime
and just for kicks… from Leo, even though it is too late to register…
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