Prop 8 repeal ballot measure filed

[Pint0 Xtreme]

LA Times

Campaign to overturn Prop. 8 and legalize gay marriage begins today with ballot filing

Despite concerns from some gay-rights activists that it's too early to revisit the issue, one group today pushed forward with plans for a 2010 ballot measure that would repeal Prop. 8 and allow gay marriage in California.

The group Love Honor Cherish filed ballot language with the state today for a measure to overturn the ban on gay marriage in the state. That is the first step in getting the question on the ballot.

According to the group, if the state approves the language, they will begin the process of collecting the estimated 1 million signatures needed to get on the November 2010 ballot.

Last month, Leaders of Equality California, one of the state’s largest gay rights groups, announced it will wait until 2012 to push for an amendment to the California Constitution to permit same-sex marriage.

They have said they worry about raising the millions of dollars necessary in the current tough economic climate and also that it will take longer than two years to convince enough voters.

But Love Honor Cherish said now is the time to move.

"Starting today, there is new hope for committed gay and lesbian couples who want to get married,” said John Henning, executive director of Love Honor Cherish, said in a statement. “We’re back on the path toward full equality.”

Voters in November approved Proposition 8, banning gay marriage in the state, and the California Supreme Court later upheld the measure.

For this initiative to qualify for the ballot in November 2010 election, supporters will have to collect approximately 1.2 million signatures.

[Knife]

I wish them luck and support their cause, but I'm a bit worried the other group is right.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

In my own opinion, what will make or break the 2010 campaign will be determined by the amount of energy the activist community has. A 2010 ballot measure is winnable... if we put out the countless hours of a massive volunteer force. I think the signature gathering process will be a good measure of whether or not we have the enthusiasm.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

For this initiative to qualify for the ballot in November 2010 election, supporters will have to collect approximately 1.2 million signatures.

Is there a list of locations where we can go and sign? I know dozens of people who'd love to sign this or any other petition for marriage equality.

Are there any sites that list what we can do in Orange County or how we can help? We don't really have a lot of money to give, but we could protest in front of a temple (or recreation building, whatever they're called) or make a few calls from a designated calling center.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

For this initiative to qualify for the ballot in November 2010 election, supporters will have to collect approximately 1.2 million signatures.

Is there a list of locations where we can go and sign? I know dozens of people who'd love to sign this or any other petition for marriage equality.

Are there any sites that list what we can do in Orange County or how we can help? We don't really have a lot of money to give, but we could protest in front of a temple (or recreation building, whatever they're called) or make a few calls from a designated calling center.

Hey Bob, there isn't a petition to sign yet. The way the process works is after you submit ballot language, the state will take ~6 weeks to conduct a fiscal analysis of the proposition before handing it back. Once the initiative is handed back with the petition form, then we can begin collecting signatures. So we won't see any signature collecting until sometime in November.

That said, we're currently in the midst of establishing a statewide campaign structure to facilitate signature gathering as well as coalition building. The structure is designed to facilitate communication flow from the bottom to the top of the chain (and vice versa) with the intent of making the campaign as democratic as possible without sacrificing the need to make fast decisions. The structure breaks down into 10 regions in California. The entire Orange County is one of those regions.

Unfortunately, the people heading the Orange County effort have not elected their regional representatives yet, which they will be doing this weekend at their regional town hall meeting if I'm not mistaken. Once they've done that, they can start doing the work of establishing signature gathering HUBs in the region and start planning signature gathering training.

As far as helping goes, if you and your friends can sign the petition when we start collecting signatures, that would be fabulous! But if you're looking to help some more, what we need are volunteers who are willing to collect signatures. There will no question that there will be more than enough voters out there to qualify the petition but the real question is whether or not we have enough volunteers to collect those signatures. Donations are also cool but volunteering is even better if you have little to give. (For better or for worse, we're not as hardcore as Equality California are when it comes to pushing for money- *ahem*, I mean fundraising).

The statewide website that was just launched a couple weeks ago is http://www.restoreequality2010.com/.
And the Orange County section is http://www.restoreequality2010.com/regi ... -region-5/

As you can tell, there isn't much since they (Orange County activists) haven't even held their town hall meeting to elect their representatives. But the e-mail of the coordinator (Laura Kanter) of the Orange County's town hall is on there. You should send her a message and I'm sure she can fill you in on what's happening in the OC more than I probably can.

[Master of Ossus]

I just hope that Gavin Newsome shuts the fuck up and stays the heck out of it. That worthless scum-sucker is the reason Prop 8 passed in the first place.

[Loner]

I just hope that Gavin Newsome shuts the fuck up and stays the heck out of it. That worthless scum-sucker is the reason Prop 8 passed in the first place.

This. I'm sure that smug bastard cost a lot of votes last year.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

I just hope that Gavin Newsome shuts the fuck up and stays the heck out of it. That worthless scum-sucker is the reason Prop 8 passed in the first place.

There were a plethora of reasons why Prop 8 passed. The No On 8 campaign was infuriatingly incompetent in so many aspects including what you would consider essential campaign practices such as coalition building and utilizing the grassroots. Instead, the leadership of traditional LGBT rights groups (EQCA, LA Gay&Lesbian Center, LGBT Task Force etc.) who comprised of the No On 8 campaign directors not only failed to mobilize the base but also ran strict top-down campaign that ended up being completely reactive to the Yes On 8's moves. Grassroots groups were told to do what they said and to just donate money. And communities of racial minorities were largely ignored.

Gavin Newsom was just one of the many things that costed us our civil rights on November 5th. If it's any consolation, Gavin Newsom has expressed a great deal more humility in the wake of Prop 8 passing. But if he's running for Governor, we will want him to endorse our side since the top-of-the-ticket endorsement will always matter regardless of election year.