Posts Tagged As: Gavin Newsom

2010 or 2012: The California Debate Continues

Jim Burroway

August 13th, 2009

Equality California may have settled on 2012 as the right time to try to repeal Prop 8, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s on board:

John Henning, who heads Love Honor Cherish, an LA-based volunteer organization which helped raised $500,000 last year for efforts to defeat Prop.8 — the ballot measure approved by voters in November which outlawed same sex marriage — says that some 50 activist organizations are already part of a growing coalition signed up for the 2010 effort.

Henning, speaking to the Chronicle today, said there is profound anger and disappointment with the decision of EQCA to hold off a Prop. 8 challenge for the 2012 general election.

On the other hand, San Francisco Gavin Newsom, noting the divisions in the LGBT community over the timing of a Prop 8 challenge, says he’s not convinced such an effort can be successful next year:

With the landmark state initiative outlawing same sex marriage approved by state voters in November 2008 and reinforced by a decision of the state Supreme Court, “it’s a different campaign,” he said. “We can’t rely on the courts..we can’t rely on the legislature, or the executive branch.”

“And so, now, the rights of a protected class of citizens are in the hands of the people,” he said. “And that means it’s a political endeavor. Which it should never, ever be. But it is: those are the cards that have been dealt since Prop. 8 passed.”

“So as much as I’d like to see it happen next year, I’m not convinced that it will,” he said.

As we debate whether Californians should push for 2010 or 2012, let’s keep one thing in mind: Remember Maine in 2009!

    

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