Could I say something on behalf of the gay democrats?

[Dark]

And anyone else covered by what's become an alphabet soup of an acronym?

(BTW, that includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender individuals, those who are questioning, asexuals, and others.)

I don't want to spoil the reveling. Heck, even I can't believe it still.

But, for us, it was a bittersweet election day.

California, a state long known for its tolerance and liberalism, voted against equal marriage rights.

So did another (now) blue state.

We still elected a president who opposes gay marriage rights.

Many Democrats we elected don't even support civil unions.

And antigay marriage amendments still sit on many state constitutions.

The Democratic Party still won't endorse gay marriage or even civil unions.

African=Americans, who only 40 years ago suffered from severe amounts of discrimination, including anti-mysogination laws, helped usher in these laws.

We still can't file joint taxes as spouses.

We still can't enjoy equal recognition under the law.

We still can't visit dying lovers in hospitals.

Even in California.

For us, Tuesday was both a victory ... and a defeat.

Please remember that.

[complain jane]

1. Thanks for this.

Very well said.

[Dark]

3. Thanks. I'm still giddy about Obama, but there's plenty of work for progressives.

nt/

[silverojo]

2. Never give up hope

America is always moving forward. No revolution comes about quickly. People have just now accepted a black man as Presidential material. People will eventually get over their homophobia, as well.

In the meantime, if you need to visit a lover in the hospital, do what the RW'ers do: FUCKING LIE. Say you're the brother (or sister) of the patient, and visit them till they're sick of the sight of you. :)

Laws will be overturned, state Constitutions amended, when people are willing to accept homosexuality. Think of all the AA's who fought and died for their civil rights, and only now is there an AA President.

Same-sex marriage will happen. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but it WILL happen.

"Keep hope alive."

[Dark]

4. I have hope, but liberals need to realize that we lost some battles yesterday too,

and it's going to affect our friends and family, sooner or later.

[political_Dem]

5. Whites, Latinos and Asians also voted for Prop 8. What's your point?

Stop scape-goating black people. We've had two threads earlier in which there were a countless number of people who unleashed their hatred and racism of Black people for three hundred posts or more. I'm sick of it.

Everyone who voted for Prop 8 had a hand in this. Not just Black people.

In fact, there were a lot of Black people who didn't vote for these propositions. How do you think they feel when you and other people demean their community so that you can invite more vitriol into the picture? Or do you like pissing on their support of the cause regarding equal marriage rights and benefits for all? Because every time you scape goat Black people, that is exactly what you are doing. You are pushing us away from helping you.

Did you forget that there were some Black people marching in those "NO on 8" rallies too?

Please focus on the efforts to reach across the communities so that there is more understanding. That is more helpful than inviting hate against Black people. A lot more could be learned from having members educate groups of color instead of shunning them. And if it fails, try again.

If there were more educational threads on all the issues of Prop 8, it would be quite helpful instead of making people mad at one another.

[Eryemil]

7. Both whites and asians voted against...

Hispanics, my demographic voted slightly in favor.

I would be ashamed if 70% of gay voters supported a proposition to bring back anti-miscegenation laws. Hell, I am ashamed that ANYONE in my community would hold such ideas.
It is indefensible that any Democrat would vote like that and had it been whites Democrats the outrage would be monumental.

Had blacks voted on par with with other demographics this proposition would NOT have passed.

I think you're better off focusing your energy on acknowledging that there IS a problem and finding ways to fix it instead of trying to ignore reality.

[political_Dem]

8. I voted against this. My family and friends voted against this.

I'm Black.

The poll numbers are done. I'm sorry you didn't get more support from the African-American community. We need to increase those numbers toward positive support.

As a result, I'd rather focus on solutions.

There is a problem on both sides. Like many others had said on the other threads, there are gays who are racist. There are blacks who are homophobic. But I haven't heard any suggestions from anyone how this might be abridged. So, how would you reach out to a Black person to make them care about this issue without demonizing them?

[No Elephants]

6. I am as pro-gay rights as I can be. There have been a number of threads like this, though, with no

action items in them. So, we remember. But, what's next?

This is what I think should be next. Our GLBT friends and posters need to get together and discuss what to do, not wait for the next election. Once you agree, tell us. I hope the action plan includes one or more organizations that you know to be honest and effective. Then, ask the mods if they can put up a donation thread here or in the GLBT forum so we can raise money to donate to that organization.

Are you game to take action? I am.