Lambda Legal Joins "Repeal Prop 8 in 2012" Chorus

Lambda Legal has issued a statement calling "for more education and time" in order to restore marriage equality in California, says that bring the measure to a vote in 2012 would be "the strongest strategy."

From the press release

Lambda Legal Calls for More Education and Time to Restore Marriage Equality in California "While we're within striking distance, we're not there yet."

Los Angeles, November 30, 2009 - Lambda Legal today called for more
outreach, education, research and time to change hearts and minds before
returning to the ballot to reopen marriage to gay and lesbian couples in
California. At least one initiative to restore marriage equality for
same-sex couples is currently circulating that, if it qualifies, would
appear on the November, 2010 ballot, but Lambda Legal believes that putting
this measure to a vote in 2012 is the strongest strategy.

The Courage Campaign, in partnership with Lambda Legal and other leading
groups, has recently concluded the first phase of extensive and
groundbreaking research about public beliefs about marriage and gay people.
It confirms that attitudes are shifting steadily toward equal treatment of
same-sex couples, and that conversations among family members and other
close relationships inevitably speed the process.

"Over the past year since Prop 8's passage, we've expanded our community
education in California and have seen the remarkable national progress
exert a positive influence here," said Jennifer C. Pizer, Marriage Project
Director for Lambda Legal. "We've seen our many community groups
collaborating as never before. With the great field operations of the
Courage Campaign, Vote for Equality, Equality California and countless new
activists and allies across the state, the next two years hold great
promise. This work complements the efforts within California's racial and
ethnic minority communities and within the state's diverse communities of
faith. There has never been any doubt that the LGBT community and our
friends and allies will restore marriage equality in California – the only
question has been when. We now believe it's November 2012."

The recently concluded research validated the lasting effect of the work
already being done in the successful Camp Courage program and by Courage
Equality Teams organizing across the state. These grassroots efforts are
building support for marriage equality by training Californians to tap into
their community's resources to start a conversation and connect the
movement for equality to their own lives and their own experiences. This
outreach has surged ahead, fueled by the passion and determination of
countless new activists who have committed to this cause within the past
year.

"We're so close," said Pizer. "Each year, each month, public understanding
shifts a bit more in our direction. As crushing as it was to lose in Maine
this year and in California in 2008, support is building strongly in our
favor: in 2000, Proposition 22 won with 61 percent of the vote;
Proposition 8 passed by a meager margin of only four points. It's
insulting to have to wait and work to regain a core human right that should
never have been taken. As legal advocates, we know minorities should never have to beg the majority for equal rights. Given the decision by the California Supreme Court earlier this year, that's our only path. It's essential that we choose wisely when to return to the ballot – while we're within striking distance, we believe we're not there yet."

It's interesting that Lambda would release their statement now, after the 2010 absolutists are circulating petitions in a vain attempt (in multiple senses of the word!) to collect the 800K-1100K signatures necessary to qualify a Proposition 8 repeal for the statewide general election ballot next year. It seems Lambda may have been influenced by Courage Campaign also finally revealing their "neutral" stance on 2010, a change from the Rick Jacobs-led organization's previously announced gung-ho position in favor of rushing to the ballot next November. MadProfessah posted the news from Facebook posts ove rthe break, but today the Courage Campaign released a press release making it official that they no longer support a 2010 repeal effort.

“For months, we have laid out the criteria for moving forward. Like the Obama Campaign, we understand that we need a combination of powerful and clear research that informs an expertly run campaign, an unstoppable movement that harnesses the new energy we have seen since the passage of Prop. 8 and the connections through personal stories and outreach in order to win at the ballot box,” said Rick Jacobs, the Courage Campaign founder and Chair. “We are taking the lessons learned from last year’s Prop. 8 campaign, the campaigns in Maine and other states to understand the fundamental work that must be done before moving forward in California. We also must come together as a community to create a broad coalition and governance structure, put in place a strong manager and secure the resources to win. Right now, the pieces are not all in place to do so confidently.

To Lambda I say (as I did to Courage Campaign earlier), welcome to the Prepare to Prevail team! Now, let's work together to restore marriage equality in California.