No Prop 8 Repeal on the 2010 Ballot

This is not a shock for some of us in Cali-Cal, however, the efforts to put a Prop 8 repeal on the 2010 ballot is dead. Here's the news from a press release I got today:

Love Honor Cherish, which spearheaded an effort to place an initiative on the November 2010 ballot to repeal Proposition 8 and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, announced today that the proponents did not gather the 694,354 signatures necessary to place the proposed initiative on the ballot. The group vowed to work toward the repeal of Prop 8 at the next general election in November 2012.

"This is a heartbreaking moment," said John Henning, Executive Director of Love Honor Cherish. "Despite the dogged efforts of hundreds of volunteers across California, we did not get the signatures we needed within the 150-day window set by the state."

Now, to be real, many of us knew 2010 wasn't the best time. 2012 will a far better date to assess the work and fundraising needed to make this happen. I believe that 2012 is the best time. We need to reach out all over Cali and strengthen connections our allies, as well as, gain new folks on our side.

It will take an unified front to guarantee equality.

More here

No on 8 Campaign and Me

I am so happy to be a part of this campaign. It was fun and exciting. Kudos to Adam Bouska and the No On 8 Campaign.

The Secret is Out: Here are the Executive Committee of the No on Prop 8 campaign

Queerty has reported that the somewhat secret list of the 'No' Executive Committee is now public.

It didn't take too much Nancy Drewing to get this info. Michael Petrelis, a known activist filed for access to the public records and just like that, he got the names of the committee.

So if you want to know, here they are:

• Geoff Kors, executive director, Equality California;
• Lorri Jean, chief executive officer, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center;
• Kate Kendell, executive director, National Center for Lesbian Rights;
• Michael Fleming, executive director, David Bohnett Foundation;
• Marty Rouse, national field director, Human Rights Campaign;
• Heather Carrigan, ACLU of Southern California;
• Oscar De La O, Beinestar Human Services in Los Angeles;
• Sue Dunlop, Los Angeles;
• Maya Harris, ACLU of Northern California;
• Don Howes, Los Angeles;
• Dennis Herrera, City Attorney of San Francisco;
• Dr. Delores Jacobs, chief executive officer, San Diego LGBT Community Center;
• Joyce Newstadt, San Francisco;
• Tawal Panyacosit, director, Asian and Pacific Islander Equality in San Francisco;
• Rashid Robinson, Los Angeles;
• Kevin Tilden, communications/political consultant, San Diego;
• Steve Mele, founder of ML Associates in West Hollywood.

My question is why are there so many folks on the Executive Committee. When I think of executive I think of exclusive, the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, or just 4-6 people on a board.

There are none, if any, grassroots folks on here. It almost looks like the popular kids in school were in charge. However, we should work with them and try to figure out what really wrong. I'm sure we can get something done at the Equality Summit this Saturday.