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Tl1ere’s never been a time of greater prom-
ise and greater peril for our community.
In just a few short weeks, the confluence
of marriage in Canada, the Lawrence decision,
and the expected marriage ruling from the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has dra-
matically altered the national and intra-commu-
nity debate about our lives, our families, and
our legal rights.

On the one hand, depending on what
Massachusetts does, lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people could be married right here
in the good ole USA within weeks, just like
what happened after the pro-gay marriage deci-
sion in Ontario in May. On the other hand,
images of our couples getting hitched in
Boston will undoubtedly provoke a backlash
the likes of which we have never seen. No
doubt, Congress will feel extraordinary pres-
sure to again “defend marriage.” And they have
lots of options to inflict harm — anything from
denying federal funds to any state that recog-
nizes our marriages or anything close to it, like
Civil Unions, to approving a constitutional
amendment to cement our second-class citizen-
ship for decades to come.

Within our community, many see this

equal rights under the law. Others see it as the
antithesis of liberation, the epitome of assimila-
tion, and forever short circuiting the progress
we have made in winning new forms of legal
recognition and protections for families that
don’t come with all the negative baggage of
marriage. And still others are ambivalent,
downright confused, or both. Where does all of
this leave us?

First and foremost, let’s admit the

extraordinary pefil we face. G_a_y_r_igl1_£$an4 «V “-
_.r....;.,..-nuvc~arways’ been the new rrght’s top

opening for marriage as the shining pathway to '

Promise and Peril

whipping boys. Every small step we’ve won
has not only been excoriated as another mortal
blow to “Judeo-Christian values” but also
served as an extraordinarily potent fundraising
and organizing tool. Since Lawrence, the right
has gone into overdrive. “The sacrament of
marriage cannot be defiled! Armageddon is at
hand!”

Make no mistake, this backlash
won’t be just about “gay marriage.” It will be
about defarning and demonizing us in every
hideous way possible and rolling back the lim-
ited rights we’ve won in some parts of the
country. '

If Massachusetts goes for marriage
(or if New Jersey does in a couple of years),
the right will demand that Congress send to the
states for ratification a constitutional amend-
ment restricting marriage to “one man and one
woman.” (Beware: this amendment is read by
most legal experts to not only outlaw the
recognition of “gay” marriage, but anything
that comes close to it, like civil unions or the
comprehensive domestic partnership bill mov-
ing forward in California.) At the moment, it
looks like our side has the Senate votes — 34 —
to block it. But in the 37 states with DOMAS
and in Congress in 1996, we’ve seen our
“friends” repeatedly run for cover when the
“M” word is trotted out.

Imagine the impact if we have to
fight the amendment state-by-state. Progress on
everything else will grind to a halt as our com-
munity’s scarce financial and people resources
are sucked dry in ugly, expensive and purely
defensive battles.

Pundits may be right that the Bushies

do not want this to be an issue in the 2004M_~,_, EX_€.(1.lIL\le_I:LireetAx.. .- -.—.—— —

»_....... »Mu7uc1u,- uur. II Massachusetts‘ breaks
our way, they won’t have a choice. The right

 
   

will raise this as a do or die issue, and if you
think this administration will choose us over

them, I have a nice bridge to sell you.
Moreover, Karl Rove won’t hesitate to deploy
this issue to make sure the right turns out in
droves for Bush if there’s continued slippage in

the presider.t’s approval ratings.

What can we do?

First and foremost, everyone in the
community no matter where he or she is on
marriage — for, against, don’t know or don’t
care — must unite to fight the backlash. If we

do not, we will lose. Period.

Second, because we cannot win this
by ourselves, each of us must speak openly and
directly to our families, friends, neighbors and
co-workers. As the national atmosphere
becomes poisoned with endless lies, defama-
tions and distortions, each of us needs to say to
those in our lives, “They are talking about me
and I need you to take a stand for me.”

Third, we must demand that politi-
cians — whom we have supported for so long
and from whom we have received so little —
also stand up for us. No deals. Democrats, in
particular, need to be told quite clearly, “If you
let us down now, at this critical time, that’s it.
No deals. No excuses.”

And finally, every national LGBT
organization must set aside its own turf issues,
rivalries and addiction to media coverage and

dedicate itself and its resources to a collective ' _

campaign to turn back the bigots.
Folks, this is the big one. Together,
we can win.

Matt Foreman,

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Fond Farewell!

the task of keeping things civil online.

Euan Bear. Editor

Mountain Pride Media and Out in the Mountains sadly bid farewell to Tania Kupczak, our first ever Operations
Manager. She took a hundred different tasks and responsibilities and melded them into one streamlined job. She
leaves a much better organized office behind as she sets off for new adventures in the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully,
she’s taking with her as a volunteer the job of webgoddess, posting our current issues to our web site.

Likewise, we’re losing the services of long time volunteer Calendar and Classifieds editor Sandy Fleeks, due to a move
out of state. She has been organized, reliable, and creative in improvising solutions to balky software challenges, earn-
ing our Volunteer of the Year award for 2001.
And Tina Giangrande, our longtime listserve manager, has also turned over the reins after years of volunteer service.
Thankfully she's still available for occasional consultations as our new listserve manager. Dustin Trotter, has taken on

Thanks to all three of you — you’ll be sorely missed! Best wishes from all of us at MPM/O|TM!

__a
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