Now what?
We must harness the energy of the Prop 8 demonstrators
PETER ROSENSTEIN
Friday, December 05, 2008
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/12-5/view/editorial/13691.cfm (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/12-5/view/editorial/13691.cfm)
THOUSANDS MARCH ACROSS the nation to protest the passage of Proposition 8," screamed the headlines. Five thousand protesters in D.C., 10,000 in Los Angeles, thousands in Boston and San Francisco and smaller but still passionate protests in Grand Forks and Fargo.
The question now: How do we harness this amazing energy to build for the future? If we can generate this kind of reaction to a defeat, how do we generate it in the future to ensure victory?
If we are to make progress on marriage equality, an inclusive ENDA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, it will be because we generate the kind of energy around the nation that was created by this loss. We need to reach members of Congress where they live and generate the support for our issues in communities large and small across the nation. We need to enlist the many in the faith community who are on our side, and the moderate Republicans who are on our side, along with black and Latino leaders who stand with us.