About tomorrow’s Prop 8 decision.

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

Whether tomorrow’s Prop 8 decision affects you directly or not, it’s likely to be a big moment for the LGBT movement, insofar as so many married and wanting-to-right-to-be-married couples are heavily invested in the outcome.  

I won’t waste words on the background of this issue since so much has been written already.  But if you value equality and want to be part of what happens next, I’ve put together a list of events and links that should be useful.

Leading the charge is the group behind D-Day (i.e. Day of Decision), which has events planned in some 90 cities in the United States and Canada:

These rallies are running from Texas to Idaho, from Michigan to Georgia.  And they need you.

Please come out tomorrow and lend your support to these rallies.  You don’t have to be gay or lesbian, you don’t have to have close friends or family who are: you just need to have a commitment to equality and a willingness to lend your voice to that call.  Don’t let us be overshadowed by a handful of people waving tea bags: let’s show the world what a real gathering over a real issue looks like.  Whether Protest or Celebration – we need your support.

For the Facebook-savvy, here’s their group page.

One of the larger California responses will be this coming Saturday, May 30th, in Fresno under the banner “Meet in the Middle for Equality.”  This will be an all-day event, beginning with an 8am march from Selma CA to Fresno, as “a symbolic sign of respect to the social movements before us.”  In the meantime the rally on the steps of Fresno’s City Hall will begin at 1pm, and includes an impressive roster of speakers.

In the meantime Soulfource, an activist group whose philosophy is nonviolent disobedience, is helping organize Nonviolence for Equality.  No one is taking anything for granted this time.  The Los Angeles-based Vote for Equality (VFE) is already planning canvassing events for later in the week, ready to drum up support for a new proposition if necessary.

And, regardless of whatever the perceived role he had in the debate, President Obama is likely to get an earful: largely because he’s speaking at a Beverly Hills fundraiser the day after the decision.  The Courage Campaign and its allies are doing their best to organize and frame the likely turnout as a positive protest: “Rally for LGBT Equality with President Obama“.  Among the speakers at this rally will be Lt. Dan Choi, who’s been much discussed at this site lately.  The focus of this rally will be much broader than marriage, but coming so close on the heels of the court decision will inevitably color the event.

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And if you think too much focus is being given to marriage at the expense of other LGBT issues:

Discussions to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell really are taking place in the Pentagon, regardless of a much-hyped recent interview.  While I agree with those who are getting impatient with the inertia of this process, it’s always better to channel the anger into a round of phone calls and letters, since we’ll need Congressional support to overturn this for good.  Drop by and give Servicemembers United some love, as well.

Hate Crimes legislation has a lot of support in Congress, but is running into issues about how best to proceed.  At this point there’s nothing we can do: the decision is a political/formal one over where to stick the final version of the bill.

The State Department is pushing benefits to same-sex partners serving overseas.  If that sounds like a narrow set of circumstances, it’s because they’re able to circumvent the restrictions of DOMA by offering certain benefits directly through the embassies.  These are not full benefits, nor are they available to other federal employees, but it’s a good baby step in the right direction.

For that, we’ll need the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), which has recently been introduced to both houses of Congress.  If you’re not already tired of those phone calls, this will be the next big legislative battle.  

On other issues, be sure to check out The Dallas Principles, a recent attempt by some 2 dozen activists, bloggers, etc. to articulate a broad but concise statement of principles for what should be the future of the larger LGBT movement.  

(cross posted at dkos.  the more people, the better)