How Will Obama's Support Play in MD?

In a column I wrote over 6 weeks ago, “Game Changer-in-Chief,” I indicated that there was at least a 50-50 chance the Obama would come out for marriage equality before the election and it could help in thwarting a referendum attempt by marriage equality opponents.

As we are now learning, Obama had already completed his evolution on marriage for same-sex couples months ago and was planning to make the announcement probably right before the Democratic Convention in September.  However, that decision to go public was accelerated by Vice President Biden’s declaration on Meet the Press that he is “absolutely comfortable” with marriage equality.

Although not on the schedule of his choice, the president made his historic announcement on May 9 (see front page story).  It was met with enormous enthusiasm from important components of the Democratic base: gays and lesbians, voters under 40, college educated, suburban women, Hollywood types, and yes, independents who lean towards marriage equality. 

Lacking the same level of enthusiasm this cycle that was evident in 2008, the revelation was the perfect catalyst to inject much needed fervor into the 2012 campaign.  Immediate tangible results followed: the president raised around $15 million at a Hollywood fundraiser hosted by George Clooney the next night.

It is unclear how the risks and rewards will eventually play out with the election less than six months away.  Some have speculated this announcement may cost Obama among working class voters in some battleground states.  I disagree. 

This election will be about the economy unless some international event changes the trajectory.  And Obama’s public support for marriage equality will continue to generate passion, which not only translates into dollars raised but also adds volunteers and “boots on the ground” to execute an already formidable ground plan.

How this news will play out in Maryland during the near-certain referendum battle in Maryland is also murky.   Polls don’t offer many clues as the voters in the Free State are virtually split on the question of marriage equality.  But with Obama being the first black president of the U.S., there is a unique dynamic to consider.

For the earlier column, I did receive some insight as a result of polling data from OpinionWorks.  African-Americans who comprise nearly 30 percent of the state’s population are more inclined to vote against marriage equality in a referendum.  And it is expected that with Obama on the ballot in November, higher than normal turnout among African-Americans is a slam-dunk.

The independent survey taken in mid-March reveals that in Baltimore City, the state’s most populous jurisdiction, voters oppose marriage equality 49 to 35 percent.  And among African-Americans statewide, those who oppose the law outweigh supporters by a margin of 48 to 29 percent.

Those are big deficits to overcome.  The Maryland Marriage Alliance who is partnering with the Maryland Catholic Conference has reached the halfway point in obtaining the requisite number of valid signatures to place the issue of marriage equality on the ballot in November.  Many African-American pastors are aligned with this organization and have used their churches to distribute petitions to volunteers and to conduct training.

Steve Raabe, President of OpinionWorks told me in late March that if President Obama were to publicly embrace marriage equality, it could influence those African-Americans who are “soft” on the issue.

“It is likely that people with the strongest feelings on this issue have already declared

themselves, so that the referendum battle will be waged over the small number in the middle who may be coming out to vote in the presidential race, but for whom this issue is not do or die,” Raabe explained.

Still, there needs to be a plan in place to target those “soft” voters within the African-American community.  Such a plan has not yet been publicly articulated to those who are seeking marriage equality.  A lack of outreach to African-American voters in California has been cited as one of the factors in the Proposition 8 debacle in 2008.  History must not be allowed to repeat itself in Maryland.  The persuadable “soft” voters should be targeted with a robust education campaign.

The Maryland Black Family Alliance (MBFA) met in late April with Josh Levin, the new campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, to discuss a strategy for reaching out to African-American voters, particularly in Baltimore.  Some who attended that meeting, however, voiced concerns that a clear plan has not yet been formulated. 

Levin did not respond to multiple requests to go on record to alleviate those concerns.

Nonetheless, Lea Gilmore, a founder of MBFA, who did not attend that particular meeting but participated in a follow-up meeting stated: “The MBFA is looking forward to working closely with referendum Campaign Manager Josh Levin and the marriage coalition. We will be an active, necessary and informative part of the campaign and have been assured no less. Maintaining and gaining more African-American support is crucial to a win. Of course, there have been missteps in the past, but we are looking forward and will work in partnership to ensure that our LGBT brothers and sisters retain the legal right to marry in Maryland.”

As the clock ticks down towards the election, a considerable amount of work remains.  What marriage equality advocates need to do is frame the issue as one of “equal rights,” not “civil rights,” The use of the latter term has been a key obstacle in winning over African-Americans. 

In addition, emphasis must be made that religious institutions are protected by the law.  Some are still suspicious that they will be forced to officiate same-sex unions.  And according to the above poll, those who attend church once a week—regardless of race—oppose same-sex marriage by 58 per cent to 28 percent.

President Obama’s announcement could provide cover to those who are not deeply religious and may now find a reason to vote against the referendum. A fresh, new independent poll will offer us more insight into the prospects, but a strategy that is shared with the LGBT community must be in place and soon.

We Take Pride in Our Allies

By Steve Charing

Our front page feature interview of straight collegiate athlete Hudson Taylor was intended to highlight the importance of having straight allies on our side in the quest for equality. As we celebrate Pride and reflect upon why as members of the LGBTcommunity we should be proud, one of the major reasons is the fact we have many straight friends and allies aiding our cause.

The inconvenient truth is that if we try to go it alone, we will get nowhere. Simply put, the LGBT community by itself does not have the numbers to affect the outcome of policy decision-making or alter elections. With estimates that indicate we comprise anywhere from 2 to 10 percent of the U.S. population, it is clear the math isn't there.

For us to succeed in the myriad unresolved LGBT-related issues, we must attract straight allies to bolster our numbers to influence lawmakers at all levels. Aside from Hudson Taylor who has stuck his neck out to publicly support LGBT rights and advocated for the end of homophobia in sports at the expense of losing some friendships along the way, there are many other straight folks who have also courageously taken a strong stand for equality and continue to do so.

Representative Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, an Iraq war veteran, spearheaded the efforts in the House of Representatives to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Being straight and a combat veteran, Mr. Murphy possesses the credibility to persuade his colleagues that the policy as it exists is discriminatory and has hurt national security.

Closer to home, Maryland's Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has been another true advocate for LGBT equality. In February he issued an opinion against vitriolic opposition from conservatives that allowed Maryland to recognize valid same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

The law and precedent were on his side, and Mr. Gansler could have left it at that and continued to carry out his duties. Rather, Mr. Gansler demonstrated the political courage so sorely needed by elected officials—especially Democrats—to not only be on the right side of fairness and equality but to go out and fight for it. Mr. Gansler has not just talked equality, he is trying to do something to achieve it, and he does it in a public way.

Since the opinion was issued, Mr. Gansler spoke before a number of LGBT political groups and religious and civic organizations encouraging those in attendance to keep up the fight for marriage equality. Considered a likely candidate for Governor in 2014, some pundits have speculated that Mr. Gansler is taking a huge political risk in championing this issue. Undaunted, he believes it's the right thing to do. And he could be encouraged by the fact that the recent Washington Post poll indicated that more Marylanders, by a narrow margin, support same-sex marriage than oppose it.

We expect the margin to widen by 2014 as young voters who tend to regard marriage equality as a no-brainer enter the voting pool and replace the older conservative voters. Having an increasing number of Gay-Straight Alliances in schools across the country is a major contributor towards this goal as does the GLSEN-led National Day of Silence that brings awareness to the need for safe schools and other LGBT issues.

The efforts in Maryland have also been bolstered by the Maryland Black Family Alliance—a civil rights advocacy organization consisting of mainly straight African-American individuals. This group has been highly visible and outspoken in their beliefs that marriage equality is indeed a civil right and condemns those preachers who cherry pick biblical passages to oppose LGBT equality.

Then you have the good folks in PFLAG—Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Although the organization is not just for parents anymore as more and more lgbt people have hopped on board, it is the first group of straight allies to help our cause when it began in 1972. Now there are over 500 chapters in the U.S. What better ally could one hope for other than a parent of an LGBT child?

Furthermore, PFLAG has a program called Straight for Equality, which is a national outreach and education project that empowers straight allies in supporting and advocating on behalf of LGBT people. PFLAG offers the tools and strategies needed to attract more straight allies to the cause.

Added to the mix is the growing number of people in the entertainment industry who are coming out for LGBT rights. The battle over Proposition 8 in California served as a catalyst for this activism, and it hasn't waned. From the world of movies, television and music we are seeing more personalities unabashedly supporting our cause. Allies such as MSNBC's Keith Olbermann have been invaluable in the struggle to repeal DADT and advance other LGBT issues.

And let's not forget the number one ally-in-chief, President Barack Obama. While many activists have criticized him, and I believe unfairly, for not acting swiftly enough on lgbt initiatives, he has proven to be the first and only President who has not only talked the talk but in several significant instances, walked the walk. Read his Proclamation of LGBT Pride Month for a summary of the key actions the President has taken on our behalf.

We can increase our efforts to attract allies by having more LGBT folks coming out when feasible. When family members, co-workers, employers, friends and neighbors know that someone is lgbt, the odds are they will want to help secure rights for that individual. Almost immediately one can increase support exponentially just by coming out.

And education on important LGBT issues by political, religious and social justice groups is needed to garner further support in the straight community.

The wind is at our backs now. We are gaining momentum during this slow-moving battle to achieve full equality. And with more allies to give our movement a crucial boost, we will get there.

As we celebrate Pride, we should not only be proud of ourselves but also those wonderful allies, elected officials or not, who are helping us big time.

www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com.