A SF Gray Panther responds to Proposition 8.

We chant “Separate is not Equal”. Let us not separate ourselves, or our hopes for equality from other’s need for equality.

We always feel proud standing as LGBTQ community in protest or celebration and in our determination.  In our actions to defeat Prop 8, we can continue in the spirit of Harvey Milk, and see ourselves as part of and partners with our larger community.  When the UFW initiated a boycott on grapes, the gay community joined their cause. And when we were threatened with the Briggs initiative, they supported our fight to save jobs of gay and lesbian teachers.

Rather than placing Gay marriage at the top of our agenda, and then seeking support from others, we can reach out and enter into open dialog with people in other communities. The marriage focus may have seemed disconnected to these larger issues.  What are issues in other communities and how can we support them?

Where is our common ground? If we can bring our community into the streets against Prop8, we can include demands to stop draconian budget cuts. Budget cuts to student loans; we are students; cuts to medical services; we are families of seniors, people with disabilities, and children? Many LGBTQ while dealing with day-to-day oppression are deeply engaged in coalition work with our allies striving to save our social safety nets, and preserve basic rights.

We chant “Separate is not Equal”. Let us not separate ourselves, or our hopes for equality from other’s need for equality. We can create coalitions and mount a campaign insuring jobs, medical benefits, social security and pensions as guaranteed rights to every individual.

See Keith Olbermann on Proposition 8 and Civil Rights and Racism