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Election 2008
CALIFORNIA Prop 8: Anti-gay constitutional revision would eliminate right of same–sex couples to marry
Anti-gay constitutional revision PASSED
FLORIDA Amendment 2: Anti-gay constitutional amendment would write marriage discrimination into the state constitution
Anti-gay constitutional amendment PASSED
ARIZONA Prop 102: Anti-gay constitutional amendment would write marriage discrimination into the state constitution
Anti-gay constitutional amendment PASSED
CONNECTICUT Question 1: Call a constitutional convention to amend the state constitution (threatening to eliminate marriage for same-sex couples)
Anti-gay constitutional question DEFEATED
ARKANSAS Act 1: Anti-gay measure would bar unmarried couples from fostering or adopting children
Anti-gay measure PASSED
Watch the many videos about Election 2008.
For information on past elections, visit Election 2006 and Election 2004.
Use the key resources below to learn more about how election 2008 is an important time to talk about fairness and equality for all.
FROM EVAN WOLFSON:
A Tearful Republican Mayor Comes Out — For the Freedom to Marry
Complete with video, Evan Wolfson highlights an emotional press conference by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican former police chief, at which he announced his intention to sign a resolution supporting the freedom to marry, a reversal from his prior public opposition. Mayor Sanders said his change of heart and mind was due to soul-searching and personal conversations with gay people he knows, including his lesbian daughter, showing how powerful it is to make the conversation about real people, not just legalisms or hypotheticals. He also described how he has come to understand that his prior support for civil union, rather than marriage, was inadequate and wrong. San Diego now joins the other major California cities in calling on the Governor and State Supreme Court to follow the legislature's lead in embracing marriage equality.
Why the Dems should NOT shut up about gays and marriage
Evan Wolfson responds to August 16, 2007's piece in The New Republic, explaining that, "As public support for marriage equality continues to evolve, Democrats, thus already perceived as the party of 'gay marriage,' have a winning issue on their hands, one that evokes the best traditions of their party—fairness and inclusion. The conversation will not stop. Candidates who want to move on to other questions ought to get the freedom to marry question right—for their sake as well as the country's."
Evan Wolfson: Marriage equality and the Presidential election
David Mixner interviews Evan Wolfson on how to answer questions regarding why candidates should stand for, and be pressed on, the freedom to marry. Says Wolfson, "This election will not be decided on gays or marriage (and nor was the election of 2004). But how candidates deal with important questions such as equality, protections for all, standing up to discrimination, and the values of marriage (love, commitment, fairness, freedom) can be symptomatic of how they address dispositive questions and win over or alienate voters... They all have a chance to get this right — and we all have the chance now to help them."
Candidates' Guide on How to Support Marriage Equality and Get Elected (pdf)
The Candidates' Guide presents why candidates should support the freedom to marry not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is also in their interest to do so, and lays out how to stand on clear principle, make the case for ending exclusion, and throw the challenge back at opponents. By following this guide, candidates in the 2008 election will reverse the wedge and reinvigorate the discussion about the basic American values of fairness and equality, our shared aspirations for a secure family life, and the pursuit of happiness, and be able to move on to other pressing issues in their campaigns.
This week's gay debate: A prime-time opportunity for straight talk on marriage
Check out the key points Evan Wolfson laid out in the Featured Post on the Huffington Post blog. It discusses how candidates should answer the marriage questions at tonight's forum, and beyond. The piece contains links to several resources to help the candidates do better — not just because it's in our interest that they get it right, but because it's in theirs, too.
Evan Wolfson on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer looks to Evan Wolfson to give John and Elizabeth Edwards' disagreement on giving gay and lesbian couples the legal protections and responsibilities of marriage some context — and included footage of the couple's couch chat with Leno. Thanks in part to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, national attention on where the presidential candidates stand on marriage isn't going away anytime soon.
Evan Wolfson on CNN Situation Room
Evan Wolfson responds to Senator Clinton's statement on the morality of same-sex relations, that she would "leave that to others to conclude," following General Pace's discriminatory statement on the issue. Mr. Wolfson expresses hope that Senator Clinton would make her stance clear.
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WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Equality for All
Equality for All is working to protect marriage by leading the fight against an anti-marriage initiative on the November 2008 ballot in California. This statewide coalition of LGBT and civil rights organizations, labor and business, straight and gay, is determined to defeat any attempts to write discrimination into our constitution.
Fairness for All Families
Fairness for All Families is the campaign of fair-minded Floridians who say NO to the anti-marriage amendment proposed in Florida.
Florida Red & Blue
Florida Red and Blue is the non-partisan, independent campaign dedicated to defeating the so-called "marriage protection" amendment. This intrusive amendment to the Florida Constitution will take away long established rights for ALL non-married Floridians.
Log Cabin Republicans
As election 2008 draws near, the Log Cabin Republicans will present information about Republican candidates and how they stand on marriage equality and other gay rights issues.
Stonewall Democrats
Find your local Stonewall Democrats chapter, get involved, and learn more about the 2008 election as it approaches.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC stays up-to-date on election 2008 with press releases, candidate discussions and questionnaires, and opportunities to get involved or donate to candidates who support equality.
Victory Fund
The Victory Fund endorses qualified, committed openly LGBT candidates who can win at the ballot box. Visit their site to track candidates in the 2008 election.
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THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON THE FREEDOM TO MARRY:
Senator Obama, Democratic Nominee for President, opposes discriminatory anti-gay amendments and supports civil unions while believing "that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage."
Senator John McCain, Republican Nominee for President, supports discriminatory amendments and refuses to work toward fairness for all families, and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin agrees.
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LEGISLATIVE STATUS OF GAY AND LESBIAN FAMILIES IN THE U.S.:
Freedom to Marry Legislative Maps
View and/or download United States maps tracking proposed legislation concerning marriage throughout our nation. Also, find maps showing the current status of protections for same-sex couples in our country and historical views of past marriage struggles.
Democratic State Party Platforms
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THE NUMBERS: POLLING & STATISTICS:
Presidential Candidates can support marriage and win. A March 2007 Newsweek poll of Americans reported a strong majority, 59%, of respondents said knowing a presidential candidate is a strong supporter of full marriage rights for same-sex couples would alone not stop them from voting for the candidate.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Pro-Marriage Incumbents and Candidates Win Elections (pdf)
Taking a stand to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage does not hurt incumbents or candidates in their elections. As the number of pro-marriage incumbents and candidates continues to expand, they are winning their elections at overwhelming rates. This report presents various different states', and nationwide, election results as evidence that exhibiting leadership and voting right on the freedom to marry often helps and rarely hurts candidates and politicians.
Human Rights Campaign Report Card: Where the Democratic Presidential Candidates Stand (pdf)
Learn about the stances Democratic Presidential Candidates have on marriage and gay rights.
Analysis of 2008 Presidential Candidates' Positions on LGBT Issues (pdf)
The Task Force report details Democrats' support of and Republicans' opposition to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
Report: Focus on the "greys"
Geoffrey Stone's blog post comments on the Third Way report released in April 2007 which discusses how to move public opinion along the path toward greater acceptance of equal rights for gays and lesbians, suggesting people should focus particularly on the "grays" and emphasize legal protection and recognition.
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NEWS:
What are people saying about marriage equality's impact in the 2008 election? Find out.
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MULTIMEDIA:
Gay Men and Women Should Have the Same Rights
In a personal video post, Al Gore speaks out in favor of the freedom to marry. The former vice president stated: “I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians.”
VIDEO: San Diego mayor rethinks his position on marriage
Watch this very touching video of the Republican mayor of San Diego rethinking his position on marriage, rejecting civil union, and deciding to sign, not veto, a resolution adding San Diego to the other major California cities calling on the supreme court (and governor) to support the freedom to marry. He talks about his gay staffers, and his lesbian daughter, and being unable to look them in the face and say their love is unworthy or unequal.
VIDEO: Audience boos Brownback's proposal to ban gay marriages
At the Fox News GOP presidential debate tonight, correspondent Carl Cameron asked a New Hampshire woman whether she wanted gay and lesbian marriages banned. Her answer — "Absolutely not" — received cheers from the audience. When Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) then said he believes the nation should have a constitutional amendment banning gay peoples' marriages, the audience loudly booed.
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Complete with video, Evan Wolfson highlights an emotional press conference by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican former police chief, at which he announced his intention to sign a resolution supporting the freedom to marry, a reversal from his prior public opposition. Mayor Sanders said his change of heart and mind was due to soul-searching and personal conversations with gay people he knows, including his lesbian daughter, showing how powerful it is to make the conversation about real people, not just legalisms or hypotheticals. He also described how he has come to understand that his prior support for civil union, rather than marriage, was inadequate and wrong. San Diego now joins the other major California cities in calling on the Governor and State Supreme Court to follow the legislature's lead in embracing marriage equality.
The Candidates' Guide presents (pdf) why candidates should support the freedom to marry not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is also in their interest to do so, and lays out how to stand on clear principle, make the case for ending exclusion, and throw the challenge back at opponents. By following this guide, candidates in the 2008 election will reverse the wedge and reinvigorate the discussion about the basic American values of fairness and equality, our shared aspirations for a secure family life, and the pursuit of happiness, and be able to move on to other pressing issues in their campaigns.
David Mixner interviews Evan Wolfson on how to answer questions regarding why candidates should stand for, and be pressed on, the freedom to marry. Says Wolfson, "This election will not be decided on gays or marriage (and nor was the election of 2004). But how candidates deal with important questions such as equality, protections for all, standing up to discrimination, and the values of marriage (love, commitment, fairness, freedom) can be symptomatic of how they address dispositive questions and win over or alienate voters... They all have a chance to get this right — and we all have the chance now to help them."
CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer looks to Evan Wolfson to give John and Elizabeth Edwards' disagreement on giving gay and lesbian couples the legal protections and responsibilities of marriage some context — and included footage of the couple's couch chat with Leno. Thanks in part to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, national attention on where the presidential candidates stand on marriage isn't going away anytime soon.
