I'm putting this out ahead of time because if things go well tomorrow, it will be a great day of celebration for all of us - followed by the hardest six months we've ever had to face. I want to make sure that my friends and family and fellow LGBT Californians understand what tomorrow really means.
Tomorrow the California Supreme Court will decide whether banning same-gender couples from marriage is unconstitutional under the CA state constitution.
If they rule in our favor, it will definitely be a time for celebration, and we should enjoy this victory - momentarily.
What you must, MUST know, though, is that the opposition ALREADY has placed on the November ballot a constitutional *amendment* barring same-gender marriage. If it passes, tomorrow's potential victory would be stripped from us - it would be Hawaii all over again. We cannot let that happen.
Basically, if the Court decides in favor of same-gender marriage tomorrow, the question of same-sex marriage in California WILL come to the popular vote in November, and it WILL be decided by the people - the same people who passed Proposition 22 in the March 2000 primary election, at least in part because they were misled by a sneaky, malicious, WEALTHY opposition.
Make no mistake - opponents of same-sex marriage know that this is probably their "Big Chance," and they WILL pull out all the stops, and put down every last dollar - and believe me, those dollars will be pouring in from across the country, not just California (remember who paid for the Prop 22 campaign?). They know that they will never again have as much momentum to pass a constitutional amendment as tomorrow's court decision could give them. They will not want to miss their chance.
So if the CA Supreme Court rules in our favor tomorrow, go out to the WeHo rally, rejoice, eat your celebratory cake - but know that this is not the end. It is only the beginning of what will be a very, very vicious fight for the win. Know that it's not over. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, because it won't be long before the battle begins.
[and of course on another note, it will be especially important to get progressive-minded voters out to the polls this fall, because just as they have in the past, conservatives will be using this horrendous marriage amendment to scare people out to the polls to vote, and you can bet those anti-equality voters won't be voting for the Democratic candidate, whoever it may be.]
queso