Jul 17, 2009  |  By: Peter Rosenstein  | COMMENTS     

AS WE ADVANCE the rights of the LGBT community, we need to remember that the definition of success is often a state-by-state affair.

In D.C., we are celebrating recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states. In Iowa, they are celebrating the ability to perform same-sex marriages. In Maine, while they celebrate the ability to perform same-sex marriages, the opposition has already collected enough signatures to put that up to a vote of the people. In D.C., a court agreed that under our laws the rights of a protected minority (which the LGBT community is) couldn’t be put up to a vote of the majority. In California, the court upheld Prop 8.

In every state we are at different stages in fighting for our rights. I was reminded of that recently in Rehoboth Beach, Del. I now have a home there but have been vacationing there for more than 25 years. When I first went, it was perfectly legal to shout obscenities at gays and lesbians walking down the street and it was a regular occurrence. Then an organization called CAMP was formed to fight for our rights.

CAMP Rehoboth now conducts diversity training each year for the Rehoboth police department. Two weeks ago, after an 11-year struggle, CAMP and a team of advocates celebrated the passage of a bill adding sexual orientation to those classes that can’t be discriminated against in Delaware. I was brought to tears when Gov. Jack Markell came to Rehoboth Beach and signed this legislation. Markell, who I am fortunate to know, is a champion of equal rights for all people. He clearly understood what it would mean to sign this bill in Rehoboth Beach in front of 200 people whose rights are now being protected in some small measure in Delaware. Everyone there knew this was only a first step, but after an 11-year struggle it was time to take a moment to celebrate.

THIS HAPPENED THE same week that President Obama invited gay activists to the White House to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Stonewall and a week before the nation’s capital could recognize same-sex marriages. So to those who say nothing is happening, I say you are wrong! Of course we should be impatient and demand more now. And yes, we should never rest or let up on our fight until we achieve full equal rights. But we have to recognize that something is happening, that the tide is slowly beginning to turn and we are seeing some progress.

The fight now continues in D.C. to advance the work of David Catania and other supporters on the D.C. Council and continue the progress that was begun and fought for by many community organizations and activists for the past 20 years. We are now populating the board of the Campaign for All D.C. Families. This 501 c (4) will help coordinate the continuing effort to fight for full marriage equality.

IT WILL BE coordinating the efforts of D.C. for Marriage, the Stein Club, GLAA and other organizations that will continue to do what they do best as we educate the community about marriage equality. It will have the ability to lobby Congress, where we believe the final battle will take place. The Campaign for All D.C. Families, P.O. Box 34221, Washington, D.C. 20043-4221, is now accepting contributions to fund this work. The full board will be a diverse cross section of the community, both gay and straight.

The amount of money needed will depend on many things, but the fight could be very expensive. The most costly fight would occur if an initiative is filed to prohibit same-sex marriages and the Board of Elections approves it. The language in their denial of the referendum indicates that they won’t, but one never knows. We don’t know yet what type of fight will occur in Congress after the D.C. Council passes a marriage equality bill, the mayor signs it and it is forwarded to the Hill for review. So the work continues with ANC meetings, voter identification, fundraising, community education and lobbying.

I urge everyone who wants to work on this issue to contact one of the groups fighting for marriage equality and to send a check to the Campaign for All D.C. Families and join in this fight. We will be ready and we will win, because it is right and it is our time.