The best of times is now!

[Rick336]

In another thread, Tdogg was discussing the battle going on right now in California to stop a proposed state amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage, and said:
It was awesome to be a part of this exciting and important action. I've met many GLBT and straight allies and we really bonded.

We may be out in the field again this weekend, depends on the status of the ballot, but I should hopefully catch up on the forums in the next few days. I'm tired now, so think I'll go off to bed now.

Tdogg, I really envy you. I'd love to be living in California right now and being involved in this fight.

Some of the most invigorating times of my life was when I was active in the campaign in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1978 to keep the city's gay rights ordinance from being repealed. I never felt more alive.

And in 1987, I was one of 650 protestors handcuffed and arrested in front of the US Supreme Court Building in Washington DC in a sit-in demonstration for gay equality. I made friends and memories from those exciting times that have lasted more than twenty years.

This project on the west coast is the biggest fight LGBT Californians have seen since the battle against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative exactly thirty years ago this summer. That battle was won against all odds. With enough volunteers and determination, there's a good chance this one will be too.

But whether you win or lose, during the next few months you guys in Equality For All in CA will be making memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. My advice to all of you guys in California is: if you're not involved,... get involved. Volunteer to campaign, to knock on doors, to pass out pamphlets, to help organize a demonstration, to make phone calls....anything. You don't want to miss out on this chance to be a part of history.

Also, be sure to take photos, videos, keep a journal, save newspapers clippings, pamphlets, posters, and buttons. One day thirty years from now, you may be looking through a box of all that stuff, reminiscing and saying to yourself, "Wow! The summer of 2008 was one of the most wonderful times of my life. I'd love to go back if only for a day."

But you're in luck. It's still 2008. And the best of times is now.

Rick

[scott snedeker]

WHAT A TIME WE LIVE IN INDEED!:cool:

[Zerbie]

In another thread, Tdogg was discussing the battle going on right now in California to stop a proposed state amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage, and said:


Tdogg, I really envy you. I'd love to be living in California right now and being involved in this fight.

Some of the most invigorating times of my life was when I was active in the campaign in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1978 to keep the city's gay rights ordinance from being repealed. I never felt more alive.

I believe I know exactly how that feels (Prop 107 anyone?)

And in 1987, I was one of 650 protestors handcuffed and arrested in front of the US Supreme Court Building in Washington DC in a sit-in demonstration for gay equality. I made friends and memories from those exciting times that have lasted more than twenty years.

The first March on Washington? Wow - I admire you and your incredible courage!! Thank you, Rick. :love:


This project on the west coast is the biggest fight LGBT Californians have seen since the battle against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative exactly thirty years ago this summer. That battle was won against all odds. With enough volunteers and determination, there's a good chance this one will be too.

I think it's fair for CA to anticipate a likely win on something like this. . . I'm no expert, but it seems chances are very good in CA. I would anticipate success and plan organizing and campaigning strategy accordingly.

But whether you win or lose, during the next few months you guys in Equality For All in CA will be making memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. My advice to all of you guys in California is: if you're not involved,... get involved. Volunteer to campaign, to knock on doors, to pass out pamphlets, to help organize a demonstration, to make phone calls....anything. You don't want to miss out on this chance to be a part of history.


Also, be sure to take photos, videos, keep a journal, save newspapers clippings, pamphlets, posters, and buttons. One day thirty years from now, you may be looking through a box of all that stuff, reminiscing and saying to yourself, "Wow! The summer of 2008 was one of the most wonderful times of my life. I'd love to go back if only for a day."

But you're in luck. It's still 2008. And the best of times is now.

Rick

Thanks Rick, for the great suggestions. I have a huge collection of stuff from our campaign here in AZ when we defeated the marriage amendment in 2006 - from early news reports in '05, to a photo of me marching against the amendment carrying the lead banner in the march along with a handful of guys, in January of 06, to the campaign T shirt, brochures, and yard sign. It's like a shrine to the defeat of the amendment! :lol: That stuff is rapidly becoming memorabilia, and I am so glad I thought to save it. Ditto to your suggestion. It's amazing looking back on that stuff only 2 and 3 years later. I can hardly imagine 30 - but I know chances are good that some day 30 years from now I may show that stuff to young people who weren't yet born when we fought that amendment off.

Thanks for the plug on volunteering. I developed so much self-confidence volunteering for our campaign in Arizona - more than I could have anticipated. This stuff builds practical skills, plus, if you're at all shy or tentative, it draws you out of your comfort zone and you walk away feeling personally empowered and confident in ways you never would have imagined.

While we're at it, everyone PLEASE keep your eyes on Arizona. :pray: They have brought back a new marriage amendment here (without the domestic partner clause) which is very likely to be on the ballot this fall. Equality Arizona needs donations now to fund voter polling efforts to see about mounting an opposition campaign. We may need your help later to fund a campaign against the amendment. www.equalityarizona.org

I am guessing that Equality for All could also use funds. Those from other states can probably support the campaign financially, am I right? (hint, hint ;))

[Rick336]

I have a huge collection of stuff from our campaign here in AZ when we defeated the marriage amendment in 2006 from early news reports in '05, to a photo of me marching against the amendment carrying the lead banner in the march along with a handful of guys, in January of 06, to the campaign T shirt, brochures, and yard sign.

Zerbie,

You are so lucky to have a photo of yourself carrying the banner in the march in Arizona in 2006. That will be a very valuable memento in 2036. I made the mistake of not taking any photos of the march in St. Paul in 1978. I'm kicking myself now. Luckily I did save all the newspaper articles and news photos about the march and the campaign. They're old and yellow now but are some of my most cherished possessions.


The first March on Washington? Wow - I admire you and your incredible courage!! Thank you, Rick.

Thanks for your kind words Zerbie. :) Actually the sit-in at the Supreme Court was the day after the 1987 March on Washington, which was the second national march for gay and lesbian rights. The first national march was on October 14, 1979. I was a marshal in the '79 march. And thank God, I did think to take a camera to that one. I've got lots of photos of that historic event. I'll scan them and post them here next year, the 30th anniversary.

I also have a poster I ripped down from a telephone pole in DC the day after the '79 march. I wouldn't take $500 bucks for it now.

Rick

[Zerbie]

Zerbie,

You are so lucky to have a photo of yourself carrying the banner in the march in Arizona in 2006. That will be a very valuable memento in 2036.

:lol: It was not planned. It's a newspaper clipping that appeared in the AZ Republic the following day. Other people called me up and told me I was in the Republic, so I bought a copy and ripped out the page. It wouldn't have occurred to me to bring a camera. Sheer chance.

The funny part is, the march was sponsored by a group called "Clergy for Justice," and the caption below the picture lists our names and then cites us as members of "clergy for justice," thus the implication that I am a member of the clergy! :lol: :rolleyes: :disagree::lol:


I made the mistake of not taking any photos of the march in St. Paul in 1978. I'm kicking myself now. Luckily I did save all the newspaper articles and news photos about the march and the campaign. They're old and yellow now but are some of my most cherished possessions.

I'll bet! It would be great to see them! I love looking over old news stories and photos like those. Always enjoyed looking at stuff like that pertaining to Stonewall in 69 and other older events.



Thanks for your kind words Zerbie. :) Actually the sit-in at the Supreme Court was the day after the 1987 March on Washington, which was the second national march for gay and lesbian rights. The first national march was on October 14, 1979. I was a marshal in the '79 march.

:eek: WOW!!!! That's AMAZING!! I didn't even know there was one back then. (I was too little.) I remember hearing things about the later ones, and always thought 87 was the first one. To this day I kick myself for having narrowly missed going to the 1993 march. I was DYING to go and march but had never done anything of the sort, not even so much as spoken a single supportive word. Had several friends driving down, and all I had to do was ask and I could have had a ride in the back seat. I was too shy to speak up. I decided to wait and hope they would ask me to come along. :pray: When they didn't, I took it to mean I was not supposed to go. :mad::mad: I still kick myself!!! Well, I was a stupid teenager, whaddaya expect?


And thank God, I did think to take a camera to that one. I've got lots of photos of that historic event. I'll scan them and post them here next year, the 30th anniversary.

Why do we hafta wait a YEAR? Why not post 'em now, and then re-post them in their own thread next year? Oh please!!! :pray::pray: :weee: :pray::pray: I would LOVE to see them (before next year.)




I also have a poster I ripped down from a telephone pole in DC the day after the '79 march. I wouldn't take $500 bucks for it now.

Rick

I would love to see that poster!!!!! You mean, a poster advertizing the march???? Oh My God!! That's golden!

See, Tdogg, ya hafta be saving memorabilia, k? :p:D

[Rick336]

I would love to see that poster!!!!! You mean, a poster advertizing the march???? Oh My God!! That's golden!

Yes. It's a poster advertising the 1979 march. The day after the march, me and my partner John took a walking tour of downtown Washington, DC. I glanced up and saw the poster on a pole and decided I had to get it for a souvenir.

That was 29 years ago. Today it is one of my prized souvenirs of the Seventies.

The poster is 11" X 14". At the top it says in large black capital letters: DEMAND YOUR RIGHTS!

Under that is a large black circle with a drawing of the capitol building dome and a pink banner. Inside the pink banner are two male symbols connected and two female symbols connected. Along the edge of the black circle in large white capital letters it says: NATIONAL MARCH FOR LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS and at the bottom of the circle it says: OCT. 14

Then under the circle it says: MARCH ON WASHINGTON in large caps.

The poster is a little worn but still in good shape. I store it flat in the bottom of my sock drawer. But I think I'm going to have it framed.

I'll try to work on having my photos of the '79 march scanned and posted sooner than 2009.

Attached below is a photo I had scanned of me and John in Washington, DC taken the day before the march on October 13, 1979. That's me on the left. I was 27.


See, Tdogg, ya hafta be saving memorabilia.

Absolutely. :)


Rick

[tdogg]

But whether you win or lose, during the next few months you guys in Equality For All in CA will be making memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. My advice to all of you guys in California is: if you're not involved,... get involved. Volunteer to campaign, to knock on doors, to pass out pamphlets, to help organize a demonstration, to make phone calls....anything. You don't want to miss out on this chance to be a part of history.

Also, be sure to take photos, videos, keep a journal, save newspapers clippings, pamphlets, posters, and buttons. One day thirty years from now, you may be looking through a box of all that stuff, reminiscing and saying to yourself, "Wow! The summer of 2008 was one of the most wonderful times of my life. I'd love to go back if only for a day."

But you're in luck. It's still 2008. And the best of times is now.

Rick

Excellent point, and advice. I hadn't really thought of saving anything related, but definitely will now. I'm a little nervous, extremely excited adn I agree with you Rick, these are the best of times. After reading Making Gay History and learning of all those who came before, it's incredible to think we are part of making history right now! That's what I tell supporters, get out and do something and they will never regret it.

Keep us posted Z on the Arizona thing. While I agree with you on CA, I'm not quite as positive as you that we'll have no problem getting our anti-gay measure defeated. The sponsors of this initiative spent over $2 million to bring in paid signature gatherers from all over the nation, to get enough signatures. No telling what extent they will go to, in getting as many votes for it as they can. The arguments posed are ludicrous, illogical, and just plain don't make sense. But unbelievably there is support for it.

I'm remaining positive, and plan on getting involved in whatever is needed. Phone calls, speaking to the public, anything. The time is now and we have the momentum!! :D:weee::rainbow:

[Zerbie]

Yes. It's a poster advertising the 1979 march. The day after the march, me and my partner John took a walking tour of downtown Washington, DC. I glanced up and saw the poster on a pole and decided I had to get it for a souvenir.

That was 29 years ago. Today it is one of my prized souvenirs of the Seventies.


The poster is a little worn but still in good shape. I store it flat in the bottom of my sock drawer. But I think I'm going to have it framed.

:lol: Yes, the poster definitely deserves a promotion out of the sock drawer. Absolutely have it framed.

Hmmm. If you kept your stuff, and I keep all my stuff, and Tdogg keeps all her stuff, we'll have the beginnings of a gay history museum!! :D


I'll try to work on having my photos of the '79 march scanned and posted sooner than 2009.

:):pray:


Attached below is a photo I had scanned of me and John in Washington, DC taken the day before the march on October 13, 1979. That's me on the left. I was 27.

:D I love it! What a great picture!!

R

Excellent point, and advice. I hadn't really thought of saving anything related, but definitely will now.

Keep us posted Z on the Arizona thing. While I agree with you on CA, I'm not quite as positive as you that we'll have no problem getting our anti-gay measure defeated.
:lol::lol: I didn't say "no problem," :lol::lol: Just that I think it's reasonable to go for a win on this issue in CA. Therefore, campaign optimistically.

If your supporters have hope, they will give more time, donate more money, volunteer more, etc., than they would for what they deemed to be a 'lost cause.' The hope itself will be your campaign's greatest asset, I suspect. And from what I see of CA, the hope seems warranted - that is why I said to anticipate success.


The sponsors of this initiative spent over $2 million to bring in paid signature gatherers from all over the nation, to get enough signatures. No telling what extent they will go to, in getting as many votes for it as they can. The arguments posed are ludicrous, illogical, and just plain don't make sense. But unbelievably there is support for it.

Ohhh, I know they're out there. Do you have any idea what the percentages are in CA, supporting marriage = versus opposed, versus the undecided? Our numbers in AZ in 2005 were something like 3 in 10 voters supporting equality, 7 opposed, or something like that. During our No Prop 107 campaign, we saw our numbers improve a little bit (very little as I recall, but still, they changed to our advantage.)


I'm remaining positive, and plan on getting involved in whatever is needed. Phone calls, speaking to the public, anything. The time is now and we have the momentum!! :D:weee::rainbow:

Tdogg, you ARE a goddess. And an angel as well. :love::dove: You are one busy soul! God bless you and thank you for putting your heart into this!
:D:love::love::love::love::rainbow:

[Sherrie Z]

Rick!!! I was at the March on Washington in 1979! For all I know, I might have seen you there : )

At around that time I had been running around Europe with a friend ... and all along we weren't sure how long we would be staying in the London area ... one of the reasons we returned from London when we did was to see if we could pull off a sort of last minute attempt to make it to the march ... and we did! This was all fairly spontaneous, so we just barely managed to get last minute plane tickets to the US ... and when we got to New York, we just barely managed to get the last two seats available for the bus trip to Washington with New York's MCC ... whew! I had spoken in advance with the minister of Chicago's MCC and I knew he would be at the march, but my plans had been vague until we got there ... so my friend and I just watched the marchers going by until I spotted my minister and then we ran up and joined in with the MCC contingent.

During that day, I also ran into several other people that I knew ... that was amazing, considering we didn't know in advance who would be there, and then unexpectedly finding those people in that random crowd of over a hundred thousand people wandering over a large outdoor area. And yes, this is an interesting way of discovering that friends are gay, wink wink : )

It was a beautiful, inspiring and exhilarating day ... I'm not sure what souvenirs or photos I might have, but it was very memorable for sure!


Thanks to all of you for your activism, and I'm all for staying positive and continuing to work whatever the odds ... some efforts take years and years and progress can go back and forth until it sticks ... but it is all worth every second of effort, and eventually it will definitely pay off. There is huge value in the effort itself, the outcome will take care of itself. Not that I was there for the entire process, but our efforts to pass gay rights legislation in Illinois took probably at least twenty years ... and staying positive is not only more practical but more fun too. Best wishes, everybody ... and thanks for the great posts! : )

[scott snedeker]

Yes. It's a poster advertising the 1979 march. The day after the march, me and my partner John took a walking tour of downtown Washington, DC. I glanced up and saw the poster on a pole and decided I had to get it for a souvenir.

That was 29 years ago. Today it is one of my prized souvenirs of the Seventies.

The poster is 11" X 14". At the top it says in large black capital letters: DEMAND YOUR RIGHTS!

Under that is a large black circle with a drawing of the capitol building dome and a pink banner. Inside the pink banner are two male symbols connected and two female symbols connected. Along the edge of the black circle in large white capital letters it says: NATIONAL MARCH FOR LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS and at the bottom of the circle it says: OCT. 14

Then under the circle it says: MARCH ON WASHINGTON in large caps.

The poster is a little worn but still in good shape. I store it flat in the bottom of my sock drawer. But I think I'm going to have it framed.

I'll try to work on having my photos of the '79 march scanned and posted sooner than 2009.

Attached below is a photo I had scanned of me and John in Washington, DC taken the day before the march on October 13, 1979. That's me on the left. I was 27.




Absolutely. :)


Rick

GAWD! YOU WERE ADORABLE!

[keltic63]

am I the only one who can't get that song out of their head when they read this thread title? :mad:

[Rick336]

Rick!!! I was at the March on Washington in 1979! For all I know, I might have seen you there : )

It was a beautiful, inspiring and exhilarating day ... I'm not sure what souvenirs or photos I might have, but it was very memorable for sure!

Sherrie, It's really great to hear from someone who also attended the '79 march and their experience of that first national march. Your story sounds like you had an awesome day back in '79. Spirits were running high that day, that's for sure.

I've attended three national marches - 1979, 1987, and 1993. That first march in '79 was the most memorable for me. It was the year after Harvey Milk had been assassinated in San Francisco and Anita Bryant's anti-gay crusade was still on everyone's mind. I remember one of the march speakers saying, "Look at us......100,000 of us. Eat your heart out Anita!"

Harvey Milk is the one who came up with the idea of a national march in 1978. His plan was to have the march in Washington DC on July 4th, 1979. After he was killed in November 1978, momentum for the march increased. But for some reason the date was moved to October 14th.

The repeal of gay rights ordinances in Dade County Florida in 1977 and St. Paul, Minnesota, Wichita, Kansas, and Eugene, Oregon in 1978 also added to the urgency for a national march.

At the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Rally, Harvey Milk spoke to the crowd saying to President Jimmy Carter, "If you do not speak out, if you remain silent......then I call upon lesbians and gay men from all over the nation, your nation, to gather in Washington one year from now......on that very same spot where over a decade ago, Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to a nation of his dreams, dreams that are fast fading, dreams that to many in this nation have become nightmares rather than dreams."

Milk's call for a national march appeared in Gay Community News in Boston which was one of only a few nationally distributed gay newspapers back then. Unfortunately Harvey Milk never got to see his dream realized.

GAWD! YOU WERE ADORABLE!

Awww. Thank you Scott. :):love:


Rick

[Rick336]

What's happening in California right now is the most important fight the national LGBT community has seen in years. If the California anti-gay marriage amendment is defeated in November, this will have a huge effect on the national fight for same sex marriage.

A new poll out today that surveyed 1,052 registered California voters found that 51 percent of respondents backed legalizing same-sex marriage and 42 percent opposed it. That means this fight is now more important than ever before. The momentum to legalize same sex marriage in California must be kept going until November.

This will be a historic milestone in LGBT rights if the amendment is defeated. And not just Californians but all LGBT Americans can be involved in this fight. By making donations to Equality for All in California you can have a direct impact on the outcome.

In 2008, history is being made all across the nation.Tens of thousands of people are attending rallies to support a man who may be the first African American US president. In Portland Oregon, Sam Adams was just elected as the first openly gay mayor of a major US city. And Soulforce's Equality Riders and participants of the American Family Outing are criss-crossing the country visiting colleges and churches to "create meaningful conversations about faith, family, and LGBT people."

And for those lucky enough to live in California, you can have an active part in making history. Do not miss out on this chance of a lifetime. Get involved! Thirty years from now LGBT Americans will be looking back on this as a pivotal time in our movement. And you can say, “I was there!”


The Summer of 2008 is here now! Don’t miss it!


EQUALITY FOR ALL IN 2008!
http://www.equalityforall.com


Rick

[tdogg]

Rick & Sherrie - HOW COOL :cool::D that both of you participated in the 1979 march. Awesome! It gives me chills. And Rick, I love the pic - post more!

Z - I agree, remaining optimistic is a must in this. Good news today, we can get married as early as June 17th here in CA!!! Exciting! A previous poll showed about 36% in favor of same sex marriage, 36% against same sex marriage, and most of the rest in favor of civil unions/domestic partnerships but not equality, with a small remaining group against everything.

The local news reported today that a recent poll shows a majority is in favor of same sex marriage and against the initiative. I don't recall the exact figures, and not sure if it was a local poll or statewide. Will have to re-read the article and report back. I agree with Rick, this is HUGE not only for Californians but also for the nation. This will certainly be a major step in the turning of the tide.

I feel it, 2008 will go down in history as having a major impact on our struggle for equality.

[Gennee]

Last night, we were discussing what a great time we're living in during our bible discussion. LGBT people are making strides in gaining our equality. Four years ago I didn't know that I was transgender. Yet, there was an inner struggle that did not understand. A year later, I discovered that I was transgender. Now I am part of the changes that are being seen. I guess I am seeing history being made. I'm so thankful for those who came before me. They paved the way so many of us could live freer lives. The struggle goes on but I'm happy :) that I am living at such a time.

Gennee

:pray:

[Sherrie Z]

So many great inspirational posts in this thread ... thanks everybody! : )


On Wednesday I dropped off my mail in ballot for an interim California election ... at City Hall in San Francisco. Whenever I walk through that beautiful rotunda I remember seeing gay couples getting married on the steps there. Pretty soon more marriages will be occurring there again. : )


Rick's review of events in the late 70's reminded me about Jimmy Carter appointing the first openly lesbian White House aide ... so I found this:

During the 1976 presidential election, Democrat Jimmy Carter also actively sought the gay and lesbian vote. Even though he backtracked on campaign promises to the glbtq community after he gained office, in 1977 his Assistant for Public Liaison, Margaret (Midge) Costanza, invited fourteen gay and lesbian activists to the White House for the first-ever official White House meeting between presidential staff and lesbian and gay activists. Additionally, in 1979 President Carter appointed lesbian Jill Schropp to the National Advisory Council on Women in a White House ceremony.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/democratic_party.html

[Rick336]

The struggle goes on but I'm happy that I am living at such a time.

Yes. This is definitely an exciting time for LGBT Americans. Starting June 17th, same sex couples can legally marry in California. We've come a long way since Stonewall.


Rick

[Rick336]

Am I the only one who can't get that song out of their head when they read this thread title?

Nope. Now I've got it in my head too.

I'm not really into show-tunes. I'm more into car-toons. But when I was in New York City in 1986, I saw "La Cage aux Folles" on Broadway and "The Best of Times" is one of the songs from that show.

The play was eventually made into a movie titled "The Bird Cage" with Nathan Lane and Robin Williams.

I really like the words to the song. It pretty much sums up my philosophy of life.


The Best of Times
By George Hearn & Gene Barry

The best of times is now,
What's left of summer but a faded rose,
The best of times is now,
as for tomorrow,
well, who knows.

So hold this moment fast,
and live and love as hard as you know how,
and make this moment last,
because the best of times is now

Now, not some forgotten yesterday,
Now, tomorrow is too far away.

So hold this moment fast,
and live and love as hard as you know how,
and make this moment last,
because the best of times is now.


Rick