Don't Allow the Right Wing to Divide Us!

The passage of Proposition 8 was a blow to our community. Based on the exit polls, there was a reaction towards the black and Latino communities. While it seems to have subsided, it continues to be repeated -- with amplification -- through the right wing echo chamber.

Just today, the Obama transition team sent a strong, unambiguous message to our community. I also see that Arnold Schwarzenegger has expressed his confidence that Proposition 8 would be overturned.

The bottom line is that there were many thousands of Obama supporters who voted in favor of Proposition 8 -- blacks, Latinos and whites. Many were deliberately misinformed by their ministers who spouted fear-based propaganda from the pulpit. Then, of course was the blitzkrieg of misinformation funded by the Mormon church. Let's face it; The Christian Right wants America to be a theocracy.

Meanwhile, the protests are great and they are spreading throughout the country. There are ways that we can increase the impact of these demonstrations. Many of us are old hands at this from the Vietnam era. It's becoming obvious that -- as a community -- we are not going to go away quietly. We have every right to expect equal protection under the law and government that respects the separation of church and state.

My immediate plea is for us not to allow this unfortunate incident to divide people of good will. We need to set the example and, as always, the Golden Rule should prevail.