Tuesday, March 10, 2009
California: Help is on the way!
Breaking: MassEquality’s Solomon to lead Equality California’s marriage effort
"It’s been my greatest honor to help protect marriage rights in Massachusetts," said Solomon in a statement. "I’m excited to take the lessons we’ve learned to California, and I’m so pleased MassEquality will continue to help other states win marriage equality while advancing a full equality agenda in Massachusetts."
...... Solomon is heading to California as the state’s LGBT community struggles to find its footing after the devastating passage of Proposition 8, an anti-gay marriage ballot amendment, last November. The amendment’s passage reversed the California Supreme Court’s May 2008 ruling in favor of marriage equality and has thrown into question the legality of the roughly 18,000 same-sex marriages that occurred in the state prior to Prop. 8’s passage. Earlier this week, the California Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by EQCA aimed at invalidating Proposition 8. However, after harsh questioning by the seven justices legal LGBT advocates aren’t terribly optimistic the court will rule in favor of tossing the amendment. Should the court rule against EQCA, the only recourse would be to mount a ballot initiative campaign to pass a pro-marriage equality constitutional amendment, an unprecedented feat.
On top of the difficult legal and political terrain, Solomon will also likely face a skeptical grassroots LGBT community in his new role. Following the passage of Prop. 8, EQCA, its executive director Geoff Kors, and a host of other LGBT organizations and their leaders were roundly criticized for running what many saw as an ineffective, top-down campaign that failed to harness grassroots support or find proper messaging. In the aftermath of the November election, grassroots groups like Join the Impact and the Courage Campaign seized on the perceived failings to call for new leadership in the state’s marriage equality movement, in addition to organizing anti-Prop. 8 protests and other direct actions.
Solomon, however, brings to his new job significant experience running a grassroots campaign, given that the mobilization of thousands of same-sex couples and their families to political activism -- from lobbying to volunteering on political campaigns -- is largely seen as the key to MassEquality’s success in winning the marriage battle here in Massachusetts. Solomon’s tenure as the leader of MassEquality began in 2006, after the departure of Campaign Director Marty Rouse. Solomon had previously served as the organization’s political director. In addition to leading the organization through its most crucial battle -- the defeat of an anti-gay marriage amendment sponsored by the Massachusetts Family Institute in June 2007-- he has also steered the organization to success in its new iteration as a multi-issue LGBT political organization. Most notably, Solomon and MassEquality led the effort on the repeal of the 1913 law that prevented non-resident same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the repeal bill into law last July in a public ceremony. The organization also played a leading role in the passage of the MassHealth Equality bill, which enables same-sex spouses in Massachusetts to access MassHealth benefits, and was pivotal in securing increased state funding for a host of LGBT and HIV/AIDS programming in last year’s budget. Solomon’s tenure also saw the launch of the "6x12" strategy, a partnership with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) to win marriage equality in every New England state by 2012."
"It’s been my greatest honor to help protect marriage rights in Massachusetts," said Solomon in a statement. "I’m excited to take the lessons we’ve learned to California, and I’m so pleased MassEquality will continue to help other states win marriage equality while advancing a full equality agenda in Massachusetts."
...... Solomon is heading to California as the state’s LGBT community struggles to find its footing after the devastating passage of Proposition 8, an anti-gay marriage ballot amendment, last November. The amendment’s passage reversed the California Supreme Court’s May 2008 ruling in favor of marriage equality and has thrown into question the legality of the roughly 18,000 same-sex marriages that occurred in the state prior to Prop. 8’s passage. Earlier this week, the California Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by EQCA aimed at invalidating Proposition 8. However, after harsh questioning by the seven justices legal LGBT advocates aren’t terribly optimistic the court will rule in favor of tossing the amendment. Should the court rule against EQCA, the only recourse would be to mount a ballot initiative campaign to pass a pro-marriage equality constitutional amendment, an unprecedented feat.
On top of the difficult legal and political terrain, Solomon will also likely face a skeptical grassroots LGBT community in his new role. Following the passage of Prop. 8, EQCA, its executive director Geoff Kors, and a host of other LGBT organizations and their leaders were roundly criticized for running what many saw as an ineffective, top-down campaign that failed to harness grassroots support or find proper messaging. In the aftermath of the November election, grassroots groups like Join the Impact and the Courage Campaign seized on the perceived failings to call for new leadership in the state’s marriage equality movement, in addition to organizing anti-Prop. 8 protests and other direct actions.
Solomon, however, brings to his new job significant experience running a grassroots campaign, given that the mobilization of thousands of same-sex couples and their families to political activism -- from lobbying to volunteering on political campaigns -- is largely seen as the key to MassEquality’s success in winning the marriage battle here in Massachusetts. Solomon’s tenure as the leader of MassEquality began in 2006, after the departure of Campaign Director Marty Rouse. Solomon had previously served as the organization’s political director. In addition to leading the organization through its most crucial battle -- the defeat of an anti-gay marriage amendment sponsored by the Massachusetts Family Institute in June 2007-- he has also steered the organization to success in its new iteration as a multi-issue LGBT political organization. Most notably, Solomon and MassEquality led the effort on the repeal of the 1913 law that prevented non-resident same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the repeal bill into law last July in a public ceremony. The organization also played a leading role in the passage of the MassHealth Equality bill, which enables same-sex spouses in Massachusetts to access MassHealth benefits, and was pivotal in securing increased state funding for a host of LGBT and HIV/AIDS programming in last year’s budget. Solomon’s tenure also saw the launch of the "6x12" strategy, a partnership with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) to win marriage equality in every New England state by 2012."
Countess Bedelia 3/10/2009 10:16:00 AM