MARRY-IN activists visit DC?

Some marriage-equality advocates may be hoping to send a busload of activists to DC, in early October, around National Coming Out Day, to protest proposed anti-marriage amendment(s) to the U.S. Constitution.

By that time, most Senators and Representatives will be eager to go home. Most will want to campaign in their own states, either for themselves or for their party. By then, all will realize that nothing much can be accomplished in the poisoned remnant of 2004, as election-driven hyper-partisanship encourages grand-standing and discourages compromise. Many dislike DC anyway, and yearn for home. So the queer bus will need to arrive BEFORE Congress escapes.

I'm hoping, with cautious optimism, that the Senate may avoid voting on any proposed anti-marriage amendment(s) this year. My hope is based mainly on estimates of political expediency, plus a guess about private feelings of national politicians. As far as mere expediency goes, most Representatives have districts gerrymandered to be non-competitive (safely Republican OR safely Democrat); so incumbents who vote with their own party needn't fear retaliation. Senate seats are much more likely to be competitive; but only one-third of those seats are up at any election. So two-thirds of the Senators, plus those who are voluntarily retiring, needn't worry much about their own future. Yet all will be intensely worried about the presidential election, especially if it seems close. Since Republicans control both houses, their leaders get to decide when and whether a vote will be held. Republicans face a dilemma: holding a vote might please fundis (at least if a hate amendment passes), but would alienate social moderates (mainly straights who aren't religious bigots). Republicans will be better off if both houses held big noisy debates about "gay marriage", yet somehow avoid actual roll-call votes. [Most Democrats would like to avoid both the votes and the debates; but their preferences don't carry much weight in this Congress.]

And what about private feelings of politicians? I'm GUESSING that some pols, especially Republicans and non-liberal Dems, are secretly more tolerant than they wish to appear. Most Senators and Representatives are, personally, more educated, intelligent, world-travelled, and well-read than their median constituent; yet may hide their relative sophistication in order to get support from "the common man". On sex-related matters, their private beliefs (and secret practices?) may be less conservative than their public preachments. Or so I hope.

Aside from sexual politics, many federal officials have well-reasoned opinions about federalism and "states' rights" (like, marriage is mainly a state issue, not federal); and about the U.S. Constitution (like, the less often we amend it, the better -- remember the embarrassing Prohibition and Repeal amendments). Such ideas may seem dry and arcane, even sleep-inducing, to Norm and Norma Voter, back home in Idaho or Ohio, but are taken seriously "inside the Beltway". These ideas are conservative, in the best sense of that word; yet are often shared by liberals.

If Congress can postpone a vote until after the November election, then they can postpone it until early 2005, when more members may dare to follow their consciences.

I'm assuming, of course, that the November election will actually be held on schedule. If the current non-elected regime imposes martial law, I'll be receiving free room and board, in some "relocation center".


Tortuga Bi Liberty
for SUN
in San Francisco
13 April 2004



PS #1: For SF Chron article on tardy partying by SF Marry-In's newly-weds, please see:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/13/BAGDJ640F753.DTL



PS #2: Meanwhile, our struggles continue:
..................
MARRY-IN
and related events
to watch out for:
............
CAL: SF: from now thru 30 June 2004: photo exhibit, "Just Married": San Francisco Exposure Gallery
( http://www.ExposureGallery.org ).

CAL: SF: ongoing:
collecting stories from same-sex couples for anthology:
(http://KarenAndMelody.com/spousesforlife.html ).
.............
APRIL 2004:

** USA: April 15: Tax Day: "NO TAXATION without equal rights!"
Equal-rights demos in 33 cities? [ http://www.DontAmend.com ] **


OREGON: mid-April: Multnomah County: Circuit Judge Frank Bearden may hold hearing on ACLU lawsuit about whether Oregon's gender-biased marriage statute violates OR state constitution.
http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/index.ssf?/base/news/1080219374314050.xml


USA: April 21: national "Day of Silence" for civil rights of LGBTI students. [ http://www.dayofsilence.org ]

OREGON: April 23: Judge Bearden might issue a ruling by this date. His decision will be appealed to higher courts. Appeals process could take years, unless courts expedite.

CAL: April 23: In the state Assembly, Mark Leno's marriage equality bill must pass thru judiciary committee by this deadline. Delay kills bill.

PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia, April 26- May 2: Equality Forum. [http://www.equalityforum.com ]