Arsenic Bullets

Our queer movement for marriage equality has supplied Republicans with a stock of
one-time arsenic bullets,
usable in most of the fifty states.

These are ballot propositions which would amend a state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages. (In some states, such amendments ALSO ban civil unions.) Republicans could use these bullets to attract fundis to the polls in November of any even-numbered year.

Many of these bullets have been already used up;
and more will be used, in various states, in the November 2006 election.
Most of the remainder will probably be used in November 2008.

Around nine moons ago, on 22 December 2005, SF Bay Times kindly published my letter on "Hate in '08",
concerning California.
I tried to explain why there wouldn't be any hate amendment on our June 2006 primary ballot.
I expected one to appear in our November 2006 state-wide general election.


But, for fall 2006, the amendment went AWOL again.
Why?


Maybe Arnie doesn't like the idea of amending California's state constitution,
but he still needs the right fringe of "his" party?
Maybe strategists think the issue will become hotter after the Cal Supreme Court rules on marriage equality?
Maybe Republicans would rather save their one-time bullet for November 2008,
when they may need it badly?


Certainly Arnie doesn't need much help this fall.
And to attract extreme fundi-fascists (who may dislike Arnie),
there's an anti-abortion prop on this ballot.

So I'm still expecting to see a California hate amendment,
in fall '08,
even tho my predictions have been wrong before.

Back in 2005, fundi-fascist leader Randy Thomasson said,
"Whether it be November 2006
or sometime in 2008, it doesn't matter."

If this threat materializes in California
(and I hope I'm wrong again),
then queers must unite to defeat it.


-- TBL

17 September 2006


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