The LGBT community often vilifies Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for twice vetoing marriage bills that passed the state Legislature. Never mind that he has signed more pro-LGBT bills than any governor of any party in the history of our nation. This past weekend, at the Log Cabin Republicans national convention in San Diego, Governor Schwarzenegger came out publicly against the proposed constitutional amendment to ban the freedom to marry. This seems to have caused confusion amongst the media and parties on both sides of the debate. The thing to remember is that, unlike Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, who say they are personally opposed to the freedom to marry, Governor Schwarzenegger has publicly stated he has no problem with it. He disagrees with how we achieve it. In his veto messages, he has stated that he will abide by either a court ruling or a vote of the people to decide this issue. He has taken the next step by saying that, if there is a vote of the people, they should vote against this measure that denies us the right to marry.
Relying on the courts, like relying only on Democrats, seems like an easy panacea and the shortest route to marriage equality. But it is one fraught with danger. The first motto of this country was "Don't tread on me." I believe in the fundamental fairness of the American people and there has never been a civil rights movement that has failed in this country. While legislators and courts may win us major battles, the peace is won when hearts and minds are changed. When we fail to include all people in the conversation, take the position that our rights must never be put to a vote and that the will of the people should be disregarded for the sake of expediency, we risk a backlash that will delay justice further.
A Survey USA poll from May 2007 shows Californians split 48 percent to 46 percent on support for marriage. Proposition 22 passed eight years ago with 61 percent of the vote. Opponents point to that vote and want to see our state stuck in the past. They don't want you to know that the people have moved in our direction. And that includes Republicans. Our convention opened with a speech from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, the Republican who in a tearful speech last year, reversed his opposition and signed a resolution to have the city file an amicus brief in support of marriage with the California Supreme Court. The next day we heard from Republican Wyoming state Legislator Dan Zwonitzer (now running for Congress), who single-handedly stopped an anti-marriage bill from passing when he spoke up in favor of the freedom to marry and convinced fellow Republicans to vote against the bill. At our national dinner we heard from one of the nine Massachusetts Republicans who provided the margin of victory and who reversed their vote and kept a marriage repeal off the ballot.
These people didn't change their minds because of a court ruling or because of street protests vilifying them for their previous opposition to marriage. They did it because LGBT people willing to endure the intolerance and bigotry of the LGBT community worked within the Republican Party to change people's hearts and minds. A national poll conducted by Fabrizio McLaughlin in mid-2007 of 2,000 self-identified Republicans found that 45 percent of Republicans know someone gay or lesbian and 43 percent of Republicans say there should be legal recognition of same sex partners. Coincidence? Democrats will win the war for equality for LGBT people, but it will be Republicans like Governor Schwarzenegger, aided by Log Cabin Republicans, who will win the peace.
James Vaughn is the California director of Log Cabin Republicans.