Tag Archives: Ellen DeGeneres

Marriage Equality

Calitics Podcast: Ellen buys some time, KJ & Prop 2

Ellen Degeneres, talk show host and otherwise swell out lesbian, has purchased some time on TV to air this ad.  It’s simple, quick and trades on people’s respect for her.  I think it also puts a face that people recognize on the issue of marriage equality.  I’ve not yet seen how large the buy is, but I’ll try to get that information out when I get it. Press release over the flip.

We’ll be talking about Prop 8 and some of the other props on the ballot on the podcast in just under 30 minutes. Join us at the Calitics Show at noon.

ELLEN BUYS TV TIME FOR ‘NO ON 8’

DeGeneres Ad to Air During Crucial Final Weeks of the Campaign

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, LOS ANGELES – The NO on Prop 8 campaign, Equality for All, is pleased to announce today that Ellen DeGeneres has made a media buy to urge Californians to vote NO on Proposition 8. The effort was partially revealed Tuesday when Ellen released a special video to confront false and misleading scare tactics used by those supporting the proposition. DeGeneres is purchasing television time for her ad to underscore the importance of this fight and broaden the reach of the spot.

Ellen’s message says, “Hi, I’m Ellen DeGeneres. I got to do something this year I never thought I’d ever be able to do: I got married. It was the happiest day of my life. There are people out there raising millions of dollars to try and take that right away from me. You’ve seen their ads on TV. They’re twisting the truth, and they’re trying to scare you. I believe in fairness. I believe in compassion. I believe in equality for all people. Proposition 8 does not. Please, please, vote no on Prop. 8.”

“In her desire to speak directly to the people of California, Ellen has stepped up as only Ellen can,” said Patrick Guerriero, Campaign Director. “Her voice has a tremendous ability to elevate this conversation above the scare tactics and help people understand what’s at stake for the people they know and care about. Her generous contribution to the campaign comes just at the right moment – and is done in a way that ensures her conversation with voters continues to Election Day. And it delivers our message that Proposition 8 is unfair and just plain wrong.”

Ellen’s video can be viewed on line at: www.NoOnProp8.com  

“Fair-minded Californians agree that we should not eliminate the fundamental rights of our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and our family members,” said Kate Kendell, Executive Director of National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Like Ellen, fair-minded Californians are going to vote no on Prop 8.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marriage Equality

Marriage, Arnold, McCain and Ellen

2 Comments

Lest you think there was a chance that the initiative to take away my and my fellow GLBTers right to get married here in California wouldn’t have enough valid signatures, the signatures are being approved at a higher rate than normal and looks like it will easily make it on the ballot.

The verification data on the initiaitve that would ban gay marriage is instructive. It shows that the initiative turned in more than 1.1 million signatures for random sampling. So far the verification rate is very good — over 83 percent on more than 20,000 signatures that have been checked. If that rate holds, the measure should qualify easily for the November ballot. (In the signature biz, 70 percent).

Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger had an interesting exchange with a gay man who proudly told the governor he had already made an appointment to marry his partner of 22 years at SF City Hall.  He asked Arnold about his position on the initiative.  It is along the same lines as what he has been saying and illustrates how complicated and twisted his rhetoric has been. (flip it)

Well, first of all, I respect the court’s opinion, which I think was very important, to not just look at it from a point, do I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman or not, but that it looks at the constitutionality of the whole issue. And constitutionally they said it was not right to tell people you can’t do that. Everyone should be treated equally. I think this is a very good way of approaching it, and it’s the fairest way of approaching it, and that’s why I said I respect their opinion. And, you know, I’m wishing everyone good luck with their marriages, and I hope that California’s economy is booming because everyone is going to come here and get married. (Applause) I think all of this is great.

Parsing here, we see that Arnold does not support marriage equality personally, but respects a court ruling that was about the constitutionality of barring same sex marriages.  Though he is anti-gay marriage, he is still wishing those getting married good luck.  It is strange and makes you wonder what he is really saying behind closed doors.  The line about increasing the economy has already made some waves.  Indeed this should been a boon, even if on scale it is small, but there will be more tourist dollars spend here and it will encourage more gay couples to move or stay here in California.

And I think — and I’m against changing the Constitution. I’m against the ballot initiative that some are trying to put on the ballot. (Applause) Because it’s unnecessary. I think that we have rules in place and after the decision was made to then change the rules because you’re not happy with the outcome, I don’t believe that’s the right way to go. So I think that — and may I remind you, I have said in the past — you know, I see a marriage between a man and a woman. But that’s my opinion. I don’t want to force that opinion on anyone. So I respect that opinion, and I think we should live with that and everyone should move forward in the right way.

Yeah, I know, he isn’t being that clear here.  However, the general message is don’t be a sore loser.  I doubt that will convince many people, but the language about moving forward is productive.

Marriage equality came up as an issue on the campaign trail today.  Instead of being in the Senate to vote for increased benefits for our veterans John McCain was on Ellen’s couch telling her that he doesn’t think she should get married.  Once again he is flip-flopping on the issue.  HuffPo has a good piece up with a bunch of good links giving the background on McCain twisting himself in even more knots than Schwarzenegger.  In it is this video from Brave New Films.

Ellen will be a wonderful person to really humanize this issue.  She has a huge reach through her show and makes waves any time she talks about her relationship with Portia.  Their wedding this summer will be a great opportunity to message about the need to protect their right to be married.  I think Ellen recognizes this and we will hear more from her about her private life.

Uncategorized

Marriage Ruling Fallout

15 Comments

Yesterday’s historic ruling defending marriage from double standards and discrimination, has created wide reaction across the political spectrum, most of it predictable.  One reaction was fairly unpredictable, from Libertarian Presidential candidate (and former Republican) Bob Barr:

“Regardless of whether one supports or opposes same sex marriage, the decision to recognize such unions or not ought to be a power each state exercises on its own, rather than imposition of a one-size-fits-all mandate by the federal government (as would be required by a Federal Marriage Amendment which has been previously proposed and considered by the Congress).  The decision today by the Supreme Court of California properly reflects this fundamental principle of federalism on which ournation was founded.

“Indeed, the primary reason for which I authored the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 was to ensure that each state remained free to determine for its citizens the basis on which marriage would be recognized within its borders, and not be forced to adopt a definition of marriage contrary to its views by another state.  The decision in California is an illustration of how this principle of states’ powers should work.”

I think Barr is being a little disingenuous about the intent of DOMA, but it’s an interesting perspective nonetheless.

On the side of gay rights advocates, there is much celebration, and a determination to forge ahead for a tough fight in the fall.  Ellen DeGeneres announced her intention to get married, provoking a long standing ovation from her audience.  

On the side of the wingnuts and homophobes, heads exploded.  A lot of them focused on how “unelected judges” went over the heads of the will of the people.  First of all, the elected legislature, elected more recently than the 2000 marriage initiative, have passed this legislation twice, and frankly that’s how democracy works.  Second of all, Supreme Court judges in California are, you know, elected:

But, in making their rush to judgment about the CA decision, both Blunt and Feeney have the basic facts wrong about how California’s judicial system works. SmartVoter.org, a resource of the League of Women’s Voters, makes clear that California’s Supreme Court justices are “confirmed by the public at the next general election” after being appointed and “justices also come before voters at the end of their 12-year terms.”

In fact, each of the seven justices involved in yesterday’s decision were approved by California voters by overwhelming margins:

– Justice Joyce L. Kennard confirmed in 2006 with 74.5% of the vote.

– Justice Carol A. Corrigan confirmed in 2006 with 74.4% of the vote.

– Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar confirmed in 2002 with 74.1% of the vote.

– Justice Carlos R. Moreno confirmed in 2002 with 72.6% of the vote.

– Justice Marvin R. Baxter confirmed in 2002 with 71.5% of the vote.

– Justice Ronald M. George confirmed in 1998 with 75.5% of the vote.

– Justice Ming William Chin confirmed in 1998 with 69.3% of the vote.

And 6 of the 7 were appointed by Republican governors.

As for the initiative fight, Peter Hecht has a scene-setter today.

California voters eight years ago overwhelmingly approved a law against gay marriage, but as they prepare to go to the polls again in the wake of Thursday’s California Supreme Court decision, the outcome is less certain.

Unlike 2000, when 61 percent voted to put a gay marriage ban in state law, the “California Marriage Protection Act” would lock the ban in the constitution, negating the court’s action. The measure is expected to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot.

Pollsters say voters’ views on gay marriage are more complex than the last time they considered the question, as surveys show rising acceptance in California for same-sex unions.

“The vote itself on the constitutional amendment will be wide open,” said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo. “It’s all age-related. One generation is replacing another. And the generation that is coming in now is much more supportive of gay marriage than the one that was here eight years ago.”

In a 2006 state Field Poll, voters opposed gay marriage 51 percent to 43 percent. But support was much stronger among newer voters.

Kevin Drum has crunched the numbers based on historical data between 2000 and now, and thinks it’ll be very close, within 4 points.  This is going to be a major battle in the fall.  And I have to say, one that can skyrocket turnout on the DEMOCRATIC side.  As a civil rights issue that will energize younger voters to turn out in solidarity and support, I think you could see a perfect storm that could help us downticket.  It’s going to take a major effort.