Same sex marriage could still be on ballot in 2010
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SF Chronicle: You've heard that Equality California and other same-sex marriage groups suggest waiting until 2012 to ask California voters to approve same sex marriage. But don't sleep on seeing a ballot measure in 2010 just yet. As we speak, the 700,000-member Courage Campaign is pumping more than $200,000 into researching and focus-grouping possible ballot language around California. Leading this effort is Steve Hildebrand, the Obama confidante and gay rights advocate who told us a while back that he's ready to go back to the ballot ASAP. This is an unprecedented effort to do some hard-core research about voter attitudes toward marriage ballot language -- and about what the fallout certain language could have.
One key provision in some of the language being tested: It specifies that no religious institution would be required to perform a marriage. During the Prop 8 fight, some conservative religious leaders spread fear -- falsely -- that a gay marriage law could be used to force congregations to perform gay marriages.
But winning gay marriage back at the ballot box is going to take more than convincing ballot language. Gay rights leaders and advocates say it's going to take a cohesive, inclusive statewide organization that stitches together groups large and small walking in lockstep on the issue. And it's going to take a leadership structure that is respected across that wide array of organizations. That issue is being addressed Saturday in San Francisco, when leaders from gay rights organizations from around the state will meet to try to create an organizational structure. Or, as they put it: "Establish an interim administrative body, elected by the attendees, which will form the PAC necessary to raise funds for the upcoming campaign." Upcoming? Hmmm. Courage Campaign leader Rick Jacobs, who will be at the SF confab Saturday, hasn't given up on 2010. "We're going to do the work right now, the really hard, intense research that needs to be done," he told us. "And if there is a clear path to victory in 2010, then we will share that information with the community." But, he adds, the Courage crew doesn't intend to go it alone "or lead the community off a cliff."
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