Comments on: Plan now for a marriage referendum in Maryland

By: Syd Diamond

Syd Diamond — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:57:09 +0000

I am ready, willing, and able to help with this effort. Where do I start, where do I go, who do I need to know?

Perhaps a voter registration drive for glbt aged 18-30.

By: Rob Lance

Rob Lance — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:38:43 +0000

Kudos, Steve! Thank you for sounding this wake up call so clearly and succinctly. I am very worried that all the individuals and organizations that are fighting for marriage equality are not looking ahead nor planning for the defeat of this inevitable referendum. The time is now, not later. Defeating the referendum will not be a lobbying effort, but rather an educational one. The voters must be enlightened and made aware of the dishonest arguments and sound bites that will be used to defeat the marriage equality bill. We must present the winning argument to them using facts and truths. We will also need to mobilize those who won’t bother to vote – many of them in the LGBT community – because the conservatives who oppose us will certainly have their voters out in force. All of us need to “put a face on gay” and get out there and do our part. It will be a grass roots effort and it needs to start immediately. Thanks for this excellent commentary, Steve.

By: Syd Diamond

Syd Diamond — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:17:03 +0000

I agree. Equality Maryland needs to do more outreach to the African American community. NOM already has built strong ties with them. There is a Baltimore Raven who supports same-sex marriage which could help with this.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:33:34 +0000

Support for what? to oppose it? If it’s to be a proponent in favor of gay marriage, then you largely need to focus on african-american fundamentalists and evangelicals who instilled fear in certain elected officials if they positively supported it.

By: Syd Diamond

Syd Diamond — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:28:40 +0000

I agree the smart thing to do it start planning for the vote. People need to start producing TV Commercials now and start organizing Social Media campaigns. This needs to be started now. We have a little over a year before the vote.

Also we need people on the ground at malls, sporting events, etc talking to people and getting their support.