No on Prop 8: An Appeal from California

Dear friends and colleagues:

Just months after the California Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality and full equal treatment under law for LGBT people, our equal rights are endangered by Prop. 8, a proposed constitutional amendment to overturn the Dear friends and colleagues:

Just months after the California Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality and full equal treatment under law for LGBT people, our equal rights are endangered by Prop. 8, a proposed constitutional amendment to overturn the California Supreme Court decision.  Early polls showed Prop. 8 headed for defeat, but the religious Right responded with a huge influx of out-of-state money to fund anti-gay TV and radio ads.  The Mormon Church has directed its members nationwide to donate to the Prop. 8 campaign, and as a consequence, tens of millions of dollars for Prop. 8 are pouring into California. Almost half of Prop. 8′s money comes from the  Mormons, with the rest mostly from other organizations of the religious Right, such as the Knights of Columbus and Focus on the Family.  The result of this well-funded campaign is a dramatic increase in support for Prop. 8 in the polls, with recent polls predicting a close victory for the ban on same sex marriage.

Prop. 8 has given the religious right the license to demonize LGBT people via television ads like this one:

 It’s ironic that “Milk” is just being released, as this campaign is reminiscent of the 1978 Briggs Initiative, with ads using children to spread the fear that gays and lesbians are “recruiting” youth.  We won in 1978, and now, 30 years later, we can win again, but we must come together now to fight for our rights.

Led by San Francisco psychiatrist Rob Daroff, MD, SF Bay Area LGBT psychiatrists and other health professionals have already raised over $90,000 to fight Prop. 8. Now there is a challenge grant—if we can donate $5,000 more to the campaign against Prop. 8 by this Sunday, we have a donor who will match that $5,000.  Please donate to the No on 8 campaign.

The religious right recognizes that this campaign could be a tipping point for same sex marriage nationwide.  So far, money from outside of California has been overwhelmingly for Prop. 8, to ban same sex marriage.  We hope that our friends and colleagues from outside of California will recognize the importance of this campaign, and help preserve our rights, by giving money to the No on 8 campaign.

 

Thank you,

Dan Karasic, MD
San Francisco, CA