Equality California hires coalition coordinator

Political insularity, conceptions of "gay" as being home turf for rich white men, and ubiquitous knee-jerk rejections of all things religious were three of the biggest hurdles
California activists failed to clear when it lost the same-sex marriage ballot battle last November. Now as we all play wait-and-see during the state Supreme Court deliberations on the validity of that marriage equality setback, those three stumbling blocks will be some of the areas Andrea Shorter, Equality California's new coalition coordinator, will address as the state tries to play catch up with the likes of ... Iowa?

"The perception is the LGBT community is white gay men who have disposable income who can go on thee week cruises on a moment's notice," Shorter told EDGE. "That's not reality."

Shorter, 43, is single -- "I'm dating someone, but I'm not married," she said -- but is no stranger to the fight for marriage for same-sex couples, having served as campaign director for And Marriage 4 All, a collaboration of African American community leaders, families, elected officials, clergy, and faith leaders.

It could be argued the voices less heard in the Prop 8 debate last year were those of LGBT people of color from the working class. In what might be called the "Will & Grace" phenomenon, the marketed messages from both opponents and supporters of Prop 8 alike intentionally or not helped propagate the false stereotype of all gays as silly, spoiled promiscuous white boys crying for attention.

"We don't all live in the Castro," Shorter said. "We don't all live in West Hollywood. That isn't possible."

Last year, even with Coretta Scott King, then presidential candidate Barack Obama and Magic Johnson all speaking out against Prop 8, activists were never really able to shake the Will & Grace/Queer As Folk "guppy" image. [Check out the staff page for Marriage Equality itself, glance through the personal insights in the bios next to the plethora of Caucasian faces.] Shorter said she will work with Equality California to try to build better coalitions to change the terms on which marriage issue is being debated.

"If our experiences are really greater as people of color and as working people in the community," she said, "Yhen that is more reflective of some of the issues we need to address. Opponents continue to perpetuate the notion that one is either an LGBT person or a person of faith, that you can't be both. But we know that's not true."

"Religion is not the enemy. It's the interpretations of religious doctrines and theology for political gain that is the enemy."

"We need to get more mainline. We need Methodists talking to Methodists, Baptists talking to Baptists. Even in the Mormon church: We have allies in the Mormon church. What can we do to support their advocacy on their behalf? Let's bring it to the next level. There is a time when religion must speak to religion. There's a time when theologians must speak to other theologians on what they interpret."

While San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's "Whether you like it or not" quote was seen as being the most damaging sound bit used in Prop 8 supporters' ads, Shorter noted there were other messages out there that alienated potential allies -- notably the signs that said Prop 8 was a vote for hate.

"Let's not use language that we don't want used against us," Shorter said. "I don't want us to be called a 'hater.' Let's be careful there. Many people supported Prop 8 not because they hate us."

Shorter said many Prop 8 supporters said they loved their gay daughters and girlfriends, their sons and their boyfriends, but thought voting for Prop 8 would damn their souls.

"Some thought it was a fast track to hell, supporting same sex marriage," she said. "We need to have the opportunities for our faith-based leaders to meet with other leaders of faith."

Shorter said future coalitions must have renewed sincerity, inclusion and commitment if they are to have any effectiveness and validity.

"It just can't be people were already comfortable with, the friends we already have" she said. "We need to reach out to people who are stuck in the middle. We may change their hearts and their minds, and we're interested in changing their behaviors. Let's make sure we are providing levels of support."

"In a real coalition effort, let's dig a little deeper and do something more authentic. The times are changing, the numbers are moving our way -- not just on marriage equality, but on the opportunity for the LGBT community to become a core feature of the civil rights movement. The time is past when we are secondary and incidental to other issues."

Of course, for the immediate future the fate of marriage for same-sex couples rests with the justices.

"I don't want to presume one way or another what there're going to do," Shorter said. "Nevertheless, we need to be prepared if they uphold Prop 8."

"I try to be pragmatic and as realistic as I can be about the challenges ahead of us. But I'm also an eternal optimist. i am optimistic that we are experiencing a shift in our society."

"This may no be a popular statement to make, but to see something happen in Iowa means there's a greater chance we will see something happen throughout the Midwest. I am optimistic. I don't know what the court will do. Like everyone else, I really am elated at what is happening in Iowa, at what is happening in Vermont, at what is happening in D.C.

"Let's see what happens in Hawaii and in New Hampshire."