Have we been too nice?

I've been thinking that the opposition has been in a street fight while we've been following the rules of Scrabble. We've lost in 31 states. Our ads are wholesome, gentle. They show gay families and children and ask, "How does this hurt you?" The ads of the opposition warn of polygamy, teaching gay sex to kindergarteners, forcing churches to perform gay marriage ceremonies. We've been speaking to the heart while they've been speaking to fear. And so far, fear has won. Fear and deception. Their ads rarely deal
with same-sex marriage, but on the fears of the slippery slope gay marriage will take us -- or the slope they try to convince others will take us. We need to play their game. I don't care anymore if voters like me. I want them to realize that voting in favor of referenda to abolish same-sex marriage is NOT in their best interest. Once LGBT folks are put in their place, who's next? There's always someone else.

New York was a disgrace, due in no small part because of the cowardice and lies of legislators who used the LGBT community when they needed money and support, flipped us the bird. And only ONE NY legislator who voted against us spoke during the session. The other 37 remained silent, then stuck it to us.  We trusted.  We assumed good will.

We have been too nice.

I'm imagining  -- okay, it's a little tongue in cheek but I'm venting here -- the who's ?next campaign.

Scene #1. It starts with some of the ugly demonstrations against gay marriage. Bring in the God Hates Fag signs -- I've seen them myself at protests. Show the ugly side of this debate.


Scene #2. Show people lining up to vote. Anxiety producing music. VOICE OVER: "Something new is happening in our country. We're actually voting on the civil rights of our fellow citizens.

Scene #3. VOICE OVER: "Can you imagine if we had done that at other points in our history?" Show women prostesting for the right to vote. Show the separate water fountains during segregation. Show a black man and a white woman taking off their engagement rings. Show the arrival of immigrants during the turn of the century.

FINAL VOICE OVER: "This isn't about gay marriage. It's about who's next."

Oh.  In case you think that this might be over the top -- and writing it, I certainly felt that way -- please remember the presidential ad of 2004. The one with the wolves coming out of the woods while ominous music played in the background.  The one that implied that if you voted for John Kerry your life would be in danger.  That you would be killed by a terrorist.  It worked.