This fall, for the first time in nearly three years, I’ll be teaching my History 24F: Introduction to Lesbian and Gay American History. (For those interested, it’ll be Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:35-3:10PM).
This same fall, Californians will almost certainly be voting again on a ban on gay marriage. As virtually everyone knows, last Thursday the California Supreme Court invalidated the prior ban on same-sex marriages, clearing the way for marriage licenses to be issued to gay and lesbian couples within a matter of weeks. A stay may yet be forthcoming, pending the outcome of the November vote. It is widely assumed that opponents of same-sex marriage have enough signatures to get an initiative onto the November ballot. Presuming they do, it will be an exciting and nerve-wracking battle.
2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the defeat of the Briggs Initiative. A California State Senator, John Briggs, got a measure on the November 1978 ballot that would have barred gay and lesbian folks from serving as classroom teachers. Gays and lesbians had never won a statewide ballot fight anywhere in the country before, and pre-election polls predicted doom. Thousands of jobs would have been at stake. But gay and lesbian activists, led by San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, rallied a diverse coalition to oppose what became known as “Proposition 6.” Of all people, former governor Ronald Reagan came out against Briggs. To the surprise of many, the initiative went down to defeat. For the first time ever, gay and lesbian folks had won a statewide battle in America. Three weeks later, Harvey Milk was assassinated, and passed into legend.
I remember 1978 vividly. I remember campaigning against the Briggs Initiative, aged 11. I remember the assassination of Harvey Milk. And I remember the sense that many people had that there was no way gays or lesbians could win this battle. Thirty years later, I’m a professor of gender studies who teaches LGBTQ history. And I’m filled with confidence that gays and lesbians and their allies can win the fight for marriage equality at the ballot box.
Polls show support for same-sex marriage climbing every year. Eight years ago, 60% of Californians voted in favor of a ban on same-sex marriage (since overturned by the court). More recent polls show that the public is split; support for gay marriage is rising at the rate of 1-2% per year, every year. Part of that change is demographic: the strongest support for gay marriage is among young people; the most hardened opposition is among voters over 60. Father time will win this battle for us eventually regardless of what happens in the short-term, and that is a comforting thought! (More on this here.)
The Los Angeles Times reports this morning on various Christian responses to the state Supreme Court decision. My friend Susan Russell is interviewed and photographed, but the thoughts of conservative evangelicals are also included in the piece. While most of the latter remain opposed to same-sex marriage, one detects in their language the beginning of a shift towards acceptance.
At Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, the Rev. William Epps said his congregation has been focused on its 123rd anniversary — which it celebrated Sunday — and has given no thought to the Supreme Court ruling.
Traditional Baptist churches “would not embrace same-sex marriages,” Epps said, although he would be happy to devote a Bible study session to the matter if anyone wanted.
He himself has never been asked to bless a same-sex union. And what would he do if a homosexual couple asked him to marry them now?
“I’d have to prayerfully think about it,” Epps said in an interview. “I would think it would be something I would have to seriously grapple with.”
I love that. Ten years ago, no conservative Baptist minister would have had “to seriously grapple” (yay for split infinitives) with whether to marry a same-sex couple! The fact that Rev. Epps sees it as an issue that requires prayer and theological wrestling is evidence of the first cracks in the dam of conservative Christian opposition to homosexuality. Ten years ago, ministers like Pastor Epps would have considered the idea of same-sex unions risible. Though conservative evangelical pastors may still not be ready to bless gay marriages, they are increasingly willing to embrace nuance and complexity. And that’s the first step in moving them — or their successors — towards affirmation and acceptance. Young evangelicals, like the young in general, are much less hostile to homosexuality than an older generation. God is moving in the church, and the signs are everywhere.
We’re gonna win this battle this fall, and we’re gonna win it at the ballot box. We’ll have massive turnout, with lots of young folks excited about Barack Obama; the political climate and the changing demographic all work in our favor. And thirty years after the defeat of John Briggs, the next great landmark battle in gay and lesbian history will be won, once again in a gorgeous California November.
I can’t wait to teach my class this fall.
When the Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruled to legalize gay marriage in 2003. The towns & cities were given a few months until May 17, 2004 when gay marriage would go into effect. Of course Romney & his cronies tried everything to stop it but failed. Even after gay marriages were performed they tried to get an amendment on to the ballot until June 14th, 2007 when it was finally defeated in the State House. For those who are still uncomfortable with this check out our short produced to educate & defuse the controversy. It has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: http://www.OUTTAKEonline.com
Well, guess it’s time for xrlq to pay up on that little bet we made.
xrlq, you may recall that I said the loser should not be forced to donate to a charity s/he felt was immoral. Therefore, if you will make your donation to Doctors Without Borders, USO, the Special Olympics or Reading Is Fundamental I’ll call it good.
As one half of one of the first gay couples in Canadian history to marry (and the fist to marry inside a United Church of Canada), it does my heart good to see that my LGBT brothers and sisters in both of my two favourite U.S. states have some light at the end of the tunnel. If ever there was a reason to keep church and state separate, this is surely it. As most evolved people are aware, gay and lesbian couples are not a threat to “the family,” we ARE the family. We are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and more, and marrying the person with whom you intend to share your life is one of the oldest family traditions in the history of the human race.