Media Covers Proposed Anti-Gay Initiative in California but LGBT Voices Largely Missing

Social conservatives in California are trying to appeal directly to voters in an effort to push through measures that have been stifled by the legislature’s Democratic majority. If they succeed, the LBGT community could suffer enormous setbacks. The San Jose Mercury News reported last week that conservatives have raised almost $9 million for a set of ballot measures, including a constitutional ban on marriage for LGBT couples.

Anti-gay activists behind the campaign must gather almost 700,000 signatures by late April to qualify for the November election. Because the proposed ballot initiative would change the state constitution, the legislature would be prohibited from passing another bill in the future despite the passage of a marriage bill in 2005 and 2007, erasing years of progress. And since constitutional amendments take precedence over legislation and limit the authority of courts, current cases that might lead to marriage would be stopped or reversed.

Although the media has not covered the proposed ballot initiative extensively, newspapers have discussed local business owners’ financial contributions to the campaign.

Whether or not anti-gay groups succeed in their signature gathering efforts, the media should go beyond framing the issue simply as a political fight, “wedge issue” or tactic to advance anti-gay efforts, and instead take a deeper look at how this initiative would harm LGBT couples and their families for years to come. Media will play a key role in educating voters on the constitutional amendment, and it will be more crucial than ever for the state’s LGBT community to speak out and ensure their voices are heard.

 Paul Karr is the Director of Media Field Strategy