[Gemini Cricket]

I received an email from my former boss at GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) in Boston. I'd like to share it with everyone because it's hopeful.

Today is an extraordinary day for all Americans.
For LGBT Americans, it's a day when we embrace hope and change - and also re-charge for the work and challenges ahead.
For eight years, we've endured an administration that has been downright hostile to our community. President-elect Obama, in contrast has expressed support for many of our issues, and an openness to reconsider his position on others - namely, marriage equality.

Our wish list, of course, is long: there's the prospect of getting rid of discriminatory laws, like Don't Ask Don't Tell, and the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act". There's the prospect of enacting good laws, like an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Hate Crimes legislation, the Uniting American Families Act, and domestic partner benefits for federal workers. We expect the appointment of judges and justices who support civil rights and civil liberties as inherent in our constitution, and appointments of fair-minded people at all levels of the federal government.

None of this will happen without our community's unified efforts. While we believe we have a friend in the White House, our community must remain strong, focused, and disciplined in working with the new administration.

More great news came yesterday from Connecticut, where marriage equality is safe! Thanks to a strong and broad coalition working night and day, Connecticut's voters rejected a Constitutional Convention by a large margin. Anti-gay forces saw the convention as a way to strip our community of GLAD's historic win in Kerrigan & Mock v. Department of Public Health.
Now we can look forward to weddings, happiness, and security for the state's same-sex couples and their families, starting Wednesday, November 12. GLAD will continue our efforts to achieve the goal we have set of marriage equality for every state in New England by 2012.

Tempering these sweet victories are losses on initiated measures - in Florida and Arizona amending state constitutions to restrict marriage, in Arkansas to deny adoption rights, and of course California's apparent approval of a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. There are provisional and absentee ballots still to be counted, but our opponents have maintained a consistent lead.

In California, our opponents relied on a $30 million campaign of deception, scare tactics, and false claims. That's not sour grapes; it was the reality of that hard-fought campaign. We thank Equality for All, the entire No On Prop 8 coalition, and the California families - gay and non-gay - who did so much to tell the truth in that campaign.

This apparent blow to California families and stain of discrimination now embedded in California's constitution shows that those who support equality and inclusion are not yet a majority. Our community gained a level of national unity and organization we've never seen before in this tough battle, but the fight in California and our nation is far from over.

We must keep bright the beacon of equality here in New England - as well as in other states, like New York and New Jersey, where we are closer to winning. The truth will win out. Equality will win out. We must all do the work necessary to make that day come soon.

Please savor these wins and the history of this day -and re-dedicate yourself to working impossibly hard for equality.


Sincerely,
Lee Swislow Executive Director