Burnt Orange Report

November 02, 2005

2 Letters Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Following are two letters, one of them mine, the other Glen Maxey's, that we have sent to friends, family, teachers, and those that we hardly ever send things to. Think about writing a letter and e-mail yourself, the responses you get back are some of the most fulfilling things to read, and remember, a personal plea to vote is one of the most effective ways to get people to the polls.

If you can't do that, donate to the last round of campaign calls that will go out before the election. They cost a nickel a call. Spare your brothers a dime.

Dear Friends,

It is not often that I contact you all together about the issues or projects that I am working on, unless of course you are on some listserv that I webmaster, in which case you get contacted far too much. But today I am asking you to do something so basic, so easy, but so critical I cannot express how important it is.

I'm asking you to Vote and to Vote Against Constitutional Amendment #2, the Marriage Amendment.
If you live in Austin, Vote Early on campus at the FAC/UGL, 7a-7p until this Friday the 4th.
Election Day is then on Nov 8th.

And then I'm asking you to take 5 minutes of your time to pass this message on, either in my words or preferably your own.

I know it's wrong to expect others to make my issue their issue. But this isn't my issue. This is our issue. It's an issue for each and every one of you who reads this and this is the only time when we are going to be able to do anything about it. There is no second chance. If it passes, it stays for a century. It won't be repealed in my lifetime. And I keep thinking about that and realize that is what makes this different. You have got to care this once, because this once is all we get.

It makes me cry sometimes. The dedication and love and energy of our straight allies in this… I know why I'm fighting. I think I know why they are fighting, too.

There are 10 days left… 10 short days until I find out if my state will choose to constitutionally define me as a second-class person.

I must fight. I hope you will too.

Vote and remind your friends,
Karl-Thomas Musselman

A Personal Plea from Glen Maxey.

You’ve known me for a long while. I’ve been a State Representative, a Democratic Party activist and a Party consultant. I hope you know me as a vocal spokesperson for the ideals of the Democratic Party, for social justice, for the underdog and the little guy.

I also happen to be a gay man who cares deeply about my relationship.

Today, I’m sending you this note and this request on a very personal matter. I need you to be a spokesperson for me. I need you to speak out for me and the thousands of your neighbors across Texas who will be permanently made second class citizens if Proposition 2 passes and is placed in the Bill of Rights.

It’s a daily experience for many of us dealing with the “little things” that everyone else takes for granted in their heterosexual relationships. Sometimes, for us, it turns tragic. It affects everything about our lives.

I’ve stood in the emergency room, partner unconscious, me in tears, trying to convince an uncaring desk clerk that I had a right to be there. I’ve gone into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt paying for health care of a partner who I cannot put on my insurance policy. And I even have to go through the hassle and cost of doing a legal document just so that a partner can bury my body when I die.

You might take for granted the 1,130 rights and responsibilities heterosexual folks get when they pay for that marriage license. I have lived through the horror of not having those same rights.

So I have two simple requests: Please vote. People’s lives depend on it.

Help me send messages to Democrats across Texas on Monday telling them to vote. Send Rick Perry, the Republicans in the Legislature, and the hate mongers and religious zealots a message by helping us have a huge turnout of Democrats on Tuesday.

Donate here: Donate

An automated call costs a nickel. Donate $100 and tell 2500 Democrats to vote. Donate $10 and tell 250. Please help.

Call my office at 512-443-2004 if I can pick up a check or have a local campaign person do so. You can mail a check to: No Nonsense, 512 E Riverside Dr Ste 203, Austin Tx 78704.

Thank you,
Glen

Posted by Karl-Thomas Musselman at November 2, 2005 12:55 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Just through I drop a line and give you all a heads up - while also venting a little frustration alone the way - sorry!

This morning, my day began with a phone call (one of those All American prerecorded messages - that we all love to get) from a Mr. Paul Bettencourt the local ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES for HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS - a true down to earth office holder and one who of course would should be above politics.

His friendly message was a simple one - he just want to remind me to get out and vote for the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions in Texas - just the thing that I a gay man really wanted to hear!

Having spent the last 20 years living in San Francisco and only just having relocated back home to Texas, last year, so I could better support my aging folks (now there some real family vales at work) - I’m not really equipped to handle the fact that Texas office holders would or could allow themselves to take such a stand on a public issue - if you can call it that!

But this is Texas and Homophobe rules!

Anyway, keep up the good work and say a little pray that there are enough good people here in Texas to stop the right wind cultist from inacting this latest hate bill!

And by the way did you all watch Jimmy Carter go off on his church and on “W the wonder boy last night on the Larry King Show - it was some really good television!

Thanks again and I guess I feel a little better now

Posted by: rich at November 3, 2005 11:17 AM

Just through I drop a line and give you all a heads up - while also venting a little frustration alone the way - sorry!

This morning, my day began with a phone call (one of those all american prerecorded messages - that we all love to get) from a Mr. Paul Bettencourt the local ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES for HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS - a true down to earth office holder and one who of course would be above politics.

But this is Texas and Homophobe rules!

Anyway, keep up the good work and say a little pray that there are enough good people here in Texas to stop the right wind cultist from acting this latest hate bill!

And by the way did you all watch Jimmy Carter go off on his church and on “W the wonder boy last night on the Larry King Show - it was some really good television!

Thanks again I feel a little better

Posted by: rich at November 3, 2005 11:20 AM

Our family will of course vote no.

In my job I have access to lots of middle class, fairly conservative texans. Knowing I'm not going to convert homophobia in the short time I have with them, I have used the following argument with a great deal of success.

I point out to them the Constitution already defines marriage between a man and a woman.

Then I give them the Politics 101 about how when you want to build or energize a base, you propose crap like this and the faithful come a runnin'.

Then I ask them why are they; texas taxpayers, footing the bill for someone's base building on something already in the constitution? It makes them suspcious and turns them off to the idea.

I hate using the man and a woman only argument for anything, but I will continue to do my part as long as this approach is effective.

Posted by: claire at November 3, 2005 01:29 PM

Paul Bettencourt -

Big-time religious right guy. Not a lot of people realize it, because it's a non-partisan election. You see it if you go to a Republican Party Convention. Anyway, here's what he said in October, per the Houston Pastors council press release,

"This amendment is needed because radical activists in our culture, assisted by activists on some judicial benches, have attempted to 'undefine' an institution that has been the bedrock throughout the history of western civilization."

Yeh, he's a big supporter of Amendment 2, alright. He also supported Terri Leo for State Board of Education. Terri is one of the ringleaders of attacks on the proper treatment of evolution in biology books. Pretty much the whole nine yards of the Republican Party platform, he's behind in spades. I just wish more people realized it.

Posted by: Sarah Berel-Harrop at November 4, 2005 10:57 PM

First of all let us do away with the term homophobic. I am not afraid of homosexuals and I don't know anyone else who is either.

Like it or not boys and girls, a simple anatomy lesson is enough to shoot down your claim of normality. So whatever arguments you want to continue to put forth are rendered meaningless by your own bodies. Damn, what a betrayal huh?

And an additional thought for you. Every argument used to normalize homosexuality can be, and have been used to support pedophila as well. Would you also like to welcome them into the fold of picked on/misunderstood minorities?

Posted by: Reggie at November 9, 2005 03:39 PM

News, Politics, and Fun From Deep in the Heart of Texas

November 02, 2005

2 Letters Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman