I followed the reporting throughout the day on the state of the elections across the country.  Of particular interest to me personally were the attempts to repeal Same-Sex marriage in Maine and the domestic partnerships question on the Washington ballot.

As of this morning, we can count Maine a loss.  Maine voters, with 87 percent reporting, have repealed the ability of queers to marry there by 53/47 percent.

In Washington, only half of the ballots are counted and it’s too close to call, but there is hope as the proposed law leads 51/49.

When put in the hands of our elected representatives, our batting average in successfully gaining rights is improving.  Politicians see the value in providing rights to a voting portion of their constituencies.  But, put before the people, and highly swayed by right wing religious factions, we lose.  Over and over and over.

When I woke up, I had zero expectation that either would pass.  The religious wingnuts have cohesive organization, adequate funds, and wild-eyed zealotry on their side.

And, I believe the biggest detriment to our success is us.  What do we have?  A mishmash of organizations, all with their hands out, developing strategies parallel to each other, but without cohesion.  We also have a population which doesn’t have 100% voter turnout.

We are, potentially, 10 percent of the population, yet are expected to sway at least 41 percent of the rest of the population with our supposed political power – the power the California Supreme Court says we have and the very power they cited as a reason why we weren’t deserving of special protection from crazy voter initiatives like Prop 8.

If we can’t connect and involve 100% of our people in their own fight, how can we expect to sway the requisite numbers to our side?  It’s going to take every one of us.  Every single day.  We have two years.  What will you do?