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Gay Republicans canvass against Proposition 2

By Marla Crockett, KERA Reporter

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-487746.mp3

Gay Republicans canvass against Proposition 2

Dallas, TX –

Marla Crockett, KERA 90.1 Reporter: Glen Maxey believes heterosexuals have as much to lose from Proposition Two as gays do. The Democrat and former Austin lawmaker was the legislature's first openly gay member and is leading the statewide No Nonsense in November campaign.

Glen Maxey, Director of No Nonsense in November Campaign: This amendment doesn't just say marriage is between a man and a woman. There's a second section that says that gay men and lesbians do not have the ability to have status similar to or identical to marriage. There's no definition to what similar to marriage is.' Most legal scholars say that common law marriage is outlawed. Litigation is going to be all over the state and there's going to be a world of hurt.

Crockett: Maxey says the campaign has attracted thousands of volunteers, including hundreds of faith leaders and fair-minded Republicans.' Many complain that No Nonsense got a late start. Maxey disagrees, but says a week before the election, with low turnout expected, the focus is on what he calls lateral organizing:'

Maxey: It's people in the bowling league talking to the bowling league, people in church talking to people in church, people in the workplace talking to people in the workplace.

Crockett: And in select Dallas neighborhoods, it's gay, conservative Log Cabin Republicans talking to fellow conservatives:

Ted Jackson, Log Cabin activist: We know from experience around the country that it becomes harder for people to vote against gay people if they know gay people.

Crockett: On a recent Sunday afternoon, Ted Jackson, a Log Cabin organizer from Ohio, prepped four volunteers for the group's first canvassing assignment in Dallas. They were to walk a few streets in an upscale neighborhood near Bent Tree Country Club. Jackson started by showing them several ads that have been running in Houston.

TV Ad: I had not counted on my daughter-in-law's name being Jeff, but I love him. I hope they're together forever, I really do.

Jackson: And that's why we're canvassing in a little more conservative neighborhoods, to find those moms out there who would vote with us because they wouldn't want their child to be discriminated against. All right, are you guys ready? All right, let's go.

Crockett: Armed with clipboards, a script, and a rating system for those they met, Les Reid and Rob Schlein began ringing doorbells on Club Oaks Drive, about a mile from Schlein's home, where the group had met:

Rob Schlein, Log Cabin volunteer: It's a little nerve wracking because you never know who's going to answer the door and the reaction you're going to receive, but Ted has assured us that most of the time it's very friendly, so we'll see.

Crockett: They visited 21 homes over the next 90 minutes. Many weren't there, but of the men who answered, three said they were too busy to talk.

Man at door: I'm watching a football game right now, sorry.

Crockett: A few others were polite, but firm in their support for Proposition Two:

Les Reid, Log Cabin volunteer: So we're urging people to vote against this amendment, it's a very discriminatory thing. How do you feel about it? You've probably come to the wrong place, I would vote for it. Okay we thank you for your time.

Crockett: As Ted Jackson had hoped, the women were a different story. Six of the nine Reid and Schlein encountered were on their side, including a housekeeper, a med student, and a grandmother:

Woman at the door: It has nothing to do with my family. I think as you age and as you see more of the world, and there's intolerance, and we have so much intolerance in this world. Why should we be intolerant to people in any direction at all?

Crockett: Then there was a woman who didn't want to be recorded:

Schlein: Even though her son is not gay, he's a Republican and will be voting against the amendment, but she does have a lesbian daughter, so she's well informed on the issue and thinks we're going to do better than we think in this election.

Crockett: Back at the house, after a debriefing, Ted Jackson called the feedback typical and amazing. But he's under no illusions about actually winning this fight:

Jackson: At Log Cabin Republicans, our definition of victory is 41%. Only one state has broken that 41% support line on one of those constitutional amendments, and that's Oregon. If we can pass that 40% point, we'd become one of two states that did it, and that really is a victory for the gay community. For KERA 90.1, I'm Marla Crockett.

 

Contact KERA's News and Public Affairs staff about this piece

No Nonsense in November

Texas Log Cabin Republicans

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