Petrelis Files

Rich White Gays Killed
Straight Black No on 8 Vote

All the blogosphere chatter about assigning some blame for the passage of Prop 8 to straight black voters is getting on my last nerve, because full blame for the loss rests squarely with the rich white gays who ran our side's operation.

Time for a history lesson, including for myself. I'm not a Democratic Party voter and don't follow the gay clubs in town, so I boned up on the letter Barack Obama sent to the Alice B. Toklas Club back on June 29, in a letter proclaiming Gay Pride month.

The money quote:

"I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.

"For too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect ...

"Finally, I want to congratulate all of you who have shown your love for each other by getting married these last few weeks."

I recall the headlines about Obama's letter and thought responsible gay leaders would use his words to make in-roads to undecided or independent voters, and straight black voters, to oppose Prop 8.

However, the No on 8 campaign, which never lacked for money, didn't spend a dime creating any press materials using Obama's visage or words opposing the proposition in June, July, August, September and October. Five freaking longs months went by without No on 8 exploiting the Illinois Senator's position on the measure, and his declaration of respect for our love. What a wasted opportunity.

Fast forward to October 31, when I received the Yes on 8 mailer with Obama and his words opposing gay marriage, and persuaded Cynthia Laird at the BAR to write a story about the direct mail piece, the gay community and the shocked No on 8 campaign saw how to effectively use Obama on a gay marriage amendment.

On November 1, five long months after Obama wrote to the Alice Club, three weeks after absentee voting began across the state, and three short days before the election, the rich white gays finally used some of their oodles and oodles of big bucks on an ad featuring the candidate and his opposition. That act of extreme tardiness was probably dumb No on 8 decision number 269.

I cringe when thinking of how many Obama voters who voted Yes, might have voted no on 8, if our side had been informing the entire CA electorate about his opposition.

My two cents, surely not worth much to the No on 8 leaders who had $40 million at their fingertips, is that the blame for the Yes on 8 forces winning rests not with any ethnic minority, but instead must be laid at the Gucci-clad feet of the rich white gays behind the No on 8 effort.