APRIL 4, 1997 GAY PEOPLE's ChroNICLE 11

SPEAK OUT

Marriage ban is quiet now, but what's the Right's plan?

by Eric Resnick

Why has this seemed so easy? There has been no big fight. This was supposed to have been one of the most contentious and visible fights of the year, yet our opponents have not mounted a campaign. What's wrong?

Up to this point, it seems that H.B. 160 has caused little stir on the proponents' side. This is the bill, introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives by Jay Hottinger, which would declare same-sex marriages illegal, duplicating current state law.

Why is instinct telling me to be concerned with this seemingly good situation? Because what has transpired is out of character for radical religious fundamentalists and contrary to most of what we know to be their normal plan. It doesn't make sense, at first glance.

Some gay activists are dismissing what they are seeing by assuming that H.B. 160 must not be very important to the Right. Yet it must be, as there are similar bills in every state that didn't pass one last year.

The Right is highly organized and “topdown" in structure. Therefore, a few leaders can strategize while the followers await orders like a well-trained army. Years of effort have given them a sophisticated and effective communication network. They have no need to expose their plans until they are ready. Deals can be cut and nobody needs to know.

It is hard to believe the Right would go to the effort of drafting legislation and getting sponsorship for it without a plan for passing it or reaping the rewards of its presence. We have seen what they are capable of doing in the political arena.

Is H.B. 160 a diversion? The Right has introduced a number of bills in addition to H.B. 160, including one that are new attempts at old bills that did not pass last session. The lesbigay community would probably be more concerned with some of these other slightly more palatable bills if not for the presence of H.B. 160. Is H.B. 160 just a siphon of our energy designed to ensure passage of the other bills?

Our community's response to H.B. 160 has been much stronger than our typical efforts. Are we being tested, or did the Right's strategists predict this would be? Are they mounting a tortoise-vs.-hare campaign which will overtake us when we get tired? Our past legislative performance has taught them about our community's relatively short attention span with any one issue. Will we be able to mobilize a second or third time when they decide to make the move?

We recognized early on that one of the goals of this legislation is to spotlight and embarrass politicians who are decent to gays and lesbians. The statehouse is already chaotic. With Ohio's term limits taking effect

after 1998, many legislators are looking to run for other offices. Could it be that H.B. 160 is designed to advance an election strategy in 2000?

House rules provide other ways the Right could move this legislation if it suits them. A discharge petition only needs 51 of 99 members' signatures to move the bill from committee to the floor for vote. There are no hearings required and little chance for opponents to be heard.

Another tactic used with controversial bills is to convince timid legislators on the responsible committee to take less responsibility for the bill's passage by voting it out of committee and onto the floor. Legislators can claim to oppose a bill without opposing it on the record as the bill moves to passage on the floor.

Our community has put a great deal of faith in Rep. Ann Womer-Benjamin; a member of the Republican majority who has spoken against H.B. 160 and has promised to persuade other Republicans to join her vote with the Democrats to defeat the bill in committee. So far, we have no reason to doubt Womer-Benjamin's sincerity, but one cannot ignore her reputation for changing her mind on key bills at the last minute.

Three times Rep. Womer-Benjamin has claimed to side ideologically with Democrats and promised to persuade Republicans to join her. Each time, her vote has been decisive. The issues were tort reform, ‘D and X' abortions, and the medical use of marijuana. Each time, she switched her vote at the last minute.

Is the Right counting on a last-minute vote switch to make this bill quietly clear committee?

The most likely reason H.B. 160 has not moved is the time legislators are now spending on the state's biennial budget. However, smart activists watch the activity around the "edges" while the core issues are debated. Once the budget is passed, the legislators will have plenty of time for sideshows. They will also begin their 1998 campaigns around that time. It becomes a perfect opportunity to get press by scheduling hearings on a controversial bill.

Will we be ready then? Most likely, the Right will be.

The fight over H.B. 160 lies ahead. We must plan for it with the same intensity the Right is. It will not be cheap. We should start building a war chest. Our communication networks must strengthen. Gays and lesbians need to learn that it is possible to organize politically in social situations and must take every opportunity to do so. Most importantly, every one of us must pledge to do something to help the effort. We cannot afford to lose interest even if the bill doesn't move for a long time.

Our rendezvous awaits.

Individual, Couple & Family Counseling

Nicholas Palumbo, ACSW, LISW

Clinical Social Worker

216/331-2898

Westwood Associate

20800 Center Ridge Poad #!]

Rocky River. Of

Southwest Unitarian Universalist Church of Strongsville

invites you to share in

a service emphasizing our commitment to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people

on Sunday April 6 10:30 a.m.

Center Junior High School

•

13200 Pearl Rd. Strongsville, Ohio Church phone: 216-816-1686

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