Lessons from Ypsilanti - Michigan gays organize to defeat anti-gay initiative - Column - Brief Article

The defining moment in Ypsilanti, Mich.'s sweeping defeat of an antigay initiative in May occurred long before the campaign ever started. It occurred when an unassuming couple began restoring their historic home. It occurred countless elections ago when a woman began maintaining a voter database for local candidates. In short, our defining moment occurred when gay people actively began to participate in the community--not in gay causes but in community causes.

We all were caught off guard 16 months ago when a student group from Eastern Michigan University was turned away by a local business. Members of the group TA-Pride, described as "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered social work students and professionals," had their deposit for raffle tickets returned by a local printer, who told them, "We didn't know what kind of club this is." The innocuous raffle tickets, ironically, were to benefit a "Halt the Hate" vigil, which presented a forum on campus for anyone or any group that had been subject to discrimination or oppression.

In reaction to the printer's decision, our city council voted unanimously to adopt an antidiscrimination ordinance. When it came to outlining what groups would be protected by the new ordinance, the city council never questioned the inclusion of gay men and lesbians. Council members were used to seeing gay people participate in council meetings, community cleanup days, food and health cooperatives, neighborhood associations, historic commissions, and on government committees and task forces. They already knew the value of having gay people in the community. It was a point that we never had to make. And even though antigay residents were able to gather enough signatures to put the issue up for reconsideration on the May 5 ballot, the final vote showed many more residents believed gay men and lesbians deserve the same protections as all others in Ypsilanti.

Our victory--by one of the largest margins achieved against any antigay initiative in the United States--was due to one simple fact: Gay people had been open and active in the community for years. No reasonable person could deny protections to people he or she knows.

Before the ticket-printing fiasco, Ypsilanti had no, sort of gay "group," but we had credibility that goes beyond a formal organization, no matter how many members you have. (Although, when a group of us met after the incident to discuss its repercussions, we learned that Ypsilanti has many gay people.) Our campaign built on the strong relationships already in place. One white gay man was on the board of the local NAACP, which provided immeasurable support.

So to those of you attempting to add sexual orientation to your community's nondiscrimination laws, first do an ho nest assessment of your credibility. If you do not have solid support from your elected officials, you are doomed. Second, listen to those who have won local campaigns. They know the voters and the timing issues and can build coalitions. Third, start raising money now. We raised $32,000 in less than six months--all from within southeastern Michigan--and almost all in the form of $20 to $60 checks.

Once we were into full campaign mode, nearly all our efforts went to direct voter contact. We mailed at least six pieces to active registered voters.

We spent weeks calling them and visiting them door-to-door. We tracked all known supporters on election day and called them three times if necessary to get them to the polls.

We talked to our coworkers neighbors. And we asked them to talk to their friends and neighbors. No slogan can affect a voter as sharing your personal experience. And when we asked our friends, neighbors, and coworkers for help, they responded--in part because they knew it was right and in part because we had already helped them and the community in countless other ways. It's a law of local politics--as well as of human nature--that people will return a favor, especially if it's a favor for a neighbor they already know.

Heaton is the cochair of the Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality, which helped to defeat an antigay initiative 56% to 44% May 5 in Ypsilanti.

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