Comments

1
This is lovely. Thank you
2
Damn it, I feel cheated. When doorknocking in Minnesota for Minnesota United, all I got were "faggots can burn in hell because THE BIBLE!!11!!" types and one bitter, divorced Ron Paulite who said he wasn't voting for marriage equality because he didn't think anyone should get married.

Yahtzee for you, Eli. Keep up the good work.
3
That was beautiful.

"I hope this passes." We all do, older woman from Lakewood. We all do.
4
well, this just made me start crying in the middle of a classroom where i'm sitting waiting for the day to start. beautifully written.
5
Another great piece, Eli. Thank you.
6
I have a suggested edit. The title should read "Good Morning, Have You Cried Yet Today?"
7
Terrific writing, terrific insights, and terrific writer. Thanks indeed.
8
Thanks for doing this, Eli.
9
The "aloneness" image is touching, as I feel it points to why a lot of folks in rural areas vote contrary to their own interests. They get access only to certain dialogues such as conservative talk radio or FOX, so to break into their typical discourse is amazing.
Thanks, Eli!
10
Those who oppose marriage equality don't see us as a minority, or a group with any rights, or really anything other than deviants to be pitied at best and reviled at worst. They have no problem voting on our rights, because they don't see it as voting for or against our rights, they're voting for right and wrong, and they know we're wrong.

If we could get them to read this, and other things like it, and perhaps even meet a gay person at some point, we can change their minds. It's the only thing that works, otherwise we'll just keep voting on whether there's something wrong with being gay. There isn't. Simple as that.
11
Eli, thanks for doing this. I've been phone banking and canvassing, too. I canvassed Issaquah Salmon Days yesterday, where 99% of the people were at the very least civil. There's always one a$$hole though, and this one told me that I was "a faggot going to hell." I told him, "Y'know, if Jesus were here, he'd probably think you were a dick."

One of the methods we used if we engaged a reject-74 person in conversation was to try and get them to consider abstaining. By *not* voting on the proposition, they honor their beliefs and still "do no harm" to those who would be adversely affected by the referendum being rejected. The idea got at least two Reject 74 voters to think for a moment or two. Whether it sinks in or not, well... we'll see in a month.
12
This is my life every tuesday, thank you for writing it so eloquently.
13
Great work. Thanks.
14
Beautiful writing. Thank you Eli. And thanks for volunteering your time with the phone banks.
15
Well done. I think you will persuade many to volunteer by taking the mystery out of phone banking and showing the worth of it.
16
Good job, Eli, both with the phone bank and this writing. It made my gloomy Monday morning brighter.
17
.......and I'm crying. Beautiful, and THANK YOU.
18
Maybe if you were actually a journalist it wouldn't be so hard.
19
Fascinating read, Eli.
20
Thank you, Eli.
21
This was my Wednesday, with a few "Don't you know the President is speaking right now?" thrown in there. I was very surprised by how willing people were to engage in conversation while on the phone. I had 2 persuasions during my time, and I'm going again tonight.
22
This is great stuff. I like that your eyes were also opened a bit, and you learned not to make automatic assumptions based on a person's age or where they live (despite what Mudede would claim). As you learned, there are plenty of progressive older people and there are progressive people outside metropolitan Seattle.

23
Good to know that a quasi-random sample of voters outside Seattle turned up so much sanity. It's reassuring after my experience yesterday:

Driving back from Portland, we stopped for gas at the Texaco at the Highway 12/Morton exit. A white guy, probably late 60s, was badgering the be-turbaned man running the store with "is Mohammed going to save you?" Turban Guy was saying stuff like "it's not the same thing," so I guess he was trying unsuccessfully to make the idiot understand that not everyone who wears a turban is Moslem.

This was at 1 PM, and the idiot didn't seem drunk, so I assumed he was high on Faux Newz-salts and looking to show Allah that Gawd is bigger. I'd have joined the argument for recreational purposes, but I figured it's a near-certainty the guy was packing, so ganging up on him seemed like a bad idea, what with my daughter in the line of fire and all.

If you're going by there, take this little detour and give some respect to the guy behind the counter. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5698093
24
Every now and then a nice work of professional journalism pops up to balance the odd mix of things on slog. This was that.
25
I'll be phonebanking on Wednesday.
26
I've been phone-banking weekly since June and this is very much been my experience as well. Although, as a straight-ish woman, I think my calls get a bit of extra undeserved leverage. What has impressed me the most about the conversations is that in their most positive, that's really what they are; conversations. Even when we don't agree - it's a critical opportunity for civil discourse. For many, it may be the first intelligent, kind, and considerate discussion that they've had with someone who disagrees with them to their very soul but can still treat them kindly and respectfully.

WHEN we win, it will be because of these courageous, critical, and fierce conversations.

It isn't so scary to make the calls and the pizza is delicious. Join us.
27
What a great piece!

It's weird and great that people can still change their political and social opinions through conversations. It's sad that this is surprising. Horrible people and idiots have really lowered my expectations.
28
Very nice, Eli!

Also, a Ron Paul supporter who:
1) Opposes Big Government
2) Opposes entitlement programs, and
3) Works at the Social Security Administration(!)

That's fucking hilarious!
29
Great piece Eli. Thanks.
30
Best writing I've ever seen on Slog. Thanks for this article. The reader gets a small part of your sympathetic approach to dealing with people totally unlike himself. And gets something out of it.

This piece was 1000 times more moving than the usual Gay Advocacy drumbeating that goes on at this site, especially by your main Professional Gay, who despite all the good things he's accomplished, just has crossed the self-defeating threshold of bleating shrillness too many times.

I have always voted for personal rights equality & I always will; and just bashing Old/Rural/Ignorant-Religious types because they are Not Like You is being just as bad as they are.
31
I haven't done my phonebanking yet, but I gotta ask- when confronted by super religious types, are phonebank operators told to emphasize the fact the Ref 74 also explicitly states that religious institutions won't be forced to marry gay couples? It might seem like toothless fluff to us, but to religious people who are anti-gay it could be a very real selling point. To that end, I honestly hope that in eastern Washington the Ref 74 commercials are geared more towards "protecting Church's rights on marriage"... because that's how this will be won.
32
Beautiful read and well though out, Eli. However, please edit a little more next time before posting. Squamish is a town in rural British Columbia, having no effect on this issue whatsoever. Suquamish, however, is on the Suquamish Reservation, in Kitsap county. BTW, the Suquamish Tribe legalized Gay Marriage a few years back, long before the passing of the anything but marriage laws or R-74 had even come up. Little known fact.

I did enjoy reading this however. Growing up in a conservative family, and several generally homophobic areas of washington, including Gig Harbor, I can relate.

I did like the part about the woman in Lakewood and the Woman in Tacoma though. I too, hope she hadn't gotten some kind of advanced ballot, or maybe she was under the impression the county elections that already took place were the same as state level? either way, it's a scary thought. Next time, please make sure you have the geographical locations correct though.
33
Beautiful read and well though out, Eli. However, please edit a little more next time before posting. Squamish is a town in rural British Columbia, having no effect on this issue whatsoever. Suquamish, however, is on the Suquamish Reservation, in Kitsap county. BTW, the Suquamish Tribe legalized Gay Marriage a few years back, long before the passing of the anything but marriage laws or R-74 had even come up. Little known fact.

I did enjoy reading this however. Growing up in a conservative family, and several generally homophobic areas of washington, including Gig Harbor, I can relate.

I did like the part about the woman in Lakewood and the Woman in Tacoma though. I too, hope she hadn't gotten some kind of advanced ballot, or maybe she was under the impression the county elections that already took place were the same as state level? either way, it's a scary thought. Next time, please make sure you have the geographical locations correct though.
34
This gives me so much hope. Thanks to you and everyone who is putting in so much hard work.
35
@18:

C-

While you are making great strides in forming a trollish point which people will actually be spurred to argue with, the statement did not really make much sense. Why would being a "real" reporter make dealing with such a situation easier?

Also, your statement in the midst of so much support just gets lost. People can also easily see the irony of a low-quality internet troll calling a pulitzer prize winner not a "real"' journalist.

People are still just laughing at you, not being enraged by you.
36
@32: Thanks. I'm pretty certain the Washington United for Marriage phone bank computer said "Squamish"—I remember double checking. But I'll change it to Suquamish, because you're right, there doesn't seem to be a Squamish in Washington State.
37
Eli, you are welcome. Thanks for the good read. Also, for what it's worth-had you called my house @ 7:58 p.m., I may have been a bit frustrated as well. While that is not too late, it is pretty late for someone calling with political purposes.

Also, I was incorrect as to the dates the tribe legalized marriage on the reservation. It was actually only just last August. They had legalized Civil Unions before that, but the woman and her partner kept pestering them, and eventually the tribe gave in.
38
Nice work, Eli.
39
Another outstanding example of why that Pulitzer is so well deserved. Thank you for sharing this.
40
I love Lakewood Lady. My heart aches for her and I wish I could give her a hug or bake her cookies or something. Damn, it's dusty in here...
41
Eli - I had the same trepidation about calling - I was adding "I am a catholic volunteer....." - I found several people open to conversation and were more likely to rethink their position after the call. It was empowering to hear the support - those who were with us 100%. I would encourage all of us to share our stories - don't assume you know how friends and family view this ballot issue. If they are supportive - ask them to talk to a few friends. The numbers are still too close and the opposition will be starting their campaign next week. After 25 years with my partner - I want a legal marriage - we deserve that...
42
Nice article (though "Washington State" is a university).
43
A lovely piece and thanks so much for helping out the cause!
44
Great writing. Thanks Eli
45
Beautiful piece, made me cry. Thank you.
46
Good stuff.

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.