Gays Plan Election Offensive

Flashing a grim map of defeats on the gay marriage front in the last two elections -- most recently the sweeping passage Tuesday of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Texas -- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman cast the coming fight as one of basic rights.

"It's time to stop running away from the moral values issue and seize it and go on the offensive," he said to rousing applause. "Let's start by claiming our moral values -- liberty and personal freedom for all."

Behind the scenes, a coalition that includes the NAACP, the United Farm Workers, more than 250 clergy, and dozens of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations has already begun door-to-door campaigning and street corner canvassing to take the gay and lesbian equal rights message to neighbors, churches, PTA meetings and backyard barbecues across California.

The groups are countering a multipronged effort to bring at least two ballot measures to voters next year. The initiatives would amend the state Constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman while undoing many of California's recently granted domestic partner rights and obligations on issues of property, custody, healthcare and more.

One measure could also pave the way for the types of restrictions on gay adoption and foster parenting that have recently been proposed in more conservative states.

In California, the ProtectMarriage.com coalition -- supported by the national Focus on the Family and Family Research Council -- has submitted 200,000 signatures and has 300,000 additional petitions in circulation to qualify its measure for the ballot by Dec. 27.

The group needs 598,000 signatures for the measure to qualify.

"We are very pleased with the grass-roots efforts of churches and organizations in terms of getting the message out," said California Family Council Executive Director Ron Prentice, whose group is behind the measure.

The competing VoteYesMarriage.com-- endorsed by the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition and others -- last month reworded its measure and will begin a massive signature-gathering effort next month to qualify by March.