I don’t generally use this column for financial advice, but with the stock market in shambles and the election a month away, there’s a worthwhile investment that no reader should pass up: sending money to fight anti-marriage-equality initiatives in California, Florida, and Arizona.

In the last two weeks I’ve sent my entire income from this column this year to states where I’ve never lived and probably never will (although retiring to Palm Springs sounds awfully nice). I intend to send more money in the next few weeks. You should, too.

Here’s why: the tide is turning in our favor in the same-sex marriage fight. During the 2004 presidential election, ten states had ballot measures opposing marriage equality. We lost nine, plus three more earlier that year. The only exception was Arizona, where marriage-equality opponents have since tweaked the measure and, with a dishonest eleventh-hour parliamentary maneuver, reintroduced it for this November.

By contrast, in this election three states have ballot measures opposing marriage equality. If—and only if—we support the campaigns fighting them, we will likely win two and we could possibly win all three.

Winning them would not only score a victory for same-sex couples. It would also send a message to our right-wing opponents that homophobia is a losing strategy. On the other hand, a loss for us in any of these states could re-energize our opposition.

Here’s what’s happening in each one:

California (Prop. 8): The California initiative has received the most publicity and by far the most money. The initiative would limit marriage in California to one man and one woman and thus take away the marriage rights that gay California couples currently enjoy.

California began marrying same-sex couples this past June, after its Supreme Court struck down California’s same-sex marriage ban—a ban passed by 61% of voters in 2000.

Much has changed in eight years, including California’s passage of strong domestic partnership legislation and an ongoing cultural shift in favor of marriage equality. If voters defeat this amendment, our opponents could no longer complain about California judges’ “subverting the will of the people.”

In recent months, polling has shifted in our favor—including two September polls showing 55% of voters opposing the amendment. But the amendment’s supporters are raising more money than we are, including a large influx from Mormons and other church groups outside the state.

Florida (Prop. 2): Florida’s proposed amendment, unlike California’s and Arizona’s, would prohibit not only same-sex marriage but also domestic partnerships. As such, it would take away benefits (such as health insurance) from partners of state employees; it also affects unmarried heterosexual couples. Recent polls show voters supporting the amendment 55%-41% (down from 58%-37% in June).

Fortunately for us, passage requires a supermajority (60%)—which means that if current trends continue, the amendment will fail. However, the prominence of California has made it difficult to raise money for the Florida fight.

Arizona (Prop. 102): Of 28 states that have voted on gay marriage thus far, only Arizonans declined to ban it—in 2004, with 52% against the amendment and 48% in favor. That amendment would have also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships, whereas the current one is limited to marriage.

The bad news is that polls show us currently behind on this amendment, with 49% in favor and 40% against. More bad news: amendment supporters have thus far raised ten times what opponents have raised. (Shame on us for that.)

The good news is that amendment opponents pulled a victory from behind the last time (further behind than this, actually), and could well do so again. Their campaign against the amendment is just starting to hit the airwaves, with a well-crafted message and research indicating strong potential for swaying not only undecideds but also weak yeses.

What they need, very badly, is money. Understandably, the California fight has received the most attention and the most support. But Arizona is important. The amendment’s failure would be a powerful statement that when voters reject homophobia, they really mean it. Its passage, on the other hand, could encourage right-wing opponents in other states to keep trying even after losing ballot battles.

We can win all three battles if we fund them. That’s why I’m urging you to visit the campaign websites opposing these initiatives—today—and to give as you are able.

And don’t just visit their websites. If the prospect of legal protection for our relationships fails to inspire you to send money, try visiting our opponents’ campaign websites.

There you will find pretty pictures of heterosexual couples and families, along with the insidious message that we gays harm them. That we weaken their families. That we threaten their children.

That message is poisonous, and it hurts all of us, in every state. If you care about justice for gays and lesbians, invest in stopping these amendments.

For more information, check the campaign websites. Note that Florida and Arizona each have two groups working in tandem to defeat the amendment.

California:
No: http://noonprop8.com/home
Yes: http://www.protectmarriage.com/

Florida:
No: http://www.sayno2.com/
No: http://www.votenoon2.com/
Yes: http://yes2marriage.org/

Arizona:
No: http://www.votenoprop102.com/web/index.php
No: http://www.aztogether.org/
Yes: http://yesformarriage.com/

John Corvino, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, and philosophy professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.

For over fifteen years he has traveled the country speaking on homosexuality and ethics. His writing has been featured in regional and national periodicals, at the online Independent Gay Forum [http://www.indegayforum.org/staff/show/92.html], and in numerous scholarly anthologies. His column “The Gay Moralist” appears Fridays on 365gay.com.

For more about John Corvino, or to see clips from his “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?” DVD, visit www.johncorvino.com.

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Catch John Corvino as he lectures on gay rights and debates same-sex marriage with Glenn Stanton of Focus on the Family:

October 6: Minnesota State University-Mankato 7 pm Ostrander Auditorium, Centennial Student Union
October 7: Northern Kentucky University (DEBATE) 7 pm Greaves Hall
October 9: Vincennes University (IN) 11 am Shircliff Theater
October 14: Bridgewater State College (MA) 2 pm Moakley Auditorium
October 21: Valencia College (Orlando, FL) (DEBATE) details pending
October 22: Sienna Heights University (Adrian, MI) details pending
October 23: Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo) 7:30 pm Kirsch Auditorium
October 30: Canisius College (DEBATE) (Buffalo NY) 7 pm Regis Conference Room