|| Election 2008 ||
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My Election Day: Campaigning for No on 8

Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight spent Election Day volunteering for No on 8, standing 100 feet away from poling places handing out palm cards and urging people to vote against the same-sex marriage ban. Here he recounts the well-wishers who brought cookies and cheered from cars and the Prop. 8 supporters who yelled and spat -- one even got violent. But Knight says all he ultimately felt was sadness when Prop. 8 passed.


Tuesday, 4 a.m.

The alarm on my cell phone wakes me with that annoying ring. Not the most pleasant way to start the day; I keep forgetting to change it. But I was wide awake. After a quick shower and throwing on clothes while playing “don’t wake the boyfriend,” I was out on the road driving toward Santa Monica. My day of volunteering at the polls for No on Proposition 8 had begun.

We all met shortly after 6 a.m. to get our polling place assignments and to be matched up with fellow volunteers. Having agreed to be a team captain, I was questioning my leadership ability in light of my sometimes pathological shyness. That is, until I saw my friend Melissa Fitzgerald. Besides being a wonderful actress, she is also fiercely political, smart as a whip, and a natural-born leader. She had just flown in to work on this campaign (she was working for Obama until she saw how close this race was), and by coincidence, we showed up at the same place. We joined up with a guy named Nathan and we were off to our first polling location.

Nathan also turned out to be a political phenom, and thankfully they both led by example. We introduced ourselves to the polling supervisor and informed them we would respect the required 100 feet distance from the polling place. We then held our signs high and passed out our palm cards. The three of us, two straight, one gay, working together to help inform people about protecting civil rights.

And that is what we did, we volunteers, all day. I had two more shifts at two more polling locations. We worked until the polls closed at 8 p.m. What will remain most in my memory from those hours are the extreme reactions from both sides.

The man who screamed “Homos and lesbians!” as he drove by, the older man who shouted at me to go back to West Hollywood (I live in Los Feliz), the woman who called us “abominations,” the man who spat on the palm card we had handed him. There was a man who attacked a young female volunteer of ours at a nearby polling place at a Catholic church, shoving and pushing her and ripping up her palm cards. Every single supporter of Prop. 8 was so filled with anger and bile as they voiced their "support" to us, with the exception of one older gentleman, who engaged us in a very civil conversation.

One person in over 13 hours.

All of that was countered by the many straight families who were very vocal in their support of No on 8. The young man who joined us while on break from work (holding a sign he had downloaded from his computer), another guy who brought us cookies and juice in the morning, the husband and wife who brought us cappuccinos at nightfall, the drivers who honked in support (when others weren’t flippin’ us the bird), and the woman who hollered from her car, “Thank you for fighting for our family.”

As we packed up for the evening the news came in. It looked as though Obama would be our next president. As my boyfriend and I drove home (he had joined us, even though he was sick as a dog), we listened to McCain concede the race. We made it to the television set just in time to witness the beautiful, truly awesome sight of the first family making their appearance on that Chicago stage. We heard a president-elect mention gay people in his acceptance speech. A night of many firsts.

But then the news of Proposition 8.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Kevin Kuhn
    Date posted: 11/9/2008 11:34:00 AM
    Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado

    Comment:

    I, too, feel T.R.'s sadness, and his thoughts echo mine. What a bittersweet election night it was, as my state (Colorado) finally went blue, and a president I could believe cared about ALL Americans spoke in victory in Chicago, and included me, INCLUDED GAY PEOPLE. I was proud of my fellow Americans, but then angry and ashamed of them, as well. Inspired and hurt. Rather like hearing a beloved relative has died right after opening a great Christmas present. But I am truly patriotic again, after that election night, and I will keep fighting the good fight; and without the other "side's" hatred, as well.

  • Name: Cathy
    Date posted: 11/8/2008 8:17:00 AM
    Hometown: Australia

    Comment:

    I'm from Australia and have been interested in proposition 8 and its outcome due to the fact my bestest friend in the whole world, my little brother is gay. I also have many gay friends (female and male) and it saddens me that something that is just as natural as being heterosexual is deemed as 'wrong' or 'sinful' when it truly is not. TR's words are so beautiful and I do agree that one day "that gay people will one day gain all the rights due us as American citizens. I know that the people who stand in our way today will be the people the majority will later mock as foolish and bigoted" Hopefully with Obama now in power the world and the US will start to see changes. Obama's speech was just as powerful and also as TR stated he actually meant gay couples. I keep my fingers crossed and eyes glued to the internet and TV in hope that something amazing will happen for the gay community in the next few months particularly with Obama in power.

  • Name: Mitch
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 10:54:00 PM
    Hometown: Brisbane, Australia

    Comment:

    I'm not Republican. I'm not a Democratic. I'm not even American. I happen to be a homosexual Australian fighting for the same rights. A right to freedom and equality, the right to be respected and the right to be who I am without fear of bigotry, prejudice and hatred. I owe a thank you to T. R Knight providing a young Australian like myself the courage needed to accept who I am. I first read of T.R Knight in a copy of Advocate - his story resonated with me and I could see my owns battles in his life. There are so few strong, masculine and inspirational homosexuals depicted in the media and I feel that this article was the catalyst I needed to accept who I am and have never looked back. I thank T.R for the continuation of the cause, for his bravery and for being true to himself - as for me, there's no greater inspiration.

  • Name: Matt Sigl
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 8:51:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    I was a volunteer for No on 8 and saw Mr. Knight at the training session for election day on Monday. This is a man who gave his money AND time for the cause. And, most importantly, he is a celebrity who is OUT! The days where a celebrity can be closeted and maintain dignity are OVER. We are a marginalized and oppressed minority class. Everyone must stand up for their rights, and loudly proclaim that being a second-class citizen is not good enough. Not anymore. T.R.-you're a hero. As is everyone who gave time or money to defeat this homophobic and bigoted proposition.

  • Name: Laura
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 7:51:00 PM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    I am very sorry that Prop 8 succeed! One day we will all look back at this and shake our heads, wondering how this was ever even a consideration.. Obviously everyone should have the right to love (and marry if they choose!) the one they love. Until then, I support you (though I can't vote on it since I'm Canadian).

  • Name: Lazare
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 4:29:00 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    Thanks TR. Someday it will get better. And we love you!

  • Name: Kevin Brauer
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 2:13:00 PM
    Hometown: Denver

    Comment:

    I feel the same pain today on Proposition 8 passing as I felt in November 1992 when Amendment 2 passed in Colorado banning anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation. Surprisingly it is largely people of colour who supported Prop 8 and this bigotry against us. People of colour who suffer so much from hurtful and wrong discrimination themselves simply project MORE discrimination on us gay folk. Harry Hay used to lecture on the essential importance of coalition building with minorities and other scapegoated groups (like trade unionists). We MUST rebuild our coalitions and the NEXT time the Conservatives attack a fringe group (immigrants, Organized Labor, Planned Parenthood, affirmative action) we gay folk need to POWERFULLY and very VISIBLY (as gays) fight the right TOGETHER with our minority sisters and brothers and hopefully they'll remember to be there for us in our darkest hours!!!!!

  • Name: Kevin Brauer
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 2:11:00 PM
    Hometown: Denver

    Comment:

    I feel the same pain today on Proposition 8 passing as I felt in November 1992 when Amendment 2 passed in Colorado banning anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation. Surprisingly it is largely people of colour who supported Prop 8 and this bigotry against us. People of colour who suffer so much from hurtful and wrong discrimination themselves simply project MORE discrimination on us gay folk. Harry Hay used to lecture on the essential importance of coalition building with minorities and other scapegoated groups (like trade unionists). We MUST rebuild our coalitions and the NEXT time the Conservatives attack a fringe group (immigrants, Organized Labor, Planned Parenthood, affirmative action) we gay folk need to POWERFULLY and very VISIBLY (as gays) fight the right TOGETHER with our minority sisters and brothers and hopefully they'll remember to there for us in our darkest hours!!!!!

  • Name: Kevin Brauer
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 1:35:00 PM
    Hometown: Denver

    Comment:

    I feel the same pain today on Proposition 8 passing as I felt in November 1992 when Amendment 2 passed in Colorado banning anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation. Surprisingly it is largely people of colour who supported Prop 8 and this bigotry against us. People of colour who suffer so much from hurtful and wrong discrimination themselves simply project MORE discrimination on us gay folk. Harry Hay used to lecture on the essential importance of coalition building with minorities and other scapegoated groups (like trade unionists). We MUST rebuild our coalitions and the NEXT time the Conservatives attack a fringe group (immigrants, Organized Labor, Planned Parenthood, affirmative action) we gay folk need to POWERFULLY and very VISIBLY (as gays) fight the right TOGETHER with our minority sisters and brothers and hopefully they'll remember to there for us in our darkest hours!!!!!

  • Name: DAVID LARSON
    Date posted: 11/7/2008 10:51:00 AM
    Hometown: WICHITA KS

    Comment:

    First let me say, "Thank you for your work, your care, and your voice." As a gay minister living in a state that already passed an anti-gay marriage amendment, my hopes and prayers were being offered for you all. What I find so sad is that a group of people who claim to follow the God of unbounded love would support such hatred. Again, thank you for your voice! - Blessings - DL



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