“This bill is worse than I thought,” said the advocate. “Now that I’ve read it, it would do more damage than the bill summary led me to believe.”

“A bad bill is better for us,” I replied. “It will be easier to defeat than one that makes only minor changes to the existing law.”

—-

For me, gay marriage is a civil rights issue.

The comparison between civil rights for African Americans and gays was debated at today’s bill hearing.

I googled this quote from Julian Bond, chair of the NAACP, when he testified for a bill to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey and read it to my committee.

“When I’m asked if gay rights are civil rights, my answer is always: ‘Of course they are.’

I close where I began by asking you to cast an affirmative vote when this legislation comes before you. You’ll be standing for right, and on the right side of history.”