By Eddie Gutierrez

Like the little engine in the children's story, determined that it could climb the mountain, the marriage equality bill has beaten many odds. Last November, no one thought the California Legislature would be the first in the nation to pass equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In June, many who thought the bill was dead were shocked to see it keep on climbing the mountain. And now in September, many expect the governor to junk it with a veto. The ride for marriage equality, however, is far from over.

California Public Policy Institute polls show Californians are now equally split on the issue and more public officials are speaking up. After conversations with Equality California (EQCA), Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who previously supported only civil unions, sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asking him to sign the bill. And in the recent special election in the 53rd Assembly District held to replace the late Mike Gordon, Democrat Ted Lieu, a Torrance City Council member, won with 60 percent of the vote, despite being targeted by Republicans for his pro-gay marriage rights position.

Additionally, in a heated election year, vulnerable politicians are stepping forward. Before the bill reached the Assembly floor during the Labor Day weekend, an anti-gay marriage blitz hit areas represented by Assemblymembers Simon Salinas, Tom Umberg, and Gloria Negrete McLeod, all of whom abstained last June. But LGBT activists were also at work, including EQCA field staff led by Christine Chavez, granddaughter of famed Latino civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, from the United Farm Workers. The work paid off, with Salinas dramatically casting the 41st vote. Even Joe Baca Jr. abstained instead of voting no. It is imperative that the LGBT community now help those who stood with us in the face of massive threats to their re-election bids.

Schwarzenegger has already vetoed one LGBT rights bill that would have added sexual orientation to the Fair Campaigns Pledge and made elections more transparent. LGBT organizations are now asking him to firmly stand against discrimination and oppose any future legislative item or ballot initiative that would eliminate existing legal protections and responsibilities for LGBT couples.

While the mainstream media say this legislative session has yielded few results, the LGBT Caucus and EQCA successfully passed more LGBT legislation this year than any other state. After a strategic delay to allow LGBT organizations to rally the troops, the marriage equality bill will go before Schwarzenegger by Sept. 23. The governor has until Oct. 9 to sign, veto, or let pass into law legislation sent to his desk. Other LGBT bills include a law to protect the community from business-related discrimination, pension rights for public employees, home ownership rights for domestic partners, and the bill to make California the first state in the nation to ask the federal government to repeal the military's anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

In this legislative cycle, our rights have been advanced. But our little train must keep on chugging until we reach the mountain top of full equality.

Eddie Gutierrez is the director of communications for Equality California.