By Eddie Gutierrez

For two days after the public voted "no, no, no, no, no" on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's $60 million failed special election, Team Arnold acknowledged that the people of California want reform made with the people's representatives in Sacramento. Not grabbing the microphone at those news conferences, however, are representatives from the extreme right wing, including Bush/Rove consultant Gary Marx, who attempted to use parental notification on abortions as bait for the conservative, evangelical vote, just as he did during the 2004 presidential elections. While Proposition 73 did receive more "yes" votes in Fresno and Kern counties in the Central Valley, turnout was not what conservatives expected. This raises the central question now wafting through the political corridors of California: Can a Karl Rove/George Bush strategy succeed in this blue state? The moderate voters answered with a resounding "no," defeating Prop. 73 by 52 percent. Their message: Extreme, radical evangelicals are not to be trusted with protecting civil rights.

But Marx has not yet been sent packing, leaving LGBT groups to speculate that the consultant and anti-LGBT allies will now channel their PR machinery into passage of next year's constitutional amendment. That onerous ballot initiative, now believed slated for the November 2006 elections, would amend the state constitution to enshrine the ban on same-sex marriage, repeal legally recognized domestic partnership rights, and end any chances to redress marriage discrimination for the LGBT community in California.

The problem Marx and company face is that taking away rights that already exist in law is more divisive and challenging for voters, and, given the divisiveness of the special election, it may not receive backing from the state Republican Party. A cautious Mike Vallante, Republican chief operating officer, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Nov. 10, "We'd probably find more dissent on that issue." With the Legislature passing the historic marriage bill and public opinion more supportive of LGBT equality than ever before, next year will likely bring one of the most visible and expensive anti-LGBT ballot box campaigns in U.S. history.

But the LGBT community is stronger after the election. Stonewall Democrats, Equality California and other groups joined women and labor in strong coalitions to defeat Schwarzenegger's initiatives. Next year the collaboration will continue, both in opposing the anti-LGBT initiative and in helping pass pro-LGBT legislation. Protecting LGBT youth and the transgender community against hate and violence is one of the many issues that will be discussed in Sacramento next year. It will be hectic -- with an anticipated full plate of LGBT bills to move through the Legislature and simultaneously a serious battle to defeat the extreme and dangerous constitutional amendment.

The reality cannot be sugarcoated: It will be a rough year. But the LGBT community has a better political footing now with new and old friends, ironically thanks to Schwarzenegger's divisive special election.

-- Eddie Gutierrez is the Communications Director of Equality California.