In their ongoing, desperate efforts to exclude gay and lesbian couples from the fundamental freedoms promised to all Americans under our constitution, the extremists resort to tactics we have all seen before; tactics designed to pass their marriage ban excluding long-term committed gay and lesbian couples from the freedom to marry.

The tactics are designed to manipulate their own faithful congregations, and (they hope) to engage just enough other Californians long enough to get their vote on Nov. 4.

They are not concerned with what happens after Nov. 4. We know what happens.

When Californians discover they were misled into supporting the amendment, manipulated, and betrayed, they lose faith in the system, in their organizations, and, to some degree, in their faith leaders. The extremists, however, aren’t concerned with that.

The first of their strong-arm tactics is fear. It is the simplest and one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of those who would have us take wrong actions. If you scare any of us enough, we will react in an irrational, knee-jerk fashion; and we’ll seek whatever the promise of safety is, even when we know it’s wrong. This is the tactic of some faith leaders; a tactic designed to feed the fears of their faithful.

What is to be feared, according to these extremist faith leaders? According to them, if gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, it is only a matter of time before pastors will be arrested in their pulpits and all Christians will be forced to give up their religious beliefs. Sound unbelievable?

Not if you continue to repeat the message over and over, pull up obscure cases from Spain and Canada, and take decisions about the use of government money out of context. Apparently, they never met a fact that couldn’t be misrepresented. In fact, two of the larger donors to this awful un-American amendment were quoted as saying, “Well I only gave because they told me people would be arrested for believing …”

Read the excerpt below from www.protectmarriage.com. First, leaders of the organization tell readers that, in fact, the constitutional decision that granted gays and lesbians the right to marry DOES PROTECT THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

“On page 117 of the California Supreme Court ruling, it exempts pastors, stating the following: ‘Finally, affording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 4.)’”

Wow we can all relax a bit! It is possible, as the U.S. Constitution and its framers saw decades ago, to guarantee us all freedom: freedom to marry and freedom of religion. Instead of optimism, faith, belief in justice, and a celebration of a great nation, opponents of same-sex marriage instead go on with the following pronouncement:

“However, before you breathe a sigh of relief … Regretfully the same court that affirmed this protection could take it away; There are numerous Christian legal organizations and attorneys who are willing to defend you pro bono should the need arise; We are not given to a spirit of fear. Unfortunately, the freedom to proclaim the Gospel hinges on the outcome of this election.”

Instead of celebration, they tell their faithful that now they are more vulnerable, they could be arrested for believing, and the freedom to believe is in danger! Oh, and by the way, attorneys will defend you free of charge, so don’t be scared!

Unbelievable? It shouldn’t be. These are the tactics we have seen time and again throughout this country and in this battle. The only difference is that this time, long-term, committed gay and lesbian couples are the alleged hidden, explosive, world-altering danger. And, according to their spinners, the only apparent remedy or safety lies in excluding those couples from the fundamental freedoms granted to us as Americans.

Defeat the fear tactics. Say no to the deceptive, divisive, hate-filled rhetoric. Support the faith leaders who stand up and denounce these kinds of tactics. Vow to Vote No on the marriage ban Nov. 4.