Since the election, we have witnessed the emotional and powerful response by many to the passing of Proposition 8 in California. We saw that our right wing opposition has no respect for the truth and will do anything to continue discrimination against the LGBT community. With the amendment going into the Constitution of the State of California, the careful system of apartheid continues to grow in America against gays and lesbians. It is nothing less than a systematic exclusion for our community from the rights granted to all other Americans.

In addition, we have recently seen a full page ad in no less than the New York Times by religious leaders proclaiming loudly that because of their opposition to marriage equality they have been under attack by 'mobs' of gays and their supporters - that we are raging through the streets, threatening their buildings, mailing dangerous materials, etc. It is simply the 'big lie'. Citizens demonstrating for their freedom do not constitute a mob.

And finally in New York, we see State Senator Malcolm Smith in disgusting negotiations to maintain his power and head the State Senate. He clearly is engaged in some sort of shell game willing to at least pretend marriage is dispensable in order to satisfy just three Democratic anti-gay senators who have threatened to vote with the Republicans if their demands are not met on marriage.

Now, I am told by elected officials in Albany that this is a complicated deal and down the road 'we will be taken care of'. I remember hearing the same argument from the nasceant Clinton Administration when they were blind-sided by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 1993. To allow anyone to put our rights on the table as part of a backroom deal is unseemly, unacceptable and unforgivable. We must demand that our progressive allies refuse to be a part of it and withhold support from Senator Smith if he continues down this road. It is just wrong that our rights have been reduced to bargaining chips for in-house deals. Let me loudly repeat this.........it is wrong.

As we have moved closer to the reality of freedom, our crazed opponents have upped the ante and will stop at nothing to short-circuit full equality for LGBT people. While polls show the American public's steadily growing support of our community's quest for full equality - including marriage - we could lose it all if we don't fight back and fight hard. This small-minded minority - and it is increasingly a minority on a number of LGBT issues -harkens back to the days when the old White Citizen Councils in the South used any despicable tactic they could to stop freedom. Fear, lies, distortions and half truths were all employed to stop African Americans from equality. We are not going to fall victim to that in the battle for equality for LGBT people. Not this time.

Yes, we have to review Proposition 8 and learn the lessons. I don't think anyone disagrees with that sentiment. Yes, we have to be practical politically...to a point. Yes, we need to build our allies.

However if the LGBT community is not willing to step forward to claim our own freedom and fight for it, then we will lose it. That means that having only 60,000 plus donors to fight Proposition 8 is not acceptable. Millions of us have to give money and give until it hurts. No more symbolic donations - we have seen in the Obama campaign what an inspired grassroots can give. Gays and lesbians blessed with huge fortunes must contribute not in six figures but in seven figures. Every single one of us must volunteer, speak out, talk to our families, educate our co-workers and never give up until every one of us is free.

The battle is on. Are you going to show up?