http://www.laweekly.com/2008-11-27/news/young-gays-take-reins-from-elders-on-prop-8/A few days after Proposition 8 passed in California, life for Joe Townley had already changed considerably. The 30-year-old gay man had donated money to “No. on 8” before Election Day, but now he found himself leading marches through L.A.’s streets, co-founding a small grass-roots group called endH8now and thinking up new protest strategies with other young people. A British immigrant and former captain of the British army, and founder of his own Internet business, Townley saw himself as a unique asset for the post–Prop. 8 generation.
“I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot, and I know a lot about human nature,” Townley says. “I know how to get things done.”
Two weeks after November 4, with the anger in the streets quieting down, Townley senses the possibility of a newly empowered gay-rights movement, with a potential leading role for young folks.
“
keep talking about including the younger grass-roots movement,” says Townley, “but I don’t see that happening. I don’t see a passing of the baton.”
Young people like Townley are moving forward by organizing their own protests, forming different types of networking groups and seeking the advice of longtime gay activists who also want the gay-rights movement to do things differently.