I have to admit, I was excited last week when Obama was elected. This was closely followed by disappointment as the ballot results came in:
Arizona: Ban on Gay Marriage
Arkansas: Ban on Gay Couple adopting children
California: Ban on Gay Marriage
Florida: Ban on Gay Marriage
Each on of these bans went through.
I really struggle to understand why the majority of people believe that gay marriage and gay adoption is wrong. Some of the arguments that I have heard in support of the bans include how marriage is sacred (then why do we allow divorce?), children have the right to a loving mother and father (yet many children are abused by straight parents).
Really, want impact does it have on a person if a gay couple, who love each other get married. Does it really matter? Why shouldn’t two people that love each other be able to be together, and be able to commit to each other in the same way that a straight person can. Why should your sexual orientation affect your rights as a human?
It is a common misconception is that GLBT folks choose “the gay lifestyle”. The only choice involved is the choice to be honest with yourself, and open with others, and to come to terms with all that you are, and to integrate that into your life. Just as straight people do not choose who they fall in love with, neither do gay people. Sure there’s a choice on whether you spend your life with that person, but you don’t choose who you are in love with.
Please take time on Saturday and attend the protest in your area, see here for more information about the Protest Prop 8, I’ll be at the Portland one.
Hear, hear!
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us know that there is a protest in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that most Americans understand that the American Constitution does not deal with the issuance of marriage licenses. Legal marriage is a state CREATED institution. Legal marriage doesn’t EXIST except as state law sets forth.
The California constitution as written currently explicitly grants the power to the voters to vote on amendments that can affect the Constitutional rights of their citizens. This indeed was proposition 8 was aimed to do. It was aimed at securing a majority vote to overturn the decision of the courts which was made in May and resulted in permitting same sex marriages in California.
At present there is a court challenge. The challenge to Prop 8 claims that improper process was followed--that is, that the amendment was NOT legally adopted.
Now we are left to ponder this: Should matters of equality, equal protection under the law, and civil rights issues regarding equality and legal protections be voted on by the public?
@ timethief. I think leaving such things like equality and civil rights up to the majority to decide (i.e the pulic) is not the best way to make a change happen. But hopefully its a start and step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteChange doesn't happen overnight. But these steps do bring more awareness.
I think as we move forward in time and the generations behind us have a say, things will change. I just wish it wouldn't take that long. But I haven't lost hope.
"Marriage" is simply between a man and a woman. It's not rocket science! If gays want to be together, they should call it a partnership, not a marriage! The fact this is even a hot topic shows how our nation is going down morally.
ReplyDeleteI don't really care what it is called, so long as comes with the same things that marriage does.
ReplyDeleteI don't really understand why it needs to be called something else... why can't everyone be entitled to the same thing.
It amazes me that there is such a divide of opinion on this document.
I am very much in favor of equality in all things, including this issue, and equal protection under the law. I am disappointed in the ballot results. I will do what I can to further this cause.
ReplyDeleteBut I no longer support the protests because of the violence on "our" side. That isn't what America is all about. You must extend rights equally to people you don't agree with. (Isn't that what we are asking of the "other side"?) And the protests are not doing that by physically abusing old women who simply want to go to church. Or generally getting into other people's faces. I will join and back the protests again when the people involved stop beating people over the head who don't agree with them. Equality and tolerance works both ways.
I suggest we start a monitoring unit to be present at all our protest sites, and weed out those protesters who are being too physically aggressive and vocally abusive to other Americans. Are we trying to drive neutral people over to the other side, or what? Don't you watch the evening news on TV? Only our violence is being covered. Our whole movement is being shown in a negative light on tv. We are only looking bad by acting like this. We are being hypocrites. Let's stop it now.
And it occurs to me that some of these people may be "plants" who pretend to be on our side but are really only there to make us look bad when the tv cameras show up. Don't laugh. It has happened before.
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