This afternoon, there appeared to be a wedding rehearsal going on in front of the Greek church by my condo. So cute. As I rounded the corner, I couldn't believe my eyes. On the church lawn is a sign to vote NO on Prop 8!! If they know the sign is there (or better yet, put it up themselves) then a big YEAH to the church. Even though the rehearsal appeared to be a different-sex couple, it is nice to see a church stand up for equal rights.
If you are interested in Prop 8, you can read about it here. Okay, if you clicked the link then you caught me; this is how I feel about Prop 8. A nonpartisan version is here. Basically, Proposition 8 is a CALIFORNIA initiative to change the CALIFORNIA constitution so that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in CALIFORNIA and therefore eliminates the rights of same-sex couples in CALIFORNIA.
Why do I keep typing "CALIFORNIA" in all caps, you may ask? Because the only two people I know who are for Prop 8 (eliminating rights) do not live in California. The whole country seems to be concerned about this issue for us. In fact, the biggest monetary contributor to the campaign for Prop 8 is from CT. Out of the top 10 largest contributors, only 2 are from CA.
There are lots of ads here on TV, most which are misleading and have false claims. An example is if you vote "no" on prop 8 then "gay marriage" will be taught in public schools to your 7 year old. Now, I normally do not talk about politics in this blog because I have many conservative friends whose views differ wildly from mine. I respect the right of each person to have individual views and I would not want conflicting views to impede on my friendships. However I feel VERY strongly about this.
It would be one thing if marriage was only a religious freedom. From what I understand, there is still freedom of religion in the USA. (I know, I know, a little too heavy on the sarcasm Celine.) If so, each couple could have whatever type of "marriage" ceremony that they feel is right for them without involvement or concern of anyone else. However, marriage is a legal bond with legal rights that go along with it. Just ask my business law professor at LBCC; he would love to tell you all about it! Never having opted to get married myself, I don't proclaim to know a lot about the legal ramifications of marriage. But I think that it matters when you are visiting a spouse in the hospital - I think a spouse gets more privilege than a boy or girl "friend" does as they are not considered "kin". (Any doctors out there know?) Taxes, citizenship, division of property go along with marital rights. (Yes, if you can get married then you can get divorced. You would think all attorneys would be against Prop 8!)
I've heard people saying that they are not against homosexual relationships or civil unions. That they are not prejudiced. That they have "gay friends." But they are against same-sex marriage and are voting for Prop 8. So without coming out (no pun intended) and saying it, they are in fact saying that they do feel the legal rights of homosexuals should be different and less than the legal rights of heterosexuals.
Now back to the 7 year old learning about same sex marriage in school...
First of all, this is false. "Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it, and the Yes on 8 campaign knows they are lying. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has already ruled that this claim by Prop 8 proponents is “false and misleading.” The Orange County Register, traditionally one of the most conservative newspapers in the state, says this claim is false. So do lawyers for the California Department of Education." All the facts vs fiction can be found here.
Secondly, so what? Are children to be shielded from the knowledge that people of the same sex can not only love each other but be in love with each other? Is it so horrible that people love each other and want to be together? Children don't need to know any more than that. Just as children don't need to know why Mommy has a French maid outfit in her closet or a lot of other sexual things that I will leave to your imagination. With all the horrible things going on in the world today, this is what we are worried about our children learning? Really?
So again, normally I do not blog about my views on this site (and whoa, I have many!) but this is one that I feel so, so, so strongly about. A very recent poll shows that Prop 8 will probably pass. So all those marriages will be invalidated. Sorry Ellen. Sorry to some of my recently married friends.
In 2008, how can there be so much hatred and intolerance still in America?? Think about it. What if one of your rights was taken away? What if it was decided that anyone with a cleft chin, like me, could no longer get a driver's license? (Maybe not the best example for any of you that have seen my car recently!) Just as random and discriminatory.
Lastly, since I've gone all out on this post, let me leave you with this last political clip...
Thanks to all those who read this far! Please feel free to post or email me any comments.
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