Bloggers have been asked to participate in Write To Marry Day today in order to highlight the campaign to OPPOSE the very discriminatory Proposition 8 ballot initiative that Californians will vote on next Tuesday. I have decided to take this opportunity to write up a post why I believe that Proposition 8 is harmful, not only to California but, to our country as a whole. As a person who would be directly affected by this hateful proposition, I feel incumbent to lend my support to the defeat of Proposition 8 in the State of California:
For me, the matter is a very simple one. It is absolutely wrong to legislate discrimination in this country. If Proposition 8 passes, the Constitution of the California will be amended to specifically deny the right to marry to same-sex couples. Not so long ago, it was the rule of law in this country to separate African Americans from Caucasians in schools, restaurants, buses, water fountains and more. It was legislated that “separate but equal” was fair and that segregation was just. The end of segregation in this country came from the Supreme Court. The highest court in the land ruled that denying the rights of minorities in any legislation was illegal under the terms of our US Constitution. Remember, it was legislatures in some States that drafted and passed laws that discriminated against African Americans. It was the executive branches of those states that enforced those laws. It was only when the high court stepped in to invalidate those laws and INSIST that all citizens of the United States be treated equally that our country was able to move forward towards ending segregation and discrimination against minorities. This Proposition 8 matter is the very much the same thing. We have learned that legislating unequal treatment is wrong. Even if you don’t believe in same-sex marriage, no matter who you are and for whatever reason, you have to agree that discrimination is wrong … it is un-American and it opposes everything that our country stands for. We live in a nation where we promise liberty and justice for all. Does it sound right that some citizens should not be allowed to marry just because other citizens think they should not be allowed to? No, it doesn’t — and that is why laws in some States that outlawed interracial marriage were struck down as illegal. It is the duty of our country to defend the rights of the minority in order to achieve equality for all. Allowing same-sex marriage rights WILL NOT AFFECT the marriage rights of anyone else … and for that reason alone it seems foolish to try and deny those rights to anyone. This would be the first time a Constitution would be amended to take away rights from a group of people. Even Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is voting against Prop 8. It’s just plainly wrong.
It really boils down to a simple matter of fairness. There were many, many people who vehemently opposed granting equal rights to women in this country. Our nation wouldn’t allow women to be discriminated against. There were many, many people who vehemently opposed granting equal rights to African Americans and other racial minorities in this country. Again, our nation wouldn’t allow those injustices to occur. Even tho there are many people out there who oppose granting EQUAL RIGHTS to same-sex couples, I honestly believe that our nation will not allow such discrimination to occur. The United States of America was founded on the fundamental belief that All Men are Created Equal. It’s as simple as that. I am Voting No on Proposition 8 because I want to see my country take the next step in fully realizing the principles it was founded on. Prop 8 is unfair and wrong. I believe that marriage equality should be enjoyed by all.
I know there are many people who would love to support the campaign to DEFEAT Prop 8 but they live outside of California. I would urge those folks to click HERE to donate whatever you can to help us Californians defeat this discriminatory proposition. I have donated a couple of times and I know the No on Prop 8 campaign can use all the money they can muster. It’s a tough time economically, but if you can donate anything I know it’ll help defeat legalized discrimination and uphold marriage equality for all.
Well said Jessi!
i live in the great state of california and i am voting NO on prop 8. i feel that banning same-sex marriage is wrong and unfair. do people not realize that they are enjoying the right to be married JUST BECAUSE of their sexual orientation? i believe in equality. separate but equal is not equal at all.
Sam, the “What about Domestic Partnerships?” question is equivalent to “What about Colored schools?” or “What about Colored water fountains?” Separate but Equal is wrong. Freedom demands that all citizens are treated equally and I’m confident that our country will uphold freedom, justice and equality for all.
Thank you for taking such a public stand against Prop 8. I feel this has far reaching ramifications that effect not only California, but the entire country as well. It is important that anyone who has a voice stands up and uses it. It will be a travesty if this passes. Go, Trent!
Trent – it’s not the same. it’s semantics, not rights. Homosexual relationships are inherently different by definition. What is so wrong with supporting a different term to describe them but fighting for equal rights within that?? Let’s vote no on Prop 8 for CA but fight for equal righs within domestic partnerships – it will be more widely accepted and more quickly establish rights on a global scale.
Don’t H8te, Vote no for 8!
thank you for this heartfelt and factual post. I cant even believe people would argue! There are so many reasons why porp 8 is wrong, but you got down straight to the most important point: there should be NO AMENDMENT THAT DISCRIMINATES. I have been in protests (although Im not old enough to vote!) and although we have gotten some horrible feedback, the overwhelming support just blew me away. VOTE NO ON PROP 8!
Jessi, I’m actually working for a Republican organization- I’m a Republican too. I’ve stood up for McCain and Palin on this blog and others when they are bashed. I also come from a small town where people who have threatened to KILL the gay couple in town- why? Because “God” forbids it. This church group, that proudly calls themselves “Right Wingers” also distorts MY PARTY’s name by saying that women who get abortions are murdering whores, that gay people are Satan’s children, and have told the Mormon and Catholic high school groups in town to “Convert or burn”. These people are the ones who I refer to as right-wing nut jobs. They are proud to call themselves as so.
I’m a proud Republican. I’m against the state being involved in any of my rights, I own guns, I am a Southerner, Catholic, against high taxes and bigger government. That, to me, is what a Republican is- not this idea that everyone has that was created by a select few that the GOP is anti-gay marriage and anti-choice. We’re not- most Republicans are more worried about the economy than these fringe issues. I am furious that we are losing elections because that is how we market ourselves. That being said, Jessi, I was not trying to be hateful, and I’m sorry if it sounds that way. While everyone’s religion is sacred, it is not okay to be used to limit people’s life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. I am simply tired of people who are trying to rob gay people of their liberty because of their sexual orientation, and using my Party and my Faith to do it. That’s the whole point of Prop 8, and it’s anti-Christian and anti-Republican.
That’s ridiculous. It’s not about what will be more widely accepted, it’s about what is right. Homosexual relationships are NOT different than any other relationship. Saying that is saying that being heterosexual is inherently better – which is terrible. Love is love, equality is equality. There is no middle ground. If we thought that way, we would never have any rights for people of color, women or anyone else.
Yes on prop 8 means re-writing our constitution specifically for religious people even though the constitution doesn’t mention the word god even once. It’s absurd that it is even up for debate and I hope with all of my heart that it will not pass. It will be a sad day if Obama wins but Prop 8 still passes. I doubt I will feel much like celebrating.
Monica, apparently you have no idea how gay marriage came to be legal in california in the first place.
NO on Prop 8, i don’t live in california, i’m not even Legal yet, (i’m 17) but if i could vote, i’d vote NO, just because it is wrong, it’s a sick Prop, Marriage should be legal for anyone, we finally reached it, and it’s unfair that some people would want to change it with such a stupid prop…
NO ON 8!!!!!!!
I have lived in California my whole life and I know exactly how this all came about. Your suggestion would be the easier option, but that doesn’t make it the right one. You have to attack problems at the root, not just put a band-aid on them. The ideology that says that “they” should have a separate word for marriage is wrong – period. Until we change that, we are not making progress. Again, equality is equality.
Preach, Trent! I wish I lived in California just so that I could vote NO on Proposition 8. It’s discrimination, pure and simple, so it’s wrong, pure and simple.
and if you live in Florida, as i do, vote NO on 2… same thing, different state!
I just wanted to say that I am 100% opposed to Prop 8. We cannot call ourself a free country if every single individual does not have equal rights. It is a disgrace that the concept of marriage has to be granted to a specific group of individuals… it should be a given right to any citizen. The marriage of a gay couple will no way harm other people, nor will it tamper with their lives in any form. Who you love cannot be changed or influence.
http://jkrollie.blogspot.com/2.....rop-8.html
I completely agree with you. It upsets me when I hear people voting yes on it. I talked to my parents about Prop. 8 just yesterday.. and hearing what my parents thought about it brought me to tears. I tried everything I could to just change their mind, but they just kept their mind stuck on voting yes for it. I was able to change a couple of my friends’ minds on same sex marriages, but for the elder generations it’s … difficult? :T
I’m a CA girl. I’ve already voted and I voted NO on Prop 8 and 4. Wonderful write up about how unfair this Prop is. *hugs*
Thank you Trent, for that lovely essay! Ever since I first heard about this Prop, I have been against it, not only because I believe that love is love, no matter it be boy girl, boy boy or girl girl, but because I believe that marriage is a civil right, it isn’t a privieledge or something that only part of the population can aspire to! I have even successfully woo’ed my mother, who is a moderate Republican, to Vote No on Prop 8! I’m not sure I got her to vote for Obama, but, well, you can’t have everything :) I TOALLY agree with you Trent, that even if religiously, you don’t believe in homosexual marriage, you SHOULD believe that discrimination is wrong, wrong, wrong! If you look at our American history, then you would know that at one time, practically EVERY walk of life was discriminated against- The Chinese, Irish, Italians, Mexicans, African Americans, Japanese, Jewish, Catholics, homosexuals and even women! If you believe that it was wrong then, you better believe that it’s wrong now! Why would you continue to stand for discrimination? Vote No on Prop 8 and tell all your friends too! Keep up the campaigning guys!
I wish I could help others to see that wanting to preserve marriage does not have to be a prejudiced or bigoted view. I don’t know if I can explain it, but I would like to try.
I don’t think anyone should be legally discriminated against because of their sexual preference. But are homosexuals being prevented from marrying as it is legally defined? No. They are choosing partners who do not fit the definition.
I find the claim that sexual urges cannot be controlled very interesting. Perhaps the urge itself cannot be controlled, but does that mean it should not be controlled by behavior? Do you think people should act out on every sexual urge?
Is it really bigoted to think that some sexual urges should not be acted on? This is not about equality nor is it an issue of legislating religion, but it IS an issue of legislating morality. The definition of marriage should not be changed just because a certain group of people do not want to be intimate with the opposite-sex. You could make the same claim that other current legal limits on marriage are discriminatory and should be thrown out. Why are some limits okay, and others aren’t?
Perhaps some people would prefer to see all the limits on marriage thrown out–should it not be limited to 2 people? Should there be no age restrictions? Should close relatives be forbidden to marry?
If you oppose changing the above limits are you bigoted?