Comments on: Why I’m Voting NO On Proposition 8

By: sabrina

sabrina — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:22:36 +0000

THANKS!!! VOTE NO TO 8!!!
IT IS WRONG! I WILL BE PERSONALLY EFFECTED BY THIS AND I WAS PLANING TO GET MARRIED IN 1YR 1/2..NOW HOW DO WE CHANGE PLANS?? EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MARRY WHO THEY LOVE WEATHER MAN-MAN OR WOMAN-WOMAN…WE ALL HAVE THAT RIGHT!

By: Madsme

Madsme — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:33:51 +0000

Amen, Trent, Amen!

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:08:31 +0000

Bubblegum, you made an excellent point. Despite the romanticized stories that we have all heard as children, marriage for love is a relatively recent concept. Marriage, in a historical sense, was simply a stratigical arrangment to secure property and/or money and/or security for their family. Now, i am not trying belittle the idea of marriage, i believe marriage has evolved into a wonderful expression of two people’s love for eachother. Why should two men/women be denied the right to express their love the way a man and woman can? Do they not love eachother in the same way?
I find it ridiculous that the government feels it has the power to intervene in people’s lives like this. I feel very fortunate to live in country where this issue has been addressed and people are free to marry who they love.(Canada:)) If i could i would definitely vote NO on Prop 8.

By: Jessi

Jessi — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:29:34 +0000

Liz The Second,

I did not use religion as a reason for anything; in fact if you read my post it doesn’t voice my opinion either way. It simply states that it wasn’t respectful to call others nutjobs due to their opinion. And no you did not clarify which right-wingers you were calling nutjobs such as those who say gays are going hell. Regardless of my opionion I would never tell someone they were damned to hell especially for thinking different than me! I absolutely appreciate your views and think it is great we see a lot of things the same way. It is very hard to feel one way politically and another socially; it is something I struggle with everyday. That being said, I feel blessed to live in a country that let’s me vote and converse with others that feel different.
Have a great weekend!

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:37:01 +0000

Jennifer B.- You wouldn’t be a bigot if you have reliable evidence to support your argument. Yes, you shouldn’t be able to marry your close relatives, there is scientific proof that marrying your close relatives causes genetic deformities- hemophilia (lack of clotting agents in your blood) being one of the many. Yes, there should be age limits, because children don’t have the mental capacities that adults have and cannot understand at the same level. I’m not saying that to sound like an ass, but in modern psychology with the modern technology we have, we are understanding the intricacies of the brain throughout years of development.

Kristen- The bible also says “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”

Don’t forget that it was not that long ago when WOMEN didn’t even have rights, that we were just property to be sold and traded as slaves. (And some still are!) We got the right to vote in 1920, which was 144 YEARS after America was founded. We STILL don’t have equality to men, so who are we to be denying any shred of equality to someone else?

By: kristen

kristen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:09:05 +0000

Thanks so much for this! I wish I lived in California so badly so I could Vote NO!!!
I’ve been trying to say this to people that it’s like women’s rights and african americans rights in the early 1900′s. People tell me I’m ridiculous – you hit it right on the nose Trent. I really don’t understand how one would vote YES! Those people are disgusting.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:58:24 +0000

I live in Northern California–San Jose to be specific. We’re a pretty liberal area when all is said and done. I went for a walk in my neighborhood yesterday (taking new baby out for a spin) and was shocked to see a number of Vote Yes on Prop 8 signs dotting the lawns just around the corner from my house. I mean seriously, are these people for real?! I’m generally pretty protective of people’s right to believe whatever the hell suits them as long as it doesn’t harm anyone. But this is a friggin joke. It was the first time I’ve EVER considered sneaking out at night and removing political lawn signs.

To me, giving all folks the right to marry is a no-brainer. And it pisses me off when I see so many people getting worked into a frenzy about this issue when there are SO many bigger things at stake — the faltering economy, the war in Iraq, etc. You mean to tell me giving gays the right to marry is more troublesome to people than the fact that our country is going down the toilet? Ugh.

Had to rant…I already voted by mail and if you didn’t already guess, voted “no” on Prop 8.

By: Bubblegum

Bubblegum — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:21:48 +0000

I don’t understand how people can use the argument that they are “defending the traditional role of marriage”. In Western civilization marriage was not just a personal matter concerning only husband and wife, but rather a business merging of their two families. Most marriages, therefore, were arranged. Romantic love wasn’t even originally involved!

And if you go through world history, there have been various incarnations of “Marriage”, some devoid of romantic love, some arranged, some with patriarchal family structure, some with matriarchal, some polygamist, etc, etc…

Marriage has NOT always been tied with religion.

I don’t know, I just don’t see how anyone can claim the a man/wife structure is “”traditional” unless they discount hundreds of years of world/cultural history.

Of course, I guess that isn’t much of a stretch for the same people who don’t believe in Dinosaurs.

No to Prop 8!!!

By: Amy B

Amy B — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:08:17 +0000

I’m pretty sure my marriage will survive if any state, or even the whole country, decides to allow gay people the right to marry. I am totally confused as to why some people feel their vows are somehow less sacred or important just because another couple is also allowed to marry.

Jennifer B., I appreciate you explaining your stance in what is obviously a well thought out and not inflammatory manner, but you could also look at this the other way. If, as you say, people are “choosing” partners that do not fit the definition, what’s to prevent the government from coming along later and further limiting that definition? What if you one day were not allowed to marry someone of another race, religion or political affiliation? Restricting rights in the constitution is never a good idea. Our country is built on preserving freedoms, not taking them away.

Of course not every sexual urge should be acted on. But we’re not talking sexual relationships here. We’re talking love, family and the right to find that happiness in a mature and mutually committed relationship.

By: Jennifer B.

Jennifer B. — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:39:43 +0000

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?

By: Verodemort

Verodemort — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:42:40 +0000

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!

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:42:21 +0000

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*

By: Tina | Tk

Tina | Tk — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:09:46 +0000

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

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:32:28 +0000

http://jkrollie.blogspot.com/2.....rop-8.html

By: B

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:31:26 +0000

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.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:22:29 +0000

and if you live in Florida, as i do, vote NO on 2… same thing, different state!

By: sopheathene

sopheathene — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:50:30 +0000

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.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:02:17 +0000

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.

By: tOnnY

tOnnY — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:59:38 +0000

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!!!!!!!

By: same

same — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:44:01 +0000

Monica, apparently you have no idea how gay marriage came to be legal in california in the first place.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:31:06 +0000

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.

By: Liz the Second

Liz the Second — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:30:44 +0000

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.

By: gaby

gaby — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:25:55 +0000

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!

By: Iris

Iris — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:20:12 +0000

Don’t H8te, Vote no for 8!

By: same

same — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:55:14 +0000

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.