The campaign to oppose Proposition 8, which seeks to amend the California constitution to specifically deny same-sex couples the right to marry, will not concede that the proposition has passed despite the news reports that claim that it has passed. Here is the full text of the No on Prop 8 campaign’s statement regarding the votes cast in California last night:
Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10 million votes tallied. Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted. Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted as well as where they are from. It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all evening and this morning. As of this point, the election is too close to call. Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we believe it is important to wait until we receive further information about the outcome.
I wholeheartedly agree, the count is too close to call without taking into account the absentee ballots that have been cast in this matter. Even still, citizens of California WILL NOT STAND for the legalization of discrimination in this State and have organized at least 2 big rallies to take place today to protest the campaign to strip Californian citizens of their rights. Here is the info for a rally to take place tonight in West Hollywood, CA:
Hundreds to Attend “No on Prop 8″ Rally in West Hollywood Tonight
WHAT: With nearly 4 million votes still to be counted and the Proposition 8 race too close to call, hundreds of people who support equality for all and who oppose the amendment of our constitution to discriminate against any group, will gather in West Hollywood tonight to show their support for the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
WHO: Speakers include: Lorri L. Jean, CEO, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, John Duran, President, Equality California, Reverend Neil Thomas, Metropolitan Community Church, Rabbi Denise Eger, Congregation Kol Ami
WHERE: San Vicente Blvd., between Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, California
Additionally, I’ve received word that a candlelight vigil will take place on the steps of the State Capitol tonight … people interested in attending are requested to bring candles and as many people as they can.
If you are able, I urge all Californians to come out and stand united to oppose the attempts to STRIP CITIZENS OF THEIR RIGHTS. As we learned from last night’s election, change is possible and what was once believed inconceivable can become reality. GLBT citizens of the USA deserve to be treated like everyone else. While our country has made great strides in some respects (thank you President-elect Obama) we still have a long way to go … there is still much we need to fight for!
UPDATE: Here is a list of rallies that will be held in California tonight:
Los Angeles
7:00 p.m. | West Hollywood
Corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente Blvd
Sacramento
note location change
5 p.m. | Gay & Lesbian Center
1927 L St
San Diego
6:30 | The Center
3909 Centre Street
Co-sponsored by the Center, EQCA and HRC
San Francisco
6:30 | City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
[Source]
I await the day when I hear Obama say ‘YES YOU CAN get married to a man or a woman!’
cheers
He’ll never say that
just like america would never vote in a black president? change happens – it just takes time.
Anyone else confused? I mean there was all this money pumped into campaigning people to Vote No on Proposition 8. People then went and voted (i.e. participated in the democratic process). And when things didn’t go their way, they want to stomp their feet and say “this issue shouldn’t even have been dealt with in a way that I myself participated in.”
Amy and Bekkle: I respect your point about how many Christians DO believe in equal rights and justice, as Jesus preached. The problem is, we never SEE this viewpoint. When religious/Christian groups enter into the political fray, it’s almost always to ban gay marriage, make abortion illegal, and other far right-wing agenda points. So, can you blame us for lumping all of you together on those issues? Sorry though. I will try to remember that there are a lot of Christians who do believe in the value that Jesus preached, just as the majority of Muslims in the world are not crazy fanatics either….
bp – do you honestly expect people to just say “Oh…well tough luck on us…let’s give up now.”
If people did this…we would still have slavery, we would still have women being unable to vote…hell, many men still wouldn’t be allowed to vote. Animal cruelty wouldn’t be deemed inappropriate, colonization would still be the ‘white mans burden’, and the Pope would still rule with an iron fist.
No I don’t expect people to give up fighting. I just wish that they would stop placing the blame on the California voters. It was the Supreme Court who said it was a state issue. Now there is one group saying “well, it shouldn’t be a state issue and the vote shouldn’t count even though I voted.”
me: That’s exactly the problem, that it’s the extremists that are pushing for things like that, and so that’s all people remember – I’m not a christian (anymore) I don’t believe in organized religion – but I do believe there’s something else out there.. (completely off topic..) anyway..
the core values that Jesus preached are wonderful, (loving your neighbour, honoring your parents, living positively and with meaning, etc) but I think that a lot of people forget that Jesus didn’t write the bible, it was written and twisted by people years and years after he had died.. it had already become fable and rumor by the time it was written down, and then translated numerous times to fit whatever church/religion wanted it to truly say. It was also written 1800+ years ago, so much of what was written has no bearing on life now… how there are people that truly believe Homosexuals are going to hell because of how they live their life, and how ‘god’ made them…. I will never understand – most extremists have never actually read the bible, they take quotes and twist it to suit their purpose. I just agree with Amy that in order for positive change to happen, there has to be constructive conversation between all parties.. and the extremists should be ignored.. because they want to make people angry, and I think that some post just to stir the pot.. it might not even be what they really feel – but they find it humerous to make others mad..
I posted some (low quality) video from last night.. Tila Tequila meeting people and yelling from her car – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hpgHj5ItCQ – and some raw footage of the march overwhelming my camera’s microphone with noise – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AU1tqfILhQ . I hope anyone else with better video uploads theirs!!!
“One can still believe in heterosexual marriage AND equal rights for all. While I believe that same-sex couples have the right to marry that doesn’t mean that I believe that heterosexual couples should not be allowed to marry — the two are not mutually exclusive. It couldn’t be more plain and simple.”
Oh, but you can’t have any beliefs that may affect another person!
wow…..^
“Oh, but you can’t have any beliefs that may affect another person!”
You can have beliefs. By all means, have your own beliefs… but, you can’t legislate them if they take away rights that other Americans have. By banning gay marriage, it is TAKING AWAY a right that other Americans are entitled to, which is unbalanced and unconstitutional.
I get that bubblegum, my beef is not with you. Call me pedantic, I’m just commenting on Trent’s earlier statement: “if you choose to believe something is so then good for you, you have that right. YOUR beliefs should have no bearing on anyone else — period.” Notice there is no argument about taking away freedoms, just saying no beliefs at all. But then he goes on to comment: “One can still believe in heterosexual marriage AND equal rights for all. While I believe that same-sex couples have the right to marry that doesn’t mean that I believe that heterosexual couples should not be allowed to marry.”
This is exactly what supporters of equality are fighting AGAINST. In one breath it is “you can’t have a belief if has any bearing on any one else” and the next “but listen to my beliefs because they matter.” Does that sound like equality to you?
Again, I have not stated my position on this matter. I have never said I am a proponent of taking away anyone’s rights…people just need to take a step back and think. In an issue like this people very easily become zealots (yes even non Christians can be zealots) and common sense goes out the window.
I understand it differently.. to me it says that personal beliefs should not get in the way of someone else living their life – just because 51% of people think that Marriage between 2 people of the same sex is wrong.. doesn’t make it so – expressing personal beliefs and opinions and enforcing them as law are 2 completely different things.. that’s just my take… IMHO. I still can’t believe something like this was voted on during a time when the economy is in the toilet and people are dying overseas in a needless war… boggles my mind…
“Expressing personal beliefs and opinions and enforcing them as law are 2 completely different things.” “personal beliefs should not get in the way of someone else living their life ”
Do you mean that across the board or in just this one instance? Any one here oppose sex between a grown man or a woman and 12 year old of either gender)?
You know what, you are right….I have no place to think that it would be wrong. My personal beliefs about underage sex (and all those pesky laws too) are just getting in the way of that man living his life how he wants to.
bp: there’s a huge difference between 2 full grown adults making a decision in their life, and an adult exploiting a child… I understand the point you are trying to make, but I just don’t see that as a viable comparison..
V says “we can’t expect so much change to happen at once” – YES WE CAN … exactly how many decades have to pass before America gets it?? Until discrimination of people because of their gender or sexuality are dealt with, I firmly believe USA will not begin to solve the problems it needs to solve. Get on with it America, and stop being dictated to by self serving church groups (who don’t even pay taxes).
My argument is not against two consenting adults choosing to live their lives however they choose. My argument is against the blanket statement of: personal beliefs should not get in the way of someone else living their life. How else do choose to vote but for your freakin beliefs? Take bugglegum who qualifies his/her statement with: you can’t legislate them if they take away rights that other Americans have. You don’t bekkie.
bp: I understand what you’re saying.. I just don’t understand why something like this is voted for in an election by the public. I completely understand people voting based on their beliefs.. that’s obviously how people vote, but why does society have the ability to vote on how others live their life? if (for example) a state that had high polygamy rates, would a group of individuals be able to get the signatures, put together a proposition.. and if 51% of people said ‘yes we like polygamy’ would that state then make it legal to marry multiple people? or under-age marriage in the same scenario? – it’s just different up here in the great white north, so I’m attempting to comprehend the extent of what these propositions can do
and if this same thing happened in 2000.. and then the supreme court over-ruled it… won’t that just happen again.. and then it will be a never-ending circle of voting and overturning? it seems redundant and a waste of money…
and on the other hand.. if ‘California still has a “domestic partners” law that gives same-sex couples the same rights and benefits as married spouses.’ then I really fail to see the big issue here… is the fight strictly over the term ‘marriage’? can’t you just use it anyway? it’s just a word…
you neighbours are so confusing…