Prop 8 and Gay Marriage: Stand Up and Be Counted!

(Image courtesy of No on Prop 8)
I guess you would have to live under a rock not to be aware of the fight – and I mean fight – going on in California over this November’s ballot initiative, Proposition 8.  Proposition 8 would take away the right we have now to marry and create a legal definition of marriage in the State of California as being solely between a man and a woman.  Yes on Prop 8 is a vote against gay marriage, and a vote against our equality.

And, I guess you would have to be living under a fucking pile of rocks to think people of good conscience will seize the day in the end, and the vote will turn out our way.  People of good conscience take for granted the natural, God-given equality of all people, and thus are often too likely not to vote, thinking things will turn out for the better.  But that’s not how it works.

That’s not how change happens.  Never has been.  That’s not how this country moves forward with progress.  That’s not how our society changes for the better.  From the days of Suffrage to the Civil Rights era, good people realized when they don’t come forward, they lose.

To be sure, marriage is the specific issue on the ballot.  But so very much more is on that ballot, really.  When the Montgomery bus boycott made the city of Montgomery integrate seating on public transportation, a whole hell of a lot more than an equality of comfortable seating became available to African Americans.  An equality of dignity became available, and all the rights and privileges and opportunities that come with that began to flow henceforth.  And so it is with Prop 8.

At all times, we need to ask ourselves, as Queer Americans, just what it is that we want in this American experiment. If it is equality of opportunity, inclusion, and being allowed to exist as a person - no different than any other - then this is the fight to fight.  Prop 8 must go down.

We need to vote.  We need to vote "NO". We need to talk with our friends and neighbors, and encourage them to vote "NO" on Prop 8.  We need to get the word out, and support efforts that are really our efforts, through volunteering on Election Day, through donating, through all of it.

This is the good fight.  This is the right fight.  This is our fight.

Comments

[Kirby Greene]

Vote YES on Proposition 8 and defend the true definition of Family. Such things are not subject to change. Read this link to know why. There is so much so many people don't know simply because they have not had the chance to learn. Here is your chance. You can not be at fault for ignorance, but you an not be true to it either. Start here, and reject ignorance.

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

[Aaron]

I just read the Mormon article posted by Kirby Greene, and I've never seen so much empty language & hatred in my life. There is no argument and no evidence in it. Pure fluff intended to pry on the insecurities of christians.

Equality is Equality, and we know it is right. I'm amazed at the lengths people will go to convince themselves otherwise.

[Toby]

I also have read the website the first commenter points to and have to agree with Aaron. It's amazing how so much hatred and venom can come from groups who claim to be providing support to many.

I am an open minded person and have read a lot of positions against gay marriage and I have yet to find one argument that isn't based upon fear.

Why is it an act of love between two people can cause so much hate in others who profess to be full of love themselves? Can anyone answer that for me, and can you do it without any venom either?

I'm voting NO on Prop 8!

[Dale]

It's amazing how so many ballot propositions are being proposed nationwide to amend State Constitutions to PROHIBIT gay marriage, domestic partnerships, and other rights. Please correct me if I'm wrong but weren't Constitutions established to GUARANTEE rights to citizens? Does it seem inappropriate to anyone else that State Constitutions are now being used to ELIMINATE rights? I may not fully agree with the term "Gay Marriage" but I do agree with the principles that the right guarantees. The moment we allow ANY legislation to establish ANY Constitutional precedent that EXCLUDES rights, we are sliding down the slippery slope to fascism.

[Tony]

We need help in Florida with our anti-marriage amendment with Amendment 2. Polls show we're close to defeating this amendment but we're seeing little financial help to fight the effort. VOTE NO on 2!

I wish the celebs would give $100k to Florida.

www.sayno2.com

[Cameron]

As to the first line of this comment, you either live under a rock, or IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. American laws don't affect people overseas and not every one knows about them. I seriously hope this bill is defeated, but can we stop the insulting of people who don't know what it is for a genuine reason? Its a little off-putting.

[Norman]

The gay community is 'way too nice about this issue. The real way to fight this is to take on our opponents side of spreading fear about the proposition. Hpw about this? Activists judges are ready to interpret Prop 8 as ending your right to get a divorce in California.

[Bacon]

I am curious why no one has called for celebrities such as Ellen, Margaret Cho, Cher, Ani DeFranco, etc. (all who have made money off of the gay community) to give to the No on 8 campaign. Why aren't they helping us during crunch time and in the hour of need?

[Joe]

It happened in Wisconsin...it can happen in Calafornia too. Fight like you have never fought for anything.

[*LadyBeatty*]

I speak my mind! I have to say people are so narrow minded! If people that are gay get married it's not like procreation is gonna stop! Or like everyone in the world is suddenly gonna become gay! We're people too and want the same rights as everyone else and most importantly just want to be openly happy!

[*LadyBeatty*]

The church wants to argue that homosexuality is a sin! Well then let God judge us and not the church, government, or the state! And my understanding of the Bible is that every sin can be forgiven except the taking of your own life!!!!

[Huehuecoyotl9]

As Anita Bryant might say, "Marriage -- It's not just for heterosexuals anymore!" ^_^

(got that at cafepress.com/studio_57)

[Todd]

...was it really necessary to write "fucking pile of rocks" when "pile of rocks" would suffice? The articles here seem realy dumbed-down, do you really think gratuitous profanity is very becoming to you? It's not.

[Patrick]

They aren't the only state with political issues. AZ has Prop. 102 :(

[hologroove]

Does anyone else see how close being a Mormon is to being a Moron? Amazing...

[Cassiusw90s]

I've donated twice to this cause and will likely head out to CA from NYC to campaign against Prop 8.

I don't understand why idiots like Kirby Greene are on this site unless they're insane.

PLEASE go to http://noonprop8.com/ and GIVE GIVE GIVE....

Thanks

[Jim]

Here we are again, several years ago, California voters passed a marriage law,
It was overturned by the supreme court as unconstitutional, now they are using "Judges overturn voters" to get support.
They tell us.. Civil Unions are ok, just not marriage ( sounds like separate but equal ) to me.. what's next.. changing straight man and straight woman to white man and white woman...? That is obvious discrimination. they want the bible to be the defining text of marriage. ( sounds like violation of church and state ) and violation of my freedom of religon..
California's PROP 8 is dicrimination, lets save taxpayer money and VOTE NO on 8 now, so we wont have the court costs of it being overturned... VOTE NO on 8 and your states "straights only" dicrimination+
VOTE NO on 8 NO on 8 NO on 8

[Matthew]

So I was reading this over and firstly, I'd like to point out, that while yes this person is extremely against Prop 8, saying so in such a manor as he did just, well just underminds what he's trying to say. If I could, I'd vote no. It's rather grotesques how people can easily shoot down gay rights. Women worked hard for their rights. Blacks worked even harder. Yet people refuse to put up with anything of that sort. Why? It's fear. Vote no guys and girls. Just vote no. Once one state starts going, maybe it'll hit other states. "A small rock in a still pond makes ripples, but sooner or later, that small ripple turns into a large wave!" -- Weirgaf (FFT - 1998)

[corrective_unconscious]

>Vote YES on Proposition 8 and defend the true definition of Family. Such things are not subject to change. Read this link to know why.

And don't forget California's Proposition 9, which would ban the wearing of magic underpants on Lent and Yom Kippur.

[WangGang]

AS a chinese man,for this question,
just think about the word marriage
how and why was it created?
the process and the reason to create the word are and will be applicable to gay.
so as to prove the improtance of marriage,to enhance needs of marraige, to protect the ture relationship of marriage.

[txl]

To Bacon: the ONLY reason I know about this Prop thing is because of Ellen talking about it on her show and begging people to vote no, as well as talking about both her marriage and wedding. Which brings me to the same point as Cameron - I'm not from the US. Not knowing about it does not mean I live under a pile of rocks. US news just doesn't always affect the rest of the world, no matter how important it may seem. I sincerely hope it gets defeated, but the insults weren't necessary.

[queerplanet]

And while you and the religious folk are arguing about getting married...

The ice caps are melting.

The population of the planet increases at three people per second.

War rage for resources that are either running out or poisoned from overuse.

The government of the USA has been taken over by fascists who steal elections, using Diebold voting machines and corrupt elected officials.

Habeus Corpus has been suspended.

But hey, I'm sure you have better things to do picking out stuff for your weddings.

Thing is heteros and homos do have a lot in common. Both are willing to ignore real issues of civil rights, environmental damage and war to pursue short term goals and sefish interests.

[suhe]

Mormon church historically has been very racist and homophobic. Mormon church donated about 5 million dollars to fight against gay marriage and to push proposition 8. In the past, Mormon church donated millions to right wing religious alliances to fight against gay marriage wherever there was gay marriage related legislation. Mormon church is evil and full of hatred.

[bryan]

Marriage is a human invention. Every culture has had an interpretation. Every church has passed on their dogma regarding marriage. Yet here we are in the 21st century and there are those claiming to know what marriage is, and only is. What a joke. Marriage is whatever people want it to be, whatever a country, a state, a church wants it to be...Gay people can make marriage their own as well which just pisses people off...Standing up for gay marriage is recognizing equal rights under God and under the law. Anything else is bigotry and ignorance.

[jim]

Connecticut overturns it's marriage ban YEAH..
I point out again prop 8 is un-constitutional. and wron, please urge people to vote no on prop 8
thanks

[Chris]

If you truly love someone unconditionally, you don't need a piece of paper from the government.

[Edgardo]

I think that it is a chame for the politicias to use gay marriage to get votes. It just chowing what cain of government we all are about to get. Are this pleople ignorants or the think they don't have gays in their family and if they don't what is there that would waranty they never will. The way it should be address it is that we are fighting for the right of marriage of two individuals, two souls it doesn't matter what is their prefference. Heterosexual marriage is not in any way completly perfect and nor will be gay marriage, but it is our right as people of this country where we proclame, LIBERTY.