The other day I was driving home from feeding my parents’ obese Norwegian elkhound, when I saw a disturbingly large mob of people holding Yes on Prop 8 signs, along with some Ban Gay Marriage and Protect our Children banners. After I had thrown up in mouth, and felt my blood begin to boil, I decided I too would exercise my right to free speech and did so by taking both hands off the wheel…
to sign two thumbs down while sticking out my tongue. I find this is not only the most mature way to voice one’s opinion, but also the most attractive. When my brazen show of political savvy failed to shame the mob for publicly displaying their hateful bigotry, I opted to teach them poise and grace by flipping them off. It was at this exact moment that I glanced up to see the light had turned red and I slammed on my brakes, propelling myself forward and then back, as I sat through the most uncomfortable thirty seconds of my life. At first, I thought I’d just discovered yet another way to embarrass myself, but, of course, the truly embarrassing thing was the protest taking place outside my passenger window.
Had I known this ludicrous proposition would come anywhere near being passed, I would have rolled down my window and asked these people how it was exactly that they were not ashamed of themselves. It is bad enough that they have sought and likely won the ability to take away the rights of certain of our fellow Americans, but to have twisted this proposition into anything allegedly related to children is what really sickens me.
That never was what this proposition was about, but even if it had been, this idea that homosexuality is so wrong that children must never learn it exists genuinely disturbs me for the innate discrimination this ideology extols. The ostracism and marginalization too many young people feel in regard to their sexuality leads many to depression, thoughts of suicide or fleeing to join the IceCapades.
To protect our children, they must know that we will love and honor them, as will love and honor all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation. If these religious fundamentalists feel that children are capable of grasping the concept that one consenting adult female and one consenting adult male are allowed to be joined in a union under the law that guarantees them certain protections, then there is no reason why they should not know the same is (or was) true for loving adult couples of all backgrounds.
For anyone to find a partner in this life is a thing of joy and beauty, but to dampen their happiness by saying it is not an equal love, nor is it worthy of protecting, is ugly and wrong. I know one day everyone will look back on this and recognize just how ridiculous it is to discriminate against gays and lesbians, just as we can now look back and see how wrong discrimination based on skin color is as well.
I am overjoyed by the win of our new president elect. I couldn’t be happier and could only feel prouder to be an American at this pivotal moment in our history, if I knew these hateful propositions that limit the rights of innocent citizens would cease to pass in our country’s elections.
But for those of you who, like the driver of a giant, gas-guzzling yellow Hummer with the huge banner saying Yes on 8 that I was stuck behind last night, feel compelled to continue to spout off your hateful ideology, I say I’m glad we all have a voice under the first amendment, but yours, my friends, are nothing more than a great way for you to embarrass yourselves. I can only hold my head high, tongue sticking out, as I give two thumbs down to this travesty. I pray that when all the votes are tallied, it won’t have passed.
As a hetero, married Christian woman, I am absolutely baffled by how this message of hate has become touted as ordained by God. The God I know does not celebrate the discrimination of human beings. He does not cheer and rejoice at the pain and suffering of others. He does not seek to take love and compassion out of this world, as these so-called Christians have. I will never understand how people can feel compelled to support laws that have no bearing on their own lives, but only destroy the autonomy of others’.
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California’s constitution is a joke. The constitution is supposed to be the foundation of the law. This is why our nation’s founders wrote a constitution that is difficult to modify. Amending the Constitution of the United States requires first a 2/3 majority in Congress then ratification by 3/4 of the state legislatures. California’s “constitution” can be amended by a simple majority of the popular vote. To get a proposed amendment onto the California ballot, it only takes as many signatures as 8% of the voters in the most recent gubernatorial election. As I said, California’s constitution is a joke.
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That sounds stressful. U should have run over them