California Passes Prop. 8 to Eliminate Right for Same-sex Couples to Marry

It looks like Proposition 8 has passed,eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry. Not just here in California but similar propositions have also passed in Arizona and Florida. I was not totally surprised but I was hoping that people would realize that equality was the main reason why the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual and Transgender community were fighting for. I know that we live in a heterosexual world where they are the majority. Even if every single person in the Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual and Transgender community voted NO on Prop. 8 it would not be enough. We needed the support of the heterosexual-straight community as well.

I am personally angry, upset and hurt that people made this a fight about religion, morals,school and children. This had nothing to do with any of that. The religious right used that as a scare tactic. They also used what is known as the "slippery slope" theory, which states that if you allow one group to do something then you must allow everyone to do it as well. This issue was solely based on the ELIMINATION of a CIVIL right for one group of people.

It is even more shameful that minorities voted in support and favor of Proposition 8. Asians, Black and Latinos overwhelmingly chose to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. These communities should know better,they themselves have had struggles for freedom and justice. Have they forgotten that there was a time when women and blacks could not vote, slavery was legal, interracial marriage was illegal,Japanese internment camps existed and Armenians were not allowed to buy homes.

We now must continue to fight against discrimination. challenging the constitutional legality of this vote and work to require that state constitutional changes require a two-thirds vote, rather than a mere majority. We must raise our voice against this social injustice. Do not let the religious right theology into our government. This religious right, headed in large part by the Mormon and Christian churches are trying to politically position themselves into impacting policy and eliminating a civil right. It is not right for any one group to be denied a civil right. And its not right for any group of people to take away another group of people's civil right. They are using God as a shield to spread their hate, prejudice and homophobia.

Life is full of changes and nothing lasts forever, we must be progressive and always keep a separation of church and state.

This fight might be difficult and hard at times but it is not impossible. There really is a solution to everything except death. Equal protection under the law, a basic tenet of the Constitution.