California's Proposition 8 Passed - Gay Marriages Are Now Banned...Again
I am baffled.
I was excited when I heard that Obama won the presidential election, and found it amusing that Obama beat McCain by about 2 and a half million votes in California, so this morning I was shocked to hear that so many Californians voted to pass proposition 8.
California is generally a liberal state that likes to go against the grain of big government. So why would so many people vote for an amendment that allows the government to not only control our lives, but shove religion in our faces as well?
In my opinion, the only reason anyone would be for eliminating gay marriages has to do with religious reasons. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin. The Bible defines the word marriage as a union between a man and a woman. While there are plenty of homosexual Christians out there, there are plenty of homosexuals who aren't Christian, so why should others' Christian values be allowed to keep two people from loving each other? Aren't church and state supposed to be separate?
This morning I am in denial. I refuse to believe that so many people in a state with a democratic majority would deny a union between two people in love.
One of the reasons I'm in denial is because I almost voted yes myself. While I'm legally a California resident, I currently live in the south, so naturally California's proposition 8 wasn't all over the news. I was a bit in the dark.
When I received my San Mateo absentee ballet almost a month and a half before elections were to be held, I was excited to get the opportunity to vote for gay marriage. I scanned over the section about proposition 8, and all I could think in my head was, "Yes, yes." and almost marked yes assuming it was a simple question.
I did a double take and realized that the wording was all negative, and that this proposition wanted to overturn the current law allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The wording was sneaky, and I can see how other people might have voted yes on accident.
I'm sure people living in California were well aware of the several "No on proposition 8" movements, and didn't have the same issue I had with the wording on the ballot.
Regardless, I'm still shocked.
I get that Christians are possessive over the word marriage. Naturally, the word marriage has lost some of its meaning as we turn into a more secular society. When my husband and I got married, I didn't look at it as a union dripping in religious undertones; I looked at it as a union, period. If Christians want to keep the word for themselves, then fine, but it's not fair to gay and lesbian couples who don't have another option available, such as a civil union that perfectly equates to a marriage, as far as the legalities that come with that union.
I think it's selfish to vote against gay marriage and the semantics of the word marriage, before a similar civil union is approved for gay couples. They deserve the same rights as the rest of us. Once that's set in place, if you want to vote against the ownership of a word defined by a religion, then by all means, knock yourself out.
It warms my heart [sarcasm follows] to think that Californians voted yes for proposition 2, which will allow chickens and other commercial farm animals to get new cages that allow them to finally be able to turn around, and even extend their limbs for the first time in their lives, yet we won't allow two human beings of the same sex who are in love to legally join together in a union that affords them the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
How sad that my fellow Californians place a higher value on farm animals than their fellow human beings.
Published by Alicia White
Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design. View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentHow can marriage predate religion? I guess that would depend on what you believe. Marriage only took place after the creation of "man" and "woman", (interestingly enough). Mankind has had a relationship with God since the beginning of creation, which arguably would be the beginning of what people call religion. I don't know how people can really question that marriage was meant to be for any relationship other than a man and a woman. It would seem that the majority of voters in CA do not question this fact either. If people want to have gay relationships that is up to them, but they do not need to change the meaning of a relationship that has long been established. That is all were saying....
Has anyone thought of the impact this would have economically? I believe that the same economic reasons have held women back from making equal pay for equal work. Once the same sex marriages are honored, these newlyweds can add a spouse to their current insurance.
More than one group has been waiting patiently for their day in the sunshine.
Judge not, lest ye be judged. Love your neighbor. Let God decide our fate when we get there.
Wow this article certainly has caused an uproar! Good job! I was also suprised at the outcome of propisition 8. I live in Nevada so I could not add my say, but if I could have I would have voted no.
It is completely irrelevant if you are gay or not, christian or not, religious or not, a californian or not. Our society keeps saying accept people for who they are, don't hate, be racist or pregidce. You see it on the news, on tv shows, every where you look - then our 'society' does the complete opposite.
Put yourself in their shoes for one minute. Are you happily married? Not anymore, you marriage was just taken away. You want to get married? Sorry. Those rights are for everyone but you. Remember the day you got married? The happiness you felt when you saw your significant other, that first kiss as a married couple. Wipe it from your memory - it never happened.
This is supposed to be a free nation. Let it be free for all citizens!
...and boo to those who compounded their mistake by voting to take away others' right with this proposition, too.
And as far as the silly chicken legislation, please explain without far- reaching analogies and added drama, how at present the gays and lesbians are being treated INHUMANELY. The "dog" analogy just does not work on any level, literally or metaphorically.
The irony in your first few paragraphs is what is "baffling". Why do you suggest "religion is being shoved in your face" by Prop8 when the whole debate of the definition of the term MARRIAGE is in the religious arena? Instead of taking Elton John's advice and pushing for equal rights under "civil unions" and creating your own institution and history(since it could encompass anyone not religious, not just gays) you want redefinition. The whole concept of marriage has its historical roots stemming from God and religion pre-dating Christ (noting your overuse of the term christian, specifically) The actual christian vote has been shown to be the minority for Prop8, even if they seemed more visible and outspoken, so regroup and try your argument again. Call it selfish, but hey, you and your convictions are no more important in this country than anyone else's. That is why, perhaps, you are in denial.
I live in Ca. and I could not believe how we ended up taking a step back like that. The yes on Prop. 8 ads had very strong scare tactics, using kids. They pleaded on peoples ignorance and lied about what prop. 8 would do. No matter what you believe, you have to vote what is right. People use to believe that blacks marrying whites, was wrong and it use to be against the law too. Thankfully, only few know or even care about that former law. I know one day the idea of them taking away rights will be absurd to the majority. I just hope it will be sooner than later.
P.S I am very glad Prop. 2 passed, animals can't speak for themselves. At least humans can continue fighting and get it change. They are and it will.
Thank you for the post. there are enough opinions above, do I won't add mine since they are mentioned already. Roberta Baxter
The passing of prop 8 was a black eye on an otherwise memorable election, for sure.....but the margins are shrinking, and courts are realizing there is no real legal basis for denying gay marriage. In 20 years we will look back on it as another page we had to turn in our porgression...in the meantime, it will take alot more work and alot more knowledge....