As we know, the California Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Equality in Marriage was overturned by the religious, the less educated, and the right-wing.
As the exit polls are showing:
The Less educated-
People with only a high school, or some college education voted to ban same-sex marriage.
The More Educated-
Those with a college degree or postgraduate degree voted with the California State Supreme Court to keep same-sex marriage equality.
Religion-
Those who declared themselves to be followers of a religion voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ban.
Those who declared no religious affiliation voted 91% in favor of equality.
Those who attended church weekly voted 82% in favor of banning equal marriage rights.
Those who never attend church voted 85% in favor of equality.
White Evangelicals and "Born Again" voted 80% in favor of a ban.
Location-
People in Urban areas voted against the ban.
Those in Rural areas voted for the ban.
Presidential Supporters-
McCain supporters voted 82% in favor of the ban. John McCain favored state by state bans, as he even appeared in a state advertisement before.
Obama supporters voted 68% against the ban.
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Arizona and Florida voted the same way with very similar exit poll results.
So if you haven't gathered it yet: The less educated, the religious, and the right-wing have decided that I am not an equal person - deserving of equal rights (marriage comes with about 1,200 rights depending on the state you live in)- RIGHTS that are supposed to be guaranteed under the United States Constitution as confirmed by the California Supreme Court.
Did you know that you can get married by walking into City Hall and signing papers, nothing religious required? It's 100% true.
Did you know that the government cannot make a law based on a religous view unless it serves a substantial government interest? This is also 100% true!
Anyone who understands constitutional law... (like say... The CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT)... knows that this ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional.
I challenge anyone to provide a legitimate reason as to why the government would ban same-sex marriages. Legally speaking it cannot be based on a religious reason.
Hint: There isn't one!
If anyone ever wondered why I dislike religion and ignorance of the law THIS is just one of the many reasons.
In California the less educated, closed-minded religious people (note that I didn't say all religious people are closed-minded) who live sectioned off and away from the vast majority of (open) homosexuals and the diverse people in the cities... for some reason... think that they are allowed to judge, run, and ruin people's lives.
Thousands of same-sex couples are now suddenly no longer legally recognized as equals in California.
Those who voted for Proposition 8 were religious, less educated, and living in their made-up dream world where homosexuals aren't people, but sinners. They worship a god whose existence they cannot even prove.
If these people cannot even tolerate, much less accept me, why should I tolerate them? Why can't they just leave homosexuals alone?
At first I felt defeated today. I will admit that I even cried. But I'm not going to give up. And maybe because I refuse to give up, someday, I will be treated as an equal human being in the eyes of the law.
I do not need your acceptance, I just want the equality guaranteed to me under the United States Constitution.
Taken from MY BLOG @ www.youreadygrandma.blogspot.com
I am not religious, I am educated and intelligent.
Your pompous rant shows more bias and intolerance than most gay people would experience in California. I endure great bias and intolerance as a conservative in California. Liberals profess peace and kindness but only if it aligns with their views.
My biggest problem with the leftist movement is this hypocrisy. I share many common views with liberals, but I align myself with the right because the most important thing to me is fiscal conservatism. The far-right may cling to their bibles and guns (I'm against both platforms) but they don't over-tax the public and "spread the wealth" to the undeserved. I'll save that rant for later.
I voted for propositions 8. I'm not a zealot completely against the gay lifestyle. I want the government out of my bedroom as much as I wan them out of your bedroom. I also want our bedrooms outside of legislation and other civic entities. You can cry fear-mongering all you want about the ads showing classes teaching homosexuality. I think that is the future and I don't like it. I want gays and lesbians to have every right that I have, but I don't want my kids taught it from a bureaucrat. I don't want it taught period.
I wish every individual(that pulls their own weight) joy and happiness. That doesn't mean I want them all legislated to be treated a certain way.
1 - Why is this a "pompous rant" ? I invite you to take a look at the exit polls yourself, I didn't make the statistics up.
2- "You can cry fear-mongering all you want about the ads showing classes teaching homosexuality. I think that is the future and I don't like it."
Looks like you bought those ads hook line and sinker.
"but I don't want my kids taught it from a bureaucrat. I don't want it taught period."
- You can't learn to become gay. You either are or you aren't. Do you need some educational sources on this?
Let me ask you: are you atheist or agnostic? And, how well do you understand the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court?
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
Debate is a good things....as long as it is fair. Please don't patronize me with statistics and polls. You seem to be an intelligent person and as any intelligent person knows stats can be used to convey anything. I don't disagree with your feelings about ignorant bible-thumpers, but to use the condescending tone that you've presented and pretend you're being completely scientific is ludicrous. I truly appreciate your stance and your passion, but please be open-minded enough to allow someone to disagree.
"You can't learn to become gay. You either are or you aren't. Do you need some educational sources on this?" I kinda disagree with this statement, but that was not my point. My point is that I don't want my children taught ANYTHING about homosexuality in school.I live in the most progressive part of the country and I know that the public school system will "teach" my children many many many things that I disagree with. I'm not OK with it, but I will definitely be hands-on and have my say. Don't think for a second that the general populous of educators in this fine state isn't left leaning and doesn't jump at the opportunity to teach their own theology. I don't want to throw kindling on that fire. My anti-prop 8 vote was a statement against the progressive movement. Don't take it personally. But with the vote in mind, why do you feel ok to savor the victory in the general election, but whine about another? It's seems hypocritical to me. I was upset over the results of the presidential election, but I knew the electorate had spoken. President-elect Obama has my full support. Although I completely disagree with his fiscal politics I like the man, I agree with most of his social agenda (including expansion of gay rights apart from marriage). I hope for a prosperous four years and beyond.
I'm sorry for being verbose, but I find it difficult to find intelligent, rational liberals to correspond with and I do appreciate your passion. I would like to comment on your query about my religious persuasion. I consider myself agnostic. The journey to get there was with a bible-thumping/self-loathing path. After shedding the zealout portion of myself I shed a TON of social conservatism. I found most to be based in anger, ignorance, and fear. I state that to show you that I have seen both sides of the equation. Regarding the previous statement you made about not being able to be taught to be gay. I mostly disagree with that. I believe there are many childhood triggers that could lead an individual down that path. I think there are forms of abuse that can alter a person's sexual development. With those things said I must say that I have finally come to realize that it doesn't matter why someone is gay. That is a great source of propaganda that comes from both sides, but I now feel 'who cares'. I respect everyone's right to their own private sexuality. The key word there is PRIVATE. I don't want my children to know about it before I decide it is the right time. My sexuality is private too. I don't want my kids learning about fetishes and porn in school.
It helps maintain the flow if conversation. That was me speaking as a moderator of the site.
Now this is me speaking as a fellow blogger:
In response to your comment about fetishes and porn, I don't know any gay people who want kids to learn that in school, either. The fact is, kids learn how to be heterosexual every single day. You think it isn't taught, but it is the default mode of our society. It is everywhere. Is it teaching about sex? NO! And neither is teaching about the existence and rights of gay people. Teaching about marriage, whether gay or straight, is a far cry from teaching about fetishes and porn. I resent the comparison. You ask us not to take things like Prop8 personally (in spite of the fact that it affects us in a deeply personal way by denying us our basic civil rights), then you insult us like that? Who is being condescending now?
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Ediblewomen has already made most of my points clear, so I will keep this brief.
If you are going to be this unreasonable and illogical then there probably is no changing your mind.
I'm a person. A decent respectable human being who isn't a pervert. I wish to adopt and have kids eventually (apparently not in Arkansas though...) and I would not want my children learning much of the nonsense you mentioned either.
However, sexual education should talk about homosexuality so that people can learn that it isn't wrong or a disease. Too many kids and adults are beaten up, picked on, and shunned. Many homosexuals commit suicide because of this.
People need to be educated. If the notion that you might have a homosexual kid really irks you, then I hope your kids aren't gay, for their sakes.
Where is the logical connection between same-sex marriage and equal rights to teaching children about pornography and corrupting them? There isn't one. Like I said before: You bought those ads "hook, line, and sinker."
The last organization I can think of that truly ruined kids lives with homosexuality would be the Catholic Church.
Now religious people are ruining adult homosexual's lives.
Please do not tell me that you think homosexuality is a disease or a choice.
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.