Good News About Proposition 8

Proposition 8 passed in California on Tuesday adding fifteen words to California constitution: "Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." This after the California supreme court in May overturned an earlier, similar ballet initiative that had banned same-sex marriage. Over 18,000 gay couples have been married in CA since may.

For me, this soured the otherwise euphoric mood on Tuesday night. The total number of states with constitutional or legal bans on same-sex marriage is now up to 40. (Source)

But there is hope.

The ACLU is suing. On several grounds they argue Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. You can read the full complaint here.

There's also a movement to have the IRS revoke the tax-exempt status of the Mormon Church, a major player in the campaign to pass Proposition 8. Details here.

Finally, the LGBT community is not taking this one lying down.

I hold out hope that proposition 8 will be short-lived.

Progress--some people just hate it

Today, California took a big step forward on the road to equality. Their supreme court has overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriages. And, of course, the movement to undo this ruling through a constitution ammendment in California has started.

I don't know. To me, this issue seems so clear cut. No matter what I feel or believe, who the hell am I to tell you what to do? If what you're doing is hurting someone, of course I have the right to try to stop you. But a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman does absolutely nothing to me. It does not endanger my heterosexuality, and contrary to Robertson and friends, it's not going to cause any natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

For me to tell you how you must live your life is just plain arrogant. And it's wrong. It says I do not respect you and your right to live your life. It's intervention by paternalistic justification. It says I know better than you how you should live your life.

I have to wonder where this country is going. The evangelical movement continues to grow, and the voice of reason is getting swallowed up. Freedom, fairness, and facts are being made to yield to a book. Words on paper have trumped reality.