OK, so I'm writing two blogs on a night when I should be studying/sleeping, but fuck it, I need to vent here.
I wrote the side note at the end of my last blog about Prop 8, but I feel it deserves more.
Before I rant, I'm going to explain myself. You may have an inkling by now, but I've never publicly come out and said it. Despite the fact that I hate categorising sexuality, I would frame myself as 'bisexual'. As such, I find myself as staunch a believer in gay rights as any other homosexual person. After Obama was officially announced as President-Elect, I thought that there may well be a new sense of equality in the USA, which would of course have an effect on the whole world. Then I heard that Prop 8 had passed.
If you don't know, Proposition 8 was tacked onto this election with a number of other referendums. It essentially states that marriage is a right reserved for a man and a woman, and not same sex couples. It passed in all states that it was asked, and in the case of California, it means that same sex couples can no longer marry, despite the Supreme Court decision of only a few months ago.
This is a case of one step forward, two steps back for the USA. Yes, the election of Barack Obama shows that people can achieve anything, regardless of race, but what about sexual orentation? Sure, I may be in New Zealand, where I can have a Civil Union in order to get the same rights as marriage, and it doesn't really bother me that I wouldn't get the title of 'married'. I feel priveliged to have that right, and want it extended to others all over the world. Prop 8 has cut that right from many in the USA, and that is deeply upsetting. I sincerely hope that people get out and appeal to their local officials for support, and take it to the courts again.
I could go on and on, but this is long enough. Just know that I'm fucking pissed off. Despite the fact that I'm not necessarily going to end up in a same sex relationship, I think it would be irresponsible for me not to show my dislike for Prop 8.
Spread the word, these Californites(?) need our support.
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2 comments:
I mentioned this elsewhere on your blog, but I want to reiterate that the only thing Prop 8 does is define the term marriage as between a man and a woman. The only thing the No on 8 supporters lose is the ability to call themselves "married". And as you said in your post, that doesn't really bother you. In reality, this whole prop 8 thing, especially the aftermath, isn't about a term. It is about hurt feelings. Gays feel their lifestyle has been dealt a negative blow and they are upset. What is interesting is how vicious their reaction has been. On one hand they are angry about losing their "right" to be called married, yet are viciously attacking the supporters of 8, the churches that encouraged its passing, and are trying to have the courts overturn the will of the voters. Their anger in the streets will probably backfire. Just so you know, I voted against Prop 8, but I don't believe you should have a misconception about what it did and I absolutely believe in the rights of the people to vote and have their decision respected. John from California
Oh, in the dance around the Virtuniverse...
The only thing the No on 8 supporters lose is the ability to call themselves "married".
Is that not a right we should have? I'm confused as to why it's okay to take that. Is it a word issue, i. e. Oriental has given way to Asian to...why is the right being taken away?
Why are churches funding that? Pushing that? Because they consider it an abomination in their doctrine? Why are they feeling it is important to cast dispersions on the relationships of people they don't know? How is it that they feel they know God's mind so deeply that they have the right to say what should and should not be legal?
But there was a majority vote, something that cannot be denied. Well, time progresses, people evolve. We will be patient, and all things fall.
BB
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