October 30, 2008

California's Proposition 8

One thing about the authors of this odious thing: they didn't mince words in titling it.

"ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY."

I don't recall any other amendments to constitutions which have been specifically written to take previously-granted rights away from citizens.

I'm sure there are people who really feel that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, but I wonder how many of them have ever asked themselves how they're harmed by this right of their fellow citizens. As far as I know no divorces between heterosexuals have been granted in Massachusetts, Connecticut or California where the principally-cited reason for the divorce was the right of gay men and women to marry one another.

I also wonder what slippery slope the proponents of this amendment think society would be stepping on if the right remains legal. Marriage between man and Klingon? Woman and Morlock?

California voters, use your head and vote No on 8.

Posted by Linkmeister at October 30, 2008 02:32 PM | TrackBack
Comments

The interesting thing about that ballot title is that it isn't the one the proponents wanted. It was assigned by our devious Attorney General, Jerry Brown; and by the time the proponents realized what he'd done, the ballots were printed. They were furious; they wanted something more, um, obscure.

I call Jerry devious after having lived under his governance twice, once in the 70's as Governor Moonbeam, and lately as Mayor of Oakland, which he screwed up and left in an appalling administrative and financial mess. He's considering running for Governor, and will NOT get my vote.

I think this all goes back to the American preoccupation with sex, and the fact that many of us seem to allow ourselves to be appalled by what should be the private practices of consenting adults. The big money backing Prop. 8 comes from the Catholic and Mormon churches, much of which is frankly from out of state. I'd love to see a law that says you have to live in California to contribute money to support a ballot proposition.

Posted by: hedera at November 4, 2008 09:29 AM