Most of you know how I feel about
Prop 8. If you haven't been getting my e-mails then I need to be doing better. I found this information on my friend
Heather's blog. I just copied and pasted it; I couldn't agree more. Thanks Heather...
"I've never been that interested in politics but, for those of you who will be voting, I encourage you to research the candidates and propositions at hand. When it comes to discussing political views, I agree with
David Bednar when he said, "people can talk, they can appreciate each other and they can have divergent and very different points of view, and they can still get along. And they can even still love each other.” So if you disagree with me, don't hate me.
Fact: Proposition 8 does not take away from same-sex couples any rights that they currently have under a legal civil union.I truly believe that gay couples should have all the same civil rights as heterosexual couples. I feel the same way as Obama's Vice Presidential Candidate, Joe Biden, when he stated that neither "Barack Obama, nor I, support redefining... what constitutes marriage... The bottom line though is... that there should be no civil rights distinction, none whatsoever, between a committed gay couple and a committed heterosexual couple." (California Family Code, 297.5)
I don't believe this issue is about discrimination in any way, but the definition of the word marriage.
Fact: Because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, if Prop 8 doesn't pass, schools will be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners.This is already happening in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage was legalized in 2004. A father in Massachusettes was even arrested for "trespassing" when he went to his child's school to demand a permission slip so that he could remove his children from school on the day that homosexual marriage would be discussed.
It's already happening here in California, where a 1st grade class was taken to their teacher's lesbian wedding as a "field trip."
Even right now there is a bill on Gov. Schwarzenegger's desk waiting to be singed, bill AB 2567, that will officially designate May 22nd as "Harvey Milk Day," where children as young as kindergarten will be taught about different sexual orientations. (You can call 916-445-2841 and press "2" to oppose this bill- it only takes 1 minute).
Fact: If Prop 8 doesn't pass, it will create “inevitable clashes between religious liberty and free speech.” -David BednarIf Prop 8 doesn't pass, it will be considered discrimination to preach in churches that homosexuality is a sin.
"Religious institutions that publicly express their religious disapproval of same-sex marriage risk hate-speech and hate-crime litigation." -The Becket Fund (in the case ofKerrigan et. Al. v. Commissioner of Public Health et.)
Church's could lose their tax exemption status on the basis that they are a "discriminatory organization."
In Massachusettes, the Catholic Church has had to shut down their adoption agency rather than compromise their beliefs.
I believe marriage is a very special, very sacred religious union between one man and one woman. I don't have hate for anyone. Calling myself a "Christian" does not make me a hypocrite. Christ loved everyone, but he did not condone everything. And I don't want my right to teach my child the difference between right and wrong taken away from me. That's all."
* If you're not registered to vote- you can register here. It's easy & free!
* If you are going to vote "No" on 8- thank you for hearing me out.
* If you are undecided- do some research and really think about the issues presented.
* If you are going to vote "Yes"- you can help out. Get a yard sign, bumper sticker, volunteer time, talk to your friends & family.
