Thursday, October 30, 2008

WeezerMonkey's Eight Reasons to Vote No on Prop 8

Proposition 8 seeks to amend the Constitution of California to add the following language:
Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
The ramifications of these few words would be incredible.

And not in a good way.

At first, I wrote a long and rambling rant. It turned out really angry. I scrapped it.

Here's my less emotional numbered list:
  1. Prop 8 infringes on a fundamental right in violation of due process and discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation in violation of equal protection. A vote for Prop 8 is a vote for discrimination.

  2. Differentiating between "marriage" and a "civil union" is not harmless. This distinction demotes same-sex couples to second-class citizens deemed unworthy of the true label of marriage. Remember Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896). Enforced separation stamps same-sex couples with a badge of inferiority. Separate is inherently unequal.

  3. Like gender, race, and national origin, sexual orientation is an immutable characteristic. Sexual orientation is central to a person's identity. Prop 8 penalizes same-sex couples for being unable to change their very being.

  4. Prejudice against the gay community has been so severe and long-standing that protective legislation is necessary to address and eventually eliminate such discrimination. Prop 8 is, in fact, a giant step in the opposite direction.

  5. Granting same-sex couples the right to marry will have no effect on the substantive nature of marriage. Same-sex marriage will not deprive heterosexual couples of any rights. Limiting marriage to heterosexuals is not necessary to preserve the rights that heterosexual couples currently have. Permitting same-sex couples to marry is no different from permitting interracial couples to marry, as Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967) did over 40 years ago. Broadening civil marriage to include same-sex couples does not affect the legitimacy of heterosexual marriage any more than the allowance of different races to marry does.

  6. Religious objections to gay marriage cannot and should not be considered in determining whether constitutional principles of equal protection provide for same-sex marriage. Marriage is a state-regulated institution. Same-sex marriage will not encroach upon religious freedom. No religion will be required to change its policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples. No church will be required to perform or to recognize same-sex marriages. No church's tax-exempt status will be affected.

  7. Prop 8 has nothing to do with teaching same-sex marriage in school. Pursuant to California Education Code section 51240, parents have a right to review all materials regarding sexual health education programs and to have their children excused from participation. Prop 8 does not add anything to this rule that is already in place. Voting no on Prop 8 does not mean same-sex marriage will be taught in schools.

  8. Voting yes on Prop 8 does not preserve the traditional institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Voting yes on Prop 8 is a vote to withhold fundamental rights from a specific group of people. To those who argue that "tradition" must be upheld, you are saying that discrimination must continue for "tradition's" sake. This exclusionary tradition -- like slavery, segregation, anti-miscegenation, or the denial of a woman's right to vote -- is unconstitutional and wrong.
Vote against discrimination. Vote against inequality. Vote no on Prop 8.

41 comments:

  1. kiss.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj-0xMrsyxE

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  2. Well put, WeeMo. If I lived in Cali, I would vote No with pride.

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  3. I usually just lurk around your blog, but I have to tell you that I love your list. I am so sick of yes on 8, and I have loved reading your well reasoned list on why to vote no on 8. I usually just get so angry and upset at people willing to discriminate that I don't write anything coherent about it. Would you mind if I were to link to it on my blog? You never know, it might just change some minds out there.
    Thanks for writing this.

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  4. I would be thrilled if anybody linked, e-mailed, or otherwise shared this to spread the word. Thank you!

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  5. You wrote exactly what I would have wanted to say on this issue, but you're far more reasonable and logical and articulate.

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  6. This is an awesome and well thought out list! I don't live in CA, but I'm still going to share this list with everyone I know!

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  7. This is a really great list. All of my posts on Prop 8 have been entirely too emotional, so it's nice to read a logical list of reasons why anyone should not want to pass Prop 8. Thanks for writing this - I'll probably be linking to it.

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  8. Thank you for a less emotional list! I will be putting this up on my myspace :)

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  9. Thanks for putting your thoughts into words!

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  10. Well put. I'm so nervous about this prop. I really hope Cali get it's right.

    I laugh when they talk about how sacred marriage is. What's the rate of divorce like 4/6? Such a joke!

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  11. Well said monkey! it boggles my mind that this prop is even on the ballot. I will be passing this on-you break it down so clearly...thank you!

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  12. I'm sure it will not surprise you to know that I love this. And will be quoting you and your legal expertise in response to a comment on my blog.

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  13. I just sent this to someone. Thanks.

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  14. well said!
    it just makes me so sick to think of all the people out there trying to deny rights to other people, just because of who they love. i mean, how stupid and/or mean can you be?
    i have all my fingers and toes crossed.

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  15. Well said. I hope it leads some people to think beyond the shield of religion and fear and really get to the heart of the issue. Voting to discriminate against people doesn't preserve anything. I really like the new commercial that's out showing how Prop 8 is discrimination equivalent to that experienced with the Japanese Internment camps and blacks' legal rights to marry.

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  16. A-MEN!

    I'm going to share this on my Xanga. Thanks!

    And here is a video from George Takei I'd like to share.

    http://www.noonprop8.com/articles/2008/10/23/api-leaders-urge-no-on-prop-8/

    I find it very powerful and moving to hear from a first person's experience.

    Mrskittie

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  17. I wrote a blog about this recently too - http://www.longwindedandproud.com/2008/10/fiery-with-anger.html - and my dad read it and emailed me this link: http://democracyforamerica.com/letter_campaigns/1-no-on-prop-8/letters/new.

    You put in your zipcode and it sends your letter to all the local newspapers. You should submit this, it's so well written and clear! Nice job.

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  18. Amen, sister! I get crazy-emotional too. Then there's no way I can set that aside to write intelligently. Nice job presenting the facts. Fingers crossed for you guys out in CA.

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  19. you rock. love this post. will spread the word around!

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  20. If prop 8 gets defeated (as the most recent polls show) I will French you. I will French everyone. Except the Yes crowd. I will place a curse on them whereby they shall never be Frenched again.

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  21. I am not very good @ this whole blogging thing, so I hope I linked it correctly, and I hope you don't mind that I do. Very well written! I love how much thought you put into everything you write.

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  22. I love this entry. It's been too hard for me to speak about this without getting emotional and angry and upset because this affects many people I love dearly and are close to my heart. I'd love for them to be able to one day be legally married to the person of their choosing, regardless of race. I know I'm not in law school yet, but having taken some regular old Con Law and Civil Rights courses while in school, even I can see the clear parallels in the court cases you've already cited. Honestly, I'm shocked that sexual orientation isn't viewed as a suspect class, given the requirements to be viewed as such.

    Even still, I really hope people read and understand that they are voting to write discriminatory language into the Constitution. This doesn't make any hetero person's marriage stronger -- if your marriage sucks, it's not because two guys were allowed to get married.

    My sincere belief is that one day, our children will look back on this time and view the Yes on 8 folks as ridiculous and outmoded thinkers, much as we look back in history and view segregationists and anti-miscegenationists.

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  23. well said, vote no everyone, vote no!

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  24. you should become a politician. 'nuff said

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  25. lol i hope my last comment didn't come off as snarky! Because i meant it as in-- you have great views and i'd totally vote for you.

    (cos sometimes people don't think of politicians as good things) ;)

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  26. Amen. As always, well written and thoughtout. A true gift Wemo.

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  27. Very well written and to the point. Awesome!

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  28. While I agree with all your points, which are well articulated, #7 is my favorite. I literally get incensed at the commercial about teaching gay marriage in schools. And it bothers me to no end seeing children carrying "Yes on 8" signs.

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  29. Incredibly well articulated. I am pulling for everyone in California to wake up to the dangers, and get out the vote - even if the presidential election is "over" by the time evening rolls around on the west coast, this is too important to leave to chance.

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  30. I appreciate this post.
    Thank you for clearing up the ridiculous misconceptions that gay marriage will be part of the curriculum in schools, and will effect church's tax exemptions.

    I also appreciate the okay to pass this along, I think I will email it to a few people.

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  31. This was a great post. *Clapping*

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  32. Amen!!!

    (I can't say more, or else I will get emotional.)

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  33. i read this when you posted it and meant to come back to comment - curse the google reader!

    Unbelievably well said. And I sincerely hope this prop gets shut down.

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