Proposition 8: Tip of the iceberg - Democratic Underground

Hepburn

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Sun Mar-08-09 10:00 PM
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Proposition 8: Tip of the iceberg

On Friday, Kenneth Starr, the Republican attack dog during the Monica Lewinsky affair, defended Proposition 8 to the Supreme Court of California. Those who voted for Prop 8 decided only heterosexuals could love each other in a legally binding contract – called marriage – that gives shared inheritance, property rights, credit and health care benefits.

I predict that the supporters of Prop 8 will one day be viewed as a backward reactionary force, victims of outdated and unenlightened customs. Civil rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community and same-sex marriage is the future. The march for change and a more humane society will not be stopped by the hang-ups of past generations mired in prejudice. Compassion and understanding are destined to win over bigotry and intolerance.

This might be difficult to fathom considering the present predicament in California regarding Prop 8, but I believe liberty will prevail. In support of Prop 8, Starr argued that it was the inalienable right of Californians to change their constitution.

What this really means, and what we can expect Starr not to say, is that he thinks a majority has the inalienable right to oppress a disliked minority. But if we study our history, Starr is clearly wrong. It was a majority of racist Southerners that instituted the Jim Crow laws after the Civil War. The inalienable right of whites to oppress blacks was eventually ruled unconstitutional and unjust.

Prop 8 advocates are the contemporary equivalents of Jim Crow supporters following the Civil War. After a contentious 30-year struggle since the ‘70s, equal rights for people of different sexual orientation were finally achieved in California. Similar to the time preceding the Civil War, prejudice did not disappear after the rules of the game were changed. Instead, the proponents of Prop 8 took advantage of people’s intolerance and put it to a vote. Unsurprisingly, a little more than half of California was still filled with animosity.

More...

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/28043

To my brothers and sisters in the GLBT community ~~ I just want you to know that there are a lot of us straights that stand with you and we are willing to fight until everyone has the right to marry the person whom he/she loves.

I had a conversation with a few of my friends as of late. All of us may be straight, but we are Californians and we are offended and ashamed that our usually progressive state would do something that, as stated above, is in the same category as were the Jim Crow Laws.

If the bigots can get the Cal Const Amended, then if the Cal Supremes do not find Prop H8 unConstitutional, then I say we all get together and work to amend the Cal Const so that it clearly allows for a right of marriage for those consenting adults who wish to marry the person whom they love regardless of gender.

WE SHALL OVERCOME....:hug: