For the past few days, the news has been reporting on the election of President-elect Barack Obama and what he has planned for the future of his cabinet. We have heard discussions from who he has chosen for his staff to what he plans to do with regards to international relations to the choice of the first family's pet dog. However, that's not all that has plagued the headlines.
California's Proposition 8: Gay Marriage Ban
Proposition 8 is a California State ballot proposition that would amend the state Constituion to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. It would overturn a recent California Supreme Court decision that had recognized same-sex marriage in California as a fundamental right. The official ballot title language for Proposition 8 is "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." The entirety of the text to be added to the constitution is: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
This amendment, prior to the elections, was not of any concern to me. In fact, prior to this week, I never even heard of it. When it began to be a stated issue by the conservatives as to how many millions of people voted for the ban, I decided to look at my sample ballot again. I quickly realized, that I was one of those millions that voted "YES". It got me thinking, how many others voted for the ban without reading or understanding what it entailed. But, what does it really mean?
If passed, this amendment writes discrimination, of a large group of people, into the Constitution, creating a legal platform to discriminate against certain individuals. Not only is it homophobic in nature and intended to adversely impact the rights of one group of people, it is prejudicial in a most discriminatory manner. At first thought, it is not my battle and it does not affect me, because I am not part of that group. I'm not gay, I'm not lesbian, I'm not a homosexual; but do you have to be either of these labels to fight against discrimination? To answer this question, we must look at the plight of America's Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
For African-Americans, the Civil Rights Movement meant reform movements aimed at abolishing public and private acts of racial discrimination and racism. In a political system that upholds discriminatory practices, even if every person is treated equally by the state, there may not be equality due to discrimination within society, such as in the workplace, which may hinder civil liberties in everyday life. Our progress in society and as a nation is evident with the recent election of President-elect Barack Obama. However, even with the large turnout of minorities in this election, it was the help, participation and votes of progressive-thinking whites that enabled his win. In comparison it was sympathetic whites who valued liberty over oppression, equality over discrimination, and progression over regression, that helped the success of the Civil Rights Movement.
I am not gay, not lesbian, not homosexual, but my fight is aligned with theirs, for I fight for a nation of equality, tolerance and advancement to civilized society. A society, in which these words mean more than just ink on a paper:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
No matter how you read it, interpret it, argue it or understand it, discrimination is inherently wrong and it should not be tolerated.
California's Proposition 8: Gay Marriage Ban
Proposition 8 is a California State ballot proposition that would amend the state Constituion to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. It would overturn a recent California Supreme Court decision that had recognized same-sex marriage in California as a fundamental right. The official ballot title language for Proposition 8 is "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." The entirety of the text to be added to the constitution is: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
This amendment, prior to the elections, was not of any concern to me. In fact, prior to this week, I never even heard of it. When it began to be a stated issue by the conservatives as to how many millions of people voted for the ban, I decided to look at my sample ballot again. I quickly realized, that I was one of those millions that voted "YES". It got me thinking, how many others voted for the ban without reading or understanding what it entailed. But, what does it really mean?
If passed, this amendment writes discrimination, of a large group of people, into the Constitution, creating a legal platform to discriminate against certain individuals. Not only is it homophobic in nature and intended to adversely impact the rights of one group of people, it is prejudicial in a most discriminatory manner. At first thought, it is not my battle and it does not affect me, because I am not part of that group. I'm not gay, I'm not lesbian, I'm not a homosexual; but do you have to be either of these labels to fight against discrimination? To answer this question, we must look at the plight of America's Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
For African-Americans, the Civil Rights Movement meant reform movements aimed at abolishing public and private acts of racial discrimination and racism. In a political system that upholds discriminatory practices, even if every person is treated equally by the state, there may not be equality due to discrimination within society, such as in the workplace, which may hinder civil liberties in everyday life. Our progress in society and as a nation is evident with the recent election of President-elect Barack Obama. However, even with the large turnout of minorities in this election, it was the help, participation and votes of progressive-thinking whites that enabled his win. In comparison it was sympathetic whites who valued liberty over oppression, equality over discrimination, and progression over regression, that helped the success of the Civil Rights Movement.
I am not gay, not lesbian, not homosexual, but my fight is aligned with theirs, for I fight for a nation of equality, tolerance and advancement to civilized society. A society, in which these words mean more than just ink on a paper:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
No matter how you read it, interpret it, argue it or understand it, discrimination is inherently wrong and it should not be tolerated.
1 Featurettes:
This is definitely a good read!!! You really did a good job on this one. It’s sad to see we still live in a society where our gov’t is allowed to dictate who should be with whom. After reading this, I feel this is not just a gay/lesbian fight, but it should be a fight for all who stand against such injustice within our society!! You’ve made a valid point when you said, “No matter how you read it, interpret it, argue it or understand it, discrimination is inherently wrong and it should not be tolerated.” However, this will continue to be a fight not heard all over the world due to people’s personal beliefs regarding this issue. Hopefully one day this battle would be won by the gay/lesbian community & our society can continue on a path of accepting everyone for who they are inside and not what their sexual preferences are.
Miss Dior!
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