Marriage under attack
As I mentioned in my first post about our wedding, there’s a ballot initiative in California, called Proposition 8, that’s aimed at eliminating state recognition of same-sex marriages. While early polls suggested that the proposition would be defeated, a more recent poll shows more in favor than against (although it’s statistically a dead heat).
Prop 8 supporters have resorted to outright lies in their ads to whip up fear, and it appears people are being swayed by the lies. The fact that supporters have to use lies to convince people should tell you something about the strength of their argument.
The truth is that the status quo in California does not impinge on individuals’ and churches’ right to hold and exercise their own religious beliefs. The CA Supreme Court’s decision explicitly states that religions are free to define religious marriage however they see fit. And the legal status of same-sex marriage has no bearing on school curriculum–all curriculum decisions are made by school boards.
Extending marriage to same-sex couples is a simple matter of fairness and equality. Civil marriage offers a couple 1,049 legal benefits, covering taxation and finances, education, health care, family planning, child care, housing, legal privileges, and rights during illness and death. Denying these rights to same-sex couples puts gay and lesbian people, and their children, at greater risk in times of illness or economic hardship.
If you live in California, please vote NO on proposition 8. Don’t give in to the lies. And please talk to your friends and family about the issue.
Well, Aaron and I finally did it: after being together for 12 years, we got married last Friday, August 29, in San Francisco.