I have a few questions.
- If proposition 8 passes does that mean that my marriage immediately becomes null and void?
- Do the voters have the power to force me to divorce?
- If proposition 8 passes does that mean that my family is less important than "traditional" ones?
- If proposition 8 passes does that mean that that I am viewed as an inferior citizen?
- If proposition 8 passes does that mean that my marriage has damaged any other marriage?
- If proposition 8 passes does that mean that people all around the state will push the envelope and demand the right to marry their pet or their car or their grandma?
- If proposition 8 does NOT pass does that mean that public school curriculum will change in order to include the forced acceptance of same gender couples?
- Do public schools currently teach that marriage is between a man and a woman?
- Does the subject of marriage need to be included in state frameworks at all?
- Hasn't the heterosexual world done enough already to destroy the sanctity of marriage all on its own?
- Do my children not deserve to have two parents who are married to each other and treated the same as other kids' parents?
- Don't people have enough to worry about already in their own lives without trying to tell law-abiding, tax-paying, society-contributing citizens who they can and cannot marry?
And my last two questions are:
- Should gay people be required to sit at the back of the bus and drink from different drinking fountains than everyone else, too?
- Should gay people be kidnapped from their families and bought and sold as property in order to help heterosexuals with their businesses, farms, and homes?
Just wondering.
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33 comments:
Our country is so screwed up right now, isn't it?!
1. No. It's not retroactive, as far as I can tell.
2. No.
3. No.
4. The a-holes who vote for it think so, but no.
5. No. Misery loves company, the more the merrier, etc.
6. *snort*
7. Maybe, right after Hell freezes over.
8. I hope the kids know better, or will someday.
9. Probably.
10. All. On. Its. Own.
11. Absolutely.
12. Apparently not.
13. Some people think so, and that scares me.
14. Change is coming Jason, it is, I know it. And at the risk of causing ripples through the blogosphere, I'd like to see churches leading the movement toward equal rights for everyone, including legalizing same-sex marriage everywhere. I am convinced that it is WJWD.
Peace to you.
I just can not see why the anti-gay marriage people are so up in arms about it. If you marry a man, it has no bearing on my life at all. It only makes you happy. Why do those people get so angry about something that will have no affect on them???
I'm with Karen. It's none of their d*mn business. Honestly, if more people are happier and well cared for and supported in their lives how can that be bad?
Jason, BLESS YOU AND GIANCARLO. I sure hope it doesn't pass. If it does, I think we will be taking a HUGE step backwards!!!
Oh Jason. It makes me so sad that you and your family have to deal with this! I have been wondering the some of the same things myself. I don't understand how people can treat others this way. I just can't wrap my mind around it. I'm sure hoping that it doesn't pass.
Preach it!
That was a GREAT post. If we now have to teach about the different kinds of marriage in school...will you be my show and tell?
THIS is why people have to vote. Change is coming. I can feel it.
Wait. You're gay? Oh my goodness, I am shocked, just shocked.
Was it because of the gay agenda in the schools you grew up in? I knew it. Those people LIVE to recruit others.
Seriously, Jason, I'm sorry that there are still enough narrow minded (expletive deleted since I try really hard to swear only on my blog)who are organized enough and mean-spirited enough to even think something like prop 8 belongs on a ballot.
Sending good thoughts for you and yours.
"Hasn't the heterosexual world done enough already to destroy the sanctity of marriage all on its own? "
LOVE IT. you are soo right on that one. But people look outwardly, not in. Need someone else to blame things on. The guys that wrote this prop are at their lawyers office right now signing their divorce papers... and their wives are at home with the pool boy.
LOVE your blog!
OMG! Anything but a farm.
The answer is Yes and No. I was thinking about this the other day. The judge who ruled that two people of the same sex not being allowed to get married was/is unconstitutional is/was correct.
Marriage has three elements, 1. the religious ritual, 2. the legal ritual and 3. the commitment and bond between people who love each other.
Anyway, there is supposed to be a separation of church and state in the this country (USA) so the state legally should offer marriage between any two individuals, but it would be up to the religious institutions to decide based on their beliefs if they want to perform all marriages.
You got me?
If we allow this country to become a religious state, then how are we different from the countries we are fighting against because their religious controlled state offends human rights? Or is it offensive because they are the "wrong" religion?
I feel that the most important marriage is #3. The commitment people make to each other, which takes place not inside a city hall or church sanctuary, but inside their souls.
Jason, Perhaps time has come for a civil rights march on Washington and for someone to refuse to be treated any less than any other citizen(s) in the United States.
The word marriage is just that a word. It is the conotation behind the word that means anything to anyone. Everyone in the world should have the right to love whomever they want as long as it is not in an exploitive or abusive manner.
I stand along side of my brother and his husband, my cousin and his husband and my cousin and her wife in support of Love and equal rights for everyone, not just those who THINK they have the right to tell others who they can love and how they must live.
Im with others who have wondered why the anti-gay marriage crowd cares. It doesn't impact their lives in anyway. It doesn't mean there are suddenly more gay and lesbian people who have been waiting in the wings for years ready to pounce out at the thought of legalized marriage.
Thankfully, I havent heard much of that tired old line about the "Sanctity" of marriage. What sanctity exists in a union that can be entered into at a drive thru window with an Elvis impersonator presiding?
Wish I was in California to vote on this one!
Regardless of who you love, you should have the same rights as everyone else.
When will people see that gay is OK?
I wish I knew what my opinion was on this one. There are so many wonderful nurturing gay families and so many non-gay families that are worse than the opposite.
Marriage really doesn't mean what it used to and that is all hetero damage, baby.
I know so many women who marry, tough it out for ten years and then take their fella to the cleaners, move on to the next guy and start over-or make babies with different dads and collect child support. SHAMEFUL.
The state of families today sickens me-but not yours, yours makes me smile...and makes me think. I have a while to think though-KY and CA are light years apart!!
"Hasn't the heterosexual world done enough already to destroy the sanctity of marriage all on its own?"
You said it, man.
It sickened me when the law passed back in 1999. I sincerely hope California has wised up since then.
I'm telling everyone I know: NO ON 8!
What sad, small-minded people who belittle and begrudge others the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to be who they are!
How sick is it that in so many states, conservatives are attempting to write prejudice into law?
Proposition 8 would devalue marriages, not restore them.
Gay rights is the civil rights fight of the 21st century in our country.
I WILL speak out for you and Giancarlo, and for all same-sex partners.
I think it's amazing that some peoples' lives are so absolutely perfect: the stock market doesn't fail, the economy is grand and oil is $.60 a gallon, that all they have left to do is monitor what *others* are doing in their lives.
I'm on the wrong coast to vote for Proposition 8, but if I could, I'd help kick its ass.
The commercials that support prop 8 are ridiculous. "We will have to teach gay marriage in schools.." oh no not that, teaching children how to accept other people for who they are, no please oh the humanity. I mean seriously why have a future generation that judges people based on whether they are a nice person. Why let the child who has two moms or two dads be validated in the classroom since their family dynamic is being discussed. Or the other commercial where the little girl comes in with the book the two kings (which I'm not even sure if it is a real book) and says "mommy we learned that a king can marry a king, I can marry a princess" and the mom looks at her like she just said she had stage iv cancer and had a day to live. It's like I'm pretty sure just knowing you can marry someone of your gender isn't the thing that makes you a homosexual. It's so ridiculous and absolutely makes me insane. In my eyes your marriage will always be valid. I don't care what they say same goes with my Uncles they are married and they are a fabulous couple (most stable relationship in our family 14 years and counting) and my children will always know that they are married and in love no matter what anyone says.
Hmmm, without the kidnapping, I kind of like the idea of the gays coming over and taking care of my house...I mean I'm just saying...you are a way better housekeeper and decorator than I am...
Haha, just trying to keep it light; you know how I feel about this.
Okay you hit my question right on the head! I have taught in public schools for 24 years and I have never taught about marriage...nor have I ever been asked to teach about marriage...and I have taught high school, middle school and grades K-3...so why would I suddenly need to start teaching about gay marriage? No on 8!
I love reading your blog.
All we need is love.
Keep spreading the love, Jason!
This is a very important and historical bill that we have to spread the word about. I can only encourage people to go to:
http://noonprop8.com/home
and donate a bit. It doesn't take long. It's time people realize that the GLBT community is no different than any other.
Love to you and your beautiful family Jason. Enjoy them :)
I totally agree-- the opposition makes absolutely no sense to me (a married, heterosexual man).
Someone else's marriage has no bearing on your own-- how many deadbeats have gotten married on a whim, or for horrible reasons? How many people have gotten divorced for reasons just as stupid?
People who worry that others will create sham marriages just for those mythical Great Financial Benefits of Marriage have just as much to worry about with heterosexual pseudo-couples now-- what's the difference?
With the social stigma (yes, despite "Will and Grace" running in reruns for the next 10 years!) of homsexuality across most of the country, I think the risks of society being overrun by such sham marriages is astronomically low, though again, the same risk has always existed with heterosexuals.
People need to get over this nonexistent problem, and their own ridiculousness, so we can all move on to real issues in this world full of genuine suffering and injustice.
Tell it like it is ... I love you !!! And you know what ? I have so damn much going on in my own life at all times that I could not care less who in the hell you or anyone else is married too. If you are happy you are spreading happiness and that makes for better vibes in this world. With love from the Prairie, Sista!
It is just astounding to me that bigotry such as this exists in 2008. It's ridiculous that while other countries legalize gay marriage, it's still considered radical here in the US, where we are always touting how much freedom we have compared to the rest of the world. Even Obama and Biden will only go as far as supporting civil unions.
It is changing, though. Not fast enough, but things are definitely moving forward. Yesterday Connecticut legalized gay marriage. The time WILL come when gay marriage is legal in all 50 states and is not seen as a big deal.
(((Jason))) I have no answers or words to help what you and many others are facing. As someone above said... This world is so screwed up. Just know that there are people who DO care.
I'll never understand why someone would think they have the right to tell you who you may or may not marry. It saddens me that this is something you have to deal with.
You already know where I stand on this.
I think that any two people who choose to build a life together deserve the benefits and legal protection that marriage offers. And who the hell is anyone else to say otherwise?
Those are all very valid questions, Jason. It just makes my heart heavy that we need to even think about these things. I've NEVER understood why those who oppose same sex marriage are so vehement in their stance. Why should I care if two people who love each other want to commit their lives to each other? I have always felt that this was none of my business. And you are so right about us heterosexuals already messing up the business of marriage. I really hope that this prop doesn't pass. And, I would think in Calif. that it has a pretty good chance of NOT passing.
Anyway, glad you stopped by and visited my site. We continue to have a great time in NOLA. I've been posting each night - so make sure to check back for updates.
I'm sending you hugs!
Cindy
After all those comments which I am too lazy to read, I'm sure I don't have anything new and amusing to add, but that was a very cleverly written post and more clever still because it smacks of the truth.
People are so ridiculous. They are so busy worrying themselves with what others are doing, they can't even deal with their own issues.
Don't people have enough to worry about already in their own lives without trying to tell law-abiding, tax-paying, society-contributing citizens who they can and cannot marry?
Amen to this Jason. There must be a hellofalot of bored peeps out there.
......p.s.........
You're gay????? whodathunkit.
peace
#2
The first time this ever came up, I reflexively thought, Marriage is between a man and a woman. And it is, right now. But how do I feel about it changing?
I am not religious.
I have married friends who honor the institution of marriage.
I have gay friends who would probably bring honor to the institution as well.
I have heterosexual friends who have sullied the good name of marriage, and I'm sure there are gay couples out there who would be just as disrespectful.
So how do I feel about same-sex marriage, after some thought? We're all human. Neither saints or demons. Just imperfect people. As such we will screw up probably, roughly, equally. But I think we all need the same chance to screw up as the next guy, or to bring honor to the institution.
When government got into the business of marriage centuries ago they opened the door to things they hadn't planned. Welcome to the future -- embrace it! No on 8.
Love, your hetero/married/enlightened bloggy friend,
Laurie @ Foolery
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