Mortified and aghast

I received so many emails regarding my post about Barack Obama and his socialistic leanings. Or, rather, his lack thereof. One of the more consistent reactions was “Wow, I didn’t know and hadn’t really done the research on this.” I’m paraphrasing, there, but I’m aghast by how many people - bright, intelligent people - will cling onto whatever line their party picks out and see it as Biblical truth.

One of the things that makes this country great is that we have freedom of thought and access to so much information. Information that covers both sides of issues. One of my concerns with this election was that the population would not do their due diligence of researching their candidate, of getting as close to the truth of the matter as possible. I voted for Obama. Many people informed me that they were voting for McCain and didn’t like Obama for several reasons. I looked up some of those reasons, found that some had no merit, and that some DID. So when I cast my vote, I felt like I was informed, I knew what I was putting my faith into, I wasn’t casting my ballot merely because it was the popular and hip thing to do. I stand by my decision and am proud that so many Americans cast their vote in his favor as well. While I might be relieved where our President-elect is concerned, I’m deeply saddened and ashamed by what happened with Prop 8.

I’m not a deeply political person. I know what I believe, but I’m not the person that can argue politics for hours. This, however, has cut me to the core. I believe it will be my generation’s civil rights issue, and I’m very committed to the side that I stand on.

When Prop 8 came up, I remember turning to Marc and saying “Why do we get to determine who gets to marry whom? Shouldn’t this just be a basic right?” Now, I know, I KNOW, people. Some of you get all up in arms about this because you think “POLYGAMY WILL BE NEXT!” Don’t you think people are intelligent enough to know where to draw the line? “THIS WILL RUIN THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE!” Don’t you think us heteros have done a pretty good job of that, what with our 50% divorce rate? “THEY WANTED TO TEACH IT IN SCHOOLS!” No, they didn’t. That is what’s called a SMOKE SCREEN. And it worked! Again, DID YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH?

Prop 8, like I said, is a civil rights issue. Those of you who voted for it from a morality standpoint are marginalizing a group of people that God also loves, who He created. Your God says homosexuality is a sin? Well, mine made gays in His image and called me to do unto others as I would want them to do unto me. He also said that we don’t have to stone people anymore, or crucify them. It’s out of date and one should move with the times. If you take God out of the equation, if you look at these people as individuals who are just like you and want to marry someone they love and don't want to judge YOUR marriage, where do you really stand?

When I have a child, and if he or she is gay, I want them to live in a world where they have the same rights that I do. I want them to feel comfortable and free to love who they desire and to marry them and raise children of their own. I want a son to be able to turn to a man he loves and say “This is my husband.” Because, as those of you who are married know, it changes things when you say “I do” and pledge yourself to one another. It makes a union more serious, tangible, permanent.

I never addressed this before because I had faith that Californians, as a whole, would do the right thing. Now that they have not, I feel that I need to speak out, to encourage people to really study the issue and do what they can to support having this “yes” ruling overturned. Someone close to me, who I will not mention, said that she was going to vote “yes” on Prop 8 because “If we don’t stop it now, people are going to want to marry their dogs!” Watch out Kylie, I know plenty of dudes that think you’re the cutest thing ever. Pick a rich one who doesn't mind supporting your parents, because Mama wants to retire.

"We have religious fundamentalists too. But ours are just funny. They spend their time identifying the gay Teletubby, not blowing themselves up." - Bill Maher

(Thanks, Simon, for the quote)