Well Said Keith, Well Said...

What's the deal California?

I was deeply saddened this morning to see that proposition 8 is likely going to pass this time around. At this point, 95% of the precincts have reported, with 48% no and 52% yes.

They are currently saying "too close to call", but I really doubt we're going to see the percentages shift enough when the remaining 5% report the results.

It is incredibly discouraging to see a state that can say African Americans are equal, but gays are not. I don't know about anyone else, but "separate but equal" is not how I define equality.

I'm now left in a place where I feel guilty that I can marry, but some of my friends cannot.
Why am I any better? Why is my love more valuable?

It really makes me want to throw up my hands and decide not to have a "big white wedding" when that time comes. After all, why should I pump my hard earned wedding money into an economy that tells me only certain kinds of love are sacred? I don't want to support that shit.

I spoke with a good friend of mine who will be deeply affected by the passing of this proposition. She recently got married, and is hoping that they will be "grandfathered in." After speaking with her, I saw that the only thing we can do now is try to look at the positive, and keep moving forward.

Supporters for NO on Prop 8 have stated that if they were defeated, they would take the issue to the supreme court. Historically, the supreme court is largely in support of non discrimination, so maybe we can turn this around.

Even if it doesn't happen there, if you look at the history of our country, discrimination always loses. That is what makes us so great.

It just takes a really long time.

When looked at in perspective to other issues, we have come a LONG way in a relatively short amount of time, and I feel confident that this battle is not over. 10 years ago, this would not have even been on the ballot, let alone with such a tiny margin between those for and against.

Ultimately, this WILL NOT stand, and we WILL prevail.

But it still hurts.

Proposition 8

I get it, I really do. I get that change is hard. But I just really don't understand why changing the constitution so that gays cannot marry is even in question.

"because I don't want my children to learn about gay marriage in school....I'm just not ready to change the textbooks yet."

First of all, they don't even teach about regular marriage in school. So why the hell would they teach about gay marriage? And even if they wanted to, as the girlfriend of a teacher, and friend to many others, I know that teachers are lucky to even get through the current curriculum in a year. They sure as fuck aren't going to add in another segment on gay marriage. Using children to justify separate but equal is just ludicrous.

Second, even if they did, why does it matter? GAY IS NOT A CHOICE. Just because your little precious baby saw two girls holding hands doesn't mean he's going to catch "the gay" like he caught that cold last week.

"It violates the sanctity of marriage"

Fine, if you want to believe that they are going to hell for getting married, then so be it. You're entitled to that belief. Just know that just because it is your belief, doesn't mean it has to be mine, and it sure doesn't mean that it is right. You can absolutely believe that they are going to burn in hell all you want, but it is NOT ok to take away their rights.

I wanted to re-post a blog a good friend of mine wrote about proposition 8 today. She and her long term partner just got married in hopes that if prop 8 passes this November, they will be grandfathered in. If not, I suppose they at least had the joy of experiencing it for a few weeks...

that's enough, right?

Ugh, it makes me sick.

Before you vote "yes" take a moment to get to know someone who's life you will be affecting.

"My worth; is it weighing in the balance of a vote?
Maybe they vote against me because they do not
believe I am worthwhile in life
Maybe.. or maybe that's remnants from my past
I am real tired, forgive me -

What's it going to mean, that vote?
It wont change our love.
.. it changes my feelings inside though
It is just enough to make me feel
a little bit less than.
Just enough to make us not hold hands in
the Denny's where we got engaged.
To sit on opposite sides of the booth
instead of closer as we like
To walk a few feet apart at the pier
instead of arm and arm as we like
To hide again
I am real tired, forgive me-

Its hard to think one could be hurt by a vote
something so objective political, why take it personally!
But this vote is about my personal life
..not just my personal life..
but an attempt to judge the essence of me
- my heart- to judge it as being shameful.
to vote that into law..."that"
...to change the constitution to say that my love is not good
I am really really tired forgive me for saying these things
... but please hear them... because I still thought them