Equality

Because I have amazing luck... there is absolutely no internet in this entire frickn' town. So... I have been writing this post in spurts... the internet comes on for like five minutes at a time. Ugh. So, I guess I am telling you this in case I end up sounding all choppy like a fluent spanish speaking robot attempting English as a second language. Yeah, I know, that wasn't funny. 

Right now I am writing this in a sweet teahouse... not a coffeehouse, a teahouse. So I have this awesome earthy scented, love for all, peace on earth vibe surrounding me... and hopefully it will be incorporated into this post. 

What I really want to talk about today/tonight is Prop 8

I know it seems like this stupid proposition has had so much exposure and is lonnnnng over.

But in reality it's not over, not yet.

Tomorrow is March 5, 2009. 

Tomorrow is when the California Supreme Court will hold a hearing to listen to all the oral arguments for this proposition.

It is tomorrow when the decision will be made.

Pretending that you have never heard of this crazy proposition 8 stuff, I will now attempt to fill you in on all the dirty deets (details).

On November 4, 2008 proposition 8 was passed during the general election after being placed on the California ballot.

With the passing of this proposition the definition of marriage was restricted on the state's constitution to only opposite-sex couples, completely eliminating same-sex couples right to marry. 

Before this election there was a ruling called In re Marriage Cases with states, "that the California legislative and initiative measures limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violate the state constitutional rights of same-sex couples and may not be used to preclude same-sex couples from marrying."

On November 5th 2009 the measure added a new section which currently reads, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

If you are still confused by my amazingly not clear explanation just hit up Wikipedia, they explain it really well.

To put this in basic terms, with the passing of proposition 8 basic human rights were taken away. 

Same-sex couples already had the right to marry, these rights were taken away from them.

I admit that if you asked me about this subject only 2 years ago my answer to you would be completely different than what it is today. Two years ago, under the pressures of high school and living under the same roof as my strictly conservative parents I blindly followed their beliefs. I never really questioned what they told me, and only understood what they taught me growing up as the"right" way. It was not until senior year of high school, or maybe even last year as a freshman in college that I truly began to investigate what my beliefs truly are. 

Today I can honestly say that I am passionate about gay rights. 

I truly believe that this is the next step in human rights, and what is right.

When looking back on history we as a nation are ashamed of our past.

We are ashamed of slavery.

We are ashamed of the segregation that took place between blacks and whites in society.

We are ashamed of restricted voting rights, against anyone who was not white men, including women.

We are ashamed of placing our fellow Japanese-Americans in internment camps during the chaos after pearl harbor.

I truly believe that we will be ashamed of this in the future.

How is this any different?

This is a group of American's just like blacks, women and japanese-americans who deserve to be treated with respect and equality just like everyone else. 

I know there is the argument surrounding this basic right based on religion.

This is not the time for religion and politics to join.

This is not a religious argument, its political.

It's ok for someone with a religious background or religious lifestyle to disapprove of this lifestyle, or this act of marriage... but they have no right to inflict their beliefs on other people.

This is hurtful. 

This is not some benign believe that has no affect, it has an affect, and it is hurtful.

I always liked the protest posters carried in the Vote No on Prop 8 protests that stated, "we didn't have the choice to vote on your marriage." 

The reason I like this, is because it is true.

Why should others outside of this subject, outside of the hatred, completely not involved in the lifestyle have a say on whether someone should be included on a basic human right of marriage.

Now that I am done ranting.. I will step off of my soapbox.

I was watching this stand-up comedian the other night and loved the ending to her routine.

Her name is Liz Feldman, yes, the same Liz Feldman from TJO.

Of course, because I have amazing luck.. like I said earlier.

I can't find the video of her stand -up routine from this valentines day ( I think youtube removed it)

So,  I will attempt to horribly reenact what she said.

Because she herself is an out and proud lesbian Liz wanted to make a remark at the end of her routine to tell everyone about the importance of tomorrow's supreme court hearing. She also wanted to point out that marriage is marriage, regardless of who is doing it.

So she states,

I want to bring to your attention this whole proposition 8 thing.

ON MArch 5th the rights of gay marriage will be decided, or what I like to call it, simply just marriage.

Because I had lunch today, but I am pretty sure I didnt have gay lunch

and when I got here I parked my car, I didn't gay park my car... unless you are referring to how bad I parked in which case you might state, wow, you park like a fag.

I really like the point she drives home in this routine.

Its marriage, not gay marriage.

It's a basic human right.

Ok. Now that I have written about this for years I years, I simply just wanted to bring attention to what a major day it is tomorrow.

I really, really hope the people of the supreme court truly understand the impact of this decision and make the right choice.

There is an entire legal issue involved in the passing of this proposition, supposedly some certain legalities and rules were skipped when it was placed on the november ballot. Supposedly this measure was put in place unconstitutionally... I think it is unconstitutional and against everything the constitution is about no matter what angle you look at it.

I can't end this post with a simple statement like, "Vote no on prop 8, stop the H8te" because voting is over... and we have no say in what happens tomorrow... but I can bring this subject to your attention, whoever you are... if anyone even reads this, or even cares about what they are reading... but I don't really care... I needed to talk about this. I need to say my opinion. Because I truly, truly believe in gay rights. Heck, I truly believe in human rights.

xoxo

-K