Mikey's Musings

Yes on Proposition 8!

Ever hear the adage about calling "evil good and good evil"¹? Well, that's how I feel about the situation that's erupted in California regarding Proposition 8. This is an issue that is very important to me, so it's kind of a no-brainer that I'm blogging about it.

For those who are not familiar with Proposition 8, it's time that you become familiar with it! A vote "yes" on Prop 8 will add the following 14 words to the California state constitution:

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

A vote "no" on Prop 8 will give no definition of "marriage", leaving the word open for interpretation.

Of course there are many debates about the constitutionality of this proposition, the biggest being in regards to "equal rights". However, I believe that the core of it all has nothing to do with "equal rights" per se. In fact, "domestic partnerships" have the same rights as "married" couples, as found in the California Family Code (Section 297.5 a). Instead, the debate has to do with the consequences of the Proposition failing. According to whatisprop8.com, there are 6 consequences if Prop 8 is not passed, namely the following:

1. Children in public schools will be required to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as the traditional marriage between a man and a woman.
2. There is a good possibility that churches may be sued over their tax-exempt status.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged.
4. Religions that sponsor school with married student-housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples.
5. Ministers that preach against same-sex marriage may be sued for hate speech and receive government fines.
6. It will cost you money from ensuing lawsuits that would come from Prop 8 being voted against.

Anyway, so why is this such a big deal for us non-Californians? Because even though we are not directly affected by it currently, if Prop 8 is voted against, we will become directly affected by it down the road. Let me give you a couple of insights. For those of you who are LDS, this first paragraph is for you, although other religious communities are being affected similarly. First of all, the Church has become a very active supporter of Prop 8, donating to the cause and encouraging members who can to donate as well. On top of that, the Church is getting hit pretty hard by "no" voters. A friend showed me a blog that shares an experience about protesters in front of the Oakland Temple not too long ago. You can click here to read the story from someone who experienced it herself. Also, another friend of mine living in CA reported the following to me:

"Well, I haven't heard about the protesters in front of the temple, but there has been a TON of vandalism to the church building in SF and to the 'vote YES on 8' signs everywhere. Ours was stolen out of our front yard in the middle of the day. It's too bad people see it more as anti-gay and don't realize that if Prop 8 does NOT pass, everyone will lose the right to know what their children are taught in school regarding homosexuality. Whose responsibility is it to teach your children about homosexuality? Definitely NOT the schools! Homosexual couples don't lose ANY rights if Prop 8 passes...they just can't call it marriage.'"

And the LDS community is not the only religious community being hit by this. In Massachusetts where a similar amendment has already been rejected, the Catholic Church had to shut down its adoption services because it was against sending children into same-sex marriage households. What's the potential future of other religious institutions (including the LDS Church) who hold to their beliefs that marriage is a sacred institution, strictly between a man and a woman?

Another big issue is the possibility that children will be taught that same-sex marriage is okay and normal. Again, in public schools in Massachusetts, children under the age of 8 are being read books that focus on same-sex relationships. In California, a group of 1st graders went on a field trip to their teacher's lesbian wedding (and it happened on my birthday of all days...sad day)! Even though schools are required to keep parents informed of curriculum, some parents are having a hard time getting schools to inform them of when such "education" will be given to their children, making it hard to pull their kids out of the class rooms on those days.

Those are just a couple of points to show how we are also affected by this huge issue. In my opinion, I believe that Prop 8 should be legalized. Many argue "equal right" issues in regards to Prop 8. If one digs enough, one finds that it's the opponents of Prop 8 that are against "equal rights", whether it's intentional or not. Already found in the CA constitution is an amendment giving same-sex couples the same rights as married couples (Family Code, Section 297.5 a).

The way I see it, Prop 8 gives those specific institutions the right to keep their values of keeping marriage between a man and a woman; it also gives same-sex couples the rights to have domestic partnerships and maintain married rights. I think that allows for much better "equal rights", as opposed to rejecting Prop 8 and forcing people and organizations who believe in the "traditional" marriage to silence their voices.

As far as schools go, they should leave the whole aspect of same-sex and traditional marriage out and leave that subject to the parents. If sex education is such an important aspect of public education, keep it within the following bounds: maintaining abstinence until married, STDs, and the anatomy of the body. That should keep things on neutral ground, while allowing "equal rights" to remain much more equal than saying "no" to Prop 8 and forcing unwanted values on many people and families.

So with that said, I'm all about voting "YES" on Prop 8!!!