Prop 8: The Race To Be Less Progressive Than Iowa.

I think I would be remiss if our gay wedding blog failed to address the issue of Proposition 8 in California. After all, it would be nice if our marriage were legally recognized so that we could tap the 1,138 Federal benefits and responsibilities that our heterosexual counterparts receive. It's more than that though. Hey, I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to file our taxes together, but that's not the point.

Obviously, a majority of the voters in California were for Proposition 8 if it passed in the first place, but when I re-read that 53% of the voting population felt the need to "defend marriage" in 2008 I felt like I had been punched in the stomach by the bully on the playground. And I thought to myself, "and this is in California, what does the rest of America think of us?!?"

I know lots of really conservative people. I LOVE lots of really conservative people. A good portion of my own flesh and blood ARE those people. They love and respect us and our relationship and are happy for us to get married and spend the rest of our lives together and raise a family together. Unfortunately, we have friends that have not been as lucky in their honesty with their families. I just wish I could get into their brains and understand for just a second how they think that it's okay to discriminate because of who someone chooses to love. Hasn't this country learn or progressed since the Civil Rights Act??

When I read the articles about Judge Walker's decision, I felt refreshed and a little revived. He poignantly stated,

"Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples...The evidence shows that the movement of marriage away from a gendered institution and toward an institution free from state-mandated gender roles reflects an evolution in the understanding of gender rather than a change in marriage."  

After I read that I thought to myself, "You go boy!" It felt really good to know we have people in our corner, ready to fight for our Civil Rights as Americans. It felt really good until I stumbled upon protectmarriage.com where I read this:

Traditional marriage is the foundation of society and has served our state well for centuries. California’s constitutional marriage amendment exists to strengthen society, encourage monogamous and loving marriages and to provide the optimal environment to ensure the well being of children. 

So what you're saying to me is that homosexual marriages will weaken society, encourage promiscuity and polygamy, loveless marriages and be a detriment to the children raised in such an environment? Talk about wanting to punch someone in the face. FIRST OF ALL, I know PLENTY of heterosexual couples who are in loveless, unfaithful marriages where the well-being of their children is absolutely in question. Not to mention, there are plenty of single mothers and fathers who raise perfectly well-adjusted children without the presence of a marriage, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I could rant, rant, rant all day, but it will only be a matter of time that we will win the Civil Rights battle. It's been done in this country before, and it will be done again. In the meantime, I'm happy to know that, recognized legally or not, I'll spend the rest of my life with the person I love.

We all deserve the right to strap on the ole ball and chain ;)