The right of gay and lesbian couples to wed on an equal legal basis with heterosexual couples has long stirred opposition not only among social conservatives but also among a much broader swath of society. But in the four short months since a landmark California Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage, a significant social shift seems to have occurred.
As gay couples have gone to the courthouse and entered into matrimony, usually surrounded by champagne, family and friends, the worst fears of gay marriage opponents suddenly seem greatly inflated. For instance, Christian conservatives have asserted for years that allowing gays to marry would undermine heterosexual unions – hence, such laws as the Defense of Marriage Act. In truth, however, there has been no discernible impact on traditional marriage between a man and a woman now that gay couples in California have the same right.......
In the past, this page has advocated civil unions for gay couples rather than marriage. But our thinking has changed, along with that of many other Californians. Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same dignity and respect in marriage that heterosexual couples have long enjoyed. We urge a No vote on Proposition 8.
(My emphasis). Go read the whole thing. They very sensibly demolish the major anti-gay marriage arguments. It's really something.
I may have to revive my subscription!
Update: Although this is encouraging news, and the polls look good, remember the Pro-Prop 8 forces are planning to start their big media buys next weekend (the 29th). Their strategy is to have a BIG push for the final few weeks of the election in hopes that our side can't counter in time. They will tell lies about what gay marriage means. We have to be ready to respond.
Unfortunately, the haters are currently out-raising us in money, helped particularly by the Mormon and Catholic churches as well as fundy Christian groups.
PLEASE more than ever it's important to SUPPORT THE No-on-8 campaign. Send money! Buy bumper stickers! Defeat the haters!
14 comments:
First, Hallmark introduces a line of same-sex marriage cards. Now this...
I am feeling cautiously optimistic about the human race today.
Holy.
Crap.
Wow - I am astounded. I am heartened.
Then there's images like this one [Caption: "Officer Laura Gerritsen, life partner of Los Angeles Police Officer Spree DeSha, who was killed in the Metrolink train collision, touches DeSha's casket during {her} funeral services at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008."]
:-(...
Perhaps people are finally recognizing (Duh!) love and blessings and holiness when they SEE it, as in this picture?
May Officer Spree DeSha rest in peace, and rise in glory. Comfort in her sorrow, to Officer Gerritsen, and the rest of Spree DeSha's family---and all the other victims/survivors of the LA train crash.
Oooh, Ick:
Youth are also being targeted through the [Homophobic site I won't link to], MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. The campaign's goal is to "mobilize 300,000 young people to get eight of their friends to vote," according to the notes.
The notes also referenced Lou Engle, founder of the Call - "a divinely initiated, multiracial, multi-generational, and cross-denominational gathering to corporate prayer and fasting," according to its Web site - who said, "We're on death ground ... Literally, there is no tomorrow."
Saying, "This is a time to resist mightily the spirit of peaceful coexistence and apathetic resignation in the face of this prevailing darkness," the Call Web site is beckoning people to gather at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on November 1, three days before the election.
(story here)
Can you believe the sh*te he's spewing? I pity you, IT, to have this asshat anywhere near you... >:-/
Wonderful news, IT. Just wonderful.
As for the Call... argh.
JCF, the deceased engineer of this ill fated commuter train was also gay.
I am just hoping this was indeed human error. His partner committed suicide a few years back. Some acquaintances are reporting that he was a bit out-of-sorts lately.
There was also a priest who can be seen in some of the TV video footage administering Last Rites to the dead. He was himself injured in the wreck.
He is a priest from the Anglican Church of Our Saviour, part of the Anglican Province of Christ the King.
Wonderful news, IT, almost unbelievably good words from a conservative newspaper. I hope that they open the eyes of many voters.
The nonsensical talking point that same sex marriage would destroy opposite sex marriage should now be given a decent burial.
I can but repeat what I've said elsewhere: I see only dishonesty i n the position of those who assert that marriage "between one man and one woman" is necessarily the only form supported by Scripture and Tradition.
They (at least some of them) must pretend that Adam and Eve were married.
They all must pretend that Scripture did not support polygyny.
They all must pretend that the documented same-sex unions in premodern Europe (as described in the book of the same title) did not exist.
They all must pretend that marriage to a single wife was somehow biblical rather than an implementation of pagan Roman custom.
They all must pretend that marriage from Old Testament times through at least the end of the nineteenth century was something other than a mere patriarchal property transaction.
If they now admit that Christian marriage should be the free-will joining of equals, what then is the value to the Church or Society of a theological position grounded on pretense?
Kirk Smith, bishop of AZ has written a letter of support for rights in Arizona against Prop 102 there.
Unfortunately, the haters are currently out-raising us in money, helped particularly by the Mormon and Catholic churches as well as fundy Christian groups.
So who is the largest group lobbying for Prop. 8 ? The RCC, the LDS, fundy churches, and organizations like the Knights of Columbus.
In other words - Christians.
Doxy may be feeling cautiously optimistic about the human race (me, too), but everyday I am increasingly reluctant to accept the label "Christian." It's one that's been stolen from us by haters...
For the picture of Officer Gerritsen (which I am pleased to see is spreading), I forgot to hat-tip Cath at the Tavern Wall (Cath is a very allied straight woman from Sacramento, my hometown)
WE DO NOT LIVE IN A THEOCRACY.
The only document under advisement in this argument is the Constitution - NOT THE BIBLE.
All people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. Even civil unions - although appearing as some welcome degree of progress - in fact only represent more discrimination. Either you have equal rights or you don't. There is no middle ground.
Everyone has the legal right to be married. You may not like it. You may not allow it in your church. You might not invite them over for dinner. That is your right. But NOBODY has the right to amend the Constitution in order to discriminate against a group of people that they don't like or don't approve of.
"Now, you may not know How Big A Deal this is, but the San Diego Union-Trib is a very conservative paper."
The Union-Trib is a very conservative paper? Uhh.. Compared to what? LA Times? Bay Windows?
Yes on 8!
Another gutless coward who won't sign his/her name, but will write their bigotry into law.
Color me disgusted.
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