Today, we worked "visibility" with the No-on-Prop8 campaign, holding up signs at a busy intersection near the registrar of voters. The majority of people who responded did so positively with waves and horn-honking, and several passers-by held up marriage certificates, having just been married.
Far fewer responded with ire. One lady made such a face at us that she nearly rear-ended the car in front of her. A motorcyclist chanted Bible verses. A number held "thumbs down". But one old man who was the passenger in a red Miata was so outraged at us that he shouted while he was at the stoplight, so that his face was red and spittle flew. When we chanted "Equality for all!" he shouted "NO! You don't deserve that!" We chanted "Love not hate, vote no on 8" and he screamed "YES! YES ON 8!" it was really scary.
Meanwhile the "Yes on 8" folks put out a lying ad that Obama supports 8, such that the Obama-Biden Campaign had to do a release saying no, they don't. They are now chanting, "Protect free speech" at their events. Excuse me?
Tonight, we will go to a candlelight vigil in downtown San Diego while James Dobson and the Christianist haters pray for our defeat at the stadium.
Wish us well.
13 comments:
IT,
Our prayers are with you all week-end!
San Diego is my hometown. I wish I could vote against this hateful proposition. My consolation is that my vote is needed for other reasons here in Ohio.
God's blessings around you, your own strength within you, IT. Stay strong!
[Right there with you on the "I wish", Bill. My "otherwise engaged" (to joining IT to fight this hateful thing) is finding a job. I got 4 apps in today: yay me.]
According to a poll today, "NO" is ahead by 6 points, according to our local news.
I sent a note to IT, personally, about my most recent post. She will undoubtedly meet the SDiego Mayor and his daughter there.
His press talk is painful to watch, he is nearly in tears at places.
It's on my blog now.
Irony or ironies.
We just have to stop this.
This will have repercussions in other countries too.
And yes IT, I pray for you and BP!
IT, you have my prayers for tonight, my very dear sister.
Goeran is correct, this will have monumental repercussions. If "yes" wins, the bigotry will be exposed for the world to see -- particularly those in Europe will see the duplicity of a nation that spouts freedom and yet denies freedom to its citizens and tortures its enemies.
If "no" wins, it will be a beacon on a hill giving other people hope that it is possible for justice to come down like rain. But, if "no" does win, the religionists will redouble their efforts to practice that which Jesus condemned: hate.
Thanks for the expressions of support.
There were about 7-10,000 people at the candlelight rally. Very moving. No pictures in the press, however...gosh wonder why.
Meanwhile, the group of gay folks I was with expressed outrage at the Catholics and the Mormons to the point where they commented they felt that any church they pass is full of enemies. There is huge anger in the GLBT community against the imposition of religion on our lives and I'm afraid most of them do not distinguish "good" from "bad" Christians.
This new ad sums it up.
IT
The lead editorial in Sunday's L.A. Times is a strong endorsement of voting "No" on 8 and a strong denunciation of the tactics of the "Yes" people - No on Proposition 8: Debunking the myths used to promote the ban on same-sex marriage.
The editorial begins:
"Clever magicians practice the art of misdirection -- distracting the eyes of the audience to something attention-grabbing but irrelevant so that no one notices what the magician is really doing. Look over at that fuchsia scarf, up this sleeve, at anything besides the actual trick.
"The campaign promoting Proposition 8, which proposes to amend the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, has masterfully misdirected its audience, California voters. Look at the first-graders in San Francisco, attending their lesbian teacher's wedding! Look at Catholic Charities, halting its adoption services in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal! Look at the church that lost its tax exemption over gay marriage! Look at anything except what Proposition 8 is actually about: a group of people who are trying to impose on the state their belief that homosexuality is immoral and that gays and lesbians are not entitled to be treated equally under the law.
"That truth would never sell in tolerant, live-and-let-live California, and so it has been hidden behind a series of misleading half-truths. Once the sleight of hand is revealed, though, the campaign's illusions fall away."
The lengthy editorial then debunks most of the arguments in favor of Prop. 8, one by one. It concludes:
"Religions and their believers are free to define marriage as they please; they are free to consider homosexuality a sin. But they are not free to impose their definitions of morality on the state. Proposition 8 proponents know this, which is why they have misdirected the debate with highly colored illusions about homosexuals trying to take away the rights of religious Californians. Since May, when the state Supreme Court overturned a proposed ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, more than 16,000 devoted gay and lesbian couples have celebrated the creation of stable, loving households, of equal legal stature with other households. Their happiness in no way diminishes the rights or happiness of others.
"Californians must cast a clear eye on Proposition 8's real intentions. It seeks to change the state Constitution in a rare and terrible way, to impose a single moral belief on everyone and to deprive a targeted group of people of civil rights that are now guaranteed. This is something that no Californian, of any religious belief, should accept. Vote no to the bigotry of Proposition 8."
Pictures from the rally and vigil here.
IT
And for an historical perspective of marriage equality and discrimination, see this Time article from 1967.
How far have we really come....?
IT
The LA Times article is excellent.
I have a wee post for tomorrow on a wedding in which I participated yesterday. It made the whole Prop 8 issue seem completely ridiculous.
Go IT - NO 8.
NancyP
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