In November, Proposition 8 will be on the California ballot. Proposition 8 would amend the state Constitution to read “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized.” It is completely discriminatory, and it is important that we vote no on Proposition 8. If the law is passed, it will send a message that it is OK to treat people as though they are less than human.
The “Yes on Proposition 8” campaign uses the rally slogan “Protect Marriage.” As far as I know, marriage doesn’t need “protecting.” It is absurd to fear that the validity of your own marriage would be challenged by the marriage of two people that you have never even met.
In their “Why Vote Yes?” section, the Yes on Proposition 8 website states, “The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision.”
This logic is extremely skewed. When you tell someone that their way of living is immoral, or wrong, you are forcing them to accept your definition of marriage. People who are born lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenger (LGBT) in today’s society are never asked how they define marriage.
They are simply expected to accept the status quo without question. It is ludicrous to think there are heterosexual people who believe that they should be asked how they feel about gay marriage before it is allowed.
My hope is that, if we open marriage up to everyone, regardless of sex or gender, it may become less of an old-fashioned institution. There is room for a progressive and inclusive system if lawmakers would simply accept it. Unfortunately, opposition to progress remains strong, and it seems that we have a long way to go.
Proposition 8 is crucial for California voters on a state level. On a national level, neither presidential candidate in the two-party system will openly support same-sex marriage.
Oct. 6 marks the beginning of National Coming Out Week. Our campus’ LGBT Center will be hosting events to promote this week. They also will be posting an “outlist,” for everyone who wishes to come out as an ally, supporter, or member of the LGBT community.
For more information, or to sign up for the cause, noonProposition8.com is an excellent resource.
Wandie Kabule is a senior journalism major and a contributing writer for the Daily Forty-Niner.
