Yes, I know I have spoken about California's Proposition 8 before (and you will no doubt hear me speak about it again). There are now commercials running on television urging people to vote yes. DON'T LISTEN TO THEM! VOTE NO!
One of the commercials says that is Prop 8 does not pass, people can be sued over personal beliefs. Huh? That's ridiculous! California's laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage. It also has nothing to do with marriage! The commercial further states that with same-sex marriage, churches could lose their tax-exemption status. Again: huh? Nothing in Prop 8 would force churches to do anything. In fact, the court decision regarding marriage specifically says "no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs."
At the end of the commercial it says that same-sex marriage would be taught in public schools. (First, if this were true, I would say "So what?" It's about time people were taught that there are different kind of people. We are not all alike and that's okay, but here is the fact about school: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it. A Sacramento Superior Court judge has already ruled that this claim by the proponents of Prop 8 is "false and misleading." In fact, the "case" that is cited in the ad is from Massachusetts . . .the proponents knew what California law said, so they used another state, again to mislead voters.
Oh yes and early in the commercial there is something said about "Four Activist Judges in San Francisco." Folks, Proposition 8 is not about courts and judges, it's about eliminating a fundamental right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that we've already voted on this, that judges should not protect rights and freedoms, and that somehow what happened in the past should be the guide to our future. This campaign is not about what happened nearly nine years ago. This campaign is about whether Californians, right now, in 2008 are willing to eliminate a fundamental right for one group of citizens.
DO NOT LET FEAR OR LIES SWAY YOU! Read the text of the porposition and you will see that what I say is true. Vote NO on Proposition 8.
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