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Same-sex couples deserve to get the same rights as straight couples

Opinion

Published: Monday, October 6, 2008

Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008 20:10

If passed, Proposition 8 will eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California, thus destroying the dream of many gay couples all over the state and stripping away their dignity.
 
A new section would be added to the state constitution stating that, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
 
Prop 8 should be voted against. It is absolutely revolting that it is even on the ballot to begin with.

Allowing same-sex couples to marry does not demean or in any way affect the people who go into the customary man-woman fashion of marriage; therefore, gay couples should not be denied their right to also be happily married.
 
The phrase "Domestic Partnership" is insulting to the gay community. It makes it seem like they are not human enough to actually marry, so they have to settle to an inferior title.

Although a “Domestic Partnership” in California incorporates a wide range of rights and responsibilities similar to a conventional marriage, it is still offensive because it does not give same-sex couples the actual right to call their life-long relationship a marriage.

The gay community strived for a very long time to win the fight to finally be allowed to get married in June, so do not let that fight be in vain.
 
Gays and Lesbians are our friends, family, police officers, firefighters, judges, soldiers, etc. These people who have fought for your safety, earned your respect, and/or received your love are being deprived of their right to be happy.

Taking away a person's right to marry is basically telling them not to love.
 
How would a straight person feel if they were told not to marry the person they love?
 
 The homophobia that comes from prejudiced straight people has to end.
 
The fact that same-sex couples are beaten to death, threatened or harassed for publicly expressing their emotions towards their boyfriend or girlfriend is disgusting.

People need to bear in mind that California’s laws prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
 
The intolerance from stubborn straight people will probably never truly vanish, but hopefully, in the near future, same-sex couples will be able to live without the fear of homophobia haunting them.
 
Vote “NO” on Proposition 8 on November 4 to save the evanescing equality in marriage and bring the gay community one step closer to attaining the deserved human rights that they are being denied.

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13 comments

Joshua Kaanaana
Thu Oct 30 2008 22:46
Marriage instills a sense of value to any couple. A dignity that lets this couple evolve into a family and a family that is more likely to stick together in the long run. For those who keep insinuating that God's word, please set him aside for a moment and stop using him as some kind of factual evidence. The Beatles sang, all you need is love. They were right. If you can't simply stand up to Jesus and god and see that they are clearly wrong on this issue, then you can live your gloriously boring fantasy of a heaven with no sin and inorganic color.
Frank
Tue Oct 14 2008 21:21
Vote yes on Prop 8....I thought we were a society where majority rules...prop 22 said it loud and clear...yet 4 liberal judges interpreted as unconstitutional. Chosing to be be gay or lesbian is your right as an american no one is arguing with the fact that you deserve the same rights and protections that every citizen deserves....not more. Marriage according to scripture is to be between a man and a woman.....the problem is that not everyone wants to believe that scripture is true because like AL Gore put it "it's an unconvenient truth" society has made being gay the chic thing to do.
I am not gay and I don't care if your gay but to proclaim that you should be married simply because it"s your right! Well prop 22 said you do not have that right but the supreme court is ignoring it.
Myisha
Tue Oct 14 2008 13:43
Marriage is by definition between a man and a woman if domestic partnership is offensive then maybe they should come up with another title.. however I find it offensive for female and female or male and male relationships to expect to get the same recognition as a man and a women who are "married"... same sex couples can be together all they want that's not my issue but our traditional values will be violated if we call these relationships marriage because they are not... I have lesbian cousins so Im not knocking homosexuals and Im not a homophobic --- I love my cousin, her her wife and their daughter--- they have created a family and that's their life and their business, however I don't agree that they are to be "married"-- Maybe the gay community should proudly fight for another form of recognition for their union together, but calling it marriage lowers that standard of what marriage was to begin with. We need to understand that this a DIFFERENT life style and it's not the traditional.... Marriage is a tradition with in our country and this would alter its meaning.

Anyway as far as our culture becoming accustom to this and calling in normal would be an naive standpoint.. It's most definently out of the ordinary... So they have to understand that their will be a fight to be treated normally... The victim mentality that I often see the gay community taking on is interesting to me because they are living contrary to the norm and that is to be expected.

This doesn't excuse the hatred that you mentioned from our community, I can apologize for that but at the same time we must understand that this is a something "different" it isn't the norm yet and not all people know how to respond to this sort of lifestyle. ...

Anyway I could go on for days but the point I am trying to make is that homosexuality isn't the norm we cannot lie to ourselves and believe that it is--- and to believe we can accept homosexual marrige as the "norm" is a naive way of thinking-- we have always looked upon marriage as such a beautiful thing between a man and a woman a bride and groom the masculine and the feminine becoming one, in "holy matrimony" imagine how that would change it's meaning if it were two brides or two grooms the definition would be changed so while gay couple want recognition i am not knocking that but this would change tradition and the meaning of marriage between a husband and wife...

DAUD
Tue Oct 14 2008 02:44
I FULLY SUPPORT THE RATIONAL OF RAUL.
Adam Maass
Tue Oct 14 2008 01:29
Geez. Minority rights should not be decided at the ballot box. It is shameful that this is even at issue!
Raul Moreno
Mon Oct 13 2008 21:54
I agree.
They have infringed upon our right to vote and have that vote be heard and upheld.
Still, Stephanie, you fail to recognize the proper purpose of the judicial branch. Judges are to uphold the consititution and they've immediately violated our voting rights in revoking prop 22 that was already made law. There are no rights granted to same sex couples in terms of marriage in our Constitution, but there are rights to voters. Regardless, your comment is obviously based upon personal opinion rather than fact and truth which is what is SUPPOSED to hold up in our court system.
I'm optimistic that Prop 8 will pass. Even if support for same sex marriages has increased, the law originally boasted a 68% voting support. Maybe this time it might be a 51 to 49 split, but that's ok with me because it will amend our constitution and take it out of the hands of four ridiculously arrogant judges.
Stephanie Fernandez
Mon Oct 13 2008 21:28
People have the right to enjoy the freedoms the constitution allows them, and that includes the right to marry. You cannot legislate morality unless and until it infringes on someone else's personal freedom. When the Supreme Court interferes with those rights, that's when they're overstepping their boundaries.
Raul Moreno
Mon Oct 13 2008 20:49
This is a horribly written article; I don't see this as journalism, rather something you might see on one's myspace blog.
Other than personal opinion, this article gives the reader no truth or information to digest for themselves. The biggest fault here is the failure to note that what these judges have done is entirely overstepped their boundaries. Judges are not lawmakers but they've taken it upon themselves to do so. This is the purpose of the other 2 branches of government.. along with the voting public.
In 2000 just over 2/3 of California voters said YES on Prop 22 which, though not a state constitutional amendment, defined, BY LAW, that the definition of marriage maintained that marriage be between one man and one woman. Aside from the judges appointing themselves lawmakers so pompously, they have blatantly turned over and disregarded a 2/3 majority vote of THE PUBLIC.. This was not a 51 to 49 split on the issue. No, it was landslide vote. How absolutely ridiculous a notion that these judges be justified in any way when this fact is present.
I was hoping to have access to some more informed reading coming from adults when I came to college, but apparently this is not the case.

Let's all vote yes on Prop 8 to show that it will never be acceptable for judges to overturn OUR popular vote. This is a much greater issue than same sex marriage, though not to say that the issue is light by any means. This is a complete undermining of our voting system and it needs to be EXCLAIMED that this will NOT be tolerated.

YES ON PROP 8

Grace Hartono
Mon Oct 13 2008 00:27
I hope you should go back to the right and correct principle/foundation. You should not against the highest authority that set the marriage between one man and one woman. Your sense of justice is based upon the wrong perception.
Kristy- Yes on Prop 8
Thu Oct 9 2008 13:56
Civil rights are protected. These couples have the same rights of a married couple however they are denied the "title".

I am for Prop 8. If it does not pass it would mean that schools have a right to teach children that boys can marry boys and girls can marry girls and the parents have no right to object. That disturbs me greatly. At this point I don't care if two adults cannot "marry". My main concern are the children. What we teach them at a young age will greatly affect the future and if gay marriages become the norm how will we procreate.

http://www.protectmarriage.com/

Yes on Prop 8
Thu Oct 9 2008 13:48
Civil rights are for everyone.. Therefore it is protected and supported by both parties currently running in the presidential race.

If this does not pass it would mean that our schools can teach that boys can marry boys and girls can marry girls and parents have no right to object . I don't know about you but I am strongly against that. My main concern here is the children, secondly the tradition of what marriage is. If homosexuality was more accepted and it became the norm how in the world would we as human beings be able to procreate.

http://protectmarriage.com/article/new-poll-shows-traditional-marriage-in-the-lead

Your name
Wed Oct 8 2008 23:36
I Believe there is a bias to this article, coming from writers personal feelings towards this topic. If this article is left on here,I believe a counter argument on why voting yes on prop 8 is a good thing.
Your name
Wed Oct 8 2008 18:38
I think proposition 8 should be pass. God created Adam & Eve not Adam & Steve.






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