All Eyes on California

Quite possibly the second most popular, contentious and expensive campaign behind the presidential election, the California ballot initiative known as Proposition 8 seeks to change the California Constitution by eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry in the state. That means that only marriage between man and woman will be valid and recognized.

For many this speaks to a religious and moral issue. The union of marriage is, after all, a religious union that takes place (in biblical definition) between man and woman. And that is the argument many are making in support of Proposition 8. To be fair, Proposition 8 does not seek to deprive gay unions of their rights or benefits that civil unions are accorded.

However, though we may have co-opted a religious term for the legal union of two people, it is in fact a legal union and the law should never discriminate. Proposition 8 seeks to do exactly that. This is not about marriage; this is about civil rights and the attempt to deny people their civil rights because of who they are. It is possible that Proposition 8 will be aided by the influx of new voters – black and Latino – Barack Obama is bringing to the political process. This troubles me. How do he and she who have firsthand knowledge and experience with the hurtful and dehumanizing effects of discrimination then turn around to mete out the same discrimination and intolerance on another human being? How?

We have learned in this past year that we as a nation are ever closer to living in a truly egalitarian society. We will learn to see ourselves differently starting tomorrow. How Californians vote on Proposition 8 will echo across the nation as not only a referendum on same-sex marriages in America, but also as a referendum on intolerance in America. I urge all Californians to join me in voting no on Proposition 8.