More on Prop 8

As in all les choses gais, John Aravosis has the good coverage. Good post on the lawsuit filed today to rescind Prop 8. Explains why it really may not be valid, legal, etc. Kewl!

Prop 8 Melancholy

I've been sitting here torn between overall euphoria at last night's results and depression over the success of Prop 8. As is often the case, BillinPortland, at Cheers and Jeers brought my mood up:

JEERS to...

Proposition 8. Even in the face of iron-clad, incontrovertible proof that gay marriages won’t do diddly to straight marriages, Californians proved last night that they could be persuaded by Utah---yes, polygamist Utah!---to hit themselves over the head with the dumbstick and make inequality and discrimination constitutional. Think about that: many of the same voters who chose to tear down the ultimate barrier (the presidency) for one minority voted to create a barrier against another. Gee, thanks for the whiplash. If there is any silver lining it is this: civil unions will continue to be approved at the state level across the country, and the federal government now has the muscle to pass some gay-friendly bills (and repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell). Oh, and it's worth reminding ourselves, no matter how bitter we feel this morning: civil rights struggles are always a marathon, not a sprint.

I've been embarrassed by my electoral cohorts only twice (annoyed with them, often; embarrasesed, only twice.) The first time was the Texas gubernatorial election in which the totally unqualified, totally uncool W ousted our totally cool, totally qualified governor, Ann Richards. The second time was last night, when my fellow Californians opted to legalize hate and discrimination, guided by a bunch of religious FREAKS!

Calprops

Okay, here are my recommendations on the various Propositions on the California ballot Tuesday, with comments where I have any. In general, I have the philosophy that unless I have a strong feeling for, or knowledge about, a proposition, I'm opposed to it until or unless something convinces me otherwise. Mostly, they are special actions by special interests to enact something the majority doesn't know or care about, and if there's a strong emotional groundswell, it probably just means it's exceptionally bad (see 1978 and Prop 13 which lowered property taxes and fucked up the entire California economy ever since!)

Prop 1A High Speed Rail NO
Good Issue, bad approach, wrong time

Prop 2 Feed Animal Protection No opinion (so probably NO)
Don't know enough to make an informed decision, feel-good ads make me nervous

Prop 3 Children's Hospital Bonds NO
Good issue, good approach, wrong time

Prop 4 Parental Abortion Notification NO
When are the anti-abortion nuts going to realize they've lost?

Prop 5 Drug Offender Rehab Plan YES
Good idea, maybe bad approach, but we need to do SOMETHING- start this then amend it if needed, but get some movement going

Prop 6 Law Enforcement Funding/Tough on Crime Scam NO

Prop 7 Renewable Energy Mandate NO
GREAT IDEA, horrible approach

Prop 8 Gay Marriage Constitutional Rights Grab by Mormons Scam NO
Don't get me start on how bad this one is! We'll be here til election day!

Prop 9 Victim's Family's Rights Bill NO
Sorry, in the criminal process, victims don't have rights, they're non-participants.
If they want rights, that's why there's a CIVIL court system!

Prop 10 Alternative Fuel Bond Bill NO
Boone Pickens doesn't need MY money, I need his!

Prop 11 Redistricting Reform YES
See arguments for 5- GREAT IDEA, iffy approach, but dammit, we need to start
somewhere.

Prop 12 Veterans' Mortgage Bond YES
Okay idea, should be zero cost in long term

The one prop I would vote for, no matter when offered or who proposed it, is a proposition that would banish the initiative and proposition forever!!!!!

No on 8!

According to the LATimes this morning, the no voters on Prop 8 in CA (the anti-gay-marriage prop) still outnumber the no voters. But this is an important issue and I want to exhort every THINKING Californian to get out and vote this execrable piece of idiocy down.

If it weren't bad enough on the face of it that we're trying to amend the Constitution to LIMIT rights, this is the lovechild of a very strange marriage; the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church. The Catholics have decided that you molest kids and be reassigned, but if you want to marry your partner, you must be prevented absolutely. The Mormons are apparently worried that this will cut down the number of men available to marry multiple wives. I'm just saying......

Anyway, if you're from CA, and are considering not voting since there's no urgency at the Presidential level, shut the fuck up and get out and vote. Vote this puppy down while you're there, too.

I'll do a round up of our selection of godforsaken props before the election with my thoughts and recommendations for voting for/against.

UPDATE:

John @ Americablog has a post on this that's worth reading.

the conclusion:

I don't know much about the Mormon faith. I do know that, as a Christian myself, I find some of their beliefs a bit, well, different (such as the belief that Jesus and the devil were brothers). What I do know about Mormons are three things:

1. Donny and Marie.
2. The choir.
3. Their church really seems to hate gays, a lot.

Put aside the fact, for a moment, that a people who were persecuted, and run out of their homes, for being different really ought not be doing the same to another persecuted people. (And really put aside the fact that one of the reasons Mormons were persecuted was because of their beliefs on marriage.) If the Mormon Church is so concerned about being a part of the mainstream religious club, about being loved by other faiths across America, then why are they saddling up to one of the most reviled groups of bigots in America?

Hell of a well to win friends and influence people.

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