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Archive for the ‘Marriage Equality’ Category

Tradition. Values. Marriage.

Monday, November 10th, 2008

On November 4 California voters passed Proposition 8 by a margin of 52.3%-47.7%. Arizona voters passed Proposition 102 56.4%-43.6% . Florida’s Amendment 2 passed 62.1%-37.9%. Proponents of all three measures insisted they were merely standing up for what they believed in, defending tradition and upholding moral values.

I find that hard to believe. You see, when I was growing up I was taught about American history. I learned about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Founding Fathers and so on. I was told about the values this nation was founded upon.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

It says there all men. I don’t see any exceptions or exclusions. But maybe somebody put them there in ultra-fine print or invisible ink and failed to inform me.

And the Constitution. I don’t recall anything in there that excludes certain people from enjoying the rights it bestows upon citizens, particularly in the Bill of Rights. In fact the Constitution has amendments that specifically mention that certain groups, who have historically been denied rights, are assured full equality.

Oh,yes, I learned a great deal about how various groups were hideously mistreated over the short course of American history. Slavery and segregation, Chinese people being used as virtual slave labor to mine and build the railroads, Japanese internment camps, the subjugation of women, various immigrants being relegated to the worst class status, etc. But we eventually realized the error of our ways and did what we could to correct things (save for certain bigots who will never learn and need to be relegated to the lunatic fringe of society).

It was in large part because of what I learned that I majored in Psychology and worked 20 years in Human Services. I had decided that I wanted to help people–to make their lives better. I wanted to undo the wrongs and set things right.

Tradition and values. To me tradition and values mean life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They mean individual personal freedoms and responsibilities. The things this nation was built on, or so I was told for decades.

Now I’m being told–at least by the RRRW–that traditional values means regulating the lives of others to the Nth degree. It means making them live by your chosen religious beliefs even if you have to use force of law to do it. It means proclaiming one group the arbiter of what marriage, family, spouse, values and even morality are, then allowing them to dictate those definitions for the entire nation. It means letting millions of men, women and children be left out in the cold because the whims of the intolerant reign.

Sorry. That’s not my America. My America had values and morality. The only question is if it’s lost forever, or if it will finally reclaim itself from the quagmire.

 

Ex-Mormon Speaks Out.

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Here’s someone who didn’t just swallow the dogma and vomit it back like it was inviolate and applied to everyone. She realized that as an autonomous human with a brain and conscience she had to do what was truly right–break ties with an organization ,bent on total control , that was telling her to hate and harm other people for no legitimate reason.

I didn’t expect that an evening painting my office would be my most memorable, but when CNN projected Obama as the winner, I stood holding my paint roller as the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King filled the room. I’d read that he had known that he’d die for his cause. It was not in vain.

As I proceeded to get paint in every nook and cranny, even in the rooms I wasn’t painting in, my thoughts were centered on my sweet friend, music arranger Gene Page. Decades earlier, his brother, Billy, advised him to give up his dream of becoming a concert pianist because “the white public will never accept a black concert pianist.” Gene was a child prodigy in music and went to a music conservatory on a four-year scholarship. I can’t imagine the enormous amount of talent that must of gone straight down the toilet because of ignorance. Maybe even a cure for cancer!

I was engaged to Gene’s buddy, who abused me. No one cared, except Gene. He was on his way to the studio to record a Natalie Cole album, but took the time to call. “I’m sickened and disgusted by the way he treats you,” he said. “If you want me to, I’ll get you out of there.” I’d waited since childhood to be rescued. Gene gave me my dream. I wish he’d gotten his.

Several of us were coming out of Martoni’s on Cahuenga in Hollywood in 1980. I was just a young girl from Valley Center. I’d never known any blacks or gays. A cold wind was blowing and I had on a silk shirt. Shivering, I trotted ahead to get to the car, Footsteps came running up behind me. Something went around my shoulders. I turned and it was Billy. He’d given me his jacket. Billy, who’s now deceased, was a gay man. He won my support for gay marriage on that night..

I’m the one who’s liberated. I no longer have to downplay the fact that I’d join forces with blacks or gays, something I’ve done for over 30 years. I enjoyed it when my dad wouldn’t let me park in front of his house with the “No on 8″ and “Obama” bumper stickers on my car. My ex said I did it just to piss him off. I didn’t, but I would have. My good friend, whose husband served years in the Hanoi Hilton chained to and tortured with John McCain, gagged a little when she saw it. I loved it all. I finally feel feel free to be me.

…..

I left the Mormon church over Prop 8. When I took in a homeless woman over the summer, I asked for food from the church. I’d just had surgery and she and I had $3 between us. After being a member for 20 years, I was denied help because I had said, “I’m not sure love is ever a bad thing.”

…..

No matter what the scriptures say, if I’m going to error regarding gays, it’s going to be on the side of love. That’s what I can live with on judgment day.

Gene and Billy, you may not have lived long enough to realize your dreams, but at least one African American got his. Our nation truly became great the day Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream…

…..
Blacks today, gays tomorrow. Obama rocks! Love, not 8.

Thank you, Amy. You got it. If there were more like you not only would Proposition 8 not have passed, it would never have existed.

But we still have plenty of fight left in us yet.

 

Protesting at a Mormon Temple? Be Prepared for Anything.

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

After spearheading the campaign to rip our marriage rights away from us the Mormons have been playing meek, innocent and persecuted. “We’d never hurt a fly. We love everyone. Why does everybody hate us?”. But some of them decided to show their true colors by attacking people protesting outside their Temple in Los Angeles last night. Mike Tidmus has the story and video.

Word to the wise. If you’re protesting a Mormon temple, chapel, or whatnot be prepared for anything. Don’t let any phony smiles or talk of Jesus lure you into a false sense of security. You could very well end up the next victim.

 

Yes on 8. Supporting the Sanctity of Man and Woman Marriage.

Saturday, November 8th, 2008



 
It’s a good thing you protected the Sanctity of Marriage from us nasty queers, eh?

 

Proposition 8 Weekend Action.

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Saturday, November 8

SACRAMENTO
Capitol West Steps: 7pm-10pm
Bring hand done signs, the bigger the better. Bring flashlights (no candles are allowed on Capitol grounds).

SAN DIEGO
12 NOON: 1st Ave. & University Ave.
Gather at 1st Avenue & University Avenue in Hillcrest for a civil rights march to 30th Street & University Avenue in North Park.

LAGUNA BEACH
City Hall, 5:30pm
From City Hall, march to Main Beach for candlelight vigil. Parking available at Act V parking lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road - shuttle busses will be running every 15 minutes. Bring signs, flags, candles (or flashlights), whistles, and dress for a cool evening.

LOS ANGELES
Capitol West Steps: 7pm-10pm
Gather at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake, Corner of Sunset Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles. Our reader Phillip Thomas writes: “There’s a little event planned on Saturday afternoon. By little, I mean people are flying, driving, coming by bus and train for this. I heard on tv this evening that organizers are estimating 20,000 marchers for this. I think everyone needs to take part in this. Even if just for an hour or so. Numbers matter, and I can’t think of anything that would be more memorable, historical, or significant that doing this on one Saturday evening. Forget the dinner, the mall, the bar, the movie, the relaxing night at home. If you have to work, call in or leave early. Add yourself to this crowd. Invite all of your friends, your coworkers, neighbors. Make a party out of it.”

Equality Action Now


 
Candlelight Vigil at the Town Clock

On Saturday, November 8, we will be holding a candlelight vigil at 7:00 at the Town Clock in Santa Cruz to stand together, acknowledge our loss, and comfort one another.

At 7:30, Rev. David Grishaw-Jones will lead those who can make the walk up the hill in a candlelight procession to the First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz on High Street.

At 8:00, faith communities around Santa Cruz will come together in an interfaith gathering to recommit ourselves to marriage equality and human rights at the First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz No on 8


 
Sunday, November 9

SACRAMENTO
Capitol West Steps: 1pm-4pm
Equality Action Now rally with speakers. Show up and be proud. Bring signs, wear protest shirts. People from SF will be showing up at the West Steps to show support with us.

Equality Action Now


 
SAN JOSE

Now What?
Join other members of the community
Grieve, talk, plan, kvetch
The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center
DATE: Sunday, Nov 9
TIME: 2 PM
LOCATION: DeFrank Center
938 The Alameda
San Jose, Ca 95128

Show up and raise your voices!



 

Mormons to Gays: Now That We’ve Stolen Your Rights, Can’t We All Be Friends?

Friday, November 7th, 2008

In a puerile display of condescending faux congeniality, LDS Elder Whitney Clayton :

…called Wednesday for members to heal rifts caused by the emotional campaign by treating each other with “civility, with respect and with love.”
“We hope that everyone would treat [each other] that way no matter which side of this issue they were on,”…

Civility and respect? NOW he calls for civility and respect?

Where was the civility and respect when his minions were spreading vicious lies about us (in TV ads paid for with more than $20 million in Mormon blood money) so as to eradicate our marriage rights? When they were using their personal blogs* to perpetuate ugly stereotypes and false claims, and using those as an excuse to deny us rights? When they were attempting to blackmail corporations that donated to No on 8? Now he’s calling for civility?

Here’s some civility for him. He can stick his Book of Moron up his backside. Sideways. In fact all of the Mormons who voted for Proposition 8 can do so.

 
*Sorry, Paula. If you saw all the hits coming from here or my wife’s site and thought deleting your hateful post would protect you from having your intolerance exposed to the world forget it. Here’s a lesson for you. Google Cache . Now for future reference don’t be posting anything you don’t want attached to you forever.

 

Get Them While They’re Hot!

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Click the shirts to see all colors and products.



 


 

Proposition 8 Results. It Looks Like Hate Is Winning.

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

While it’s true that all of the results aren’t in, it’s not looking good. As of this posting Proposition 8 is winning 53.2%-46.8% (25% of precincts reporting).

I’m too upset to write anything coherent right now. More later.

 

Yes on 8 Screaming About “Bigotry” Over New Ad.

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

The Yes on 8 camp is crying religious bigotry over the Courage Campaign ad that depicts Mormons raiding the home of a lesbian couple and tearing up their marriage license. Allegedly the ad is engaging in hideous levels of religious bigotry and intolerance.

The ProtectMarriage.com- Yes on 8 campaign today condemned as “bigoted and intolerant” a new ‘No on Proposition 8’ television commercial scheduled to run on TV stations tomorrow and demanded that No on 8 campaign leaders, including US Senator Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and California Schools Superintendent Jack O’Connell publicly denounce the ad and urge television stations to refuse to run it.

…..

“This ad reaches new lows of religious bigotry and intolerance,” said Yes on 8 Chairman Ron Prentice. “We hope that the leadership of the No on 8 campaign – including Senator Feinstein, Mayor Newsom and Superintendent O’Connell — as well as all Californians regardless of their position on Proposition 8, will not only condemn the ad but join us in asking television stations to refuse to air it. After all, the No on 8 campaign has been running their own television commercials saying we must all oppose discrimination and intolerance whenever we see it. The bigotry this ad shows to members of the LDS church demands action now.”

Echoing Prentice’s call, Yes on 8 Campaign Manager Frank Schubert tonight emailed Steve Smith, Campaign Manager for the No on Proposition 8 Campaign the following request:

“Steve – Below find a link to a deplorable No on 8 television commercial hitting the airwaves tomorrow. This commercial depicts faux Mormon Missionaries invading the home of a lesbian couple, ransacking the house in search of the couple’s marriage license, taking the couple’s wedding rings, etc. This is a blatant display of religious bigotry that has no place in political discourse. We urge Equality for All, Senator Feinstein, Superintendent O’Connell and the No on 8 Campaign to immediately denounce this commercial and join us in urging television stations to refuse to air it. After all, we must always oppose discrimination and intolerance whenever we see it.

FACT:Mormons have donated approximately 22 million dollars to the effort to eradicate marriage rights for same-sex couples.
FACT: If Proposition 8 passes, not only will future couples lose the right to marry, but the more than 11,000 couples who have already married may have their marriages invalidated.
FACT: Not one right of religious people will be eradicated if Proposition 8 fails, but many rights of same-sex couples will be eradicated if it passes.

So please, Yes on 8 supporters, tell me where the bigotry and intolerance toward religious people is in that ad. Or is it just that the ad so accurately depicts what you want to do to us that you can’t bear the thought of people seeing it?

Comments are open.

 

Mormons. What Will They Ban Next?

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

After they take away our right to marry what will they go after next? That’s the crucial question posed by this incredible video.

Think it’s not a problem because only those perverted gays are being targeted? Think again. Bigoted bullies don’t stop at just one victim. It may be you next time. Stop them now by voting NO on Proposition 8.