Proposing Discrimination

Before I get started… if you want to read a well thought out and eloquent piece on the subject of Proposition 8 (California, and really by extention also Proposition 2 in Florida), then by all means, go here and read Backpacking Dad’s take.  I most unfortunately find that I am often (and now is probably one of those times) that when something irritates me so, I am passionate, but far less well worded.  (See what I mean?  I have the thoughts… but getting them to sound right… not so much my forte in such situations).  It will not however keep me from expressing said thoughts though.

As suggested by Backpacking Dad’s article, I went to the About Page of Protect Marriage.  I don’t know why.  I guess like a car wreck, sometimes you just need to see just how bad something appears for yourself.  What can I say, I am glad in some ways that I live in NJ, because I would really like to smack somebody in the head right about now.  I mean seriously… People like this still exist and are functioning members of society?

In a way, I just don’t understand how this could possibly pass.  Do women not remember (metophorically of course) not being considered worthy to vote?  Do black people not remember (and how could they not since it is a battle that behind hushed breathes affects to some degree even our current Presidential election) how they had to fight to not be considered 3/5 of a white person?  Is it all that long ago that people forgot that a mixed marriage wouldn’t even be allowed in some churches?

Now, I realize that even though many of these prejudices have been “technically” overcome, that there are still those that believe women shouldn’t vote, that won’t hire or just plain people because of the color of their skin, and look down at mixed marriages.  I will even give some of them credit, because while they may certainly be sexist or racist… some of them are so stuck in their beliefs that they are proud of it.  They readily admit it.

But not the homophobes behind “protecting marriage.”  They try and cover up their discrimination in the most pathetic of ways.  They want to “protect the children.”  Yup, they want to protect the children from knowing that two men or two women can love each other.  Because, “that kind” of love is “evil.”  They want to hide the fact that gay people exist.  Why?  So they can continue to try and keep it underground.  They want people ashamed to be gay, so that they have no way of knowing that they are not alone.  They want to be free to discriminate agaist gay people at will.  They resent being (in their own words), “forced to tolerate gay lifestyles.”  Yup, that is right.  They have to be forced to tolerate it… because they are intolerant people looking to write discrimination directly into their state Constitutions.

Ladies (and gentlemen), could you imagine repealing the 19th Ammendment?  Heck, Ann Coulter thinks that is a good idea.  Find a few people that don’t want to have to “tolerate” African-Americans, and they can get the Civil Rights Act tossed.  Heck, find  a few segregationists together and who knows, maybe they could just repeal the 13th Ammendment and bring slavery back.  Sounds pretty stupid doesn’t it?  Then why the heck doesn’t it sound stupid to be trying to enact a law that would freely allow discrimination agaist somebody being gay?

Now, understand something, this isn’t only about the homophobes, and wing-nuts that try and make this a religious battle.  No, there is a quiet subversion from the corporate world here as well.  The lack of status in a gay relationships allows discrimination in healthcare, in benefits to employees, and more.  A business doesn’t have to cover a gay employees family with benefits, because it is “not recognized.”  Death benefits don’t have to be paid out, or pensions don’t have to be continued to the surviving spouse, because they don’t recognize a gay spouse.

But regardless of the reason for their agenda, what those voting yes on 8 are doing one thing… discriminating.  Something we should be long past in this country but aren’t.  These are hateful people that don’t want to have to “forced to tolerate” others, and who knows, these same people may wish to discriminate against you someday, because you do, say or just are something that they don’t want to have to “tolerate” any longer.

There isn’t a well reasoned excuse to support this.  Any well thought reasonable person can not come up with any valid reason to do anything but Say NO on Proposition 8 in California, Say NO on Proposition 2 in Florida.  For those that aren’t DIRECTLY affected (such as me), just understand that these games if sucessful in California and Florida will start popping up in your area also as other hateful people decide to take up the mantel.  So this needs to be beaten, and in a resounding way so that others don’t decide to try their luck with similar pieces of discrimination in their states.  So, if you don’t have a vote, please… encourage those that you may know that do… to do the right thing.  Vote NO to discrimination.