Re: CA's Prop 8, equal rights and all that. Let's take the long look.

[pinto]

I went to a candlelight vigil, here in SLO County, CA tonight, to mark our loss on Prop 8.

While there was clear disappointment with the outcome, what struck me was the turnout of young gays and lesbians and straight allies. Teens and twenty somethings.

They said something we older folks, gay or straight, ought to consider - "Yeah, we lost this one. But it is going to happen, and we will help make it happen."

I think they're right.

This was a spur of the moment community gathering. I got up and spoke to recognize our local leaders for NoOn8, of course, to say that equality has always been a series of steps - sometimes forward, sometimes back - and to specifically thank the kids that will make the next steps for equality under the law for us all.

[tblue]

1. I'll do anything to help.

Straight but not narrow. You are all my brothers and sisters.

[bluedawg12]

11. Thank you tblue- solidarity matters

and yes, I saw the proud, good looking, young protesters on TV and I believe they will not tolerate the bigotry many of us grew up under.

[robinlynne]

2. Please wait till the votes are counted!!!!!!

Please don't accept the interpretation that we lost when there are millions of uncounted votes, and less than half a million vote margin!

That is what they want you to do.
Assume an outcome without counting the votes.

NO CNCESSION iwthout vote counting poeple.
All the earlyv otes, vote by mail, and provisionals have yet to be counted!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinto]

3. I agree. This was an event local organizers called. I felt I ought to show up, in support.

[robinlynne]

10. Why a re epople acting like the votes have been counted? collective insanity?

At colleges across LA thousands voted on rpovisional ballots. All th early voting, all the absentees remain uncounted. The democrats who relaly wnated to vote early. none of those votes are counted yet!!!!!!!!!!

[liberalmuse]

4. I think this may need to be won in the courts.

No more propositions. Human rights should never be taken away because of a petition, and I don't ever want to see fundie/church money from all over the country put behind something like this again. It's wrong and it should be illegal for special interests and people with misguided agendas to horn in on something as personal as civil rights and marriage between two consenting adults.

[whoneedstickets]

5. Exactly, the stories about prop 8 and black voters....

..point out how the African American turnout may have helped prop 8, but its a double edged sword because the federal court system is about to become WAY more liberal. The end result may be an equal protection ruling that eclipses these stupid state propositions once and for all. That permanent ruling would be a way better outcome than a temporary defeat of the culture warriors. One step backward, for two forward? Let's hope.

[pinto]

7. I think you're partly right. Changing the state constitution by a simple majority vote

is bad precedent. The demographics of how it happened is secondary, imho.

[pinto]

6. Precisely.

:thumbsup:

[bluedawg12]

12. No kidding, imagine some @ss hole telling

me that my life, who I am is a choice, a choice against Amerika, that I and my life are immoral and a danger to this nation ( as per fundy puke I talked to).

These @ss holes voted against my life- my intrinsic nature- who I am. They should never have such power for tyranny.

Who are these people to negate me? They were given the power for a flicker in history by bigots who placed this Prop-hate-8 on the ballot--they had their shining moment to do the right thing and they failed. They voted for bigotry.

Bigotry should not be a voter initiative!

[Jamastiene]

8. Thanks to the kids.

...and a child shall lead them.

[pinto]

9. That's it.

:hi: