I am so ashamed of my state, please accept my apology.

[Hepburn]

I live in California and I am totally mortified that Prop 8 passed. Please understand that there are a lot of straight people like me in California who were totally against Prop 8. I wish to hell that everyone was equal. Loving someone and wanting to make a legal and binding relationship to nurture and respect that love is a good thing. I am mortified that there are people in my state who voted against love and commitment!

:cry:

I just had to tell everyone how badly I feel about this and how shocking and unfair I think people acted in regard to the civil rights of others.

[hisownpetard]

1. My son lives in L.A. and feels the same way you do. He's been out protesting Prop 8 every night

along with thousands of others.

I'm still shocked about the outcome. Let's hope it gets reversed!

[Hepburn]

3. But for my very bum left knee, I would have been at the Mormon Temple in West LA.

It is and was soooooo wrong of them to stick their righteous noses into local politics.

[hisownpetard]

5. Well, don't feel guilty. You're not responsible for the behavior of others - but I understand your

desire to state how bad you feel about the issue.

I think we all do.

[Hepburn]

7. Thank you....

...and you are right ~~ I feel horrible about this.

[Maat]

17. Out here in SoCal!

Campaigned and campaigned against it BEFORE the election.

Have protested since .... and donated to the legal orgs. - please see my sig. line.

We have to keep expressing the outrage (legally, of course)!

In Solidarity,

[atreides1]

2. It's not your fault

Let's put the blame where it belongs, on a group of narrow minded idiots who are more religious then they are American.

They do not believe in equal rights for all American citizens, and use their bigoted religious beliefs to deny rights to any who don't fit the mold that they've created.

So, you have no need to apologize for a bunch of religious fanatics who are American in name only.

Peace

[Hepburn]

4. I am sorry for the hurt that this has caused so many loving couples...

...thanks for letting me know how you feel and that I have no personal blame. I wish there was more I could have done to defeat that POS. I am still very upset with the voters of my state from being a bunch of bigots to a select portion of our community.

It simply is WRONG what Prop 8 was designed to do and what it has done.

[hisownpetard]

6. In fact, two of our friends were married just 3 days before Prop.8 was passed.

Does this render their marriage invalid? Or is it not retroactive?

[Hepburn]

10. Not sure....

...as to "regular" laws in Calif, only if the newly enacted law states that it is "retroactive," does it apply in that manner.

However, on a Cal Const Amendment ~~ not sure. I don't think it could render a previously legal act illegal (civil and not criminal meaning here). While I am a retired CA lawyer, the Cal Const is something about which I have very little expertise...if any at all.

[bluedawg12]

8. Thank you for your kind words

you are always welcome here and support from fair minded people is always appreciated.

[Hepburn]

12. You are welcome and I hope there is more I can do to help...

...set things right! :hi:

[ronnykmarshall]

9. You're on the side of the good ones.

You don't need to apologize.

[Hepburn]

11. Thank you....

...the passsage of Prop 8 has made me just cry my eyes out for my gay, lesbian, bi and trans brothers and sisters who live here.

:loveya: <-------Love ya, Ronnie! You are by far one of the nicest people on the DU!

[jonnyblitz]

13. Big hugs for Hepburn!

:hug: :hi:

[CTyankee]

14. Well, I know what you are going through. I felt the same way after Lieberman won,

even tho I was a Lamont volunteer and we all tried VERY hard.

There are still some DUers really mad at CT cuz of the Joe thing.

But maybe the Prop 8 vote will shock people enough to get them shamed into moving on this issue. Sometimes that's what it takes, a real kick in the pants (and not to gays but to all the complacent straights out there).

My condolences. I know you are not part of the problem...

[jonnyblitz]

15. ME, too, CTYankee,

who in HELL voted for him here in this supposed BLUE state? I know of no Democrat who did but who I know is only anecdotal. His winning that election in 2006 ruined any good that came out of the election cycle that year for me, like this Prop 8 and the other anti-gay stuff that passed has ruined this one.

[CTyankee]

16. I did quite a bit of phoning for Lamont at his hq and because I called in the afternoon

I got the seniors list (all Dems). First of all, they knew Joe and many really hadn't heard that much about Lamont. He never really got a strong foothold, despite all his tv ads. Many didn't get it that Joe LOST the nomination of the Dem party and that Ned was the official Dem candidate. Of course, it didn't help that Joe kept characterizing himself as an "independent Democrat" which still makes me crazy when I hear it!

Second, Ned was ahead of his time. It's hard to tell now without actually speaking to these people, but I think the feeling has changed with many CT Dems who were fooled into voting for Joe. I think they now see the error in their ways and are sorry they voted for him. But that's just my 2 cents...

[Maat]

18. That whole situation was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen ...

I'm grateful that you tried.

I believe that we should hold Lieberman responsible for his actions - better late than never; although, I do wish that Reid would grow a spine.

We will continue to work hard on this constitutional crisis in California (for that's exactly what it is). When people can spare some change, please look up, and donate to, the organizations in my sig-line.

In Solidarity,

[jonnyblitz]

19. if only that asshole just graciously conceded defeat when

Lamont WON the DEM nomination instead of staying and running as an Independent. the CT GOP didn't even campaign for the GOP candidate, i don't even remember his name, they campaigned for Joe. pissed me OFF.

[Maat]

20. It was a truly outrageous situation.

Maybe we have learned something, and maybe we can prevent it from happening again.

[racaulk]

21. ((((Hepburn))))

Your apology is not necessary, but thank you for your kind words. We need all of the straight allies we can get to fight this fight, and I'm glad you're on the side of equality. Thank you!

:pals:

[NMMNG]

22. Don't beat yourself up

My wife and I live here too and though we were prepared for Prop 8 to pass we had at least hoped it wouldn't. Sadly the campaign of lies and bigot $$$ won out. Now all we can do is try to get it overturned and raise our voices in protest.

[byronius]

23. Right there, Nobody I know voted for this, or I would have flayed them.

Dammit.

[yardwork]

24. No. If you apologize for your state, how in the world can I ever apologize enough for mine?

Do you have any idea how backwards North Carolina is in the area of gay rights???

If people from California are apologizing, what are the rest of us going to do? Rend our clothes?