Prop. 8 - Sadness is quickly morphing into anger

[Politicub]

Equality for GLBT Americans has never been easy, and setbacks are to be expected. But what the Calif. Supreme Court has wrought today is beyond the pale. They have codified the notion that the mob can take away inalienable rights at the ballot box. Calif.'s judges had the chance to uphold equality, but instead handed down the chickenshit decision that placates no one.

It made me sad and disheartened, but that is quickly changing to being pissed. I'm pissed at the majority of Californians who voted for this abberation of a law; I'm pissed at the Calif. supreme court justices who lack a spine and moral sense to do the right thing; and I'm pissed at President Obama who could use the bully pulpit to advance GLBT equality but instead remains silent, letting his enemies use his words around marriage as a hammer to hit us over the head.

But above all, this decision only forments my resolve and goes to show nothing can be taken for granted. The fight goes on.

[gaspee]

1. Ya know

I live in New England but I lived in San Francisco for ten years before I moved back home. I feel like crying - I'm literally near tears - I had no idea this would affect me so much. I even prepared myself for it mentally (or at least I thought I did) and I still feel like crying.

They hate us and we all know it. We can feel it. We've felt it our entire lives. I like to pretend they don't hate us, but even the ones who preach "tolerance" hate us.

I am so not a cryer - but I can already feel it turning to anger. I almost wish I still lived in San Francisco so I could go to the protests.

[Politicub]

3. I hear you - I want to take to the streets

But I'm sitting here at my workplace in Georgia just typing away online. :( The challenge for me will be getting past the feeling of helplessness.

[Sequoia]

5. http://www.kron.com/

Intersections being blocked right now in San Francisco.

[Politicub]

8. Right on! Silence = Death

n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. I cry with you

not only for the poor folks in CA, but also for my gay and lesbian friends here in AR. Just got word of a gay friend who is seriously ill, on a helicopter to the hospital, and his partner was denied the right to go with him. THIS IS INHUMANE. Loving couples, no matter who they are, should have the right to be there to support each other in times of crisis.

[Cha]

2. Yes, the fight goes on..

and the next time this comes up may the majority be for equal justice for everyone in California. Seems like they'll be losing MONEY because of this.

[nichomachus]

4. Just a point of information

A "majority of Californians" did not vote for this. A majority of the registered voters who actually voted passed this hateful question. It was 30 percent of registered voters and a smaller percentage of total Californians, since not everyone is registered to vote.

That's important to remember. It was not a majority of all Californians. The other side keeps saying that -- and we need to keep saying it's not true.

[Politicub]

7. Oh silly me -- the majority of those who cared to vote that day voted for prop 8

Is that about right? So, that means the others that didn't vote couldn't be bothered to get off their ass and make it to the ballot box for their GLBT friends, neighbors, co-workers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, parents, etc. etc. etc.

That actually makes me even more pissed off. This whole thing could have been avoided if this "majority of fairness" you're talking about were to give a damn and vote.

[nichomachus]

11. Please don't get snarky

a lot of people don't vote for a lot of reasons -- and you're right, people didn't bother getting off their asses etc.

However, repeating the line that "a majority of Californians" voted for this, just solidifies the other side's argument that it was the "will of the people."

The ballot process is fatally flawed. The results on these ballot questions in no way represent the views of a "majority of Californians." Even in the case of Prop H8, people who voted for it, voted for it because they were lied to repeatedly by people they trusted. They thought that if they didn't vote for it, their churches would be sued, or their priests and ministers sued or arrested, and that kindergarten students would be taught about gay sex. That's what they were told.

Everything you said is correct -- however, I just want to fight the myth that this Prop represents the will of a "majority of Californians." They want people to believe that, because it gives the law more validity. And, it's just not true.

They managed to hoodwink a tiny minority of people into voting for it -- and that's the truth. And we need to keep repeating that. Tiny minority. Who were lied to. Who voted on false pretenses.

[Flying Dream Blues]

15. Thanks for clarifying, and you make an important point.

This isn't the "will of the people"!

[iamthebandfanman]

6. i would try to curb the anger

until atleast after the next vote on the subject ( which i understand is going to happen next year?)

hopefully voters will reverse what theyve done...



i really dont understand how the court can uphold a law that flys in the face of the consitution

[cboy4]

12. LOL. Curb the anger...yea, what's wrong with those silly fags

being angry about a civil right being stripped away by a popular vote of straight people, and upheld by a court stacked with Republicans.

OMFG

[Raster]

13. I hear that according to the CA Supreme Court, we are only 3/5th of a human being.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. This reminds me of the Dred Scott decision

and what it did for the cause of freedom for slaves. Folks went very quickly from sad to angry. Let us hope that this time the war that is fomented is one that is fought in the courts and ballot boxes and not on battlefields.

[Flying Dream Blues]

14. I was just going to post this hopeful sentiment, but you did it

better than I would have. I think this sickening turn of events will turn out to be the watershed moment when anger turns to resolve for many, many people.

We SHALL overcome!

{There should be a solidarity smilie!}

[anonymous171]

16. Good. Never sit down and never shut up. nt

[8 track mind]

17. I would like to say

that i was hoping you guys would get that nonsense overturned today. My heart goes out to all of you in CA.


But don't give up, get pissed and take to the streets. your day in the sun is gonna come!