I never really liked that law, because it brought to mind too much of the crap African-Americans had to endure, during the 40's and 50's. Back then, black people were told that they had no right to do practically anything, in the same zip code, with a white person, and very often, the "equal" facilities provided for them, were substantially sub-standard. In fact, I'd bet real money that a good portion of the arguments, now being used against the idea of same-sex marriages, were used back in the 40's and 50's, against black people in general, and the idea of inter-racial marriage in particular.

And before anyone screams that I'm biased, because I'm gay, here's a news flash for you: Chris is, I'm not. Please don't mix fantasy, with reality. The truth is, I don't know my own sexual orientation, RL. Aside from some minor flirting, in over ten years, I've never had a single date, let alone actually had the honor of sleeping with someone. I simply disliked Proposition 8 from the start, because it set up the kind of "separate but equal" crap, that we've literally been though, before. And history has taught us, that it doesn't work!

I hated prop 8, myself. I don't know how much you know about it, because it was a California proposition and typically out-of-staters don't get a lot of information about local propositions and you guys certain don't see the commercials. The proposition was very simple, it just put in the state constitution that "marriage is between a man and a woman". That was it, no "civil unions" no nothing. I believe the proposition was made because earlier that year (2008), gay marriage had been ruled legal in California and the anti-gay marriage people hated that. Proponents of the proposition didn't think the proposed law was enough so they launched a huge campaign (funded almost entirely by the Church of Latter-Day Saints and other Christian churches) consisting of many many many commercials talking about how the gays are trying to destroy traditional marriage, that they'd teach gay marriage in schools, and for the love of god think of the children! The commercials aired constantly and they were disgustingly biased and incredibly incorrect, but average joes started freaking out and thus supported the proposition due to the scare tactics. Not to mention the information surrounding the proposition was very clouded, it was considered the "gay marriage bill" but voting yes on it bans gay marriage, thus confusing some people into accidentally banning gay marriage when they meant to support it (this actually was an issue). So yeah, it was a very very bad proposition for many reasons.

I agree, the proposition does remind one of other restrictive laws on minorities. The arguments used against it are very similar to the old arguments, all stuff about how it ruins straight marriage (or "white marriage"). By basically placing the majority as being superior to the minorities and thus not worthy of the same rights. The argument is always how it degrades "traditional marriage" just by virtue of the fact that they say it does even though there's no logical reason to believe that.
I can't remember who said it, but I remember it being said (in reference to prop 8) that there's something wrong about a majority voting on something that only affects the minority, and I have to agree, there's just something funny about that.

I don't think being gay would make one bias, and who cares if it did? There's nothing wrong with someone wanting to be treated equal and given the opportunities other people have to marry someone they love.

Shoot, I miss-replied, Artie, sorry about that. It's meant to be in reply to what you wrote.

What really makes me laugh myself sick is how utterly hypocritical these groups are. So called "traditional marriage" went completely down the toilet, a long time ago. Not quickie marriages in Las Vegas, the way some Hollywood stars fall in and out of marriage, faster than rabbits can make love, and the fact that a messy, screaming, acrimonious divorce is now so common, it's a staple of most of the more serious crime oriented shows on TV. And this is what we're supposed to be defending against the Gay and Lesbian menace?

That always amused me too. I used to have many many arguments with a guy at an old forum I used to frequent (a Land Before Time forum, of all things) about gay rights and such and the state of marriage today was always one of my arguments. Naturally, he always neglected to respond to those points.

Here's the problem: people who are anti-gay rights view homosexuality as a sexual issue, not a gender and identity issue, which is what it is. This is an especially big issue because people are very repressed in our society (it doesn't look it but we really are) and thus homosexuals are a threat by virtue of that fact, because people cannot get past the sex aspect. My aunt, who is incredibly hardcore Christian, would always bring up how disgusting anal sex (which isn't specifically "gay" sex anyway, since straight people can and do do it too) whenever someone mentioned something about gay people. It always struck me as odd that the first thing she thought of was gay sex. I doubt the first thing she thinks of when she hears of a straight couple is their sex life, so why should a homosexual couple be any different? It shouldn't. Sex in other people's lives is none of our business (so long as its consensual), just as sex in your life is none of theirs. Further, homosexuality isn't even about sex, its about identity. A lot of people don't realize that, they don't realize that its part of who someone is, not something they want to do. It's just sad, is what it is.

On the bright side, each generation is typically more tolerant than the last. Religious folks tend to be the most conservative but if you've heard or spoken to any younger church-goers a LOT of them question the anti-gay sentiment of their church against god's decree to love all. My cousin, for instance, is in training to be a pastor and he is incredibly ashamed of his religion for treating people poorly (in fact, it was through him I learned that Prop 8 was overturned). It seems to mark a hopefully positive trend of more tolerant and accepting people. Of course that does beg the question who this coming generation is going to be discriminating against is a decade or two...