My thoughts on Proposition 8

UPDATE [10.08.08]: C’mon California, you’re not even a renegade MAVERICK, CT just passed this bill, so you really have no excuse. (Thanks Bryce!)

A friend of mine wrote a recent blog entry about why we should vote Yes on Prop 8 (California Marriage Law).

Here is his original entry (please take the time to read this first as it is a great summary for the YES on 8 argument):
http://www.garrettmyler.com/2008/08/new-kind-of-family.html

Here was my response (which i wrote at like 4am):

Garrett-

I just came across this posting you made a while ago and after re-reading it, I felt compelled to respond. Please pardon some things as it is nearly 4am in NYC.

It seems your biggest issue with proposition 8 is you want what's best for the children, who doesn't? Whitney Houston even had a number 1 hit singing that the children "are our future." (See: "The Greatest Love of All"). Who doesn't agree with the fact the children learn gender roles from having a mother and father?

I'm taking issue with the fact that as of 2003, which is the most recent year I could dig up (but the figure has gone up about 3-4%/year http://www.laborlawtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6231), the divorce rate in CALIFORNIA was 76.19%. What about all those children learning to live with two separate parents, sometimes two separate families? What about all those children seeing their parents' marriage crumble? My question for you, WHAT DO CHILDREN WHO COME FROM DIVORCE GROW UP TO BECOME?

According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (NACCRRA), there are 1,229,119 single parent homes. These parents are widowed, abandoned, victims of domestic abuse, incarcerated spouses, adoptive, or simply by choice. In tonight's (10/7) presidential debate Senator Barack Obama stated that he was raised by his single mother. With the assistance of his mother's parents, Barack Obama, whether you like him or not, has grown to become the man he is today, perhaps the next President of the United States. In that same debate Senator John McCain revealed that he too was raised solely by his mother, his father (a four-star navy admiral) was abroad serving our country for much of McCain's formative years. Attending over 20 schools and without a steady father figure in his life John McCain, whether you like him or not, has grown to become the man he is today., perhaps the next President of the United States. My question for you, WHAT DO CHILDREN WHO COME FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOMES GROW UP TO BECOME?

According to the last US Census taken in 2004 (I apologize I couldn't find a figure for CA), there are nearly 3,000,000 children who are orphans in foster care. My question for you, WHAT DO CHILDREN WHO COME FROM FOSTER HOMES GROW UP TO BECOME?

Here are the names of some people who came from a "normal" family life:
O.J. Simpson
Scott Peterson
Elton John
Ronald Reagan
Hillary Clinton

What I'm trying to get across is that everyone has a different upbringing. Just because one grows up with one parent, two parents, step-parents, no parents, or gay parents does not necessarily shape their CHARACTER.

In response to your other claims. According to California Law it is required in health classes that marriage be taught as being between a man and a woman. When were we EVER taught in school that marriage was between a man and a woman? I cannot for the life of me remember. I even took my health in high school online through BYU and don't even remember that course stating that. Can anyone provide insight into this? When children are playing dress up in pre-school and they are having a "wedding" are the teachers LEGALLY obligated to instruct everyone that Joey can marry Nick, or Katie can marry Cindy, or Chris can marry Susan? That's LUDICROUS for any side of the argument to imagine.

When your parents and mine were married they had to go to the county clerk's office to get a MARRIAGE LICENSE, which legally allows them to marry in a ceremony presided by an official (judge, rabbi, priest, pastor, etc.) The churches and religious organizations have COMPLETE DISCRETION to whom they choose to marry (gay or straight). In the overturning of the previous amendment it is stated explicitly that "no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.” In fact, don't most churches require couples to meet and interview with their selected church's authority figure to deem if the couple is suitable to be married or not. They already have discretion over heterosexual couples that marry under their roof.

In regards, to that woman suing her doctor for not getting her pregnant because she's a lesbian. California laws prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This remains the same regardless of whether prop 8 passes or not. There is no basis for your claim, besides ignorance. In my opinion, if i was that doctor in this current economy, business is business.

My last point is about adopting and having children. If a gay couple wants to adopt, they go through an extensive and intensive process that all potential adoptive parents go through, to prove they they in fact are fit parents that will provide a healthy lifestyle and upbringing for a child. There are laws that require this. If a lesbian couple wants to get artificially inseminated they are also counselled by their gynecologist, etc. It is extremely expensive, so I think that we can both agree that a child born by in-vitro will be born in a financially safe environment.

I don't know about you, but I could never in a million years imagine the great depression part 2. I can't even fully grasp on to the the fact that a bank, let alone my bank (WaMu) can "fail". Our country is in so far over it's head, why do we honestly care who gets married? Love is universal. You love the same I love. You love the same way Ellen DeGeneres loves. You love the same way Thomas S. Monson, president of the Mormon church, loves. You love the same way your mother loves. That is one thing we all have in common, the ability to love someone else.

I completely respect your opinions and I am so happy with the fact that it inspired me to write this.

California is a state that is allowing Gay Marriage to happen RIGHT NOW. Is any of the things you've stated happening? What churches have lost their tax exemption? What churches are being sued? Where are there students learning that marriage is between a man and a woman? Where are there students being taught that marriage can be two men or two women?

Just one more little "perk" that voting NO on PROP 8 will do: pump over $700 million into the CA marriage industry and increase the state budgets revenue by over $65 million over the next 3 years. (http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/06/11/an-economic-boost-from-gay-marriage.html)

In this economy, every little penny helps.

Here's a great clip I found of Ellen DeGeneres on Jay Leno...I think Jay kinda puts it all into perspective.