California Poll Shows Majority Oppose Prop 8 to Eliminate Same Sex Marriage Rights and Props 4 on Parental Notification and 11 on Redistricting Are Under 50% Support

Once again, as Californians, we find our lives being affected by a ridiculously liberal decision of the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, this is not a decision having to do with illegal aliens or car insurance; it is about the institution of marriage. This question up for debate is not about Gay couples in love. If that were really the focus, this proposition would not even be on the ballot. Most Californians, to include Christians respect the rights of people to live the lifestyle they choose as long as it does not affect them. Californians have tolerated Gay lifestyle even to the point of not blocking efforts to give homosexuals the same rights. What the Gay activists are not stating in their arguments is the fact that California's laws, already provide legal rights to gay couples that are provided to traditional married people. The California Supreme Court's ruling regurgitated another flawed perspective, but this time on same-sex marriage, and it that defies all logic and judicial prudence.
The court, totally disregarding the will of the people moved same-sex marriage to a protected class. So what does that mean to you? Well, I am not an attorney but based on what I have witnessed in history, it means that if you oppose homosexuality on moral or religious grounds and teach your children that homosexuality is a sin, it will hurt their feelings and somehow interfere with the rights of same-sex couples, and guess what? I do not have to tell you how skewed the Supreme Court is in this state, it surely does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how the court will respond. Invariably those Judges who are full of misplaced compassion will side with same-sex couples because of their protected class status. As Californians, we have already become a silent majority because expressing a view in opposition to same-sex marriage often exposes people to personal attacks, exclusion, and even threats of loss of employment for standing for what they believe about marriage. Try working at Disneyland, Google, or PG&E and express openly your views on traditional marriage, and see how popular you become. So, the question many of you are asking yourselves is; how did we get here, who is to blame? The answer…We all are to blame!
Our spirit to stand up for what is right has been eroded by political correctness and fears that as a people we might be accused of being thought of as intolerant or branded bigots. Over the years, we have stood by and allowed the Courts and legislature to pass laws that are contributing to the decay of our culture established by our Forefathers, and is creating a society of self-indulgent individuals that care nothing for the laws of decency and the real freedoms our Country represents.
Amazingly, the proponents of this new society have accomplished this by perverting the meaning of these freedoms to include the acceptance of unnatural and deviant sexual behavior and they have done it all in the name of the Constitution of the United States. I can hear you screaming at your computer screen now, I was trying to be tolerant, and certainly, nothing could be wrong with protecting the so-called rights of a fellow Human Being, could it?
As Americans, we thought we were removing the Government from our bedrooms but unfortunately, that is not where it stopped. Gays with a newfound sense of freedom and acceptance could not leave well enough alone, they had to rub our heterosexual noses in their lifestyle and take what should have stayed in the bedroom to the streets. It was not good enough for them that we were tolerating something that deep down most of us felt was disgusting and corruptive behavior. They demanded that we accepted homosexuality as normal and even teach our children it was ok to be Gay. We now see the consequences of tolerating something that should have never have been tolerated in the first place. This is a perfect example of “giving an inch and losing a mile”.
Probably the most disturbing consequence to allowing this madness to continue is what will happen to our children and grand children. California law provides for the teaching of children about marriage. If you do not know this, ask a teacher. Under the current ruling, our children would have to sit in class and be taught that there is no distinction between same-sex marriage and traditional marriage. Furthermore, it would be discriminatory to view the two marriages in any other way but the same.
Ask yourself, would you as a parent have the right to teach your own child the true meaning of marriage? You already know the answer to that question. This is exactly the case in Massachusetts, just ask the Parker family, the Father was arrested for trying to teach his son’s the true meaning of marriage and refusing to allow them to attend school when homosexuality was being taught. I am not just pulling this stuff out of thin air here folks, do your own research. Another such instance was a teacher taught a second-grade class using a book, which told the story of a prince marrying another prince. Is this the kind of stories you want your children to learn? This is indoctrination and propaganda in its worst form. I can only imagine that all the dead communists and socialists in history are probably celebrating because of the tactics being used in this battle are the same if not worse and would even amuse Mussolini.
I read a column by a Catholic Bishop yesterday and he profoundly outlined all the pitfalls for condoning same-sex marriage and homosexuality. I am not Catholic but l was appalled at reading the mean and hateful comments to his expression of ideas from the Gay side of the issue. This is disturbing to think that rather than debate the question these people must resort to slinging mud. It reminds me of a small child that does not get his or her way.
Nevertheless, upon closer investigation of the claims made by Gay lifestyle promoters it seems clear now that they are not aware of what is happening even in their own movement. It is already becoming a hate crime in Massachusetts, for voicing opinions against homosexuality. The Gay and Lesbian blogs are full of denials that they would ever file lawsuits against Churches or demand that schools teach homosexuality; this is just not true. The message that the Bishop is talking about is becoming fact in both states that allow Homosexuals to marry and if you dig even further you will discover that freedom of speech in some European countries is non-existent when it comes to Homosexual issues.
It appears our Gay friends think that tolerance is a door that swings only one way, and it must be in their direction. The fact of the matter is this, tolerance does not mean acceptance. For that to take place, all Christians would have to accept homosexuality as normal and you might as well ask them to condone abortions. I know a number of Catholics, I know Lutherans, Baptists, Born Again’s, and even a few Mormons, and they will always believe homosexuality is abnormal behavior until kingdom come. Nevertheless, they have always accepted the fact that people make choices and have the freedom to do so with their lives every day. They will even love those people that make the wrong choices, as did Jesus Christ but, to demand that they become advocates of those choices, it just will not happen.
Gays have all the legal rights that a traditional married couple have in this State; no one is going to take them away. Moreover, they do not deserve to elevate their choice of such behavior to a protected class, no more than any other individual or group that makes choices. If we as Christians must be tolerant of Gay lifestyle, then they must be tolerant of ours.

You lost me at the beginning. How you can call a decision written by a thoughtful Republican Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, appointed by a Republican Governor, a "ridiculously liberal opinion" is beyond me.

I doubt you have read the decision and how it rests on California law going back decades and relies on prior court cases that most Californians take for granted.

I'm at a loss as to how same-sex marriage actually affects your so-called definition of 'traditional' marriage. Just because a majority of people oppose it doesn't make it wrong or immoral. If you look at history, a majority of people were against the abolition of slavery - and we all know that slavery is wrong. It took government action (and a war) to correct the 'will of the people' to free slaves.

We as gay couples are not asking for protected status. We are asking to be treated in the same manner and have the same privileges as heterosexuals (yes, marriage is a privilege, not a right).

I agree with Frank. It's obvious to me that you've not even read the decision handed down from the California Supreme Court - and you feel qualified to comment on it? How so?

We same-sex couples have been tolerant of your Christian 'lifestyles'. We have put up with your picketing, your bashing, your homophobia, all in the name of what you call 'Christianity'. Judge not lest ye be judged, sir.

The fact of the matter is, same-sex marriage doesn't affect heterosexual marriage in the slightest, except in your own heads. When asked how same-sex marriage affects you, you cannot come up with a response. It simply doesn't affect you. Voting to amend the state's constitution to void same-sex marriage is taking away rights guaranteed to same-sex couples through the U.S. Constitution, in the form of oppressing homosexual rights to life, liberty and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

One last point: I'm appalled at those who are against same-sex marriage but be in favor of divorce. Opponents of same-sex marriage claim that same-sex marriage is a violation of the sanctity of the institution of marriage. How can heterosexual couples (especially those who are divorced) claim to hold the institution of marriage sacred when they themselves don't hold it sacred themselves? Practice what you preach, hypocrites!

My questions still stands, sir. How does same-sex marriage affect YOUR heterosexual marriage? I'm still waiting for an opponent of same-sex marriage to respond to this question with a response other than, "It just does...".

Wow Clayton, I'm amazed at how someone can be as ignorant as you seem to be, but still be capable of constructing such a verbose comment. It's a pity you've channeled all that effort towards such a divisive and non-constructive end. Let's enumerate all the flawed points you make:

>Californians have tolerated Gay lifestyle even to the point of not blocking efforts to give homosexuals the same rights.

So if we're going to show our "tolerance" of the gay lifestyle by allowing homosexual couples to have the same rights as everyone else, then doesn't it logically follow that we must extend to them the same right to get married that non-homosexual couples enjoy? I mean, by your own definition of tolerance, refusing them that right would be intolerant, and you're certainly not in favor of institutionalizing intolerance into our state Constitution, are you?

>What the Gay activists are not stating in their arguments is the fact that California's laws, already provide legal rights to gay couples that are provided to traditional married people.

No, they really don't. There are a number of areas where the existing domestic partnership laws fall short, even within the state of California. Furthermore, other states are under no obligation to honor a domestic partnership formed in California, while a marriage is something that is recognized as being valid in all 50 states, regardless of where it was performed, and with no ambiguity with respect to what rights it confers between the married parties. So your argument that existing domestic partnerships for gay couples are equivalent to marriage falls flat on its face.

>The court, totally disregarding the will of the people

Guess what, it's not the court's job to respect the "will of the people", it's the court's job to ensure that the laws are enforced, that justice is served for all people, and that an unpopular group is not denied its due protections under the law simply because it is unpopular. There's a reason why our country (and our state) is not set up as a direct democracy, where the will of the people always rules, and that's because of something known as the "tyranny of the majority". I'm not going to explain the concept in detail, but I suggest you go study up on it before you start criticizing the courts for doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Suffice to say, the tyranny of the majority is why we have a judicial system in the first place, and why it is given specific power to nullify laws created by elected representatives in the legislature, and I'm glad the founding fathers had enough foresight to recognize the need for such a system. Otherwise we'd all still be living in a segregated society where black existed seperately from white, because it was majority opinion at the time that that was how it should be. It wasn't until the courts went against the majority opinion and struck down segregation laws that the opinion started to shift over to where it is today. It's the court's job to ignore popular opinion when popular opinion is wrong, and your assertion to the contrary is just flat out moronic.

> Well, I am not an attorney but based on what I have witnessed in history, it means that if you oppose homosexuality on moral or religious grounds and teach your children that homosexuality is a sin, it will hurt their feelings and somehow interfere with the rights of same-sex couples, and guess what? I do not have to tell you how skewed the Supreme Court is in this state, it surely does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how the court will respond. Invariably those Judges who are full of misplaced compassion will side with same-sex couples

Side with the same-sex couples in what, now? Nobody is saying that you indoctrinate your kids with whatever ignorant, backwards ideas you want. Just like you can still raise them into the KKK if you so choose. The fact that the court recognizes that a group deserves equal protection under the law doesn't mean everyone is required to feel the same way, or that nobody can discriminate against them. It just means that the institutional government will not discriminate against them. Of course, it's a shame if you feel compelled to force your own ignorance upon your children, but that remains your right in any case, and allowing same-sex marriage does nothing to affect it.

>. As Californians, we have already become a silent majority because expressing a view in opposition to same-sex marriage often exposes people to personal attacks, exclusion, and even threats of loss of employment for standing for what they believe about marriage.

Good. The workplace is not the place for such grandstanding anyways, and regardless, in case you haven't noticed, the point of view you're endorsing is really not at all different from racism. You're saying "these people are different, they disgust me, and they are entitled to less than other people because of it". And yes, if you go around publicly spouting such nonsense, you deserve to be chastized, excluded, and kicked to the curb for peddling racism and division to whomever you can get to listen.

>Over the years, we have stood by and allowed the Courts and legislature to pass laws that are contributing to the decay of our culture

Um...no. The courts don't pass laws. And as for the legislature, well guess what again, they're elected representatives. You don't like what they're doing, then vote for someone else to represent you. And if someone you didn't vote for gets elected, and starts doing things that you don't approve of, that just means that *your* views are the ones that are out of touch with the majority.

> creating a society of self-indulgent individuals that care nothing for the laws of decency and the real freedoms our Country represents.

Okay, now you're just being absurd. How does allowing gay marriage create "a society of self-indulgent individuals that care nothing for the laws of decency"? And since when is "the freedom of gay people to not get married" an example of "one of the real freedoms our country represents"?

>Amazingly, the proponents of this new society have accomplished this by perverting the meaning of these freedoms to include the acceptance of unnatural and deviant sexual behavior

You know, just because you're a raging prude doesn't mean that the rest of us have to be. Anything any number of consenting adults choose to do sexually ought to be legal. If there are some sexual things that you find to be "unnatural" and "deviant", then don't participate in those things. But don't go trying to force everyone to adhere to your sexual standards. Nobody has any right to force you to do anything sexually that you don't want to, and you shouldn't have any right to be preventing people from doing anything sexually that they do want to do. Or to put it simply, you stay out of other people's sex lives, and they'll stay out of yours.

> Under the current ruling, our children would have to sit in class and be taught that there is no distinction between same-sex marriage and traditional marriage. Furthermore, it would be discriminatory to view the two marriages in any other way but the same.

Sounds fine to me. You'd rather teach them that only straight marriages count? Or maybe we should go back to teaching them that the only valid marriage is between two people of the opposite sex and the same race, and that bi-racial marriages are wrong, too?

What's your concern, really? That kids hearing that gay marriage is acceptable will cause more of them to "go gay"? Beiong gay isn't a choice any more than being straight is. And if you seriously believe that you're straight because you chose to be, then I suggest that you have deep personal issues that you need to get sorted out before you can have any sort of coherent opinion on gay marriage.

>Ask yourself, would you as a parent have the right to teach your own child the true meaning of marriage?

What the fuck are you even talking about? "True meaning of marriage"? What is that even supposed to mean? All we're talking about here is the state's definition of marriage. Nobody has to accept that definition as absolute truth, and nobody is prohibited from believing in alternate definitions. Christian churches do not have to start performing gay ceremonies, nor does any other non-state-affiliated organization that doesn't believe in gay marriage. The only thing we're talking about here is allowing the state's definition of marriage to treat all couples equally, regardless of their sexual orientation. Anyone not affiliated with the state remains free to use whatever definition they want.

To wit, there is no "true" definition of marriage. There are just multiple possible definitions, any of which a given individual or entity might choose to endorse. Your problem seems to be that you've decided that the definition you chose should be the only definition in use. And that just further belies your ignorance.

>This is indoctrination and propaganda in its worst form.

It is? And you indoctrinating your kids with whatever arbitrary crap you happen to feel like is somehow better?

>For that to take place, all Christians would have to accept homosexuality as normal and you might as well ask them to condone abortions.

Please do both of those. The sooner you do, the sooner we can have a functioning society.

Seriously though, nobody is saying that you have to accept or condone anything. The only thing that's being said is that the STATE should not be discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, even with respect to the right to get married. You and your Christian friends are still entirely entitled to view homosexuality as immoral, unacceptable, unnatural, or whatever else you want to call it. The only difference is that the state will not perpetuate such ignorance.

>They will even love those people that make the wrong choices, as did Jesus Christ but, to demand that they become advocates of those choices, it just will not happen.

See above. Nobody is demanding that anybody become an advocate for anything. They are demanding equal treatment by the STATE. Why are you so unable to get that through your head? You are free and welcome to continue being as tolerant/intolerant as you want, the only thing that changes is the official opinion expressed by the state.

>Gays have all the legal rights that a traditional married couple have in this State; no one is going to take them away.

I already refuted this. See above.

> Moreover, they do not deserve to elevate their choice of such behavior to a protected class, no more than any other individual or group that makes choices.

They're not asking for any kind of elevation. They just want equality under the law. The same equality under the law that is guaranteed to them. Further, I've already commented on your "choice" allegation. See above.

>If we as Christians must be tolerant of Gay lifestyle, then they must be tolerant of ours.

Speak for yourself with that "we as Christians" crap. The government is not a Christian government, it is a secular government. So what you as a Christian may feel is to have absolutely nothing to do with the positions or policies of the government of California. Again, the founding fathers were wise to set up a government explicitly intended to be seperate from religious concerns.

Furthermore, how are gay people being intolerant of your lifestyle by having the state grant them equal rights to marriage? They're not stopping you from doing anything, they're not taking away any of your rights. Unlike you, who seems to feel that it's okay to take away their rights and call it "tolerance".

In closing, your ignorance is appalling.

And I'm straight by the way. And I'm proud to say that I will be voting NO on prop 8.

i'm really glad that prop 8 has a chance of being shut down.
everyone deserves equal rights. i mean, people who can't get married lose 1,138 rights. plus, their kids only get half of the rights that the children of straight couples get. they didn't do anything wrong. people don't realize that by punishing one group, they inevitably harm another.

plus, marriage is good for the economy and could help us in this time of crisis. marriage costs money. the more people who get married, the more our economy is stimulated.

so, all in all, vote no on prop 8 :]

IS SO SAD HOW YOU POPLE WANT TO PASS A PROPOSITION THAT WONT AFFECT YOU! YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS USE THE BIBLE TO JUDGE OR TO FIND PASSAGES THAT BENEFITS YOU. HAVE YOU READ THE PART WERE ITS STATES ( DONT USE MY NAME TO CONDEMN?) NO HU? IT SEEMS PEOPLE ALWAYS USE THE BIBLE TO ITS BENEFITS . FIRST OF ALL GOD DOES NOT WHAT YOU TO USE HIS NAME FOR PREJUDICE LET HIM JUDGE NOT YOU! LETTING GAYS GET MARRIED WONT AFFECT YOUR LIFE AND PASSING THIS PROP WILL AFFECT THE AFFECTED .RIGHTS AND FROM BENEFITS AT WORK OR MAYBE ONE THE THE MARRIED COUPLES THAT ADOPTED A CHILD THAT WAS DUMPT FROM ONE YOU STRAIGHT PEEPS.

PROPOSITION 8 TO DEFEND MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN A WOMAN RIGHT?

1.WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DEFENDING? THAT 1 OUT OF EVERY 2 STRAIGHT MARRIAGES ENDS UP IN DIVORSE?

2.THAT HALF OF YOU PEOPLE COMMIT ABORTION BECAUSE IT WAS A OPPPS??


BEFORE YOU GUYS WANT TO DEFEND YOUR MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN A WOMAN WHY DONT YOU PEOPLE WORK ON MAKING MARRIAGE WORK?
YOU PEOPLE ARE THE ONES MAKING MARRIAGE LOOK BAD!

Why is it that certain people continue to muddle together two very separate issues: church and state? The issue here is one of civil rights: gay marriage, not gay holy matrimony. The difference between the two is immense and obvious. Hopefully, one day we will live in a society where homosexuals can have their marriages acknowledged by their respective religions if they so desire, but for now, that is not the issue. The issue is should homosexuals be allowed to marry. Not in a church. Married just like those heterosexuals who are married by the state and not by God. Jesus himself said, 'Leave to Caesar what is Caesar's and leave to God what is God's.' I don't understand why people continue to refuse to acknowledge the difference between the constitutional right of marriage and the sacrament of holy matrimony. The two are black and white. Completely different. Hopefully there are enough of those who are capable of realizing the difference and put that realization to work. Let's keep California the progressive, open-minded place that true Californians acknowledge and are proud of.

Thank You to some of the others for reminding everyone that one of the most important ideals this country is supposed to hold dear is the SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Whether your religion agrees with gay marriage or not is irrelevant! It is a civil rights issue. Every state recognizes the commitment of two individuals to build a life together, and that should NOT be denied to anyone based on any religion's view of what marriage should be. I pray that Californians are smart enough to realize that on this election day. The fact that people are trying to use the Constitution of this great State to discriminate against others is disgusting to me. Letting the State recognize gay marriage DOES NOT AFFECT HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE IN THE LEAST, AND TO SAY OTHERWISE IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!! And since when is marriage "taught" in schools, I certainly don't remember "learning" marriage in school. In what textbook and in what class is that the curriculum??? Not one of the Yes on 8 arguments holds any water whatsoever. Some people are just so full of judgment and hatred and arrogance that they think they have the right to declare other people second-class citizens and take away their rights! If you look back in history, that's exactly what happened with Jews in Germany before the Holocaust. It makes me sick that we as humans can't learn more from the past. State-sanctioned discrimination is dangerous and unacceptable. Gay people are not trying to make themselves a "protected class." Having the same rights as everyone else doesn't mean they are a "protected class." It means they are equal tax-paying citizens, and their relationship is for no one else to pass judgment on! And similar to what someone else on here already said, there is absolutely nothing that any gay couple could do to defile the institution of marriage any more than heteros have defiled it.

Hey clayton I hear you, you sound scared, I as a christian woman looked into it further and found that this will have no impact on our lifes at all, except that more californians will be given the same rights under the law. Im proud of my religion and I will be sure to vote NO on proposition 8 to ensure that every one has the same rights as I have to live a life that is right for them.
Please vote NO on Prop 8 thank you,
Kate

I am embarassed to live in a state that is trying to deny citizens a certain right. I am embarassed to live in a country who talks so strongly about helping people in the world get civil liberties, while voting to abolish some of their own citizens. It is sickening. Nowhere in the proposition does it even address how this will be approahced in schools, yet all the ads calling for a yes vote focus on this sole fact. They talk about the class in San Fran who attended their teachers lesbian wedding...yet they seem ot find it unnecessary to address the fact that the parents of every student in that class wanted it to show their children about acceptance. A yes vote supports discrimination. Do what you want.

I'm not a Californian, nor am I gay or bisexual. However, I'm watching this vote closely. It speaks to two large issues facing our society: attempts at Theocracy and attempts to give the majority the right to grant or deny fundamental rights.

Church and State are separate, meant to be, and society best functions when they are. I have no desire to have my theology dictated to me by the State, and the same can be said of morals based upon a particular theology. Let us be clear that Christian, or even Abrahamic, theology isn't the only theology available. Not even all people who believe in Abrahamic theology agree with these morals. This goes to my right to freedom of religion. I have the right to disagree and not follow your religion, and your freedom of religion does NOT include freedom to force me to follow the tenants of your religion, even through legislation.

Secondly, fundamental human rights have never been subject to legislation by the majority. That is, it has never (in principle) been up to the majority to give or deny any right. This is why rights are expressly laid out in the Consitution (specifically the Bill of Rights), and all rights not expressly granted to the Federal government are reserved for the States or to individuals. The question of marriage as a fundamental right was settled by the Supreme Court decades ago in the decision that struck down laws forbidding interracial marriages. In that decision, marriage was found to be a fundamental right. As such, it is not open to legislation, nor can it be denied to any particular group.

Additionally, I'd like to make a random observation. The Catholic Church is not now, nor has it ever been, required to recognized divorce or a re-marriage after divorce. The same is true of any religion or church. To claim that a religion/church will suddenly be required to recognize a same-sex marriage is without precedent. It is wholly an arbitrary, fear-mongering tactic used to appeal to ignorance.

Finally, I respect your right to believe in whatever theology you chose, no matter how abhorrant I find it, provided you do not harm others with your actions (such as practicing human sacrifice). Please respect my right to dismiss and reject misogynistic, homophobic, etc theology.

I'm watching this vote for these reasons, and with the sincere hope that rational people can stand up and say no to discrimination.

I would really like to see more people vote YES on Prop. 8

Now I know that many of you that are posting here are opposed to this. Some of you are making a bigger deal out of attacking religion then you are about talking about what the prop is about, but that is besides the point.

one thing I want to point out- to the person who posted adressing the fact that often Bible believing Christians use the Bible for their own benefit and twist what it says... I would like to apologize for every time that has been done. I myself am a Bible believing Christian and I to am offended when people use the words God gave to us as a tool for their own gain. I hope that those who have done this will learn from their mistakes and that the negative impact they have had on you in the past is something that can be forgiven in the future.

I do want people to also see the fact that What we believe as Christians is being attacked if Prop 8 fails. We Beleive that God Ordained Marraige between man and woman as symbol of what the union between the Church and God is meant to be. Marraige between a Bride and a Groom is a very important symbol to us and it just isn't the same when it is marraige between party a and party b.

to close this out. God loves all people. God loves Gay people and God loves straight people. Thankfully God loves each of us so much that He doesn't want us to live our lives in ways that are destructive to the pattern of life that He inteded for us. He loves all of us to much to let us ruin our lives and that is why he doesn't want us to live in sin.

I hope that God's love touches the heart of each person who reads this, wheather you are against Prop. 8 or for it.

a Saved sinner whose trying to make a difference in Jesus' name,
Scott

WELL SAID Scott...VERY WELL SAID.

I myself voted in favor of proposition 8, but I did do the research to see how it would effect my life and the lives of my family members first. I started out feeling like a lot of other people on this issue...that I don't agree with homosexuality, but what is done in private and won't have an effect on me or my family is tolerable.
I am not one to just go out and vote for something that I don't understand, or try and offend someone else. I studied and researched the effects that proposition 8 failing would have on families all over California, including mine; and to be frank it really scared me. I know that this is an issue of the up-most sensitivity to people on both sides of proposition 8. I can see how people who have homosexual tendencies want to be able to say that they are married to the person that they love regardless of sex. I can understand the longing to be married to the one that you love for I have felt it(for my husband).
Part of me is a little torn on this issue, but the fact of the matter is that homosexuals do have the same rights and benefits as heterosexuals (except for the right to call their relationships marriage). To give the title of marriage to those types of relationships in return compromises the rights that parents and people of different religions should be able to have.
I only started to be concerned about these homosexual relationships when I learned of how it would effect mine and my family's lives. It is not fair to me to have to be forced to give up my parental right to teach my children the morals and standards that my husband and I believe.
I am sure that many of you probable aren't suprised to hear me say that I am of the Christian faith, but with that comes certain beliefs that I have the right pass to my children with out the government teaching them something that I do not agree with. Every parent wants to do what they feel is best for their child and teach them the way that they feel they should be taught. That is their right!
This also becomes a problem on a more religious ground where each faith has the right to practice as they believe(within reason-no sacrifices or Bigamy, which I don't believe in anyways), so for there to be equal marriage churches would lose their right to marry couples according to the way that they believe. Most churches only support marriages between a man and a woman, and that is the way that we believe that God commanded it to be done. He said for us to "multiply and replenish the earth". Which can only be done by a man and a woman. Not to say that everyone doesn't have their own free agency to choose how they will live their lives, or that God will love anyone any less because of the choice that they make. God loves all of His children!
I have known of instances in California during the brief legalization of gay and lesbian marriages where young children were being taught in schools about homosexuality and gay and lesbian marriages; and with out parental notification (because it wasn't required by law). Friends of mine have been very upset by these actions and the lack of notification from the school. My children are very young and not yet in school, but it scares me to think that they would be forced to learn about these types of things with out myself or my husband knowing about it. We have the right to know what are children are being taught in schools!
The other issue is with the churches who wouldn't want to perform gay and lesbian marriages because of their faith and what they believe. It would take that right away from them. Churches face the risk of being sued, and because of that would most likely end the performance of marriage services.
There are a number of ways that homosexual marriage would limit and diminish the rights of others, and that is why I am sorry to say that I cannot support it. I know that there has been a large amount of hate felt towards people of Christian and other faiths because of their strong feelings on this matter, but I hope that you could see that the truth is that it is not easy for us to do this either. The fact of the matter is that we must protect our rights as parents and as religious people.
I have no hard feelings against anyone with homosexual tendencies. I have some friends who are in fact gay and lesbians who are very good people at heart. I may be guilty of having a difference of opinion, but in no way of having feelings of hate, discrimination, or a desire to take away others rights as some people may perceive as the reason for so many Christians to be supportive of proposition 8.
I have seen and heard of a lot of people quoting from the bible, "Don't judge,lest ye be judged". Please try and understand that we are not judging you by no means, but that we simply have a desire to follow in our different faiths and raise our children accordingly. Believe it or not, but I do feel a love for all of you no matter what race, what sex, what tendencies that you have, or what your religion is... I do care and I am sorry that this is such a sensitive subject for so many people, but I truly wish that the hate and resentment would stop and that it could maybe be replaced with some understanding on both sides.
I mean no offense to anyone, but I simply must stand up and vote for what I believe; as we all must, no matter what our differences!
Try and have a good day and think that maybe people's intentions aren't quite the way that you think that they are...you might be suprised. :)

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