Separate but equal?

Prop 8.

That name can evoke much emotion from both sides of the fence. For those who are unaware (or living under a rock), Californians voted on November 4th to re-ban gay marriage in the state. Arizona and Florida also passed similar measures.

I have very mixed feelings on this issue. First and foremost, one of my very best friends is gay. Who am I to say he isn't allowed to marry his boyfriend? If they got married, would it make other, more conventional marriages of a man and a woman less significant? On the other hand, I was raised to interpret marriage as between one man and one woman.

I believe people: gay or straight, male or female, red, purple, white, black, or yellow, should have equal rights. I believe that people who are in a committed relationship should have rights should they choose to make their relationship permanent. They should be allowed to visit one another in the hospital, have access to health insurance, and have legal responsibilities to any children they choose to bring into their family. However, I take issue with calling it marriage unless it is between a man and a woman. Call me ignorant or close-minded, that is just my personal philosophy.

Yes, I know I'm a teacher and I am well-versed on the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit. I realize separate does not mean equal.

I want it to be known that I voted no on Amendment 2, which was the measure in Florida. I did not want to close discussion on the issue, which I felt would happen if Amendment 2 passed.

Florida effectively shut the door on discussion of marriage/civil unions/whathaveyou when Amendment 2 passed. I, along with many of my friends, shook my head. (Blogger's note: let's just say that's not the ONLY thing I shook my head at that night.)

However much I disagree with the voters' voices, I have to accept that they have spoken. The majority of people in those states voted against their version of Prop 8.

On that day, Barack Obama was elected president. It was a very historic day, and while I did not vote for him, I respect the reasons why people voted for him and I also respect the people themselves. I will support him as my president (and boy will he ever need it.)

The American people spoke. We elected Barack Obama president. You do not see McCain supporters staging protests in the streets demanding another election. So why in the world are those opposed to Prop 8 (and its affiliates) staging 80-city protests demanding a re-vote? THE PEOPLE SPOKE! Yes, I agree that what they had to say is ignorant and ridiculous, but we have to respect that it was the MAJORITY of voters in those states that chose to ban gay marriage.

If enough people want the issue re-addressed, bring it up again in the next voting cycle. Cynthia Nixon, an actress from Sex and the City and an open lesbian, recently said on Larry King Live that 8 years ago, the difference in opinion was 20% more people in California were against gay marraige, and now it's something like 4%. As she said, time is definitely "on our side." (I am not a gay person, but I believe in equality.)

Let's vote on it next cycle. Protesting and not accepting the voice of the people (for now) will only make the opposition grow stronger.