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Loading ...Calif. gay marriage battle enters final phase
10.31.2008 10:35am EDT
(San Francisco, California) With the clock ticking to election day Tuesday, groups supporting and opposing an amendment to the California constitution – known as Proposition 8 – that would end same-sex marriage in the state are ramping up their efforts.
The “No on Prop 8″ campaign has thousands of LGBT activists and their supporters on the ground throughout California lobbying voters to reject the measure. Thousands more are manning phones and sending e-mails opposing the ban.San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom has radio and television interviews booked throughout the weekend, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has released a statement saying he intends to vote against the measure.
Supporters of the ban have scheduled a rally in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday to pray for the passage of Proposition 8.
Called TheCall, it will last from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and organizer Lou Engle said he expects thousands of people to participate.
Evangelicals, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints – the Mormons – have collected millions of dollars to support the amendment. But many members of the denominations have disagreed with the positions of the churches.
In Salt Lake City, the Mormon mothers of gay and lesbian children will hold a candlelight vigil on Sunday to show their support for same-sex couples in California. It is being coordinated with PFLAG, Equality Utah, the Utah Pride Center, the Inclusion Center, Affirmation and the Human Rights Campaign.
The battle over Proposition 8 has resulted in a number of incidents throughout California.
Earlier this week a cyber attack brought down the “No on Prop 8″ campaign Web site. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating.
In Fresno, police are investigating death threats against two local supporters of Proposition 8.
Mayor Alan Autry and Pastor Jim Franklin of the Cornerstone Church received what police call very detailed threats that mentioned their participation in a pro-proposition 8 rally this weekend.
Earlier this week, Franklin’s home and church were pelted with eggs. Both men have been given police protection.
In Torrance, a man has been charged with a felony hate crime assault for allegedly using an anti-gay marriage Yes on Prop. 8 lawn sign to attack a gay man wearing a No on 8 button.
In Bakersfield, a local leader of the campaign for the ballot measure was videotaped at a pro-gay marriage rally kicking and punching a protester. The protestor, who had been heckling him, declined to press charges.
Thousands of lawn signs are promoting the two sides on the issue throughout California and each side is accusing the other of stealing and defacing the signs.
In Roseville, three young people were arrested on suspicion of stealing Yes on 8 signs from several front yards. Yes signs have been torched and stolen in a number of other areas of state. In another instance No signs were stolen from in front of the home of a married lesbian couple and replaced with a half dozen Yes signs.
The latest public opinion poll shows the No side remains ahead but the gap is narrowing – when the margin of error is factored in it is a dead heat.
Now we can see what the “christians”are made of, hopefully everyone else will see how they turn christianity into a hateful thing They have threatened,lied,and resorted to physical violence how many think God is gonna be happy on judgement day? may i see a show of hands please? the public will see how hateful they are and i have to wonder if they think this whole thing will further their cause in any way when the smoke clears not only will they have lost the support of the thousands they threatened to ex-communicate (let em it’s their pay check)but i’m sure their reputations will be tarnished for a long time to come when they beg for money to do “loving christian” things. I realize their are a lot of christian supporters out there and for that i thank them and will be forever grateful and in their debt they are the true sense of good christians
I think what really upsets me is the fact that Prop 8 even made it to the ballot in the first place. Same-sex marriage in California has been legalized. What gives the brainwashed right, or anybody else for that matter, any conceivable right to presume they now have the authority to completely strip it away? Does that not totally fly in the face of EVERYTHING this so-called “free” country is all about? The only serious threat to this country are those who base their entire existence around fear, the sort of people who would rather live by what they THINK God wants or the ridiculous writings in some book penned thousands of years ago by flesh and blood men for a completely different culture that no longer exists. I suppose to folks like this, living like that is far more easier and convenient than thinking for themselves and letting other people live their own non-threatening lives. Trouble is, none of them–it would seem–want or know how to do that. They would rather spout idiocy like: “Why not legalize man and dog unions, incestual marriage, or the right for pedophiles to marry their victims?” Give me a break! To me, anybody who spews such obvious nonsense doesn’t deserve to call themselves an adult! And, tho those straights who claim a same-sex marriage is going to destroy their own: Show me and the rest of the world how! The success or failure of ANY marriage is determined by what the two contributing partners are willing to contribute. In the real world I live in, if Joe Hetero’s marriage somehow fails, it’s not going to be the fault of me, a total stranger, or anybody else…gay or straight.
Prop 8 has absolutely no business on the ballot. The bigots and bible-thumpers who support this insulting propaganda seriously need to consider how they’d feel if it was their marriages that were being voted on. If they did, they would plainly realize his has nothing to do with indoctrination or freedom of religion. This entire negative campaign is strictly and solely about stripping away the legally-granted rights of two people who want nothing more than to spend the rest of their lives together. Nothing more!
Senator Obama’s opposition to prop 8 will be featured on the No on 8’s newest commercial.
The No on 8 committee just sent an e-mail indicating:
“…we have been up all night crafting two strategies to set the record straight:
1) A new TV and radio ad highlighting Senator Obama’s firm opposition to Prop 8. It also echoes the chorus of opposition from California’s leaders — Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Teachers Association, Senator Feinstein and more.
2) Targeted automated calls to millions of voters from NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson asking them to join him and Barack Obama in opposing Prop 8.”
Because I really like this strategy and think it will be effective, I just made another donation – my 7th to date. To donate, go to noonprop8.com
This is getting pretty violent. I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m glad I don’t live in California right now.
william Said: “I think once and for all lets stick together and do a boycot …”
I vote with my dollars every day, and I spend it at gay-owned, pro-gay and gay-friendly companies. Take a look at the Human Rights Campaign Fund Buyer’s Guide, which is updated every year.
http://www.hrc.org/
buyersguide/
hrc_buyersguide-11_29.pdf
Show the world that we have considerable monetary clout, since we do!
I think once and for all lets stick together and do a boycot starting with
Utah the religous right always calls for boycots of our friends and allies let everyone know we should only suport
gay friendly states once they lose money
what are they going to keep denying us
our rights if they want to loose money
let them we keep going and going
bud clark Said: “Violence has never solved anything, and it never will. As long as people think it DOES, we WILL have violence; just as long as people think war IS inevitable, then we WILL have war.”
With all due respect to Bud, I must seriously disagree. There are times that violence is not only necessary, it is required. If it were not for a war, there would be no United States, as I am quite sure the monarchy in England would never willingly have let us go our own way, as the citizens of Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland will attest. If not for war, the Nazis would now rule most of Europe, as Chamberlain’s peaceful appeasement of Hitler after the annexation of Austria only encouraged him to march into Poland. I agree that in many instances, such as our current war in Iraq, the reasons for our aggression are less than honorable and somewhat dubious, but this does not apply to every instance of war.
As far as the opinion that violence never solves anything, again I would have to disagree and say that violence solves about 98% of all issues on the planet, sometimes with negative consequences, sometimes with positive benefits. Violence, whether actual or implied, in its various guises, is the foundation of all societies on the planet, whether in the form of physical violence, economic sanctions, legal systems or any other manifestation it may take, allowing civilization as we know it to exist relatively free of total anarchy and chaos.
Legal systems of every country on the planet function solely on the implication of violence and the actual application of violence for offenders. Economic violence in the form of fines are used as a deterrent for minor offenses. For more serious issues the stripping of a person’s freedom and caging them as one would an animal is an extremely violent act. In the most severe cases, the death penalty is the most violent act of all. While the various merits may be argued to an extent, I am quite sure very few would be willing to forego this necessary violence and let murderers, rapists, molestors and other depraved individuals to freely roam our steets in the name of peace.
Voting is also an act of violence as it imposes the will of one group upon the opposition group, with the sanction and approval of the ruling authority. When this form of violence is used to oppress a group of people, the impact may be far more damaging than an act of physical violence as it may encompass a whole community rather than a few unfortunate individuals. Such violence, with the endorsement of a legal system, will only encourage further acts of physical violence, and regrettably many times the only deterrent to such acts is resistance with equal violence.
Perhaps in another 10,000 years people will evolve into purely altruistic beings and violence will no longer be necessary, but the reality is that this will not happen as long as some individuals are consumed with a lust for power and wealth. These individuals will continue to use violence to work their will for their own ends and, with the support of a legal system which they manipulate, there are few alternatives left. Either fight back, or surrender.
Is rioting by the SCC Community the preferred way to gain our rights? In a perfect society, I would say no. But in reaqlity, where reason, logic and common sense are disregarded and no possibility of dialogue is evident with some social institutions, such acts may give them pause to consider the possible consequences of their continued oppression. As long as we “turn the other cheek” when acts of violence and domestic terrorism are committed against us, we will be perceived as a weak and easy target.
As with schoolyard bullies who often go unchecked until someone delivers to them a good asskicking, so too will these people, who will never be reached via reason and open dialogue, continue their self-righteous “holy crusade” against gay people and to take full advantage of their assumed dominant position. It may seem bad now, but if we ever gain equal rights, the physical violence against us will escalate as they will no longer have the recourse of legal violence against us.
MORE THREATS from these wonderful ‘CHRISTIANS’
Wow. These California “Christians” are really showing themselves to be thugs of the worst sort. Evan Low, who serves on the Campbell City Council, has been threatened with a recall unless promotes passage of the discriminatory Prop 8. WWJD? (Bay Area Reporter):
They’ve threatened pro-gay business owners. They’ve physically beaten up their opponents. They’ve launched cyber attacks. And they’ve spread lies to advance their cause.
…”I have received seven calls today threatening to recall me from office if I do not publicly retract my position and switch to Yes on 8,” Low informed supporters in an e-mail Wednesday, October 29. “The Yes on 8 campaign is continuing their efforts of deception and coercion. Let’s have a strong showing during this final stretch.”
Chip White, a spokesman for Protectmarriage.com, the main group backing Prop 8, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Instead of backing down, Low turned up in San Francisco this morning (Thursday, October 30) to join Mayor Gavin Newsom and other Asian American politicians from the Bay Area for a walk through Chinatown to urge voters to support marriage equality.
Blender Gloria Nieto was quoted in the article:
Gloria Nieto, political director at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center in San Jose, labeled the tactics thuggish and said they would not work.
“You know what a bunch of thugs. They are attacking our Web sites, threatening our elected officials. It is nothing but thuggery; it is disgusting,” said Nieto. “I don’t think it will work in Campbell. I will be the first in line to support Evan so he knows people are backing him up.”
For public release
Presbyterians Against Proposition 8
October 28, 2008
Brothers and Sisters of many faiths,
Let us be absolutely clear that in our opposition to Proposition 8 we are asking nothing more than what already exists in the respectful balance between the beliefs and practices of our many faiths and California constitutional law.
Within the many communities of faith in our State we have conflicting doctrines and beliefs that already govern the practice of marriage.
Our Roman Catholic, Mormon and many of our evangelical churches do not and will not marry persons who are divorced. But that does not mean that those who are divorced are constitutionally prohibited from the right of legal marriage in our state.
Likewise, our Roman Catholic, Mormon, and some Jewish and Muslim faith traditions will not marry persons of different faith traditions. But that does not mean that interfaith couples, or those of no particular faith tradition, cannot be married in our state.
Our California constitution honors all religious traditions by respecting our differences about religious marriage while at the same time providing and protecting the right of all couples to marry the person of their choice.
Prop. 8 would ELIMINATE the constitutional right of same sex couples to marry. That is unfair and unjust. California constitutional law already honors and respects religious differences. No religious institution is forced to marry anyone. But that does not mean that any person in our state should lose their constitutional right for legal marriage.
I urge you to protect our constitutional rights as well as our right to religious diversity and pluralism by voting NO on Proposition 8.
Thank you.
#
Rev. Daniel E. Smith
Pastor, West Hollywood Presbyterain Church
7350 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Ph: 323-874-6646
E: dsmith@wehopres.org
Worship Service: Sundays at 11 AM
West Hollywood Presbyterian Church
7350 Sunset Blvd at Martel St
(between LaBrea and Fairfax)
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323/874-6646
http://www.wehopres.org
bud clark Said:
“… with morocco leather binding, and zipper closure.”
If, perhaps, the people who read that “thing” should rather leave the zipper closed and use some common sense with a great deal of love and compassion, they would understand that their actions against the LGBTQI community (amongst other monorities) are nothing but bigoted hatefulness and just plain bad for humanity as a whole.
Unfortunately, they open the zipper to find passages that support their hate and bigotry. Those that do not think for htemselves just listen to those “mind-control freaks” who fill the hearts and minds of their followers with the same hateful and evil thoughts and deeds.
I surely hope that the governments do require all children to be taught about all types of families and all types of decent, love-filled and constructive relationships, including same-sex marriages.
Please vote AGAINST hatred and bigotry, and vote FOR love and kindness.
There is not enough love and kindness in thid world, and there never can be enough of it to go around, no matter the amount we experience or see.
Let it be written; let it be done!
On the eve of this very crucial time in the lives of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people in California, I sincerely hope the electorate with common sense, fairness and equality in mind, will vote down this awful discriminatory Proposition 8. From Canada, our hearts and minds will be with the Gay Community, our brothers and sisters in California on Tuesday, November 4th.
Riots are NOT the answer. Massive, peaceful, educational demonstrations ARE. Throwing a molotov cocktail is NOT a teachable moment. Sharing our stories in a peaceful, respectful manner IS. Violence has never solved anything, and it never will. As long as people think it DOES, we WILL have violence; just as long as people think war IS inevitable, then we WILL have war. Despite what Jewish, Muslim, and kristianist extremist may think and practice, G*d does not call upon His/Her followers to kill in His/Her name. The Hebrew Scriptures (aka the Old Testament) PERCEIVED that He/She did, which is why disproving the infallibility of Judeo-Christian Scripture is such an important intellectual endeavour. G*d DIDN’T say it; I DON’T believe it; and that DOESN’T settle it … there are far too many contradictions, errors, and outright LIES in the canon of Scripture to support inerrancy. The Bible was NOT, as many fundamentalists believe, lowered down from heaven on a gold silken cushion in the Scofield Reference Red-Letter edition of the King James Version, with morocco leather binding, and zipper closure .
Cheers,
Bud Clark
San Diego CA USA
Vanndean, well said.
Censoredagain, Could you possibly explain to me how blood in the streets, smoke in the air, friends and relations in jail, and bodies in caskets has anything to do with people wanting to get married? Surely there are other methods available in the eighth year of the 21st century to obtain “justice for all”. Do you think that sinking to the level of gay bashing homophobic bigots will bring the desired results? I doubt it!
No Justice No Peace!!! need some white night riots taking place all over.