morning after

[jaina]

I woke up this morning, and my first thought wasn't that Obama had won. It was that Prop 8 had passed. Last night, I was so hopeful about the election; today I just feel sick.

I'm sick because 52% of Californians voted to specifically *take away* rights from their fellow citizens, rights that our state Supreme Court said we are *all* entitled to.

(I'm sick because we *can* take away rights with a simple majority vote. What the hell, California? At least Florida had to get to 60%.)

I'm sick because the Yes on 8 campaign was a disgusting, shameful pack of lies and scare tactics, and it WORKED. It worked.

I don't want to hear anything about how we're just "not ready" for it. No. Fuck that. Should we have waited until the South was "ready" for desegregation?

I know that the fight isn't over; I know there are other paths to pursue. I know that minds change slowly, and that we *will* get there someday. But today, I'm sad, sick, and disappointed.

Comments

[kay-dee70.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was also disappointed in prop 8. It shows people really were easily scared that no on 8 (leaving the law and constitutional as is) would mean their kids would be taught about gay marriage in school.

I hope this gets challenged, because it's friggin unconstitutional, no matter what people feel 'ready' for - as you said.

[mcgregorkenobi.livejournal.com]

And what's so disgusting is that as a teacher we are forbidden by federal law to even DISCUSS marriage, let alone politics, same sex anything, etc. Here in the Central Valley, it came out that our local TV/Radio Station owners only showed the "No on 8" commercials during times with the least amount of viewers...

The California Teacher's Association AND the State Superintendent filmed an amazing commercial stating how we can't say anything, and even pointing out that the person in the commercial is not a teacher, but a professional actress on a set. But, unfortunately it never saw it's targeted audience. I swear... I'm getting out of this area and moving to Santa Cruz.

[kay-dee70.livejournal.com]

Yup, I was really happy to see the rebuttal ads with the State Superintendent pretty much point blank stating that the proposition has nothing to do with what is taught in schools. I hoped people would see these ads and have their 'fear' put to rest. I guess not. I was talking this over with my hairdresser a few weeks ago and I was saying 'since when did they start talking about marriage in school in California? Let alone what it means to be gay? I was never taught any of that in school...' Duh, because it's not allowed!

I do think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not sure how long the tunnel is though.