![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Is something to mourn and, naturally be deeply depressed about - on many levels
This is devastating
Not just because the essential, precious rights of marriage are denied so many people no damn good reason - but because a right has been put aside according to the whims of the mob. And it is another state sending a venemous message in their most vital and authoritative of documents. Both of these are horrendoius issues
I am worried at the idea that fundamental human rights can be tossed aside by the whims of the majority. And it is whims. No-one who voted yes on prop 8 will be affected one way or the other by this decision. It is only the gay people who will see their lives change. To those who voted yes, it did nothing for them, it was a whimsical - insubstantial vote.
But it can remove a fundamental right. If a group is hated enough, if there is enough prejudice against them then their rights are meaningless. Their rights can be stripped away, it goes against the very concept of human rights. And that is terrifying - for everyone, gay or straight. Your rights only last if you are liked - if you are not... well, your "rights" mean nothing.
Further, I am worried at the message this sends. Because you cannot say discrimination against gays is wrong, you cannot say that prejudice against gays is wrong - you can't even say treating gays like shit is wrong if your most fundamental legal document says that gays are lesser, second class citizens, beneath heterosexuals.
California has enshrined homophobia in the constitution. They have openly said that homophobia is ok, not a bad thing, nothing to worry about - they've even given homophobia the seal of approval.
And that's a terrifying message to send - above and beyond the crushing pain of the rights lost and the loves denied.
This is devastating
Not just because the essential, precious rights of marriage are denied so many people no damn good reason - but because a right has been put aside according to the whims of the mob. And it is another state sending a venemous message in their most vital and authoritative of documents. Both of these are horrendoius issues
I am worried at the idea that fundamental human rights can be tossed aside by the whims of the majority. And it is whims. No-one who voted yes on prop 8 will be affected one way or the other by this decision. It is only the gay people who will see their lives change. To those who voted yes, it did nothing for them, it was a whimsical - insubstantial vote.
But it can remove a fundamental right. If a group is hated enough, if there is enough prejudice against them then their rights are meaningless. Their rights can be stripped away, it goes against the very concept of human rights. And that is terrifying - for everyone, gay or straight. Your rights only last if you are liked - if you are not... well, your "rights" mean nothing.
Further, I am worried at the message this sends. Because you cannot say discrimination against gays is wrong, you cannot say that prejudice against gays is wrong - you can't even say treating gays like shit is wrong if your most fundamental legal document says that gays are lesser, second class citizens, beneath heterosexuals.
California has enshrined homophobia in the constitution. They have openly said that homophobia is ok, not a bad thing, nothing to worry about - they've even given homophobia the seal of approval.
And that's a terrifying message to send - above and beyond the crushing pain of the rights lost and the loves denied.