And the bad side of the whole thing

[sparkindarkness]

Amendments in Florida. Arizona and California all passed, enshrining bigotry and hatred into these states’ constitution

And that is what it has done. Denying the right to marry is a horrendous thing. It undermines and devalues relationships. It devalues and disrespects people. It denies protections that are essential and NON-IMITABLE. This law has seriously harmed thousands upon thousands of people for no benefit. I have said on numerous occasions just how essential the right to marry was, so there’s no point in repeating it other than to say that denying it was a truly evil thing to do.

But it is more than that, though that is horrendous, this has done a truly awful things: It has given legitimacy to homophobia.

The constitutions of 3 states, the people of 3 states, have just said homophobia is ok. Homophobia isn’t bad. Homophobia is acceptable. Homophobia is officially sanctioned. These states and the people who voted for these vile measures in these states have said that homophobia is good and right and should be enshrined in law.

I’ve said before that homophobia is one of the few “acceptable” prejudices. It’s one of the prejudices you can wear openly and even drip with venom and it still not be considered rude or outside of civilised behaviour . These 3 states have not only confirmed that but they have given it the stamp of approval. These states have given a green light to prejudice and waved the flag for bigotry.

Homophobia is ok to these states. And that in turn says that being gay is NOT ok. These states have enshrined in their constitutions that gay people are less. That gay people are not worthy of the same rights or respect or consideration. In these states, it is official, so official they had to enshrine it in their most fundamental documents: Gay People are Inferior.

And that’s a great message to send, isn’t it?


I can feel the rage about these passing - feel and share it. But it needs to be directed appropriately. A lot of the anger has been aimed at ethnic minorities who voted disproportionately for the Californian amendment. Yes, the fact that a large number of black* people who voted in Cali voted for proposition 8 is certain an issue for concern and belongs on the list of Shit that Needs Sorting but to blame it on an entire race is beyond stupid - as well as prejudiced. (Apart from anything else, logistically black people don't have the numbers to have been a deciding factor on the vote - don't let prejudice and a convenient scape goat colour outrage)

Believe me, nothing would please the right wing bigots more than for gay people and black people to fight amongst ourselves rather than mobilising together against a common enemy that wants to screw us both over.


Now that being said, being furious is an acceptable response - so long as its directed properly. By all means be enraged at every last one of the people who voted for this. They are prejudiced bigots without exception. They voted to hurt gay people. They voted to confirm that gay people are beneath them. They don’t have an excuse for what they did - there isn’t a good enough excuse. And no, hiding bigotry behind a Bible verse isn’t a good excuse - it just makes the people you’re attacking angry at you AND the religion you’re using to beat them down.

In short, if you voted yes on any of these amendments, you are a vile bigot and people have every right to be disgusted and enraged by your sorry, vile self.



*I've never been happy with the term "African-American" 1) because I'm not American and no-one has ever coined the term "African-British" so it sounds vaguely silly to me and 2) because I fail to see why you should have to qualify someone's nationality because of their race. A black American is an American just as much and without the need for dilution as any other American. I don't see it as being beneficial to use a label that implies outsideness or a diversion of interests or a mixing of nationalities.

Comments

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

I will shun those states and shun their products as much as I am able.

Our original system may or may not have been set up for it but it requires diversity and it evolved to allow it to everyone. If someone is oppressing you in Georgia move to another state. There are some national laws that apply everywhere, those should be as minimal as possible and be a baseline. I prefer our way as it allows a state to be a major failure without wrecking the country.

California's vote is as permanent as a revolving door. I'll have to see about Florida.

In Indiana a constitutional amendment would take a painfully long time:
"Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Indiana must be agreed to by two separately elected general assemblies. Once a joint resolution has passed one general assembly, it must then be presented to a second general assembly. If agreed to by the second general assembly, the amendment must be placed on the state election ballot and ratified by a majority of the voters (Article 16 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana)."

This made of gold.

I'm not sure if Indiana's laws or constitution require an amendment to ban SSM. I'll need to look.

hyphenated-Americans were means of separating a group of people based on skin color from the rest of the population as a means to isolate, contain and control them.

[gnarlycranium.livejournal.com]

Yes votes from the black populace of California added up to 7% of the total Yes vote, or added 3.64% of the 52% with which it passed. If they'd voted the way whites did, they would have contributed 3.43% to the Yes vote, and 3.57% to the No vote, a difference of 0.14%. Alone that may not have entirely tipped the scales, but it's worth noting.

Oh and the "African-American" thing is just stupid. For one thing, I know a few white ACTUAL African-Americans, as in they were born in South Africa. And really, if I can be called WHITE, why can't I use color as an adjective for other people? What am I then, European-American? I've never been anywhere near Europe in my life, and neither have my parents.

[helbling.livejournal.com]

I don't know if anyone else has seen the video of an American reporter trying to interview a (black) GB runner - it was before the last Olympics - and the subject of the runner's race came up, and the reporter tried to ask him a question about whether he felt his success was an encouragement to others of his race, or something like that.

But the phrase he used to describe him was 'African-American'. And the runner stopped him and was like 'sorry, that's not right, I'm not American.'

And the reporter apologised. And then described the runner's race as 'Africa-American-British'.

You could actually see the runner's desire to *facepalm*, right there and then.

[beladibaby.livejournal.com]

Well as an Arizonan, I feel I should appologise for the idiot twits who live here and honestly we aren't all that moronic. Unfortunately those of us with brain cells and common sense are outnumbered apparently. I keep telling myself eventually the twits will die off and thier children who are busy rolling their eyes behind their backs when they go off and do stupid shit like this will be around to clean up the mess and fix thier mistakes.

*AHEM!*

[caslayerboi.livejournal.com]

As an adoptive Californian native who voted no on proposition 8, I honestly can't tell you how enraged I am that the motion passed. I mean, I knew that it would, since the "no on prop 8" campaign had been constantly one step behind the damned Mormons and their money. Not to mention that I just don't have that much faith in humanity anymore. But, I honestly hoped for something better. I mean, I had to suffer through the backlash of proposition 22 during the 2001 election process, when I was allowed to vote for the first time (Although, I was technically an illegal voter, since I was still 17 in February), when I knew people were still stupid and immature. But, it's been seven fucking years! At this point, I think I'm only hoping that the combined legal force of California's various city councils, and the monetary support of sympathetic people all over can make a last-minute "Hail Mary" difference.

Regarding the whole "African- American" thing? I have no patience for the whole politically correct bullshit. Thus, I just call everyone by their phenotype- If you've got black skin, you're black; if you've got white skin, you're white; if you're someone I honestly can't discern, I'll just come out and ask you exactly what the hell you are. Political correctness doesn't help nor solve the problems of racial intolerance, it just hides it behind a mask of politeness.

[gnarlycranium.livejournal.com]

...oye...

Re: *AHEM!*

[gnarlycranium.livejournal.com]

And it's patronizing.

Re: *AHEM!*

[caslayerboi.livejournal.com]

You mean the whole politically correct thing? You bet.

*sigh*

[jocelyncs.livejournal.com]

I wish there were a way to beat it into these people's heads that these amendments and propositions and various other legislations are WRONG.

But there isn't. Believe me, I've tried. I have friends who voted wholeheartedly for Barack Obama, who also voted for Florida's Amendment 2 (same as California's Prop 8 - defining marriage). I've protested, I've argued, I've begged, I've pleaded.

Marriage in America was deemed a FUNDAMENTAL right in the Supreme Court cases of Loving v. Virginia, the famous ruling where bans on interracial marriage were deemed unconstitutional. A fundamental right means that it belongs to EVERYONE, and the government must show a compelling reason for taking it away. You don't get to define it, you must show a compelling purpose each time you confine it to one group or another.

All bans on gay marriage, gay adoption, etc, fly directly in the face of the freedoms we sang about the night President-Elect Obama won. But people just...don't...care!

I don't know what to do. I don't understand how hatred runs so deep. Many of the people I spoke to about it aren't even that vehement, they just say casually, "Oh, I think defining marriage is a good idea!"

So easy. So casual. So absently do they write off the hopes and dreams of thousands of people. It breaks my heart.

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could do more. It's wrong morally. It's wrong legally. Bigotry is wrong. Legislating bigotry into law is worse. But I don't know how to stop them!

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

Here's a little bit of good news for you:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10934458?source=most_viewed

The fight goes on, and it's not just GLBT people in the war against this atrocious result.

[procris.livejournal.com]

I was shocked when 2 passed. I suppose I shouldn't have been, I see a lot of the simple, blatant, unquestioning ignorance in my classroom. I'm working on that part.

They said in the last round of these hideous marriage amendments that a lot of the more explicitly worded amendments didn't do as well as they thought they would, largely because they *mentioned* gay marriage, and more Americans think taking away rights is wrong than they thought. They went to the ballot box and said, "hey... but what about Bob and Jim?" The problem with things like Amendment 2 was that it didn't say it took away rights for specific gay couples you may be friends with. It said, We're all happy and affirming about YOUR marriage.

And Floridans can't bloody read. I'm working on that too, but ye lords and little fishes, they need some literacy down here. Basic literacy, much less analytical literacy-- too many were voting from the memory of the chants, and not analyzing anything for themselvs.

[mharbourgirl.livejournal.com]

My husband and I were discussing this recently. We have decided that yes, marriage SHOULD be defined. Define it as an LP, and take all reference to gender of any sort out of the question. Define it as a partnership between two PERSONS, with all the rights and attendant responsibilities traditionally ascribed to the marital state.

I made the mistake of bringing it up with a somewhat...erm.. religiously-inclined relative and I really thought their head was going to explode over the concept. Oh, and I knew what their opinion would be before I ever opened my mouth, I just enjoy poking the badger with a stick, so to speak. :) This relative's reactions are terribly predictable. Should have videotaped the conversation, it really was too funny (in a sad and scary sort of way).

Then again, I'm used to people using their religious leanings as an excuse to stop thinking logically and coherently.