Tawn and I need your help, please. Just a few minutes of it.
On November 4th, Californians will vote on Proposition 8 which will explicity take away the right of gay men and lesbian women to marry. Tawn and I, now together for almost nine years, are planning on getting married when we are back in California this December. We need your help to get the word out to Californians to vote NO on Proposition 8.
Outside of the issue of equal rights, this would represent a frightening precedent of the rights of a minority being taken away after they have been won. This is a disturbing example of Alex de Tocqueville’s “tyranny of the majority”, whereby majority opinion is allowed to trample the civil rights of the minority.
Here’s how you can help me and Tawn:
Contact the people you know in California – let them know about me and Tawn and that if Proposition 8 passes, we’ll be unable to marry in December. Ask them to vote no on the proposition and to talk with their friends, family and fellow citizens, too.
If you are a Californian, talk to people who think differently from you – it is easy to “preach to the choir” but the ones who need to hear form you are the undecided voters, the ones for whom a personal story will make all the differentce. Studies have shown that personalizing the issues makes people more supportive of equal rights.
If you are a registered voter in California, remember to vote – right now the proposition is slightly ahead in voter support. To defeat it, we will need ever supporter who is registered to vote to actually get out to the polls. Your vote will count!
Consider contributing to the “No on 8” campaign – They are being outspent by 2-to-1 by donations from outside the state, 30% of which have come from the Mormon Church. I have already made a donation and hope you will join me. Even if you donate just $10, you will help buy valuable television airtime so our side of the debate can be heard. Click here to donate at Equality California’s secure website.
I know that we are ready for the political silly season to be over. Hang in there and help me and Tawn out for this one last issue! We’re looking forward to sharing your marriage with you this December, but we can’t do it without your support. Vote NO on Proposition 8.
Thanks for your help.
christao408 
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. Taking away rights? That’s bullshit.
I’m going to ask the friends I have in Cali to vote No, and I wish I could vote as well.. ~Marina
This is my first election ever where I’m eligible to vote. I can’t wait for Nov 4 and I can’t wait to vote NO on Prop 8!
i’m totally voting no on 8. free love.
aww… I do hope that majority of california does vote no in proposition 8. i was volunteering at the pasadena (california) democratic headquarters calling people during phone banks and told everyone to vote for the next election and NO ON PROPOSITION 8. i hope that did well. I do wish I could vote. I’m just a couple days away from being able to vote. :[ I really hope you guys get married.
that is so unfair! how could they take away those rights…
As I was driving on the freeway I saw a billboard that said “save the children: vote yes on prop 8”..I didn’t know if I should laugh at the absurdity or feel sick…either way I am voting no
I’m a Californian! No on Prop. 8!
To me, it is a matter of basic civil rights.
I wish I was old enough to vote but I am only 17..But I have been spreading the word out and I wish with all my heart that you and Tawn will be able to get married this December.
Signed and sealed and shipped away with a big dark circle marking NO ON PROP 8!Now I just worry that it might get “lost” in the shuffle……Though partially funny…the Church of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) have been pumping A LOT of money into California in order to get Prop 8 passed…The ironic part is that Mormons of all people shouldn’t want the government saying who can or cannot get married…As Dan Savage put so eloquently…”If religious people believe assisted suicide is wrong, they have a right to say so. Same for gay marriage and abortion. They oppose them for religious reasons, but it’s somehow not enough for them to deny those things to themselves. They have to rush into your intimate life and deny them to you, too—deny you control over your own reproductive organs, deny you the spouse of your choosing, condemn you to pain (or the terror of it) at the end of your life.The proper response to religious opposition to choice or love or death can be reduced to a series of bumper stickers: Don’t approve of abortion? Don’t have one. Don’t approve of gay marriage? Don’t have one. Don’t approve of physician-assisted suicide? For Christ’s sake, don’t have one. But don’t tell me I can’t have one—each one—because it offends your God.”…Good luck to you and Tawn!
been sporting the NO on prop 8 stickers at school! i sent in my absentee ballot today voting no on it :]
I’m out there every day spreading the word that a yes on 8 is taking away the rights of citizens to love and marry who they wish. Its a shame that our legislation is so concerned with disturbing/angering the majority that they think it ok to take away the rights of others to make some happy. A yes on 8 would be taking a HUGE step backward in securing equal rights for ALL American citizens and if it passes I would be ashamed to call California home.I’ll be voting a giant NO on 8.
Sweetpea, my friends and I are either pulling down signs, or adding an “H” in front of every “8” sign we can. That is prop “H8”.I made a sticker for my car that says “Vote no on Bigotry, Vote no on Hate, Vote no on Proposition 8.” I make sure to park next to every “yes on 8” car I can.That is an absolutely disgusting prop…it WILL be defeated!We’re doing our best here for you!-M
I’m voting NO.
I see stickers on peoples’ cars for voting yes on Prop. eight and it just makes me so angry.. I wish everyone could see that love is all that matters.
I’m voting no.My first election too. 🙂
I live in Indy, so there’s not much I can do. But I will wish the best of luck to you all!
If I were inCali I would vote NO.It is a scary thought that rights can be taken away after being won.I mean where will it stop.If one minority can lose rights…ALL minorities can lose them and people need to wake up and see this.
sorry not a californian nor do i know anyone living there..but i hope everything works out for you both and everyone else. if i lived there you’d have my support a 100% of the way!!! good luck!
Unfortunately, I cannot physically do anything to support your cause as a Canadian, but I support you guys in spirit. Good luck!
You are a decent man. I do not know of you or Tawn. However, despite my respect for your positions, I will have to vote Yes on Prop. 8 for a few reasons.First a definition of a word cannot have 2 or 3 seemingly contradicting definitions yet remain valid.Second, this issue has been brought up on the ballots so many times, the voters have spoken again and again. If we call ourselves a Democracy, we should not insult the intelligence of the voters.Third, it should not take a few judges to overturn the decision of millions and cause the people of California time, money and effort to try to prove themselves again after it has already been established as to the definition of Marriage.Lastly, there are a fair of amount of Gay people who also do not like this concept of Marriage for gays yet we tend to ignore the voice of these people. They instead support civil unions. Having made these general points, I would like to say that my decision for voting yes is not out of “homophobia.” It would be ignorant for people who claim people voting “Yes” are simply right wing Christian homophobes as it would be for those who say that Gays deserve no rights or place in our society or anything to that effect…The real issue here is isn’t about “love” for the state already ensures that same-sex couples have every right under legal terms to unite and bond as they wish. Keep in mind that true love falls outside legal rules and to claim this is about love would be a fallacy. The true point of Prop 8 would simply re-affirm a definition long held and in no way or matter decrease or deny same-sex couples whatever rights they have now.Have your civil unions, do it wherever you want, have it be exactly like a wedding! But don’t change the definition of the word, especially if the voters have spoken once before.
@TexasAngelofRaine – It’s not really won if millions voted for definition of marriage as Man + Woman than 5 judges overturn the decision of the voters…if anything, the court’s decision and over-stepping it’s role is scary.A Yes vote on prop 8 doesn’t take ANY “RIGHTS” away, it just keeps the definition as it was and Same-Sex couple’s legal rights does not change one bit from what it was.If Same-Sex couples have a problem thinking they have some rights heterosexuals do not, then they need to take up that issue. It would be an issue of legal rights not of “love” or word definitions…which is what the people of No on Prop 8 want you to think.We need to focus on the real issue, this isn’t a debate of love or rights. Simply the proposition does not decrease one bit any love between same-sex couple or any rights thereof. We need to remember this is proposition to define marriage not a proposition calling to minimize the rights. It is, sadly, a vote to reverse the decision of 5 Court justices to put it back the way it was.
Good luck! I hope you can get married in december! I would have voted but I’m not a us citizen 😦
I’ll be moving to Cali in Jan or Feb 09.I’m currently in Florida and will be voting Yes for Amendment 2.Which also had to do with marriage of gay men and lesbians.Sorry. I hope the best for you though.
Good luck! Hope the best for you.
Backwards-thinking america strikes again. Why not move to a half-decent country. Or a non-fascist state at least.
I would vote no for you if I could vote in CA. As it is, I will mention this to all of my family there (although I’m pretty sure that they would never vote for that anyway). Best of luck to you and Tawn, and congratulations hopefully!
can’t vote, but i support you!
I don’t have much CA relatives but ok, whatever helps :p…hope you guys get married december
wow, what they are doing is wrong, and you’re right about it becoming a precedent if it passes. that’s downright scary. i don’t live in california, but i really do hope that proposition 8 doesn’t go through. good luck! i’ve a lot of faith that the right thing will be done. 🙂
I really hope this doesn’t pass! Good luck! If I were in California, I would definitely vote no.
i asked a friend i have in cali, and she said she’d vote no! 🙂
You people are absollutly discusting . What ever happened to morals in this country. If love is all that matters people would be doing their dogs also. Come on and grow up people. One question I have is did you have a father figure in your life. That is the problem with society today everyone is searching for the missing link in their lives when if people would have morals they would not need the approval of everyone around them
This is part of the reason why God doesn’t bless America anymore! This is the truth. And gays are an abomination. Everyone is going to be like “Oh waaaahhh thats discrimination waaaaah” No its not, its just the truth. Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve or Susie and Eve. Yes on 8! YES ON 8!!! I’d rather get the backlash from you worldly anti-saints than God himself! I will say this though. God does love you, but he hates your ways. I speak for myself, not like others that let sin have influence on their lives. Too many of you let the world have an impact on your life, when you should think on your end. I really do feel bad for the amount of you. I pray, all what I can do is pray for you. wwjd.
i wish you and your community the best of luck. i’m not from there so there is little i can do. i’ve recommended your post.
GOOD LUCK! :3 I’d vote if I could.
I wish I lived in California..I could help you vote. I wish you guys a happy marriage. ^_^.
@ansar_al_Eisa – When you bring up the idea about “changing the definition of marriage”…we have to keep in mind where this meaning is derived from…The prevalent definition is of course the union between a man and woman…but there are people that have always strongly believe that marriage is simply a union between two individuals that truly love each other…Obviously…everybody’s definition of marriage is going to be different from one another…and what it comes down to isn’t the preservation of the meaning of the word…but whether or not if it is kosher to impose one person’s definition onto another…So really…we can and should have the right to believe in what we want…but to interfere and micromanage other people’s lives…whether it is the government or even a neighbor doing the interfering…just crosses the line of what constitutes as personal freedoms…On the flip side…voting no on prop 8 might seem a little intrusive on your beliefs…but keep in mind that voting no only expands the definition…so nothing is stopping you from believing that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman (you could just ignore the expanded clause)…Side note…the definition of marriage hasn’t been the most static word as at one point marriage was strictly defined as a union between members of the same social class or…more recently…as the union between individuals of the same race…@S.O.S – It’s really hard to come up with an answer as to “wwjd” considering there isn’t an account where he deals with homosexuality…However…that aside…the first thing He would do would ask the one without sin cast the first stone…@manureman – Is homosexuality really the source of all ills of this world? Are there not worse things in this world more immoral than homosexuality?
My only hope is that people as a reuslt of this blog who, as it stands, may be opposed to the gay marriage aspect, don’t take it upon themselves to in turn invite the same number of people to vote YES on proposal 8 whereas they wouldn’t have had this blog not made them aware of a real life case.
In my opinion, I honestly can’t see why people get flustered over gay relationships and marriages. This may sound selfish, but if it’s not involving me directly, why should I be bothered by it?
I’m a IL resident, but I know 4 people in Cali that would love to help you out.
Best wishes.
wish I could help! but u have my support!
I would get so pissed off if they took that away here in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the people I know over there, don’t give a shit and also don’t care much but smoking weed, I’m sorry man.
@drung888 – First of you completely ignored the fact that 5 judges simply overturned the decision of millions of voters. If we claim we live in Democracy or Polity, then such ridiculous behavior should not happen. The voice of the people should not have to repeat themselves over and over by re-affirming the definition of Marriage many times over. There are policies in history where the voice of the minority counts, such as racism, civil rights, slavery. But Same-Sex marriage is neither an issue of race, slavery and despite the argument it is not an argument of “civil rights” for under current laws, Gays live just as free to do as they wish, to elope as they wish. The only core difference is the relationship is deemed a “civil union” rather than “marriage.” Why are they so adamant about changing a word? Obviously its not about love. The state does not prohibit love between same sex couple. The issue here is about “Political Correctness.” Let’s be honest with ourselves here. While Gays are a minority in the population, those who are advocating such change are the more militant ones who really want to change a definition of a word. Rest assured if there were any core rights missing regarding pursuit of happiness, life and liberty that I would stand up against this proposition, OR if this proposition proposed to take away any legal rights that Same-Sex couples currently have, I would also stand No. However, it simply is a initiative meant to reverse the decision of the judges and restore what millions of voters affirmed before as the correct definition.Lastly as a response to your Jesus statement, Jesus was not outright spoken against homosexuality because during his time, it was a given in the Jewish law and the practices of his time that homosexuality was wrong and therefore it was not as prominent an issue. However he has made several comments regarding marriage and that is found in Matthew 19: 4-6 says”Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one.”Marriage or divorce in the bible was always spoken in context of a husband and wife, a male and female and the quote from Christ re-affirms this definition. And it’s not just a Christian thing, it is found in the second biggest religion: Islam. I don’t like it when people make this issue into some right-wing Christian none-sense, when the fastest growing religion also stands firmly on this issue.BUT THIS shouldn’t even be about a religion. Let’s make this a legal issue. When millions define a word it should not take 5 judges to simply toss out that decision!
@drung888 – First of you completely ignored the fact that 5 judges simply overturned the decision of millions of voters. If we claim we live in Democracy or Polity, then such ridiculous behavior should not happen. The voice of the people should not have to repeat themselves over and over by re-affirming the definition of Marriage many times over. There are policies in history where the voice of the minority counts, such as racism, civil rights, slavery. But Same-Sex marriage is neither an issue of race, slavery and despite the argument it is not an argument of “civil rights” for under current laws, Gays live just as free to do as they wish, to elope as they wish. The only core difference is the relationship is deemed a “civil union” rather than “marriage.” Why are they so adamant about changing a word? Obviously its not about love. The state does not prohibit love between same sex couple. The issue here is about “Political Correctness.” Let’s be honest with ourselves here. While Gays are a minority in the population, those who are advocating such change are the more militant ones who really want to change a definition of a word. Rest assured if there were any core rights missing regarding pursuit of happiness, life and liberty that I would stand up against this proposition, OR if this proposition proposed to take away any legal rights that Same-Sex couples currently have, I would also stand No. However, it simply is a initiative meant to reverse the decision of the judges and restore what millions of voters affirmed before as the correct definition.Lastly as a response to your Jesus statement, Jesus was not outright spoken against homosexuality because during his time, it was a given in the Jewish law and the practices of his time that homosexuality was wrong and therefore it was not as prominent an issue. However he has made several comments regarding marriage and that is found in Matthew 19: 4-6 says”Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”Marriage or divorce in the bible was always spoken in context of a husband and wife, a male and female and the quote from Christ re-affirms this definition. And it’s not just a Christian thing, it is found in the second biggest religion: Islam. I don’t like it when people make this issue into some right-wing Christian none-sense, when the fastest growing religion also stands firmly on this issue.BUT THIS shouldn’t even be about a religion. Let’s make this a legal issue. When millions define a word it should not take 5 judges to simply toss out that decision!
@drung888 – First of you completely ignored the fact that 5 judges simply overturned the decision of millions of voters. If we claim we live in Democracy or Polity, then such ridiculous behavior should not happen. The voice of the people should not have to repeat themselves over and over by re-affirming the definition of Marriage many times over. There are policies in history where the voice of the minority counts, such as racism, civil rights, slavery. But Same-Sex marriage is neither an issue of race, slavery and despite the argument it is not an argument of “civil rights” for under current laws, Gays live just as free to do as they wish, to elope as they wish. The only core difference is the relationship is deemed a “civil union” rather than “marriage.” Why are they so adamant about changing a word? Obviously its not about love. The state does not prohibit love between same sex couple. The issue here is about “Political Correctness.” Let’s be honest with ourselves here. While Gays are a minority in the population, those who are advocating such change are the more militant ones who really want to change a definition of a word. Rest assured if there were any core rights missing regarding pursuit of happiness, life and liberty that I would stand up against this proposition, OR if this proposition proposed to take away any legal rights that Same-Sex couples currently have, I would also stand No. However, it simply is a initiative meant to reverse the decision of the judges and restore what millions of voters affirmed before as the correct definition.Lastly as a response to your Jesus statement, Jesus was not outright spoken against homosexuality because during his time, it was a given in the Jewish law and the practices of his time that homosexuality was wrong and therefore it was not as prominent an issue. However he has made several comments regarding marriage and that is found in Matthew 19: 4-6 says”Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”Marriage or divorce in the bible was always spoken in context of a husband and wife, a male and female and the quote from Christ re-affirms this definition. And it’s not just a Christian thing, it is found in the second biggest religion: Islam. I don’t like it when people make this issue into some right-wing Christian none-sense, when the fastest growing religion, Islam, also stands firmly on this issue.BUT THIS shouldn’t even be about a religion. Let’s make this a legal issue. When millions define a word it should not take 5 judges to simply toss out that decision!
sorry for the repost. Glitch.
I’m behind you. Though not in the fun way if you na’mean.Go get your leather on! You gay, gay man you!
If I lived there, I’d definitely vote no!
I’m in MICHIGAN, and I SUPPORT LOVE! (of all shapes, sizes, colors, sexes, and generations)
Sorry, dude. I don’t hate you or other gays. I’m not homophobic, nothing personal. YES on Prop 8.
@ansar_al_Eisa – I completely agree with you that this issue should not involve religious reasoning…That aside…this is very much a civil rights issue…Let’s put it this way…Legally…a homosexual couple and a heterosexual couple will have exactly identical rights EXCEPT the right to call their union a marriage…And that’s the issue…why can’t a homosexual couple call their union a marriage? Because millions of other people say so? What about the voices of the other millions that disagree? A liberty is only a liberty when the individual has options that he is at liberty to pick from so really…no matter what happens after Nov. 4th…everybody will still have the liberty of not recognizing homosexual marriages and they can continue to so do…that is their liberty. But what about all the Chris’s and Tawn’s out there? Sure they get all the same legal rights…but they lack the liberty to call their union what they want to call it…At the very least…this issue very much parallels the idea of separate but equal institutions of union…and though I know that the original “separate but equal” was definitely separate but not equal…we have to consider that even in it’s perfect form (where everything is truly equal)…it still restricts the individual’s liberties…And while Gays are a minority in the population…and those who are advocating such change might be the more militant ones who really want to change a definition of a word…homosexuals aren’t the only ones advocating this stance…