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 
Legally, if I could, I would definitely vote no.
I really hope everything works out for you.
(:
I would definitely vote for you.
I am a Californian Resident, I am a registered Republican and I am completely against gay marriage in any form, even two members of the same sex should not be living together romantically. It is completely detrimental to society as a whole… not to mention “eww”. I mean if you have two guys that get married and their brother has kids… do they visit and say, “Hello uncle jack and aunt frank?” would it change on certain days? “Now kids Frank is a little mad, so when we get there just call him ‘Uncle’ Frank this time… you’ll understand someday” It is all confusing and makes every “Normal” marriage mean that much less. Anyone who is religious has a certain level of praise over the union they’ve created… which it is a union between a man and a woman. And no I am not a hypocrit by saying that, I realize the whole sex before marriage and it’s a BS argument. I think that anyone who wants to have a same sex marriage should leave America! It is not American, maybe Canadian or French but deffinately not American! Us guys in America like women! We like guns and speeding through red lights, apple pie and field stripping pigs! YES on Prop 8 I want my marriage to mean something!
i know exactaly what your going through im a lesbien and i just proposed to my girl and we realy want 2 get married as soon as possable but the only one in my family that wants me to marry her is my dad because he thinks its saffer then me marring a guy i support you 100%
a good postbut i will be voting yes on prop 8
@drung888 – I think there should be lines that should not be cross. Marriage has traditionally been something defined to be a heterosexual legal bond between a man and a woman. You cannot simply change a definition for the sake of political correctness. If I insist that I am Black when the definition of the Black Ethnicity is well defined it would be stupid and foolish of me to insist that I want to label myself an African when I am not. This doesn’t mean I have more or less rights than a black person but simply the definition does not fit me. In the same matter, marriage is defined to be Man + Woman. A homosexual relationship is known as Civil Union. It would also be stupid to say a Civil Union is between a Man + Woman because it is not. I am talking about pure definition. I am not talking about rights or love or anything like that.If gay rights aren’t being trampled on and the state isn’t intervening in their rights to love then we should all leave the definition of Marriage alone. Why do we waste so much time on semantic when there are bigger concerns to be had.
Proposition 8 reads, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”1. In 2008, Prop 22 was passed in California. What is Prop 22 you ask? It is the exact same thing, word for word, as Prop 8. It received the majority vote. But, recently, four activist judges went against the Constitutions and abused their power to overturn Prop 22 by legalizing gay marriage. With whose consent, you ask? No one’s! So, @maxwebr, you’re right – Prop 8 shouldn’t have gotten on the ballot, because Prop 22 was already in effect. But I guess history has to repeat itself in this case. So with that said, “the rights of the minority”, you speak of, “being taken away after they have been won”, were never won. Thus, that quote from de Toqueville’s “Democracy in America” no longer applies.2. Gay marriage is not a civil right. The fact that the homosexual community uses the idea that their “civil rights have been taken away” upsets, and even insults, some in the African American community. From a religious perspective, you’re comparing you’re their skin to your sin. Think about it. The color of their skin cannot be compared to the chosen lifestyle of an individual. Whether you argue that homosexuality is innate or not, it can’t be. Homosexuals have never been forced into slavery. Homosexuals are not segregated from the “heterosexual community.” We all have the same shot at drinking out of that water fountain or getting that seat on the bus. Friend, you are not a second-class citizen. As much as you may want to be for the sake of emotionally tampering with those listening to you – you aren’t. Pedophiles and polygamists can use that SAME EXACT argument. Why can’t people marry children, huh? Why can’t people marry as many people as they want, huh? Why can’t people marry blah blah blah blah blah, huh? It’s because no one feels sorry for them (yet?) And… because marriage is designed for one man and one woman. The latter is the real reason actually. Whether you like it or not, God created it. I know you don’t want to hear about God and my Bible though, and you don’t want to admit to having anything to do with anything he created perhaps… so let’s look at the purpose of marriage, which is to create a family. Sure it involves two people who love each other very much and want to live the rest of their lives together… but marriage is about so much more than just love. Homosexuals cannot naturally procreate. What about adoptions and artificial insemination? Well, I grew up in a traditional family- which most people believe is the ideal setting for a functional family. I’d hate to think of all the children who are going to be deprived of a mother or a father. It’s not JUST about physically having babies, it’s also about raising children up with love from both a male and a female. There are instinctive things that each parent imparts to their child, which children brought up with two mothers or two fathers misses out on. Tangent. I’ve heard that some homosexual couples who have divorced have one (or both) partners demanding alimony. 3. I must say though, you are right when you talk about equal rights. I sincerely respect everyone’s rights to the liberties given to us by the U.S Constitution. I know, in the past, domestic partnerships were not given the same rights as marriages – but that has been fixed. VP candidate Biden said himself in the debate, he acknowledges that marriage is between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships DO allow homosexual couples to enjoy the same benefits of marriage, just without the title. Before gay marriage was legalized, the application for a marriage certificate would have to blanks. “Bride” and “Groom” where the appropriate party would put their name. Now… it says “Party A” and “Party B”. This is a small observation, but it is one of many reasons why gay marriage would make my future marriage a little less sacred. I won’t talk about that here though. Thanks for reading, or skimming, or getting upset over my comment.
@drung888 – If you are going to twist the definition of marrige then why don’t we twist the definition of murder or better yet incest. If your definition of marrige is the union of two individuals that love each other then you could marry your mom or dad correct. By the way you didn’t answer my question of whether or not you had a father figure in you life.
*gag* Gay people do NOT have the “right” to marry, just like no one has the “right” to murder, steal, or rape. Its wrong. Do you have no morals, conscience or convictions? Our nation’s moral state is being reduced to a LOOOOOW level and its sick to watch. I’m sorry you feel the way you do. But I am not sorry for speaking the truth. If I don’t stand up for what’s right, who will?
@ansar_al_Eisa I completely agree with you. 4 judges should NOT cancel the votes of millions of voters. Otherwise, in a few years communist countries will begin to look at US with pity. Vote YES on Prop 8; FOR DEMOCRACY!
Hey Chris, I think you used Alex de Tocqueville’s “Tyranny of the Majority” out of context. That example is applicable when majority is in the wrong. But in this case, I don’t believe that the majority is in the wrong. You know, I thought California was known for their democratic, liberal, gay-loving communities.. but I guess that’s more down south Cali by L.A and Hollywood. Cali is actually a conservative state and this post kind of confirms it.
But you already have the same rights as any other citizen of California and of the USA. Every man already has the right to marry any woman he chooses. and the same goes for women. They can marry any man they choose. You have never lost that right.You are wrong about one thing. NO ONE has EVER had the right to marry WHOMEVER they choose. Its just that before these recent days no one ever thought you’d have to qualify “WHOMEVER” with “of the opposite sex” because it was always understood.So you stil have the same rights now as any one anywhere.
If I was of voting age and lived in Cali, I’d vote no for you. Worse, I don’t know anyone in California. So all I can do is support the No on Prop 8 group on Facebook and hope that humanity isn’t as hopeless as I thought it was :DGood luck to you guys. ❤
@drung888
Yes homosexuality is the ills of the morals of this nation. When people disregard the morals of the generation before them then they are slowly spinning themselves into a deeper hole of immortality every generation.
I would have to totally agree with one of the previous post when the person said that when you are not raised in a traditional family then you are not taught the difference between the love of a father verses the love of a mother.
All i have to say to you is that I have 3 beatiful children that when I look into their eyes I can see a part of me. Think about that if you are in a homosexual relationship either you or your partner will never be able to say that . There will always be a void in your relationship a void or a lack of something and that would be a bound through children. I can’t imagine going through life living with another person of the same sex and knowing that the relationship stops when you get done doing what ever it is you do in bed.
Well I need to go one of the children that was created between a man and a woman that are married is crying and needs his daddy or his mommy oh!! i am so sorry you will never be able to say that!!!!!
@ansar_al_Eisa – The definition of marriage hasn’t had the most stable meaning…so really…which traditional meaning of marriage should be upheld? 1 man+2women? 1 man+1 woman+ many concubines? 5 men+1 woman? 1 man+ 3 girls? 1white man+1white woman?This wouldn’t be the first time that a definition has been changed for the sake of political correctness…and to say that tradition is truth and that social standards shouldn’t change is just wishful thinking that nothing ever changes…and seriously…what’s wrong with evolution? Essentially…why should the past have any directive of how people live today?Also…the term “civil union” isn’t exclusive to homosexual couples…@halfazneeyore – So sterile heterosexual couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry? What about the perfectly healthy couples that have no intentions of having children?@manureman – The definition of murder has already been twisted that it excludes people that kill out of self-defense…As for incestuous marriages…yes…I too find it just as disgusting as you find homosexual marriages abominable…however unlike you…I do not wish to intrude into other people’s lives and impose my beliefs upon them…That would be just rude…And I do have a father figure in my life…though I do not know what me having a father has anything to do with it…@hillaryaxxo – California is split down the middle when it comes to liberals v. conservatives…and for the most part…the California coast and metropolis centers and university locations holds a majority of the liberals while the rest of the state are conservative…Also…California gets that ultra-liberal images from each presidential election when a majority of the Latino and African-American demographic vote Democrat despite their conservative beliefs…
@portasaurus – …your ignorance is astounding.I don’t live in California otherwise I would definitely be voting NO. Best of luck!
Being gay is gay. Don’t be so gay about your gay rights; that’s just so gay.
@drung888 – Define father figure to me
I just submitted my No vote, but the mailman won’t pick it up till Monday morning
too bad I can’t vote and that I don’t live in California. 😦 Those people who are against gay marriage really suck. Why would anyone be against love?
@mi1kandcerea1 – gay rights are the best were just like fucking normal god damn people fuck man get a clue
the only california resident i know is my dad, and as a gay, married man i can guess what his vote will be already. =) i also just donated $25 bucks to try to help out. i live in a state that only took the laws off the books against interracial marriage 7 years ago, and i dream one day (soon) same sex marraiges will also be legalized here. if this gets knocked down on the 4th, california will be able to continue paving the way for the rest of america.
@manureman – What does my father figure have anything with this discussion or my beliefs?
I wish I weren’t a minor. *hug* If you’re Jewish, I go to a great temple.
If I lived in California–and if I was 18–I’d vote no. Equal rights for all.
Hope you have a lovely wedding. 🙂
@drung888 – I believe I did mention adoption somewhere in my comment, but if not – let me clarify. Though sterile couples do not have the ability to reproduce, they can adopt. Adoption is wonderful, but only if two parents are present. I don’t know if we want to open a whole other can of worms here, but I’m against gay adoption. Like I said, a child needs to learn certain things from both a female figure and a male figure that cares and loves them. Sure, homosexuals can be fantastic parents, but they only have half of what is takes. About the perfectly healthy couples that have no intention, at least they have the equipment and the means. xP
@XxrockxXxgirlxX – Someday you will wake up and relize that it is not a marriage it is a civil union between two people when you put the word gay in it.
Also we are not against love but the majority of the world doesn’t know the true meaning of love
I have this uneasy feeling when I watch proposition ads, especially when I saw yes on prop 8.I cannot vote, but I will certainly inform the my peers that can vote.
@manureman – ok, for one, spell correctly. It’s realize, not relize. And for two, marriage may be defined in the dictionary as a union between a man and a woman, but I do not believe that it is our right to say just because of a definition that was written longer ago than I care to look up, doesn’t mean we should let that define ourselves, or our laws. I believe marriage is between 2 people who are in love, woman and woman, man and man, or woman and man. Great if you’re against gay marriage, but when you reply to the comment I just made with something so brief and not explaining even why, you make it like I have the better argument here. I don’t mind debating this, I’m actually a little bit curious why you feel civil unions are for gays. Personally, I would prefer marriages but I would be fine with civil unions as long as GLBTs get the same rights.
@drung888 – It has everything to do with this discussion. If a child was raised without a father he or she will spent the rest of their life searching for the missing void.
Females that didn’t have a father figure in their life will usually be attracted to a man that will abuse them and try and demean them.
Males on the other hand will try and find that father figure that was missing in their life also. That said the father figure they do find is usually a male that has a more submissive nature and is more like the mother that raised him because he know no fatherly love.
@XxrockxXxgirlxX – You already answered your own question on civil unions in the first paragraph when you gave the dictionarys meaning of marriage.
Another thing you make it sound like the definition of the laws of the land and prop 8 can be smeared anyway you want to smear them. The reason the country is in situation that it is right now is because of people like you. Wallstreet would now be in this situation if people would not have smeared the laws. This is the downward spiral of America. Even prop 8 would not even be considered an issue if there wasn’t somebody with a big head throwing his weight around in some goverment office.
I’m not from the States but I wish you the best of luck!
What the hell? Why would they finally give people the right then take it away?
I would vote against it if I were in California!
I’m not in CA, but I support you and will be voting for Obama/Biden.
I am voting NO on 8 in November. Trying to convince others to do the same, but the attack ads have brainwashed them.
If I was born 6 months earlier, I would be able to vote, and I’d for sure vote no on Prop 8! It’s the issue I care most about. I really really hope Prop 8 doesn’t pass, and I wish you two the best of luck!!!
@manureman – you’re simply cruel. nothing else. i don’t know what it is inside you that allows you to freely say those things without feeling horrible about yourself.
3 votes from my family will be supporting you. I hope the best! Let’s keep this [post on the top!! =D
@rain_soaked_romance – I am ignorant because I don’t want two same sexed people to marry… I’m ignorant because I know that two people who have the same reproductive organs can’t reproduce and is pretty much pointless… I’m ignorant because I don’t want my marriage to mean less because we want to appease a small percentage of people who enjoy the same legal rights under domestic partnerships (civil unions since you don’t live in California), I’m ignorant because I see it as being counterproductive, the whole purpose of our species is to reproduce… to beget viable offspring to carry out the human race, one penis + one penis = 0, one vagina + one vagina = 0, Gay men are not able to adopt children, and women seeking firtilization still need… what is that… sperm… that’s from.. oh a penis! It makes sense, look all around at nature you will see two OPPOSITE sexed animals seeking eachother out to mate for the SOLE PURPOSE of begetting children. Anyway, that’s all I wanted say. Thank you for the reply, I may be ignorant but in the long run I know that the round peg goes in the round hole! two pegs can’t fit together, screws need nuts, just like nails need wood 8)
@halfazneeyore – and not all straight parents have the ability to raise a child. So you shouldn’t judge a gay couples ability to raise a child based on the fact that theyre gay
I’m underage but if I could I’d vote in your favor. I see nothing wrong with gay marriage, and the American way of doing things would be to have the freedom to marry whoever it is you please. Hope to see pictures and an update in December 🙂
@amandawishesonstaars – @xxmissbettyxx – @wynnde – @Lifes_Bookmark – @EverydayEmpathy – Thanks for your support. It is much appreciated.
@sukr4acoustic731 – Thanks for your support. I think this election will be a close one and I’m hoping that people realize that taking away rights is an unprecedented and dangerous trend. First the gays, then who else?
@cApNhOwDy – @yukinkoIcy – @Dizbiz – @LihKinLi – @lillywashere – @enyczbest – @ClockworkBunny – @JENNiF4Rts__x – @elelkewljay – @iamthebella – @heavenlyki – @chamchikimbap – Thank you all for your support.
@drung888 – Thanks for your support. I agree that the thing that is so offensive with religious extremists is that they want to impose their view on others. The 11,000+ same-sex marriages that have taken place in California so far have not done anything to diminish the milliions of different-sex marriages, so why start taking rights away? “Because my god says so” is a pretty flimsy excuse, because MY god says that we should wipe out intollerant religious fanatics.
@Mandrake – Hope you don’t get arrested for vandalism or anything, but thanks for the support!
@LtSpanky – My parents live in Indy now. While there may be a limit to what you can do, any support is appreciated. Reach out to anyone you know in CA, bring the issue up on chat boards, etc. Thanks!
@ansar_al_Eisa – Thank you for your thoughtful response. I will point out one thing and ask you to consider it with an open mind: the majority is often willing to vote against the rights of the minority. That’s why it took court decisions to strike down mixed-race marriages as illegal, for example. If you have the CA Supreme Court’s ruling on the gay marriage case, you’ll see a very well-reasoned explanation for why “civil unions” and “marriage” are not the same.
The very fuss that is being raised in the debate about the issue of gay marriage indicates how much weight the word “marriage” carries. If it didn’t carry so much weight, then I might agree that “separate but equal” was okay. But civil unions are not equal to marriage, even if the rights are 99% the same.
I truly hope you will reconsider your position. You sound like a reasonable person, and as such, I’d imagine that you might consider precedent to see why the judiciary has a role to step in and protect the rights of the minority from the whims of the majority.
@onlyFORaLILwhile – I suspect you are not very sorry, otherwise you’d be voting no on 2 in Florida. =) I do hope you’ll reconsider your position as our society is strengthened when we encourage loving, stable relationships among people. Refusing to recognize those relationships does nothing but weaken society and increase intolerance.