Discuss the first installment of the Dust-Up on Prop. 8

OK, so it basically comes down to this, if homosexuality is something I'm born with, why am I not allowed my rights and freedoms in this society? Where does it end, though? If I'm born "gay," can't I also be born as a pedophile? Don't I have the rights to explore that option? What about bestiality? I was born lusting after animals, it's my right to be able to do whatever I want to an animal. My question is, why is one anomaly of nature something one is "born" with, but others are considered "diseases"?

Johnsonville @ 3:00 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

MY PARTNER AND I GOT MARRIED LAST YEAR (COMMITMENT CEREMONY) AND FINALLY LEGALIZE IT IN JUNE. MY 9 YEAR OLD SON WAS THE RING BOY WHO WALKED US DOWN THE AISLE. WE NEVER EVER SHOW ANYTHING THAT IS UNPROPER BEHAVIOR BETWEEN FEMALE TO FEMALE. THE ONLY THING THAT MY SON UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS THAT HE HAS TWO PARENTS THAT LOVES HIM VERY MUCH AND WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM, HE WOULD TELL ME FROM TIME TO TIME THAT HE'S GLAD THAT HE HAS TWO MOMMIES. SO THATS WHAT MAKES A FAMILY, A LOVING FAMILY NO MATTER WHAT GENDER!!!!! I VOTE NO ON PROP 8

M @ 2:46 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

A quote directly from the Supreme Court opinion. “Finally, affording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.” Verify it for yourself. Go to (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/opinions.cgi) Type case number: S147999 & read the last part of the paragraph after footnote #71

Ted Hax @ 2:41 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

To 196. Lance, with all do respect. All people are NOT homosexual. Roughly a tenth of the world's entire population is, more or less. Heterosexuals are doing more than enough to make up for those gay or NOT who don't procreate. BTW, it's not MAKING babies that's important, it's raising them with love, security and commitment that is. And gay people can do that too. And heterosexuals can be terrible at it. Real world facts please, Lance.

Regan DuCasse @ 2:28 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

I'm from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which I reluctantly have to say is referred to by you folks in California as 'England' too often...states' rights for the Welsh, Scots and Irish say I!! Where was I? Oh yes. Just to let you know, and DO spread the word as I think it might help the non-believers, that we have allowed gay men and lesbians to marry for a couple of years now. Yes, staid olde England! Home of the nice cup of tea and the stiff upper lip! And the sky -- grey rather than California's beguiling blue, but it was ever thus -- did NOT fall on our heads. We got over ourselves. And you should do the same.

Callum Calder @ 2:27 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

What a sexist title for your article. Are you against lesbians? You should be sued for insulting gays. There is a reeducation camp in your future.

Pandora @ 2:19 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

Were churches, especially Catholic churches THIS worked up over divorced and remarrying couples? Were they THIS afraid of LOSING any of THEIR freedoms or status over OTHER religious reprobations that have nothing to do with gay folks? Just asking.

Regan DuCasse @ 2:18 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

I wish children weren't brought into this so unrealistically and unreasonably...and dishonestly. Complaints of indoctrinating children by religious groups is the utmost of hypocrisy. Why don't they just come right out and say, they don't want children to be taught that gay people's lives, love and families are treasured by gay people. What they REALLY want is children to remain distrustful and fearful of gay people. Even if it's their own parents. What, don't they want honesty? However ugly and unworkable it is into a decent and fair minded society?

Regan DuCasse @ 2:16 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

Blood donation, organ donation and autopsy are absolutely immoral and abominations in many religious cultures. And it's members are banned from practicing such acts. But they'd be hard pressed to demand that our society NOT have such options for each individuals. We have generally long abandoned those tenets because the benefits have outweighed any PRESUMED risks. I think there is room for religious freedom AND marriage equality. No on 8.

Regan DuCasse @ 2:12 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

Such historical illiteracy! The civil rights parallel is legitimate. No one is banned from marriage based on a natural attribute. Basic restrictions are STATUS based. Homosexuality, like dark skin or gender has had traditions of discrimination because those attributes were used AS moral reforms. Prop 8 is on the wrong side of cruel traditions. And using the Constitution to further it and redefine equal protections is worse than marriage equality. Why? Prop 8 is redundant and won't serve to protect ANYTHING, not even the fiction of heterosexual supremacy.

Regan DuCasse @ 2:09 PM PDT, Oct 28, 2008

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