Please Vote No on Prop 8

We are working on teaching Angus to say please when he is asking for something. It's going well. He rarely remembers to do it himself but when reminded he shyly smiles and gives an adorable "beeeez!" It's very difficult to resist.

Here's hoping this will have the same effect on you!

Having many conservative friends and being able to love them despite our differences makes this issue very difficult for me. I have heard enough of their explanations to truly understand where they are coming from. I really, truly do. To them, marriage is a religious institution; as much between them & God as it is between them and their partner. To them, the moral code of their religion is of the utmost importance, they see religion as the source of those morals and as a requirement to acquire and understand those morals. They desperately want their children to learn and understand this without challenge from the outside, not because they are closed minded or ignorant, but because they believe in these concepts with all their heart and soul. They are a part of them...

I also understand that the writers of Prop 8 are attempting to fight back in the name of the people. CA voters passed Prop 22 some years back banning gay marriage and the Supreme Court overruled that legislation because it was unconstitutional. The writers and supporters of Prop 8 believe that they have the best interest of the CA voters in mind when giving the opportunity to ban gay marriage again.

The thing is... those voters were wrong. The Supreme Court was right; it is unconstitutional to deny a legal classification to consenting adults because they are homosexual. Marriage, according to the state, is a legal contract. While your marriage may be between you, your spouse, and God... legal marriage is not. Straight people have always been free to define their marriage however they wish in their own homes. There are open marriages, religious marriages, marriages of convenience, marriage for money, marriage for citizenship. And while any of us might not agree with those definitions of marriage... as long as the people involved meet the legal requirements of this state (that they are consenting adults) then they are free to enter into the legal contract of marriage.

While we might find these things described above to be in poor taste they in NO way damage our marriage. Marriage, in the eyes of the law is a contract... one that two consenting adults enter into after paying a nominal fee and signing a certificate. Marriage, and what you make of it afterward is completely and totally up to you.

Please understand that it is wrong to discriminate against anyone for any reason. Please understand that banning gay marriage is discrimination. Please understand that it is wrong to ban gay marriage.

I understand that you believe gay marriage is wrong. I understand that you believe it so deeply that it feels like fact. I understand that you don't want your children to hear that it is okay from their teachers. You will always have the right to limit the exposure your child receives to different topics. As a vigilant parent you can discuss curriculum with teachers and administrators ahead of time and you can have your child removed from the classroom and engaged in another activity during a time when something that is against your personal beliefs is being taught. You will always have that right and you should exercise it.

We are each entitled to our beliefs. Keep those beliefs close to your heart, and fill your home with them, but please understand that they are YOUR beliefs and you cannot expect people who believe other things to be content with being discriminated against because of your beliefs.

Please do the right thing and please vote no on Prop 8.