My Prop 8 Experience
You know, I think back to a few years ago, and I don’t think it ever crossed my mind that I would be involved, or care much about, a political campaign. It’s not that I didn’t care about the world, I’ve always had a thing for volunteering and being of service – it was just that politically I felt there was nothing I could do. I would leave it to the “big dawgs” so to speak.
I think I started caring more when I realized what my votes as a non-informed voter had provoked. I had voted for people that stood strongly against my beliefs and I never cared enough to find out or dig deep enough to find those differences. I was a Democrat, I voted Democrat, and that was that – no thought involved – easy stuff.
Too long of a story to add here, but I’ll just say that through experiences in life and my learning more about my Catholic faith, I now consider myself a reformed Democrat – turned away from the dark side (if I may use that term withouth George Lucas descending his lawyers upon me). Once I opened up my mind to consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, Democrats weren’t the helpers of the oppressed and the saviours of the poor as they claimed, then I was able to use logic in my voting. I am proud to say that I voted Republican in the last election (and I won’t get into an argument about how the Republican party is not perfect – trust me I know – but they are the better alternative at the moment).
Anyway, back to what I wanted to talk about. Having an open mind, and an informed conscience, I realized what was happening in California. Activist judges were trying to force homosexual marriage on Californians and they didn’t care that California voters had already decided on this issue only a few years back. When I heard about what this meant, and that there was actually a movement to try and fight for our rights (thanks Maggie Gallagher from NOM for coming to California), I knew I had to be part of it. From the beginning I had the opportunity (and I say blessing) to be involved in the Prop 8 campaign.
I was only a small drop of water, part of a group working with a region in Los Angeles to motivate Catholics to volunteer and vote for Prop 8 to protect traditional marriage. It was hard work and we as a group faced daunting tasks. Sometimes it seemed impossible that we could achieve our goal. Faith is what kept us going through the attacks (physical, verbal, emotional) from the other side. Faith is what kept us going when we met opposition even in our churches – people that should know what the Church teaches and what we as Catholics believe.
I worked with so many great people – people I would not have met otherwise – brothers and sisters from other denominations, and especially wonderful people from the Church of LDS. Together we tackled many tasks and reached many, many voters. Throughout the whole campaign we were told by news programs, all types of media, polls and people around us (ahem, won’t say any names) that we shouldn’t be hopeful, that we were likely going to lose and that there was no way that California would vote to overturn gay marriage. Faith kept us going.
On November 4, 2008, the people of California spoke. Despite so many deceiving ads from gay marriage advocates, the attacks on our churches, the enormous amount of money that celebrities poured into the opposition’s campaign, and just the overall hatred spewed in our direction for standing up for our beliefs and our rights, Californians voted to protect traditional marriage. The voters spoke and their will was to uphold marriage between a man and a woman.
This did not satisfy homosexual marriage advocates. They of course decided to challenge the decision. Sadly, even the State Attorney General (Brown) in charge of protecting and upholding our constitution decided to proclaim the Prop 8 Amendment was unconstitutional. Protesters to Prop 8 went to the streets and caused disrputions, and to Churches and antagonized churchgoers. Supporters of homosexual marriage began a blacklist of people who voted for Prop 8. They physically and emotionally attacked people at their place of work, and businessowners who privately donated to the campaign. As they shouted for tolerance, they tried to crush our spirt and intimidate people who exercised their right to vote.
Yesterday, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the actions filed against Prop 8. Their main argument was that Prop 8 was not an Amendment, but a revision and should have gone through a 3/4 legislative vote. In my opinion, the opposition’s arguments were weak and unsupported. I felt the Justices were good about questioning and trying to obtain evidence from the Prop 8 opposition as to why they should overturn the will of the people – and frankly, in my humble opinion, they did not get a valid response (you can see for yourself here http://www.calchannel.com/images/tcc_live.html).
Now the Justices have 90 days to give their decision. I remain confident that the will of God will prevail.
Here is my recap. Ironically, I think Elton John said it best on November 14, 2008:
“I don’t want to be married. I’m very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership,” “The word ‘marriage,’ I think, puts a lot of people off. “You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships.”
The homosexual community already has the rights to be legally in a committed relationship. What they want is the term “marriage.” And in order to get the term, they are willing to insult, threaten livelihoods, intimidate, blacklist, physically harm, and legally outspend anyone who believes different. They have said it many times, whatever it takes.
I pray for the conversion of hearts and minds, and I pray for the strength to continue fighting for my beliefs and my voting rights in the face of such intolerant opposition.
