Among the marriage rights rallies held on November 15, was the rally here in San Jose. It was heartening to see two thousand citizens—including the couples pictured here—stand up for equal rights and the integrity of our state constitution.
I was terribly nervous the night before election day. I had volunteered to work all day for the No-on-8 campaign. The training had been rather intimidating, and I was afraid that I might misrepresent the campaign. I might get sassy with some evangelical. Being straight and perhaps naive about what prejudice I might encounter, I worried that I might lose my temper.
As it turned out, I had a good time, though the work involved a lot of standing around.
I fondly recall the moment when a man passed by with his daughter. I humbly offered them a “No on 8″ card. The little girl took the card and pointed to it, looked up to her dad and said “Obama!”
Now I’m not a the biggest Obama fan, but that was a sweet thing to behold.
Republic? Well, not exactly.
I also enjoy the memory of the “mature” lady who shook her index finger at me scoldingly. That wasn’t the only finger that was shaken at me that day. Every finger was a little birdie of liberation. It all felt great.
Then there was the older lady who stopped her car to inform me that my hand was blocking the “8″ on my rally placard. Oops!
Late in the day, an equally elderly man stopped his car to cite the Bible and inform me that homosexuality is an “abomination”. I was a little fatigued, so I casually asked whether it was too much to let them decide whether they ought to “abominate” or not. Mainly I was just looking for an excuse to hear myself say “abominate”.
Then I heard the word “Obama-Nation” echo through my head like some demonic forbidden thought. Thankfully I was not the first white boy to think of it.
And all the horns honking and hands waving: I don’t remember ever being so popular with the ladies!
I think my favorite memory is of hearing the word “faggot” screamed from a passing car.
It’s not that such an experience entitles me to claim to know what it’s like to be gay. It’s more about this: when the civil liberties of one of my fellow citizens is systematically attacked, I might as well be the target, because when that person is threatened, we’re all threatened.
BIGOTS AGAINST LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS need your money! They are registered with the California Secretary of State as proponents of Proposition 8, but as of yet have received no funds!
Steve Young remains a class act, and his wife Barbara rocks! Prop 8 R.I.P.!
Steve Young’s Home Displays ‘No On 8′ Signs.
Don’t let the mob insert discrimination
into the California state constitution!
California is a republic! Not an anarchistic mobocracy!
Let’s defend our constitution!
I attended a No on Prop 8 “visibility” activity at San Jose’s Diridon Station this morning, and was very disappointed in the turnout: three people, including me, and I’m not even gay!
I am, however, a California patriot, and I’m afraid I’m about to see the constitution of my state stained by the graffiti of special interest groups.
In a democracy, people get the government they deserve.
—Adlai Stevenson
It’s no secret that Mormons are a tremendous force behind funding for the Yes on 8 Campaign. According to Mormons for Proposition 8, 46% of contributions to the campaign (about $10 million) have come from Mormons. But there are other major players.
Of the ten principal contributors to the Prop 8 campaign, two are based in California. Clearly, this battle is not seen as mere California politics by many Americans. There are significant forces who are doing their best to push Prop 8 through, to see to it that government continues to evolve into a Church-of-State. Californians will have to overcome these powers of bigotry and big government to continue the progress of this land of liberty and equal opportunity; this state that has been said to be “America, only moreso.”
The principal (non-Mormon) contributors to the the Church-of-State Campaign:
Some notes on these principal contributors:
The National Organization for Marriage signs its checks as a resident of Santa Ana, CA, but that is only a branch. The headquarters is in New Jersey.
The Knights of Columbus is “the world’s foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society.”
Fieldstead & Company of Irvine, CA has been called the “Paymaster to the political right” by the Orange County Register.
The Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation is funded with money from Prince Automotive. Edgar Prince co-founded the Family Research Council with neoconservative Gary Bauer. The current head of the foundation, Edgar and Elsa’s son Erik, is also the founder and owner of Blackwater USA.
Two separate contributors from reportedly from Garden Grove, CA, Robert Hurtt & Container Supply Co., Inc, appear to be one and the same: the former state senator from Garden Grove is a perennial contributor to conservative causes, and a big fan of James Dobson.
“The American Family Association exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth and traditional family values.”
The Templeton Foundation is noted for its Templeton Prize, which “honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.” The founder, John Templeton, was interested in answers to questions such as “How large is God? How are finite beings related to the infinite? What was God’s purpose in creating the universe?” He was also interested in the question “what is the best way to live?” His answer appears to be that the best way to live is for government to dictate to citizens how they must live.
Concerned Women for America is dedicated to bringing “Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.”
The upcoming election will give Californians an opportunity to declare that we are dedicated to the core American principle of non-intervention of government in personal and spiritual affairs. My fellow Californians, let us not place spiritual vows in the domain of the state. This is not China or Soviet Russia. Strike down Proposition 8.
Bravo, California! This calls for a party. You can bet that I, my wife, and our kids will celebrate this one.
This moment gives comfort in the face of all the terrible news we’ve been buffeted with of late.
Though I don’t look to the state for moral guidance, I am relieved when the state withdraws its bumbling paws from the personal lives of citizens. For that reason, this is an unquestionable victory for humanity, which is always an uncommon event that we must strive to appreciate.
I’ve become so accustomed to feeling ashamed to be an American since 2003 that the taste of this news is made that much more sweet. It’s a great day to be a Californian.
Reactionaries will doubtless see this as “judicial activism”. I guess that makes it a fight between the judge and the mob. The mob may fight back, and the mob may win, but this is a great day nonetheless.
© 2010 Dan Jensen All Rights Reserved -- Copyright notice by Blog Copyright