Above are two sites: one is a website outlining one group's definition of Proposition 8 and their support for it and the other is Ellen DeGeneres's PSA urging voters to vote no on Prop 8. And although not certified so far, this proposition has passed in California. I think that the controversy over this issue is unfounded. And while I understand the importance of religion in some people's lives we have to realize that if we want to preach secularism in our country, our laws cannot mirror religious beliefs. Yes, our Constitution is inherently religious in some aspects but it was also written at the founding of our country which is a far cry from where we are today both socially and politically. Clearly, everyone has a right to their own beliefs but when these beliefs encroach on other human's rights, they cross a line in my opinion.
If we want to extend democracy and human rights and freedoms to other countries (like we claim to want to) then we should be setting an example at home. We should be an open society for EVERYONE not just those people that our religions tell us are worthy of respect. I feel like this particular issue and the fact that it has passed in a country that just elected Obama president is a very strange contradiction. It seemed as though some people are selective in what minorities and alternative lifestyles they accept. But we cannot play judge and jury on other people's lives because we are all human and live together in a country that needs to be unified. And although there has always been racism, sexism, homophobia, etc, this cannot be a justification for its continuance.
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