Angry yet hopeful

Editor: As an almost 50-year-old, married, heterosexual male, I want to apologize personally to all gay and lesbian Californians for the bigotry and narrow-mindedness demonstrated by my fellow California voters this week in passing Proposition 8. For the first time in memory, I am ashamed and embarrassed to call myself a Californian. Talk about mixed emotions! I went to bed Tuesday night basking in the warm glow of an Obama victory and the prospect that change has truly come to America. Yet I awoke Wednesday morning bitter and angry with the realization that things have hardly changed at all.
I am angry that religious fanatics from Utah and elsewhere poured millions of dollars into California to pay for deceptive and dishonest advertisements, the sole purpose of which was to deny my fellow Californians their hopes, dreams and personal liberties. I am angry that 52 percent of voters relied on a 2,000-year-old collection of short fiction to justify shredding the constitutional rights of my fellow citizens. I am angry that men and women of color (exit polls show that African-Americans overwhelmingly voted yes on Prop. 8), whose parents and grandparents were denied civil rights for so long and who fought so hard for the right to participate in our democracy, turned around and used the power of the vote to trample on the civil rights of others. I am angry that religion (and let’s be honest, every argument against same-sex marriage begins and ends with religion) has once again proved itself to be the world’s greatest source of prejudice and ignorance.
Despite my anger, I remain hopeful that change will eventually come. Exit polls also show that a large majority of voters under age 30 voted against Prop. 8. As my own 12-year-old daughter said on Wednesday, in the wake of her disappointment over the passage of Prop. 8, “If two people love each other and want to get married, why should anyone else care?” Exactly! And with thinking like that, it’s only a matter of time until marriage equality is a constitutional right of all Californians (once again) and – someday – all Americans.

David A. Diamond
Sonoma

State of California sold

Editor: The State of California, its constitution and the freedom of many of its residents were sold to the Mormon Church of Utah for the sum of $36 million. Escrow closed on this historic sale Nov. 4, 2008. Without the sale, the gay community would have been treated equal under the law and gay marriage, a fundamental right, would have been recognized. The proponents of the sale sold the state due to fear that gay marriage was somehow going to affect their lives, even after being reassured by the state’s governor, a state senator, a presidential hopeful, the teachers unions and millions of intelligent opponents of Proposition 8 that gay marriage was not going to affect them in any way. For some unknown reason the proponents insisted on the sale. When talks between the buyers’ agent, the Catholic church, and the opponents of the sale ceased, the Mormon church sweetened the deal by adding another $3 million to the offer, and at that point there was no talking any sense to the already closed-minded. The Mormon Church wants the state so it can add discrimination to its constitution, thinking that it will somehow add value. They thought the people of the state would not object. They were wrong and three lawsuits have already been filed with the state’s Supreme Court. It is safe to say that this fight is far from over. We do expect the Mormon Church and the Catholic Church to continue to force their opinions on other taxpaying, free citizens of this country. In addition, any state that does not share their beliefs may suffer the same consequences or be subject to a hostile takeover. It is amazing what money can buy! We will keep you informed of any new developments.

Tim Church
Sonoma

Churches funded passage of Prop. 8

Editor: The passage of Proposition 8 to take civil rights away from gay and lesbian couples in defiance of the State Supreme Court ruling was in large part due to the significant effort and funding provided by the Mormon and Catholic churches as well as other religions, which believe “marriage” is a religious term. As a result, by issuing state “marriage” licenses, the requisite separation of church and state is being violated.
The solution to this problem is simple – the State of California should immediately stop issuing “marriage” licenses and instead issue “civil union” licenses to everyone, including gays and lesbians, which bestow the same rights as the current “marriage” licenses. Let the churches own the term marriage and in turn the state shall grant the legal rights of civil union to all. No more discrimination.

Sharon Church
Glen Ellen

Editor: I joined the coalition for Yes on Prop. 8. I voted for the same in the past election. My concern on this matter was not to keep those of same-sex inclination from being joined in a civilian union with all the legal rights I have been privileged to receive. I have been married with a wonderful woman for 66 happy years. I can sympathize with anyone seeing happy marriages wanting to have similar experiences. However, for the last thousands of years, according to the Bible, or last hundreds of years according to the definition of our English dictionaries, marriage has been only between a man and a woman. Now only in these last few years, those of same-sex inclination are trying to destroy the sanctity of my marriage, established by God. Rather than change the definition of the words marriage, husband, wife, father, mother and possibly other words in our language, why don’t they choose other names of their choice for their lifestyle and introduce them to be accepted with all legal recognition offered to married couples? I would vote for that.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I believe in God and in his son Jesus Christ. I believe in the Christian principles this nation was founded upon. I call no man a bigot or any other derogatory name. Let each of our actions in serving others speak what kind of a citizen we are.
I am pleased to stand by my Catholic and other Christian friends on this issue. They were the same ones on whom I could depend when serving in World War II because of their love for the Lord and their dedication to their country. Most of those who served with me were not drafted, but volunteered, eager to be counted on the Lord’s side.

R.A. Wright
Sonoma