So disappointed in California

It was decided that yesterday that Prop 8 will stand. We as a state have officially taken away the rights of our citizens. Why? I like to believe it's because there were so many people like myself that just did not think for an instant that it would pass. Had I any idea that there was an actual chance of Prop 8 passing, I would've done a little more to show my support in voting NO on 8. I have learned a powerful lesson and only hope to have the strength to speak up next time. I am not a political person in any way. Basically my decisions are based on how something will affect me and my family, but Prop 8 passing will and can have an affect on my family.

I have a friend with an ability to get involved and really try to make a difference. She spoke at the Rally in Fresno last night. With her permission I'm including her speech. Thank you Vickye (So I Married a Republican) for your efforts and inspiration!

One thing stood out to me during the Prop 8 campaign. Prop 8 supporters were not afraid to pull the kid card. They were not afraid to say “Oh, but what about the children?” Well, I am going to pull it right back on them. What about the children?

What about the LGBT kids in this state? All 2-6 hundred thousand of them? What about all of the children being raised by LGBT people? What about their grandchildren, their nieces, nephews, their cousins? What about them? So, when they say “what about the children”, what they really mean is, what about their children.

Okay, what about their children? They are taught that gay is wrong. Ours are taught that love comes in all shapes and sizes. Theirs are taught to exclude. Ours are taught to include. Ours are also taught, from an early age, what it is like to be excluded, thanks to their children and parents.

Their children are taught that there is only one way. They are taught only what their parents want them to know, rather than all there is to know. They are taught what to believe, rather than the facts. They are taught that morality is a narrow road and that only they have the map.

Our children look at this differently. Ours are given the facts and taught that beliefs need to be backed up by them. Ours are shown the whole world and trusted to find their way with the love and knowledge we have given them. Ours are taught that morality must be aligned with justice, or it will be neither. Our children are given the entire rainbow of colors and an entire world to paint them with.

So, to say, “what about the children” is very misleading, because they really don’t care about children. They teach their own children a set of values that will fall apart the moment their child hits the real world, causing pain and confusion. They try to condemn our children, simply for being who they are or who their parents are. And, by passing and upholding Prop 8, they have shown ALL children that justice does not matter anymore, it simply matters who has the louder voice. They are teaching that equality is no longer a foundation of our country, that the majority can vote away the minority’s rights.

We know this to be a temporary aberration and will teach our children as such. We will teach our children to never stop fighting for what is right; for what is just. We will never teach our children to rejoice over someone else’s loss. We will teach our children that justice and love trump tradition, every time.

So, Prop 8 is not really about families, because they set out to invalidate the families of these children. It’s not really about marriage, because they are trying to prevent loving marriages. And it is definitely not for the children, because teaching a child to exclude is only the first step towards teaching them to hate.

So, the next time someone tells you they oppose same-sex marriage, I want you to ask them “But, what about the children?”

It's certainly something to think about!