I stand corrected

I’ve been considering posting a topic about how absurd some of the anti-prop 22 (CA intiative preempting out-of-state same-sex marriages) people have been acting. There are posters saying stuff like “stop the hate”, ads saying that it will allow anti-gay discrimination (as if gay marriage would somehow get rid of anti-homosexual bigotry), and people stealing pro-22 material. I was considering trying to explain how these people were more ridiculous than the pro-22 side because, while prop-22 may be supported by bigots, that doesn’t make it itself bigoted, and yelling “bigotry! bigotry! bigotry!” over again is hardly a rational argument.

But then I saw a pro-22 ad that showed just how riduclous that side is. It was a woman explaining that as a teacher, she has dedicated her life to helping children, and that has somehow led her to support 22 (I’m sure that anti-homosexual feelings had nothing to do with it :rolleyes :). Excuse me? I hadn’t realized that same-sex marriages were so distracting for second graders trying to do their homework. I’ve never gone to a same-sex wedding. Do they kidnap children and force them to sit through the ceremony instead of going to school?

The previous pro-22 ad was some guy saying that we as Californians should have the right to decide for ourselves whether we want same-sex marriages. I agree with that; we should decide, and we should decide yes. That was an ad I could respect, even if I didn’t agree with it, and I am tired of the antis’ position that we don’t have the right to decide; that we’re somehow obligated to allow same-sex marriages, and anyone against them is a bigot. But this “think about the children!” crap is ridiculous; children aren’t getting married, adults are.

So congratulations, pro-22 people! I was considering abstaining just out of annoyance at the antis’ disrespect for my intelligence, but now that in addition to subsidizing TV programs, you have shown yourself to be just as disrespectful, I’m planning on voting “no”.

I actually have been to a same-sex wedding, when I was in college. Two of the men I worked with decided to get married. Of course, their marriage had no legal standing, but nonetheless, they wanted to do it as a public statement of their love for and devotion to each other. It was quite the splendid affair, actually. They asked me to be the ‘Best Man’ (the joke was that I was the best man among them, you see…) I was honored to do that for my friends. Rented a tux and everything.

I don’t know what religion -if any - the presiding minister was from, but he gave a grand sermon on the importance of devotion and committment, loving and living in accordance with the Word of God.
As it happened, both men had at least partial custody of children they had had - the mothers of both children were drug addicts. These guys were good daddies to their kids.
I’ve long since lost touch with that family, but I suspect they’re doing all right.