Proposition 8

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When Do I Get to Vote on Your Marriage?

We don't often venture into the political arena here at The Den. But there's an issue on California's November 2008 ballot we simply can't just let slide.

It's Proposition 8.

Back in May of 2008, the California Supreme court, overturned Proposition 22 as unconstitutional. Proposition 22 attempted to write into California's Family Code the same discriminatory definition of marriage that Proposition 8 is trying to write into the state's Constitution.

Overturning Proposition 22 was the right decision. A month later, gay couples across the state began being legally married. (We even celebrated these marriages both at The Den and on the web site with the graphic to the right.)

Finally, marriage was equal for everybody under California Law.

Now, a large, well-funded, extremist group of organizations and individuals are seeking to remove that equality with Proposition 8. It proposes to add a new section to Article I of the California constitution. This new section, Section 7.5, reads in its entirety, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

We at the Den oppose Proposition 8 for these reasons:

It will eliminate the constitutionally guaranteed rights of all Californians to marry the man or woman of their choice.
It's badly written; nowhere does the proposed amendment define what a "man" and a "woman" are.
No other constitutional amendment has been specifically designed to eliminate the rights of any group.

Please, vote No on Proposition 8.

For further reading:

California Secretary of State page on Proposition 8
No on Proposition 8 Web site. You may also donate to the cause from their web site

Update:

The 2008 election is over; disappointingly Proposition 8 passed with a slim majority of 52% of the vote. Lawsuits have been filed to invalidate the proposition. We hope the courts see this proposition for what it is and strike it down.