“Fidelity”: Don’t Divorce… from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
When Prop. 8 passed in California in November of 2008, I felt some pretty mixed emotions. On one hand, I was proud of my country and America’s ability to move beyond the deep roots of racism that have colored our history. Early in the primary, I didn’t think Obama could win. I am grateful that he proved me wrong. And he’s proven yet again that anyone can grow up to be The President of the United States.
But on the other hand, Prop. 8 passed the same day in California. It deeply saddened and angered me as a gay man and an American citizen. It’s incredible that a whole class of citizens can have their rights stripped from them by a simple majority vote. “We voted. You don’t count.”
I am still very sore with this issue. Yesterday, the NYTimes wrote about Prop. 8 Maps, a mash-up of Prop. 8 donors and Google Maps. I looked at it for about an hour last night. I clicked on people’s bubbles and read their names, their occupations, and the amount they donated. I just couldn’t help but wonder why my happiness was so threatening to them. They’re donations felt so personal. My relationship with my boyfriend is so threatening to these complete and total strangers living literally across the country that they were willing to donate hundred and thousands of dollars.
Anti-gay legislation has reached hysterical new heights: it’s complete maddness when a grandmother cannot adopt her own granddaughter.
Anyway, the analysis of Prop. 8 that I read after is passed said that it didn’t threaten the marriage of the couples who were married before Prop. 8 passed. But now Ken Starr wants to nullify those marriages. The world is full of war, disease, hungry, strife, pollution, and ruin. If anything, the world needs more love and happiness. It’s unbelievable that Ken Starr and his friends would advocate the destruction and annihilation of other people’s love, happiness, and marriage. This isn’t about an abstract concept of marriage and the definition of one combination of eight letters. It’s about husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, parents and children. Kenn Starr and his friends want to break the bonds of love that hold us together as a family, a people, and a nation.
I would just like to urge people to be their own advocate. If you see something wrong, say something. Sign a petition. Donate your time, skills or money. But don’t wait for someone else to save the day.
As Edmund Burke said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
I love that video and the Regina Spektor song is perfect.
I think the passing of prop 8 will be looked at in retrospect as the best thing that ever happened to gay rights. It woke people up and motivated them to speak up and get involved.