California -- the most gay-friendly state in the Union

Yes, we're in the midst of a bitter battle right now over Prop. 8, in which foes of gay marriage (or, to put it another way, proponents of hetero-only marriage) would like to amend the California Constitution to  outlaw marriages between same-sex couples. And yes, voters did pass Prop. 22 eight years ago, which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.

But the various social gains and legal victories over the years add up, and California leads the nation in gay rights. Here's the story from our own Maura Dolan and Jessica Garrison:

No matter what voters decide this November on same-sex marriage, the election will not change one fact: Over the last decade, California has become the nation's leader in providing legal protections to gays and lesbians.

This has happened not just because of high-profile gestures like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's decision to issue the nation's first same-sex marriage licenses in 2004 but also because of a carefully crafted campaign to enact laws in the state Legislature and push for court decisions to support and enhance the new rights.

The changes have delighted some Californians and alarmed others.

Gay rights have been expanded in "little bites that people found hard to argue with at the time," said Matt McReynolds, staff attorney of the conservative Pacific Justice Institute. "And all of a sudden, we are at a point where gay rights trump religious rights."

For a list of protections guaranteed by California, check out the full story here. Our database of who's donating both for and against Prop. 8 is here.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Comments

[nikki]

if gay marriage is legalized, that doesnt mean that the children of today are going to become gay just by learning about it in school at a young age. you're born gay. i would know. you anti-gays dont know anything. Especially from a personal standpoint. the only way for you to understand, is if you were to switch places with a gay person for a day see what its like in his/her shoes. i could love a girl the same as any other girl would love a guy. and the other way around for guys. i cant help who i have feelings for. and if you're child ends up liking the same sex, support them or they will have a scaring lifestyle. dont try to change them. you cant be forced to love someone. you are attracted to whoever you're attracted too. I'm a girl. I've never loved a guy nor been attracted to one. Trust me, when i first found out for the first time that i was attracted to a girl, i was in denile. this is the cycle. and i was never introduced to word "homosexual" before. I'm telling you all this because i think that the reason why there are so many people out there who dont support it, is because THEY have never been exposed to it. So hopefully giving my story will ease your minds a little bit at the most.

By the way, Not everyone in the world has to live by religious rights. why should people not religious have to live by a religious path, if we (gays) and other people arent relgious?. We're humans, just like you. Give us the rights and respect we deserve to have like everyone else. this is reality. people are born. whether they be gay, lesbian, black, white, hispanic, (whatever race/religion), crazy, mentally impaired, or..whatever! thats life, get over it. If you're religious and/or just no supportive of this topic, then mind your own business. You have nothing to worry about. dont worry about the gays or other "sinful" people. stay at home and live your life. While you're at it, get your dictionary out and look up the word "Equality".

[Idaho gal]

I would like to say that its sad that we as a country have to continue to define what our great nation represents. The last I knew we were a country of rights and freedoms? Once people find something better to do with their time and stop using biblical refrence to everything we do, then maybe that will be when everyone that came to this great land can start to live out their God giving right to freedom! I am a straight lady who loves her husband so very much, but I do not ever believe it is right to invade others privacy and personal life style! If I want an abortion that is my right, if my friend next door loves the same sex gender that is their right! Get off your high horse people and start living the First Amendment!

[Obama votes against GAY MARRIAGE]

Barack Obama and Gay Marriage/ Civil Unions:
Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

Barack Obama did vote against a Federal Marriage Amendment and opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.

He said he would support civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, as well as letting individual states determine if marriage between gay and lesbian couples should be legalized.

"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."
Sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

[debbie]

The rites of marriage call upon the couple to pledge unconditional love, despite their faults, to each other for the rest of their lives. The couple commits to inviting God into the union for the grace needed to live out that love. Marriage has its origin in faith and religion. Why would a couple who rebels against God's design of male and female for marriage want His blessing or His help in their union? BTW, on behalf of traditional marriage couples, I beg forgiveness for not doing a great job of modeling a holy marriage. And one more thing, gay couples who demand the right to marry remind me of adolescents who make impractical, unhealthy demands because they just don't know what's good for them.

[Prop 8 is about discrimination]

Prop 8 is about discrimination. If you are Black or Asian, think twice. PJB is wrong, race is part of the argument. PJB has a short memory. PJB clearly doesn't remember when blacks were only not allowed to marry in California, but in the South white men in white gowns were doing unspeakable things to black people. Yes, some states are more progressive than others. Of course there are places like Ohio where gay people have no rights to form a legitimate relationship, this is discrimination. PJB doesn't remember Chinese Exclusion Acts were passed by the California Legislature to affect virtually every aspect of life including immigration, naturalization, taxation, employment and education. These laws were not repealed until 1943 for the Chinese community, 1946 for the Filipino and South Asian (Indian) community and 1952 for the Japanese and Korean communities. Despite the fact that the exclusion act was repealed in 1943 for the Chinese the law in California that Chinese-Americans were not able to marry whites wasn't repealed until 1948. If you are black or asian, imagine if someone put a prop on the ballot that would take away your right to marry. It's not beyond the racists in the world, just like PJB wants to discriminate against gay people. Think twice when people like PJB try to make out that Prop 8 is not about discrimination, it certainly is and it will go down in history that way. Vote No on 8.

[PJB]

This isn't about race and this isn't about discrimination. These arguments are completely irrelevant because no matter how much noise they make, it can't change the truth. The people against Prop. 8 are a very vocal minority seeking more legitimization and have a nice little hidden agenda in trying to knock down 8. They whittle away at you until more and more people agree to legitimize them, and their going to do it through your children in the long run. I see more and more of it going on at schools and college campus's every day as a student.

Heres why this isn't about race or discrimination: being gay is a choice the vast majority of the time. Theres a reason psychologists are the only "professionals" who sometimes argue it isn't. Sometimes it isn't, but most of the time it is and I have the personal experience to back this up.

California already has unions, I would love to see the gay community take them and petition for some more rights added to them if they don't think its enough. I don't want marriage toppled over for no good reason, and I don't want to see indoctrination going on in our schools, use Massachusetts as a precedent and see.

At least we aren't like Ohio when it comes to the proposition. Ohio won't even give unions to homosexuals or any legal rights whatsoever to them. Prop. 8 only forces marriage to be redefined as between a man and a woman to stop a decision some activists got through playing around in the court. It wont stop unions, it won't stop homosexuals from furthering their legal protection and rights in the future, its not about discrimination, yes on 8.

[Ok, I'm a Bigot]

To the guy above who wrote:

"We shouldn't discriminate it's year 2009...

should we eliminate the rights of interracial couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of white couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of black couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of same sex couples to marry? NO"

I have to admit, I'd like to see interracial couples not be allowed to marry, as well!

[RKM]

Separate but equal is never equal. As we learned from the Jim Crow era, with a two class system one class becomes a second class. Blacks, women and handicapped people all know this.

D.P.’s and civil unions are undoubtedly treated by many if not all as a second-class status, inferior to marriage no matter what the Family Code says…whereas the legal implications and rights of marriage are universally respected and understood by all.

The specific differences under state law are these:

For one, domestic partnerships are managed by the Secretary of State division that handles corporate records, as if our relationship was a business partnership. Marriages on the other hand are handled by the Department of Public Health and Welfare, as personal relationships SHOULD be. This unnecessary distinction creates a tax burden and adds to the stigma of the gay relationship being other than a loving personal commitment entitled to all the rights and obligations of marriage in the eyes of the state and others.

Also, the laws for entering and ending a domestic partnership especially as it concerns jurisdiction are different for marriages and D.P.’s. It is actually easier to get a DP and to end a DP in several respects, which again only ADDS to the idea that they are less valuable or important than marriage.

Relatively minor substantive differences as far as CA state law is concerned, but important nonetheless. There should be no differences, period. Of course, the bigger picture is there is no justification whatsoever for creating the separate and inherently unequal legal class for our relationships, and the stigma and symbolism. Bottom line, we are lucky to live in one of the only states that has a DP or civil union status very similar to the status of marriage under state law, but still not as good or legally right.

Often Emergency and First Responder people do not know that DP have rights.

People with DPs often must fill out 5 income tax forms (3 state (2 individual and one joint) and 2 federal) because the federal govt does not recognize state joint marriage.

[Phil]

"Will a gay couple please help me to understand what it is you really want with the defeat of Prop 8? What advantage will you have if you have a license from the state that says you are married? You already can get all the benefits of a married couple. What does the wedding ceremony do for you? Seriously, I want to understand so I will know how to vote."

What does the wedding ceremony do for a straight couple? Have you ever used more of your brain than is required to get dressed in the morning?

[Michael Sheppard]

The consitution (US or State) does not opine on gay marriage. The California Supreme Court interprets almost all forms of discrimination under strict scrutiny. This means that almost NO state discriminatory policies will pass. The United States constitution has different levels of scrutiny which is why it is okay to ban gay marriage under federal law.

"Rights" are based on the constitution and there is no fundamental right to gay marriage because the rights change depending on the interpretive tool used. The interpretive tools of the federal government are arguably more nuanced than California's so this difference is not one of semantics only.

I am interested to know how proponents of gay marriage would respond to the following question:

Do you believe that people have a right to vote on this proposition or is gay marriage a fundamental right whether people like it or not?

If people do have a right to vote on this issue it's only fair they are given accurate information which is relevant to them. Parents do care about what their children are taught, even if it is a secular institution. Religious institutions are worried about their non-profit status even if they "shouldnt" discriminate against any of God's creation.

[shannon]

Will a gay couple please help me to understand what it is you really want with the defeat of Prop 8? What advantage will you have if you have a license from the state that says you are married? You already can get all the benefits of a married couple. What does the wedding ceremony do for you? Seriously, I want to understand so I will know how to vote.

[Kathryn in California]

Proposition 8 will *remove* the religious liberty of my church.

If you argue that religious liberty is important, why do you want to take away the rights of people in churches that have same-sex marriages?

Churches that do not support same-sex marriages haven't been forced to do same-sex marriages. The Catholic church has never had to marry people who aren't in their church. One cannot just go to any pastor and insist that they marry you.

But churches that do support same-sex marriages--they exist throughout California-- will be forced to tell people in their congregations "we are forbidden by the state to legally marry you." Even if the couple has been part of the church for decades, and has gone through couple's pre-marriage counseling, and the entire congregation supports the couple, the state will prevent or strip away the marriage.

And the children of same-sex marriages will have to be told "we the congregation know that your parents are married, but in the eye of the state they are not. The state is stripping away your parents' marriage." (a quarter or more of same-sex couples have children--widows and widowers, people who are divorced, people who adopt, and people who use donors).

Have any of the people who are voting for 8 gone up to the child of a same-sex couple and told them exactly what they plan to do to the child's family? Have they gone to churches which have same-sex marriages and told them exactly why they'll curtaill their religious liberty?

[Theresa]

Prop. 8 makes me mad! I cannot believe that this is even on the ballot. Who are these people that think that they get the right to include religious beliefs into our State Constitution. People died in this country fighting for the right from religious persecution and here we are some 150 years later with religious persecution against a particular group in our society. I am actually sick to my stomach that people will go to such lengths as to "lie" in order to get people on their side. For those that are arguing that Prop. 8 will change current CA Education Code - you are WRONG! That would take a legislative change to current existing code. Please read the actual language to Prop. 8 before deciding. And if you are soo concerned about what they can and cannot teach your children in school, please take the time to read the CA State Education Codes. The 2 in particular that people are arguing will change due to the defeat of Prop. 8 are Education Code Sections 51890 and 51933. Let me say this again, Prop. 8 WILL NOT change these codes.....a bill would need to be authored and pass both the Assembly and Senate and then be signed by the Governor. Get your facts straight before making a decision based upon a television commercial.

[John]

Tyson, This issue is not complicated, it is way more than that. It is essential and integral to the survival of the human species. That's why the state should be concerned about that Prop 8 passes.The current status of our culture is not healthy and, as with any disease, healing occurs at the cellular level., we need to heal society at the cellular level which is marriage. As the family goes, so goes the world. If we don't retain marriage as between the two creatures who can create life, our world is headed toward death.

[Tyson]

Will, I am sorry that I am a brainwashed crazy far right religionist who wants to take away freedom because of my bigoted ways. It might suprize you that I am voting for Obama! The truth is that this issue is far more complicated then many of you would like to believe. The problem is that the term "marriage" has significance both in regious institutions and in state institutions. Of course you will agree that any issue which is a mixture of the two leads to some very rough waters. My opinion is that courts should not be stipulating to us what the term "marriage" means. That goes way beyond the responsibilities of the state. It is not their job to tell us whether homosexuality is right or wrong or whatever. It just isnt! So what it comes down to is can we provide legal rights to those who are homosexual without redefining the terms? I really hope you would be with me in saying that this is the best solution for everyone. Vote yes on prop 8.

[Will]

My friends and who knows maybe myself someday deserve the right to marry if we chose to. All of you who are so brainwashed by the far right to think this is about indoctrination and stripping the rights away from heteros need to get a clue. I pay my taxes, I obey the laws of this state and country just like everyone else, so my rights should be the same. Bigotry is wrong, hatred is wrong, it's ridiculous that so much hate comes from those preaching "family values"

[Holly]

Let's be the most child friendly state! Vote YES on Prop 8!

[Leavitta]

Why should we be sheltering our children and hiding the real world from them? Children will learn worse things in school other then sex. They learn about drugs, alcohol, and in some homes how their dad's beat their mothers, or how their uncle molest them. Educating your child about sex will only help them in making a well educated decision when they do decided to have sex. Would you rather your children learn about same sex marriage somewhere else, and if in fact prop 8 does pass, your children will learn about same sex. Teaching and educating the children will help many to few of them answer questions that many other gays might of had as a child. As a child having feelings or thoughts that I had were confusing. I had nobody to go to to ask questions. Bottom line, your children will learn from this no matter what. IF this bill passes your children will learn that American is not a free place to live. If we can not marry who we love, if we can not say the pledge of legence at school then this obviously is not a free country. IF this bill does not pass, yes your children will probably learn about same sex marriage in school, but at least they are LEARNING in school. If they don't learn it there, where will they learn it. More then likely you (their parent) will not teach them and they will not only have unsafe sex, they will learn and explore it on their own.

[Tyson]

The argument to "think with your own brain" seems to be used a lot by those who oppose prop 8. Its a downright silly argument. All it is really saying is that only intelligent people will oppose prop 8. Obviously there are many intelligent people on both sides of the issue. Both sides have a lot at stake, and what it really comes down to is what is best for EVERYONE. For me, I think rights can be offered to gays and lesbian couples without the courts having to redefine terms for us. That is not their job. If there is some rights that are not being offered lets make sure that they are, but dont redefine marraige. All that does is make people have to accept something as moral which they have a right to feel is immoral.

[Celina]

Well it looks like alot of people have been reading the Voters Guide for this election - and are quite able to QUOTE DIRECTLY from the Prop 8 "Argument for" and Rebuttal to Argument Aganst" section... or maybe it's directly from your church's voter's guides? Some of you need to THINK FOR YOURSELVES and read what you're writing!

Seriously, how can *any* of you say Prop 8 does not REMOVE rights from gay couples? How can you say civil unions or domestic partnerships have the same rights as marriage in this state? If you were to get your noses out of the church propaganda and actually READ what "rights" are available to couples in a civil union or domestic partnership, maybe you would have a better idea as to WHY Prop 8 is a BAD IDEA.

As for the "teaching gay marriage in schools" thing - I'm not sure where that supposed Pepperdine Professor got his info, but I've talked to several friends in Massachusetts who have informed me that nothing of the kind has happened in *their* schools. Having raised 3 children of my own and sent them to California schools, NO education or discussion of marriage IN GENERAL occurred.

PLEASE start thinking with your OWN BRAINS!

NO ON PROP 8

[Steve]

Prop 8 does not take away any rights from gays. It just defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The CA Family Code already gives gays all the same legal rights and benefits as other couples, just not calling it marriage. I am totally for gays having the same rights, but I don't want it being called marriage, I don't want my future children being taught something I don't agree with, and I don't want my church being sued or get into other legal trouble because we don't support that lifestyle. All it takes is one liberal religion-hating couple to do something and take away a church's tax emempt status.

Prop 8 does more to take away rights from churchs and parents than it does take away rights for gays.

[Michael Fletcher]

Prop 8 does NOT eliminate any rights for same sex couples. There is no right being repealed or altered by this proposed amendment. It simply maintains the traditional definition of the word marriage. Civil Unions will still available and provide for all of the same property rights, visitation rights etc. so often referred to.

YES on Prop 8 means that people on both sides of this issue can have their rights protected.

The probability that very young children will be taught, outside their family, that a homosexual lifestyle is the same and equal in every way, is objectionable to many parents. By the time children are teens they will face this issue and decide for themselves one way or another but parents should have the right to teach their children what is wrong and what is right. Having "the state" teach them is something you would find in a Communist country or ironically a Theocratic society. In a free country parents should be free to raise their children "according to their conscience."

Again, YES on Prop 8 means that people on both sides of this issue can have their rights protected.

LGBT individuals/couples were already equal under the law without overturning Prop 22. This is not about giving or taking away rights.

[Stephanie Kansas]

This to me is a non-issue. If you don't agree with marriage equality, don't marry someone of the same sex! As a school teacher, I don't ever recall reading/citing the words..."with liberty and justice for ALL" and seeing the word, "except". Separate but equal does not, has not and should not work. We can not "eenie meenie miney moe" through our neighborhoods and point to who is allowed marriage or not. As a christian and American, I am for equality, love, and acceptance to all human life. God bless, Stephanie

[Mike]

I wish the United States was more like some european countries that dont have government recognized marriages at all...... everyone has a civil union, and if you want to get MARRIED (a total religious ceremony), it's up to the church.

[Kbro4bro]

Marriage is a civil action taken to protect rights and property within a committed relationship. If you are a person who believes that you need to have religious approval to be married then by all means do that yourself, but don't prevent me from protecting my relationship and having all of the rights that a civil marriage provides. No one is interfering with a religious belief or a churches right to exist or perform marriage ceremonies and rituals.
I don't say I hate church people or religions I just want them to stay out of my affairs.
As for the continued issue about mother and fathers raising children. Our children are grown adults raised primarily by two lesbian women. They are both educated, civic minded and (traditionally) productive members of society. Despite continued discrimination our relationship thrives.
The California Constitution as most all state constitutions are modeled after the United States Constitution. These documents of law are provided to give and protect rights not to remove, prevent or discriminate. Section I provides Inalienable rights to everyone, it does not give rights to some men or some women or white people or black people or religious people or non-religious people. It states."All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty,, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy." An amendment to the Constitution of California to discriminate is a travesty. It is extremely unfortunate that we do not teach our children about the rights provided for in the both the U.S Constitution and the state constitution instead of focusing on how we can destroy another human beings rights to pursue safety, happiness and privacy. Vote NO on 8.

[Okay]

Honestly, as long as churches will have a right to deny membership or marriage ceremonies to the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transexual) then I will be fine with everything.

Marriage is a legal matter, and what can I say that isn't on religious grounds to stop that?

However, suing religious institutions because they refuse to serve the GLBT in specific aspects is WRONG! The GLBT should be sensitive that there are people and religions who mean to do NO HARM to the GLBT community. It is just that personally believe homosexuality is wrong.

Should this be a problem? Overwhelming, NO!

I can only speak for the LDS community, because I am LDS. I can guarantee we do not say things in our church like "We hate gays" or "They don't deserve health care, or the rights of visitation in a hospital".

We are just wary of the state forcing us to do things that are against our beliefs. We are angered by the idea of the state forcing our impressionable children to be taught about things we don't think are true.

I'm voting for Obama. I don't think we should repeal Roe v. Wade. I am not a neo-conservative.

I just do not want the state, any outside person or organization, forcing us change our beliefs or get sued.

[David McFadden]

If homosexual marriage is legal, why isn't plural marriage legal? If that becomes legal, what about other group marriages? At this point, what becomes the purpose of marriage? How far is marriage going to be diluted?

[Rickyrab]

I am not sure if parents should have the right to be dictator over their children. Some guidance is obviously necessary. However, there is a fine line between good family management and micromanagement: true, parents have the right to teach kids that the world is 6000 years old if they want to, but schools have the right to teach kids that the world is 5 billion, and the kids have the right to make up their minds as they grow up. That's item number 1.

Item number 2: even if Proposition 8 gets voted down, parents will still have the right to remove kids from school if the schools preach the acceptability of gay marriage. Nonetheless, the kids should have the right to make up their own minds, and seek out the truth for themselves. Me? I have no problem with it, any more than I have a problem with other forms of marriage. (Well, I do get a bit jealous of pals that marry, but maybe I shouldn't be. I am a single straight guy, for the record.) All I care is that the people love one another, that they care for one another, and that they get along with one another.

Item 3: The person who said that "gay marriage is coming, no matter what" does not have a lot of tact, even though he's right. If the state does not recognize it, gay people will continue to. So will gay marriage supporters, presumably. But he said it in a nasty manner. Most gay marriage supporters are a lot nicer than that, believe me.

NO on 8.

[John]

How the heck is Prob 8 about ''reigious liberties''?
You have it backwards:
It is about denying Gay liberties.

Imposing your will on the rest of the world is not a liberty.
Whty planet do you come from where you believe you have the right to take over?To rule other people's lives?

Gays pay 100% of taxes that nongays do.
They deserve 100% of the rights.
...100% of the LIBERTIES.

Your religious liberties are not affected here.

[David Czapla]

Prop 8 is ONLY about discrimination.

Those who argue that gay rights shouldn't trump religious rights are being fundamentally dishonest with themselves, others and specifically with children.

#1 it is not secular society's job to raise tyour children, it is your job to raise your children. If you want to instill discrimination against God's decision to create gays in his own image; we have no right to intervene.
As arrogant as it is, it is your right IN THIS SOCIETY.
(and He will judge you for that.)

#2 When you try to impose your SPECIFIC ASSUMPTION of God's will to the secular public at large: it is YOU who wants ''special rights''.

-It is YOU who wants to ''indoctrinate''.

#3 Seperation of church and state exists to preserve both ''church'' and ''state''.

You are beyond your rights to push your religious agenda on society.

Each church is a club or mini-society who agrees to abide by certain rules regarding God within that society...
So keep it that way.

MY religion says that God made gays.
My country says all men (and women) are created equal.

If you want a stronger role in governmental affairs...if you want to change this fundamental support beam of the Constitution -then perhaps churches should start paying income and property taxes.

You want a seat at the table???
PAY for it.

Marriage for gays is inevitable.

[Steve]

Vote YES on Prop 8. The very fact that California is indeed the most homosexual-friendly state in the nation is a reason good enough to vote in favor of traditional marriage. What comes next if we allow gay marriage???

[Matt]

I agree with Allen. Prop 8 is about more than just marriage. It is about religious liberties, freedom of speech, and to protect our children from forced indoctrination.

Failure to pass Prop 8 will result in the loss of religious liberties. Even NPR agreed: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486340

The Catholic Church can no longer do adoptions in Massachusetts. http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/191kgwgh.asp

In Massachusetts, the only other state to legalize same-sex marriage, children in elementary school are being indoctrinated about same-sex marriage.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/protect-marriage---yes-prop/story.aspx?guid={799BF008-E629-42E0-AFCB-725A6F085ADA}&dist=hppr

No civil liberties will be denied by passing Prop 8. Marriage is not a right, it is a privilege. Children deserve to be born in a home with a father and a mother. Society should do everything to encourage the creation of strong, stable families with a father and a mother.

Don't believe the lies. It's not about civil liberties, equality and acceptance. It's about suppressing free speech to the contrary. Look no further than a recent 9th Circuit Ruling prohibiting Oakland City employees from using the terms "traditional families" and "family values" as the court determined such terms constituted hate speech. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/03/09/003756.php

[Allen]

I don't want my children to be taught things in elementary school that will most certainly be taught if Prop 8 is defeated and gay marriage is legalized. Look at what happened in Massachusetts recently: after gay marriage was legalized, the parents of a second-grader requested that the school notify them in advance when teaching about same sex marriage was to occur so they could remove their child (which should be the right of any sensible parent.) The state appeals court ruled in favor of the school, which effectively eliminated the right of the parents to have control over what their children learn based on their own religious beliefs. If prop 8 passes in CA, the SAME thing will happen here because it is already mandated that marriage be taught in schools; gay marriage will naturally be included in that. We will start to see religious rights impinged upon as well, as there will inevitably be conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family.

[Jeff]

Please don't take away my ability to get married. If Prop 8 passes it will be emotionally devastating.

[tm]

We shouldn't discriminate it's year 2009...

should we eliminate the rights of interracial couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of white couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of black couples to marry? NO
should we eliminate the rights of same sex couples to marry? NO

we need to change and move forward.

Vote NO on prop 8.

[Henry]

This is something to be proud of California!

Vote NO on Prop 8.

[bassing by]

What were you expecting from Land of Fruit and Nuts?