Last November, California’s Proposition 8 was ratified into the state constitution. Under Proposition 8, a clause was added stating: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Almost four months later, the issue has all but vanished from the public eye—like many other Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered issues.
What has happened to the Anti-Proposition 8 movement? Sure, the economy has probably gotten most everyone’s attention at the moment, but that is no excuse for ethical wrongs to be swept under the rug. The fact that Proposition 8 went through to California’s constitution is an absolute tragedy not to just the LGBT community of California, but to everyone who believes that every human being should have equal rights.
Proposition 8’s main objective was to take away the right to marry that the LGBT community battled for years to obtain. To put it into context, Proposition 8 took a person’s hard fought rights away and the shameful thing is that the proponents of Proposition 8 were able to get away with it. If a similar measure were taken against interracial couples, it would almost certainly fail because we as a civilization now realize that love transcends the color of our skin. Yet many of us have not realized that love can also transcend genders. The question is, how long will it take our civilization to realize the wrong in what it is doing to people that only want to love freely and openly without prejudice?
What the proponents of Proposition 8 did to the LGBT population is, for lack of a better term, horrific. Not even before the LGBT population of California could revel in their newfound right, the religious right were quick to propose an end to this once and for all. They manipulated the general public by catering to their fear of homosexuals and providing “dire consequences” if they were allowed to marry. In their propaganda, they claim they support “defending the institution of traditonal marriage” but the evident truth is that they support denying rights because gay marriage does not fit in with their definition of marriage.
The issue of gay marriage ultimately stands on one point and one point alone: Do you believe in equal rights for all people or not? As Americans, we have a responsibility to see that all people, regardless of race, gender, religious affiliation, and sexual orientation, have the same shot at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. With Proposition 8, we have failed at our responsibility, and we must again take up the cause of standing up for equality. We founded this nation on that very principle, and for us to sit by idly as intolerant bigotry runs rampant is against the American ideal. Our duty as Americans is to fix this terrible wrong and give equality to everyone, not just certain people.
Editor’s Note: The College Republicans, the College Libertarians, and the Progressive Students Alliance rotate a column on a triweekly basis.
