My good friend from High School thought I was discriminating because I'm voting YES on Prop 8. I sent her this response and hope I cleared that up. What do you think?
Prop 8 isn’t taking anything away from the gay community except that it defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. Civil unions are still protected under law with the full civil rights of those that are “married”.
If prop 8 is passed, no same sex couples will not be able to be "Married." but under the California Family Code section 297.5 it states:"Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights,protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the sameresponsibilities, obligations, and duties under law, whether theyderive from statutes, administrative regulations, court rules,government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sourcesof law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses."So same sex couples will still have all the same rights, protections, and benefits and they should. They DO deserve all of the same rights, protections, and benefits. They wont be "married" but they get the same everything besides the word.
The issue comes in when (as evidenced by the state of Massachusetts after they allowed same sex marriage) they start teaching same-sex relationships in schools as being acceptable. Children in 2nd grade going on field trips to see a lesbian wedding and it being viewed as a “teachable moment” (as we saw in San Francisco just a couple weeks ago). Kids being sent home with colorful children’s books about a King marrying another King. Parents being thrown in jail because they demand notification before this is discussed in the classroom with administrators telling them they have no rights to know beforehand what their child (KINDERGARTENERS!) is learning about same sex relationships. Sex education for older elementary children including how same sex relationships “do it”.
Also, churches lose their rights to act independently as a church organization. In Boston a Catholic Church had to stop their adoption services because they refused to allow these children to be placed in same sex homes. They wouldn’t allow them to retain their moral beliefs in this. Churches can also be sued if they don’t allow same sex couples to be married in their buildings by their preachers. It’s using the law to compromise another’s moral beliefs. There is no longer a separation of church and state that our forefathers fought so hard for!
You know I have nothing against those that are gay and have friends and family members that are that I love. They are entitled to all the rights granted by the government just as they should be. However, tolerance is a two way street. I need to be the one to teach my son (and soon daughter) about what I believe to be morally correct without having the intolerance label put on me. I should be able to worship in a church that is able to teach the same moral values that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God for the procreation and bringing children into the world. This is why abstinence before marriage is taught by churches.
You know me. You know that I have my beliefs and standards but that I never pushed those on you or anyone else. Shouldn’t I be allowed the same courtesy by others?
