Updated: Proposition 8 Passes

Proposition 8 looks to have passed in California, writing discrimination into the state’s constitution.  Needless to say, that is incredibly disappointing to many people (of which I am one).  Gays and lesbians were told that, once again, they are second class citizens.  It’s fine for gays and lesbians to pay their taxes, contribute to society, raise their children, and love their partners, but it’s not okay for those same people to have the protections, rights, and responsibilities that go with the word “married.”  It’s apparently just fine to attack gay families.  (Same-sex marriage bans were also enacted in two other states last night — Arizona and Florida.  Arkansas enacted a ban on same-sex couples adopting children.)

It is fundamentally wrong to deny rights to a single group of people.  I’m sure that, while same-sex marriage was defeated this year, it will be victorious in the end.  Americans usually do the right thing.  Make no mistake: This is the civil rights battle of our time (for those of us too young to remember the civil rights battles of the 1960s).  Gay rights will win out in the end.  They have to.  History shows us that civil rights win in the end.  Gavin Newsom was correct (in his idiotic speech that was used against gay marriage supporters) — it will happen.

The Proposition 8 supporters called for unity and healing in their victory press conference / speech / whatever you want to call it.  There’s not much chance of that.  You don’t get to take away rights from one specific group of people and then call for healing.  It doesn’t work that way.  You’ve slapped a group of people in the face and now you expect them to embrace you.  Maybe some are able to forgive and are able to turn the other cheek.  But some can’t, and won’t.  Some won’t ever forget that rights were taken away.  Some won’t forget that a majority of voters in four states attacked gay families.  For that’s what it is — an attack.  It’s unforgivable, in my book.  So go take your calls for healing back to Utah or where ever it is you go.  There won’t be any healing in California over this one.

Bob Knoke, of Mission Viejo, Amanda Stanfield, of Monrovia, Jim Domen, of Yorba Linda, and J.D. Gaddis, of Yorba Linda, celebrate returns for Proposition 8 at an Irvine hotel. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Update: I wanted to add this photo to show the unseemly reaction of the Proposition 8 supporters.  These are the same people who have the audacity to celebrate in this way, after removing rights from a group of people, and then call for healing in the next breath.  I completely understand the elation one feels after winning a hard-fought campaign.  But I’d think that there would be some modicum of respect for the people whose lives were just changed.  But no.

It’s simply amazing, really, the gall these people have.  I’ve hesitated to call people who are against gay rights bigots.  I think it’s more complex than that.  But it’s hard for me to believe that there aren’t some bigoted thoughts in those people’s minds as they celebrate their victory, which came (again) at the expense of the rights of others.  Simply breathtaking.  Simply outrageous.