8 the Play
So! Last night I attended UOP's reading of "8" a play which was hosted by: Pacific's Department of Theatre Arts, Phi Beta Kappa, The Humanities Center, Gender Studies, and Student Life. The PRIDE Center on campus was also providing concessions. I was glad that I reserved tickets, because as it began, I turned around from my 2nd row seat, and saw that the house was full. I went with Lauren, who like me supports Marriage Equality, and my friend Katrina Hoon, who supports Traditional marriage. We have been having quite the FB debate over the past few days, and I was quite pleased to hear her suggest to coming out with us! (Excuse the bad pun - I couldn't help it LOL!)
So what is it? On January 10, 2010 a trial began in the California Supreme court as two homosexual couples sued the State of California for the right to marry. The trial was to be televised, but the defense, representing the proponents of Proposition 8 (and the 52% of Californians who voted for it) blocked the broadcast. The transcripts however, were not sealed. Dustin Lance Black read the transcripts, and wrote this play based upon the same. It was his hope to have this play serve in lieu of the broadcast which was repeatedly blocked by the defense. According to the decision, the records of this trial were sealed, however both the defense and plaintiff were allowed to retain their recordings of the proceedings. Within the play are several commercials (Actual commercials that were aired in support of the Prop 8 campaign) urging voters to vote for Prop 8, as well as a news broadcast battle between two opposing heads of the controversy. The play also has a slight narrative side during breaks of the trial, flowing in the words of two twin high school aged boys, and their lesbian parents, Kris and Sandy. Their additions to the play were based of interviews taking place at the time. The setting of the play is in the courtroom, June 16, 2010, the day when Judge Walker heard closing arguments, and Kris, Sandy, their boys, and others all attended the trial to see what would happen. "8" has been seen by many, and it has been judged to be historically accurate.
I really enjoyed seeing this reading/play. At times, some parts were emotionally hard to hear, and it was very hurtful to hear of a mother damning her child to hellfire... I just can't imagine a mother doing that to her own child, just because he was gay. That part was incredibly hard to watch. It was also interesting to hear the reasoning of the defense. Apparently, the largest argument in support of Prop 8 was that the purpose of marriage was to produce children. Lauren said, "Guess I have to knock you up now, eh Baby?" The play ended with a synopsis on where the trial stands now, in the hands of the US Supreme Court, with a ruling expected in June of this year. Then a few touching lines from the two lesbian couples taken from interviews. "I hope for something for Kris and I, but other people, over time, would benefit in such an even more profound life-changing way. That's what I hope for." -Sandy Stier. I won't lie. She said that line, and I got all teary.
After the play ended, there was a brief panel involving Assemblywoman Eggman, and three other people deeply involved with the Marriage Equality movement. I enjoyed listening to everything that they shared, but one thing stood out to me more than anything else. Eggman married her wife during the short window where such marriages were legal in California. The were, and still are, legally married. In California, luckily, Registered Domestic Partners are granted all the same rights as spouses under California law. One thing she shared that she was very thankful for, was that she was able to extend her medical benefits to her wife, which was lucky, because she was soon after diagnosed with cancer, and needed them desperately. On the flip side of this coin, when tax time comes, they are unable to file a joint return, because their marriage isn't recognized by the federal government. Due to this, those health care benefits she gets? All of that is considered income for her, and she has to pay taxes on that. Heterosexual couples, of course do not pay income taxes on their medical benefits. That struck me as incredibly unfair. Another woman shared how whenever they travel out-of-state, they have to carry their Registered Domestic Partnership papers with them, so if there is some kind of accident, she will be able to prove that they are in a formal relationship. Of course, she also pointed out that depending on what state they were in, even if she had papers proving their relationship, she could be barred anyway, because the relationship might not be recognized in that state. It just doesn't seem fair.
I'm really glad I went, and what I saw and heard prompted me to find out a little more information on the actual trial. One of the panel members suggested that if we wanted to, the judges decision was online and we could read it, but warned us that it was over 100 pages long. Actually, It's 138. On August 4, 2010 Judge Walker declared that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. On February 7, 2012, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling. The question I really wanted to know was WHY. In my personal opinion, I feel Prop 8 is unfair, but what are the legal reasons used by these high courts? His decision, should you want to undertake the task can be found at http://documents.nytimes.com/us-district-court-decision-perry-v-schwarzenegger. Basically, his decision is this, "An initiative measure adopted by the voters deserves great respect. The considered views and opinions of even the most highly qualified scholars and experts seldom outweigh the determinations of the voters. When challenged, however, the voters’ determinations must find at least some support in evidence. This is especially so when those determinations enact into law classifications of persons. Conjecture, speculation and fears are not enough. Still less will the moral disapprobation of a group or class of citizens suffice, no matter how large the majority that shares that view. The evidence demonstrated beyond serious reckoning that Proposition 8 finds support only in such disapproval. As such, Proposition 8 is beyond the constitutional reach of the voters or their representatives." -Honorable Vaughn R. Walker
Ok, fantastic. But to be more specific, what was the basis for this ruling? Judge Walker decreed that Prop 8 was unconstitutional under the 5th Amendment (Due Process) and 14th Amendment (Equal Rights Protection). This is because:
- Marriage is a civil, not religious, matter.
- Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of sexual, affectional or romantic desires for and attractions to men, women or both sexes. An individual’s sexual orientation can be expressed through self-identification, behavior or attraction.
- Individuals do not generally choose their sexual orientation. An individual does not, through conscious decision, therapeutic intervention or any other method, change sexual orientation.
- The State has no interest in asking gays and lesbians to change their orientation or in reducing the number of gays and lesbians in California.
- Marriage has benefits which the State and individuals gain from, which apply to same and opposite sex marriage alike.
- Same sex couples are identical to opposite sex couples in terms of characteristics relevant to successful marriage and union.
- Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option for gays and lesbians.
- Domestic partnerships lack the social meaning associated with marriage.
- Marriage of other groups, controversial on comparable grounds at the time, such as race or ethnicity, has not reduced the "vibrancy" or importance of marriage as a social institution, although many people raised concerns of its degradation at the time.
- There are costs and harm (to the State and to lesbians and gays) resulting from denial of marriage to same-sex couples.
- A parent's gender is not a factor in a child's adjustment. An individual's sexual orientation does not determine whether that individual can be a good parent. Children raised by gay or lesbian parents are as likely as children raised by heterosexual parents to be healthy, successful and well-adjusted.
- Gay and lesbian adoption is widespread and is supported and encouraged in California law, providing evidence concerning same sex couples and parenting, with around 18% of same sex couples in California raising children. As a corollary, this provides evidence of fact that Proposition 8 is not rationally connected to improving parenting, since it makes no attempt to amend or revoke state approval of any aspect of parenting by non-married same sex couples.
- Gays and lesbians have a long history of being victims of discrimination.
- Religious beliefs that gay and lesbian relationships are sinful or inferior to heterosexual relationships harm gays and lesbians.
And there you have it. I am happy to see a clearly defined list of reasons by an unbiased 3rd party who heard the evidence, in its' entirety, in this matter. I hope that the Supreme Court will follow suit, and then we can proceed onto the next battle for civil rights.
If you would like to attend a reading of "8" like I did, you can go to http://www.8theplay.com/find-reading/ and find a one in your area. If you would like to watch a video of it (it's a little more than an hour) then you can see it performed with an all star cast, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, and Kevin Bacon among others. :) You can find this video at http://vimeo.com/45544274.
For further reading, I'd like to recommend:
"Religious vs. Civil Marriage" - Many opposite-sex couples don't know that they have to option between religious marriage and civil marriage. This outlines the difference, and how marriage equality IN NO WAY changes or forces performance of Religious Marriage or Holy Matrimony against the church's wishes.
"A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same-Sex Marriage" - Why it is in our best interests as Christians to promote civil rights
"Homosexuality and Christianity: Does God Bless Same Sex Marriages?" - One man's views in scripture on whether Homosexuality is wrong.
"Episcopal Church: Largest to approve same-sex union blessing" - The Episcopal Church (one of the oldest sects of Christianity, and the 14th largest in the US) approves a special liturgy as an option available to same-sex couples who wish to have their unions (as permitted by the state) blessed by the church.
"The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" - Aforementioned Episcopal (Christian) liturgy.
Thanks for listening. :)