Proposition 8 of course
On November 4th 2008, the American people realised a dream, a dream that many thought would never come true, the election of a black man as the president of the united states of America. For one minority group this momentous occasion was soured. While in one lane the roadblocks that had stood in place for centuries had lifted, in another the opposite occurred. In the lane just to the left, where just recently parts of a well worn road had been sign-posted green, did near all lights revert to a dark, regressive red. Obama’s election as President was the answer to the question of whether America could change, could adapt and move forward.
“It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled -- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”
In all fairness it for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender (GLBT) community the election of Obama over his rival republican John McCain and the notoriously detractor from the gay right movement Sarah Palin was a victory. But the knife in the back that came in the form of Proposition 8 meant while American’s where ready for a black President, 51% were not ready for gay marriage. Obama won by a majority far greater than the 51% who voted for Proposition 8. It is with great resignation I’m sure that the GLBT community realise that while the white supremacy has seemingly fallen, that their sexual orientation will ensure they remain second class citizens. The powerful sword of democracy has spoken loudly and clearly, gay people should not be allowed to marry. Here we see once more democracy at its greatest or its worst. If popular opinion can so progressively choose Barack Obama and so regressively support Proposition 8 how can we trust this great democracy. My personal enthusiasm and glee became a dull pang when I realised there was still such a battle for gay rights, that there had to be more protest, more education, that there remained more ignorance then I imagined and vehement opposition to homosexuality then I had hoped. That black and white were finally equal but that who you choose to love was not open to debate. Men and woman can love and cherish each other until death to they part, while a same-sex couple can burn in hell for eternity.
The question is… what are 51% of Americans so scared of? And if we had the same vote here, what would the outcome be. At least they are having the vote, here in Australia we don’t even have that. I have the sense not to hide my same-sex relationship because I am proud of my partner and proud of who I am. I am I believe the type of person who inherently receives respect from my peers, college's and family. But at the end of the day I am not comfortable with telling work colleges, or my parents. I hate the contradiction within myself on this issue. I believe that I am seen as a thoughtful, open-minded and moral person. I never thought I would be part of a group of people who can only be described as second class citizens. I never fully understood what if felt like to not have privilege. I was born into privilege. I am white, I come from a middle-class background. I received primary, secondary and tertiary education. I have never had the right to vote in Australia being a New Zealand citizen; however I could vote in New Zealand or Britain. I have always been privileged. When I walked down the street holding hands with my boyfriend there were no stares, no one cared. If we had wanted to get married and have children and share our lives we could have.
You know what a privileged heterosexual person may well think “that gay rights are constantly flaunted and debated, why don't they just keep it to themself, you don't here straight people demanding their rights.” The answer is a no brainer but something that only truly resonates with me now, something I only fully comprehend now I might not have the rights I thought I had. Gay people are protesting because they don’t have the rights you have, because they are no privileged to do what you do. They can not marry the person they love, they may not be able to adopt children. They may never get to experience something that many argue is the meaning of life, because their union does not exist in the eyes of the law. Imagine just for a moment back in the day when woman didn’t receive the vote. If all the woman in Australia were told tomorrow they could no longer vote, suddenly you would once more huge public debate, outrage and protesting. If men and woman were told tomorrow they could not marry each other unless they had a certain amount of wealth, or unless they were from the same cultural heritage, what do you think would happen? Its simple; the GLBT community will stop speaking out when there is nothing left to speak out against.
Anyway its obviously not just GLBT people who are outraged about gay rights, who are campaigning about gay issues. Who put up the banners for “Yes on 8, Restore Marriage” or campaigners like Anita Bryant's notorious statement during her Save Our Children campaign:
"As a mother, I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children."
People care. People voted. According to early polling results in California black 66% of black voters supported Proposition 8. Later polls saw a closer view with 58% for the Proposition. White voters, meanwhile, were 50% against Proposition 8 and 44% in favor of it. These are the facts, I would hate it insight some kinda of blame for what is a reversal of a communities rights as American Citizens. But as always we see the issues of race, culture, wealth and sexuality are never black and white. Pardon the pun, I mean there is no black and white anymore but there is certainly rights and wrong. I suppose it would be foolish and dismissive to say the battle for rights of African-American’s is over. I’m sure there is still seething racism, not to mention all those outraged white supremacists.
At the end of the day, gays now do not have the right to marry. That is the reality we are dealing with. This being the case why do GLBT want to get married in the eyes of a god or a society that discriminates against them anyway? It is in the belief that we have a forgiving god. In my community, and society god rarely comes into the picture. Thus marriage, in the eyes of the lord means nothing to me. Marriage in the eyes of my partner my friends, that means something. That being said I have friends whose parents never married. I don't necessarily need a certificate to prove my devotion to my partner. But as Obama so rightly identified, if my girlfriend were sick in hospital, my lover, my partner in life and I couldn't see her. Or if I can't share the financial benefits of a heterosexual couple once more I am a second class citizen. A second class citizen by choice because I could choose to be with a man. But I'm not in love with a man, I'm in love with a girl. Did I have a choice in this?
So what does this come down to personally for me? The lines are blurry, not only am I am choosing to be a second class citizen supposedly I am also distasteful to gay people. This is being bi-sexual. That I could swing back into the privilege of heterosexual life, that I can do something they have no choice in. I don't get the sense or righteousness of either group, I can't be a smug hetero and I can't be a persecuted homo. But for the sake of my values and how I feel, I will be a persecuted homo if thats what it takes for people to wake up and realise that love is love, and not to judge what you are ignorant of more often than not scared of. I am glad to be joining the ranks of the out and proud. Mind you I haven't told my parents I'm in a lesbian relationship. So who am I kidding right. Like 51% of Americans, I see unwavering ignorance and a smug embracing of heteronormal values at home. And I don't feel like I can tackle it on a personal level. If choice came into it, I have gay, straight, bi-sexual friends who would choose to be heterosexual if they could, in this society. And maybe I am part of that group of shame because I have yet to be able to share the love I have for my beautiful girlfriend with my parents. But on the whole, choosing to be straight because it is easier in the society we currently live in? This is an utterly defeatist attitude. How we will ever change the society we live in if we try to deny individuality and assimilate. We one day will live in a society where gays are treated no different to a heterosexuals, I honestly believe this. But not by be ashamed of who we are. It is the equivalent the say of black and white segregation just 50 years ago of a person of colour wishing they were white and in doing so denying their heritage, their culture and their race.
I’m conflicted, I’m impassioned, I’m saddened and scared by what happened on November 4th. I am excited and freed by what happened that America has a black president. Like a friend said to me, its like the falling of the Berlin wall of our generation. I want everyone to understand why the failure of Proposition 8 is so hurtful, instead of it simply running of their backs like water cause it has nothing to do with them. It might have nothing to do with me, I might date a man and marry him and enjoy all the rights given to the traditional family unit, the respect, the financial benefits, the medical benefits. But I can feel the injustice as purely as I feel the blood pumping through my veins, and I hope that it is not just those who are being persecuted, those without privilege that understand what has taken place here and that one day we will look back on a time when same-sex marriage was illegal with amazement and disbelief. I hope my children in primary school will be able to say “Gay people who loved each other couldn’t get married? That’s so silly, thank god its not that way now”
“It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled -- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”
In all fairness it for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender (GLBT) community the election of Obama over his rival republican John McCain and the notoriously detractor from the gay right movement Sarah Palin was a victory. But the knife in the back that came in the form of Proposition 8 meant while American’s where ready for a black President, 51% were not ready for gay marriage. Obama won by a majority far greater than the 51% who voted for Proposition 8. It is with great resignation I’m sure that the GLBT community realise that while the white supremacy has seemingly fallen, that their sexual orientation will ensure they remain second class citizens. The powerful sword of democracy has spoken loudly and clearly, gay people should not be allowed to marry. Here we see once more democracy at its greatest or its worst. If popular opinion can so progressively choose Barack Obama and so regressively support Proposition 8 how can we trust this great democracy. My personal enthusiasm and glee became a dull pang when I realised there was still such a battle for gay rights, that there had to be more protest, more education, that there remained more ignorance then I imagined and vehement opposition to homosexuality then I had hoped. That black and white were finally equal but that who you choose to love was not open to debate. Men and woman can love and cherish each other until death to they part, while a same-sex couple can burn in hell for eternity.
The question is… what are 51% of Americans so scared of? And if we had the same vote here, what would the outcome be. At least they are having the vote, here in Australia we don’t even have that. I have the sense not to hide my same-sex relationship because I am proud of my partner and proud of who I am. I am I believe the type of person who inherently receives respect from my peers, college's and family. But at the end of the day I am not comfortable with telling work colleges, or my parents. I hate the contradiction within myself on this issue. I believe that I am seen as a thoughtful, open-minded and moral person. I never thought I would be part of a group of people who can only be described as second class citizens. I never fully understood what if felt like to not have privilege. I was born into privilege. I am white, I come from a middle-class background. I received primary, secondary and tertiary education. I have never had the right to vote in Australia being a New Zealand citizen; however I could vote in New Zealand or Britain. I have always been privileged. When I walked down the street holding hands with my boyfriend there were no stares, no one cared. If we had wanted to get married and have children and share our lives we could have.
You know what a privileged heterosexual person may well think “that gay rights are constantly flaunted and debated, why don't they just keep it to themself, you don't here straight people demanding their rights.” The answer is a no brainer but something that only truly resonates with me now, something I only fully comprehend now I might not have the rights I thought I had. Gay people are protesting because they don’t have the rights you have, because they are no privileged to do what you do. They can not marry the person they love, they may not be able to adopt children. They may never get to experience something that many argue is the meaning of life, because their union does not exist in the eyes of the law. Imagine just for a moment back in the day when woman didn’t receive the vote. If all the woman in Australia were told tomorrow they could no longer vote, suddenly you would once more huge public debate, outrage and protesting. If men and woman were told tomorrow they could not marry each other unless they had a certain amount of wealth, or unless they were from the same cultural heritage, what do you think would happen? Its simple; the GLBT community will stop speaking out when there is nothing left to speak out against.
Anyway its obviously not just GLBT people who are outraged about gay rights, who are campaigning about gay issues. Who put up the banners for “Yes on 8, Restore Marriage” or campaigners like Anita Bryant's notorious statement during her Save Our Children campaign:
"As a mother, I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children."
People care. People voted. According to early polling results in California black 66% of black voters supported Proposition 8. Later polls saw a closer view with 58% for the Proposition. White voters, meanwhile, were 50% against Proposition 8 and 44% in favor of it. These are the facts, I would hate it insight some kinda of blame for what is a reversal of a communities rights as American Citizens. But as always we see the issues of race, culture, wealth and sexuality are never black and white. Pardon the pun, I mean there is no black and white anymore but there is certainly rights and wrong. I suppose it would be foolish and dismissive to say the battle for rights of African-American’s is over. I’m sure there is still seething racism, not to mention all those outraged white supremacists.
At the end of the day, gays now do not have the right to marry. That is the reality we are dealing with. This being the case why do GLBT want to get married in the eyes of a god or a society that discriminates against them anyway? It is in the belief that we have a forgiving god. In my community, and society god rarely comes into the picture. Thus marriage, in the eyes of the lord means nothing to me. Marriage in the eyes of my partner my friends, that means something. That being said I have friends whose parents never married. I don't necessarily need a certificate to prove my devotion to my partner. But as Obama so rightly identified, if my girlfriend were sick in hospital, my lover, my partner in life and I couldn't see her. Or if I can't share the financial benefits of a heterosexual couple once more I am a second class citizen. A second class citizen by choice because I could choose to be with a man. But I'm not in love with a man, I'm in love with a girl. Did I have a choice in this?
So what does this come down to personally for me? The lines are blurry, not only am I am choosing to be a second class citizen supposedly I am also distasteful to gay people. This is being bi-sexual. That I could swing back into the privilege of heterosexual life, that I can do something they have no choice in. I don't get the sense or righteousness of either group, I can't be a smug hetero and I can't be a persecuted homo. But for the sake of my values and how I feel, I will be a persecuted homo if thats what it takes for people to wake up and realise that love is love, and not to judge what you are ignorant of more often than not scared of. I am glad to be joining the ranks of the out and proud. Mind you I haven't told my parents I'm in a lesbian relationship. So who am I kidding right. Like 51% of Americans, I see unwavering ignorance and a smug embracing of heteronormal values at home. And I don't feel like I can tackle it on a personal level. If choice came into it, I have gay, straight, bi-sexual friends who would choose to be heterosexual if they could, in this society. And maybe I am part of that group of shame because I have yet to be able to share the love I have for my beautiful girlfriend with my parents. But on the whole, choosing to be straight because it is easier in the society we currently live in? This is an utterly defeatist attitude. How we will ever change the society we live in if we try to deny individuality and assimilate. We one day will live in a society where gays are treated no different to a heterosexuals, I honestly believe this. But not by be ashamed of who we are. It is the equivalent the say of black and white segregation just 50 years ago of a person of colour wishing they were white and in doing so denying their heritage, their culture and their race.
I’m conflicted, I’m impassioned, I’m saddened and scared by what happened on November 4th. I am excited and freed by what happened that America has a black president. Like a friend said to me, its like the falling of the Berlin wall of our generation. I want everyone to understand why the failure of Proposition 8 is so hurtful, instead of it simply running of their backs like water cause it has nothing to do with them. It might have nothing to do with me, I might date a man and marry him and enjoy all the rights given to the traditional family unit, the respect, the financial benefits, the medical benefits. But I can feel the injustice as purely as I feel the blood pumping through my veins, and I hope that it is not just those who are being persecuted, those without privilege that understand what has taken place here and that one day we will look back on a time when same-sex marriage was illegal with amazement and disbelief. I hope my children in primary school will be able to say “Gay people who loved each other couldn’t get married? That’s so silly, thank god its not that way now”