Mixed Feelings, Obviously
As I'm sure is the the case for many people, I'm waking up this morning feeling very mixed. When I think about the Presidential election, I'm overjoyed, but that's hugely weighed down by the Prop 8 results.
Early in the year, I didn't have that strong opinion about same-sex marriage. I was obviously in favour of it, but if same-sex couples were entitled to the same rights across the board as opposite-sex couples, it would just become a question of semantics. A lot of those rights were still missing, but we were making progress.
In May, when the California Supreme Court recognised that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is discrimination and the state started issuing marriage licences for everyone again, I was skeptical about it lasting. I didn't want to be a party pooper, but as somebody who did 'phone baking and other work against Prop. 22 in the late 90s, I knew what this state was like. I've lived in the San Joaquin Valley-it may as well be Kentucky-so I was reserving celebrations until today.
Well, I'm not celebrating, at least as far as California goes. Over 90% of the vote has been counted and Prop. 8 is still four points ahead. It's over. I'm feeling for my friends whose marriages are in legal limbo, probably doomed, again, and I'm bitter that voters who recognise the appall of Prop. 8 are outnumbered by bigots, ignorants who bought into smoke screen issues (if it was really about religious freedom or parent consent at schools, they'd've introduced measures supporting those!), people disenfranchised of their vote and utter lamers who couldn't be bothered getting of their arse to get to a polling place. I thought this state was better than that.
There are some silver linings; it looks like Prop. 1A is going to pass, a bond measure to introduce a high-speed rail to California-that's very exciting. Battery farming is finally coming to an end, and a local measure to make sure S.F. General Hospital won't fall down in the next earthquake passed overwhelmingly. It's disappointing that prostitution is still criminalised in San Francisco Country and that the PG&E propaganda machine prevailed over creating an electricity supply we actually have some say over, but I was fully prepared for those. I'm not sure what to make of Measure V, the one to stop banning military recruitment in the City's schools; I'm assuming that most voters were confused by the double-negative and voted opposite to what they intended, as I almost did myself. But it's California I'm most disappointed in. Wowsers and yobs. The kicker is the even sharper failure of the initiative that would have favoured treatment and rehabilitation over gaol for non-violent drug offenders.
I know I'll feel better in a few days, when the Presidential results sink in. I'm so used to our head of state being an idiot that the thought of having somebody noble, thinking, well-spoken, fair-minded, genuine and honourable at the helm is unbelievable. And he was nominated by a major party!
It's a rare and wonderful for reality checks feel good, and for me, the first one was when I saw the campaign stage fill up with black people. Holy shit, this really is happening! It really is historic! It's amazing! It's fantastic! I missed his victory speech; I was out in the streets to see if all the partying people around me would help me shrug off my worries about Prop. 8, and my worries about hopeforyou (who I did end up having to take to ER again, but it turned out she was okay). But the segments of it that I did see made me feel proud of my new citizenship for the first time in my life. He has yet to prove himself, but Obama could be displayed on currency one day. I really hope he lives up to it.