"No, we will never tolerate unfairness. And it's our right to say so."
Reposted from Jeremy Hooper's entry at Good As You:
If we hear one more "yes on 8" person calling the LGBT community "intolerant" for standing up against the recently passed biased, we are going to pull our hair out. It, along with accusations of "gay hate," have become the rally cries of Team Anti-Marriage Equality™. However, it is nothing more than an attempt to flip the tables on the true victims here so that they who voted in favor of inequality can feel better about their choice. We see right through it.
When the playground bully steals your lunch money, it is not "intolerant" to protest your new, midday meal-deprived status. In fact, one might argue that we're all compelled to stand firm against the anti-"live and let live" attitude that has kept this so-called "culture war" alive and unwell for far too long! One must fight for their right to be treated with respect. And if the proper recourse is to go to a reasoned body whose job it is to have an enhanced understanding of the rules (be it the teachers or the Supreme Court), then we will gladly seek justice from said crew.
On the same token, it is also not a denial of anyone's first amendment freedoms to question others' Prop 8 support. Are we, the "no on 8" supporters, members of the government out to stifle speech or expression? NO! We are deeply hurt citizens who are using our own first amendment right to speak out against the bias we see in the world. And when you look at great the numbers of people from all walks of life who are turning out to the Prop 8 protests, you cannot deny that there are A LOT of us. A lot of us who are in a state of utter shock that our fellow taxpayers used their personal, typically religiously-motivated beliefs to deny gays of their equality!!
Those on the "yes on 8" side stood their ground for months. Rather than accept the Supreme Court's ruling, they put up a measure to tyrannical override it. Rather than quietly pray for the measure to pass, they used their right to advertise it incessantly. Rather than stay home, they held rally after rally in support of rights elimination. Rather than deny themselves their opportunity for political participation, they put up a butt load of "yes on 8" signs in their yards. Rather than vote "no" and respect their gay and lesbian neighbors, they chose to foist their personal (typically faith-based) views on civil society as a whole. Rather than buy us a gift off our registry, they chose to put their cash on a public record in support of Prop 8. And they had every right to do so.
They exercised their voice. They let us know what they view to be "tolerance." They showed us just how much value they place on our lives and loves. They seized their first amendment and they spoke out, loudly and deceptively. We are now using our right to tell them (a) just how much they've hurt us, (b) how deeply discriminatory their actions were (despite their denials), and (c) how unfavorably we think future generations will look back on their vote. If they don't like the message we are sending, then by all means, they should stand their ground. But don't you dare use our honest, heartfelt reactions as an example of "gay intolerance."
The difference between "no on 8" and "yes on 8" is that if they would just STOP TRYING TO DENY OUR CIVIL EQUALITY, we would not give a flying fart about how firmly or often they pray against our lives. But they, on the other hand, are brought to rage just by our mere, benign, quiet, peaceful, existences! And even worse, they paint them as a "threat" to families, children, and society! THAT, my friends, is intolerance.
Whether you're gay, straight, or anywhere in between or outside of that--if you're hurt and angry about the passage of California's Prop 8 and what that signals to the rest of the country, and about the passage of similar measures in Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida--if you believe in what is RIGHT and JUST, unite with allies in EVERY state in America in a nationally coordinated protest on Saturday, November 15, 10:30 am (PST) / 1:30 pm (EST).
Use your right to send a clear message to those who would choose to write discrimination into the state constitution. Let them know that their actions have devastating consequences on the lives of others, that there is nothing fair or loving or Christian in what they do, that they can believe whatever they wish but oppressing others through the government is unacceptable, and that they are total douchebags.
I want to go up to San Francisco to join the, no doubt, insane gathering there. But I have to be at my bachan's birthday later that evening, so it's best I stay closer to home. I'll be going to the rally in San Jose instead (they probably need the meager number/s I can provide more anyway). Anyone going to be around for that?
I'd also like to extend a CONGRATULATIONS TO GAY COUPLES IN CONNECTICUT WHO BEGAN MARRYING THEIR PARTNERS TODAY!
If we hear one more "yes on 8" person calling the LGBT community "intolerant" for standing up against the recently passed biased, we are going to pull our hair out. It, along with accusations of "gay hate," have become the rally cries of Team Anti-Marriage Equality™. However, it is nothing more than an attempt to flip the tables on the true victims here so that they who voted in favor of inequality can feel better about their choice. We see right through it.
When the playground bully steals your lunch money, it is not "intolerant" to protest your new, midday meal-deprived status. In fact, one might argue that we're all compelled to stand firm against the anti-"live and let live" attitude that has kept this so-called "culture war" alive and unwell for far too long! One must fight for their right to be treated with respect. And if the proper recourse is to go to a reasoned body whose job it is to have an enhanced understanding of the rules (be it the teachers or the Supreme Court), then we will gladly seek justice from said crew.
On the same token, it is also not a denial of anyone's first amendment freedoms to question others' Prop 8 support. Are we, the "no on 8" supporters, members of the government out to stifle speech or expression? NO! We are deeply hurt citizens who are using our own first amendment right to speak out against the bias we see in the world. And when you look at great the numbers of people from all walks of life who are turning out to the Prop 8 protests, you cannot deny that there are A LOT of us. A lot of us who are in a state of utter shock that our fellow taxpayers used their personal, typically religiously-motivated beliefs to deny gays of their equality!!
Those on the "yes on 8" side stood their ground for months. Rather than accept the Supreme Court's ruling, they put up a measure to tyrannical override it. Rather than quietly pray for the measure to pass, they used their right to advertise it incessantly. Rather than stay home, they held rally after rally in support of rights elimination. Rather than deny themselves their opportunity for political participation, they put up a butt load of "yes on 8" signs in their yards. Rather than vote "no" and respect their gay and lesbian neighbors, they chose to foist their personal (typically faith-based) views on civil society as a whole. Rather than buy us a gift off our registry, they chose to put their cash on a public record in support of Prop 8. And they had every right to do so.
They exercised their voice. They let us know what they view to be "tolerance." They showed us just how much value they place on our lives and loves. They seized their first amendment and they spoke out, loudly and deceptively. We are now using our right to tell them (a) just how much they've hurt us, (b) how deeply discriminatory their actions were (despite their denials), and (c) how unfavorably we think future generations will look back on their vote. If they don't like the message we are sending, then by all means, they should stand their ground. But don't you dare use our honest, heartfelt reactions as an example of "gay intolerance."
The difference between "no on 8" and "yes on 8" is that if they would just STOP TRYING TO DENY OUR CIVIL EQUALITY, we would not give a flying fart about how firmly or often they pray against our lives. But they, on the other hand, are brought to rage just by our mere, benign, quiet, peaceful, existences! And even worse, they paint them as a "threat" to families, children, and society! THAT, my friends, is intolerance.
Whether you're gay, straight, or anywhere in between or outside of that--if you're hurt and angry about the passage of California's Prop 8 and what that signals to the rest of the country, and about the passage of similar measures in Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida--if you believe in what is RIGHT and JUST, unite with allies in EVERY state in America in a nationally coordinated protest on Saturday, November 15, 10:30 am (PST) / 1:30 pm (EST).
Use your right to send a clear message to those who would choose to write discrimination into the state constitution. Let them know that their actions have devastating consequences on the lives of others, that there is nothing fair or loving or Christian in what they do, that they can believe whatever they wish but oppressing others through the government is unacceptable, and that they are total douchebags.
I want to go up to San Francisco to join the, no doubt, insane gathering there. But I have to be at my bachan's birthday later that evening, so it's best I stay closer to home. I'll be going to the rally in San Jose instead (they probably need the meager number/s I can provide more anyway). Anyone going to be around for that?
I'd also like to extend a CONGRATULATIONS TO GAY COUPLES IN CONNECTICUT WHO BEGAN MARRYING THEIR PARTNERS TODAY!