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Dear Neighbor, I’m writing to you about the sign in your yard. The Yes on 8 sign. I’m not sure exactly why you support Proposition 8, but I want to make a heartfelt appeal that you consider changing your mind. After all, this isn’t an issue of buying more bonds for transit or supporting renewable energy. It’s about real people. Real people like me. Your neighbor. If Proposition 8 passes, it’ll impact my family and me immensely. I live only a short distance away from you and, in a spirit of neighborly concern, I hope that you’d be disturbed that some of your neighbors are being targeted for discrimination. The debate over Proposition 8 has become brutal. Words like “hatred” and “bigotry” have been thrown around. Personally, I’m not willing to go that far. Why? Because I want to believe that you and other Proposition 8 supporters perhaps don’t have all the information you need to fully appreciate both sides of this issue. So for that reason, please ask yourself these questions: (1) Do you actually know any gay people? And I mean really know someone who’s gay. If you did, I don’t think you’d support this measure. You’d see the difference between a real person and a stereotype. You’d see that gay and lesbian people are no different than you. They work hard just like you. They have families just like you. They rock their kids to sleep just like you. They contribute to charities just like you. They put their pants on one leg at a time just like you too. They’re trying to live good lives and be good people just like you. (2) Do you realize how much Proposition 8 is dividing us? The last thing our communities need right now is more division. I most worry about kids in school picking up on these tensions and emulating destructive behaviors of “us” versus “them.” If Proposition 8 passes, elimination of marriage equality is only one outcome. Many believe it’ll also negatively shift the way society looks at gay and lesbian families for years to come.
(3)
Do
you support Proposition 8 because of the television advertising?
Think again.
The Yes on 8 campaign has shamefully
deceived the public about marriage equality through their advertising.
Multiple public officials and attorneys have debunked the notion that
churches will be compelled to bless marriages they don’t support and
lose their tax status. And children are not taught about marriage
in (4) Are you supporting Proposition 8 because of religious reasons? Perhaps based on a passage or two from the bible? It’s not my place to challenge your religious beliefs; those are fundamental to you. I’m a devout church-going person too and my church strongly supports me and my family and would never dream of treating us differently. But shouldn’t we ponder: will God judge us for loving each other or dividing each among us? Perhaps some meaningful
thought over these questions may offer a fresh perspective about how
this measure will impact many good people and families across our state
and across our neighborhoods.
The California Supreme Court put it best in its May ruling:
“The ability of an individual to join in a committed, long-term,
officially recognized family relationship with the person of his or her
choice is often of crucial significance to the individual’s happiness
and well-being.” Isn’t it time for our society to be promoting
committed, long-term relationships and stable families instead of trying
to eliminate them? After 15 years together, my partner and I will get married next weekend. We’re immensely honored and would never take the opportunity for granted. Our families love and support us and will be in attendance just as they have at every family wedding. And yet, only three days later, our marriage could be eliminated by you, my very own neighbor. Unless you vote No on Prop 8. |