(Graphic: mine) Fair use is encouraged!
Proposition 8, which would amend the California Constitution to reflect the bigoted values of the radical religious right, is wrong-headed and based on a ever-growing stack of transparent lies. The Protect Marriage cult are anything but interested in protecting marriage, let alone the welfare of children. They’re even less interested in the health and well being of gay and lesbian seniors.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has a wealth of information California voters should take into consideration before they cast their votes on 4 November :
The health and well-being of LGBT people and their families is affected by the right to marry and by the denial of that right:
- Access to health insurance through a spouse is an important component of obtaining quality healthcare
- Research indicates, at least for heterosexuals, that being married can contribute to overall health and longevity
- Hospital visitation and decision making rights conferred by marriage are important to the quality of care
- Children of LGBT parents benefit when their families are respected and accorded legal protections
GLMA endorses full and complete marriage equality for gay male and lesbian couples and opposes all legislative and ballot initiatives, state and federal, that would prevent or end marriage equality.
What can you do? Download and share the GLMA’s newly-published Same-Sex Marriage and Health Report, which includes citations to published research. Medical professionals can learn about what they can do to support healthy families, children and seniors. Visit the GLMA website, where you’ll find positive information about marriage equality from, among others, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers.
It’s time to take a stand and confront their lies. Proposition 8 is not PRO anything. The name Protect Marriage is, at best, a misrepresentation of their true agenda. Their intentions are anything but healthy for children, for seniors or for families that don’t fall within their constricted definition of the word family.
Comments
3 Comments so far. Comments are closed.Defining marriage as between one man and one woman is not taking away anyone’s rights. The definition simply distinguishes a union that is biologically capable of producing its own children. Whether a married couple has children or not, I feel like this deserves a separate name–even the potential is kind of a miracle.
Actually this definition can be seen as the ultimate expression of equality our society has to offer: it takes one man and one woman. One could see a lesbian union as a marginalization of men, or a homosexual union as a marginalization of women.
Equality is especially important when it comes to raising children. Children deserve/need a father and a mother. Neither parent should be marginalized.
Yes, many children are already growing up in single-parent homes. Prop 8 should be a reminder to everyone that as a society we need to assist and strengthen families as much as possible. Really, as a society we should be most concerned with the success and health of our families.
http://emiliadelmar.blogspot.com/2008/10/legislation-and-social-issues.html
peace out
“The definition simply distinguishes a union that is biologically capable of producing its own children.”
Then call that procreational marriage if you like. Call if religious marriage if you like.
The law in California currently allows the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage for all of it’s citizens. To mount a religion-backed crusade against civil marriage is wrong-minded and intentionally hurtful to a single class of people. It is gay-bashing pure and simple.
No child deserves to grow up in poverty or without quality education and healthcare. No child deserves to grow up in a loving home and have the relationship of his or her parents disrespected by society, because the parents happen to be of the same sex. An attack on these relationships is an attack on that child.
Christian conservatives disagree. In imagining that all families conform to some Leave-It-To-Beaver, Ward at the office- June in the kitchen model, their notion of what comprises a family is outdated and unrealistic in today’s world.
It’s unrealistic to expect that every child will have a mother and a father, for too many reasons to go into here.
Many loving gay couples have no intention of having children. It’s not that they’re incapable of having children; many heterosexual couples also, for a variety of reasons, avail themselves of the medical science that allows the couple to bear children despite their infertility. Many couples simply wish to have their relationships legally respected, and, at the same time, to avail themselves of the 1100 or so tax and legal benefits to which, in most states, only heterosexual couples are currently entitled. Civil unions and domestic partnerships do not give these benefits to same sex couples. That makes these relationships separate but unequal.
The California Supreme Court, as did Connecticut’s and Massachusetts,’ recognized the inherent unfairness and inequality in giving the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage to one group of people while denying them to another.
You clearly did not read any of the materials (mentioned above) from the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers and others, which clearly state that children in homes with same-sex parents thrive. These children are loved and provided for and receive quality educations and healthcare. These children benefit even more when their families are respected and afforded the legal protections of civil marriage.
“Defining marriage as between one man and one woman is not taking away anyone’s rights.”
Obfuscate all you want, but here’s the bottom line:
Currently, same-sex partners in California have the right to get married.
If Prop 8 passes, they will no longer have that right.
Therefore, Prop 8 takes away rights from same-sex partners.
Could this be any more clear?