Essay // Current

No on Prop H8

Think twice before voting for hate with Prop H8 (ie, Proposition 8, if you're really that slow). There is no legitimate reason to take the human rights away from human beings and Americans. Let's understand why Prop H8 is simply wrong and unconstitutional.

Arguing that "homosexuality isn't natural" is irrelevant. Homosexuality is legal. Nearly everything we do is unnatural and ‘natural’ has nothing to do with marriage and the legal system. Arguments based on morality and the Bible are equally invalid. All arguments that homosexuality is immoral (and this argument assumes that those making it would be for outlawing homosexuality, not just marriage) arise from religion, which has no place in the legal system. And again, homosexuality is legal.

"Same-sex marriage destroys 'real' marriage" is a baseless argument. Despite the fact that one marriage cannot possibly destroy marriage, it continues to be used despite there never being any back up for it. Britney Spears' sham marriages have done more to degrade marriage. Same sex marriage does not steal your marriage. No one is forcing you not to get married, no one is forcing you to marry someone you don't like, no one is undoing your marriage. To say that it is outright dishonest and low.

Same-sex marriage has nothing to do with families. Many advocates of Prop H8 claim that its about families and that children need a mother and father. Yet single parenthood is entirely legal and to suggest that people may not adopt or have children if they so choose is an incredible violation of personal freedom. However, legally marriage has nothing to do with children. It is simply two consenting adults choosing to be together.

Same-sex marriage will not lead to pedophile marriages or bestiality marriages, as some nutcases claim.These people dishonestly and knowingly ignore the fact that those types of relationships are in the first place illegal and in the second illegal because one party in each of those kinds of relationships cannot give consent. Same-sex marriage does not really change the definition of marriage. In fact, it is Prop H8 that takes rights away from homosexual families and redefines marriage as between a man and a woman only. Prop H8 will take away the rights of children and partners to see their loved ones on the death bed and to get the same rights we all take for granted. Prop H8 hurts children, not the other way around.

Homosexuals have done nothing illegal and are consenting adults. All they want is the same respect and legal status our society sees no problem in giving to shams of marriages like those of Britney Spears. Why is it that those people can marry whoever they please without reason yet homosexuals may not? Why is it that homosexuals must meet the requirement to being able to have children or even wanting to, yet heterosexuals must not? It is blatant dishonesty and double standards. Prop H8 proponents say they support it because the Supreme Court overturning "the will of the people" was undemocratic yet they are turning around and taking private rights away from people.

If Prop H8 passes, I urge everyone to REFUSE to respect marriage. If freedom does not belong to everyone, it belongs to no one, and the same applies to marriage. Marriage is a right, not a privilege, and it means nothing unless it belongs to all consensual human beings. Let's make marriage actually mean something and continue to allow those who truly want it--unlike shams like Britney Spears--have it. If you're still not convinced, think carefully. If you vote yes on Prop H8, you are saying it is OK for the government to control your marriage. You have no right to complain if other people decide that your marriage is illegitimate and no longer legal because it is your second marriage. That means you're fine with the government taking away your right to marry because you cannot bear children. Unless you're a dishonest hateful hypocrite of course.Think twice before voting for hate with Prop H8 (ie, Proposition 8, if you're really that slow). There is no legitimate... more