October 21, 2005
Texas Proposition 2
Maybe I heard about this before and forgot about it, but next month, among other things, Texans will vote on Proposition 2, "The constitutional amendment providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage."
Here's an interesting quote on it from Steve's Soapbox, whoever Steve is, "It remains a terrific irony that, even as gay Texas citizens who want to marry cannot, 'straight' Texans who can marry file some 120,000 divorce actions a year. And yet voters are told that the way to 'protect' marriage is to pass a constitutional amendment attacking gay Texans."
Oh well, at least this gives me a chance to be politically active and go vote on it, and pretend that my vote makes a difference down here in Bushland (Bushland reference about halfway down the page).
Posted by Fatboy at October 21, 2005 03:25 PMI always liked this cartoon (click for larger image):
Probably because it helps with my notion that as time goes on, people become more tolerant of others, and that gay marriage will be a non-issue at some point in our lives. Not that I'm advocating apathy on the issue, just saying that there's a silver lining to all this (hey, even being a hot topic issue is progress).
What bugs me is reactionist Conservatives have made the issue here abut what "marriage" is, not about the effects of joining. While there are certainly hamasessyools that want a religious, emotional ceremony, I think the initial groundswell in support of gay marriage came from people who want to insure inheritance rights, adopted child custody rights, spousal health care benefits, etc. that aren't available to gays under current laws. Now the debate has somehow been allowed to become, "them fags want God to love them as one" instead of "holy shit, if I'm with this guy/gal forever and they die, they can take my house/kid/boat/insurance because we're not legal."
I for one think gay dudes are weird. I think gay chicks have the right idea: chicks are hot. But, it just confuses me as to why any two people that demonstrate the desire can't legally commit themselves to one another regardless of the body parts they were born with.
Posted by: Chris at October 21, 2005 06:24 PMi think we all stand in pretty much the same place on this issue. nice cartoon rick, i hadn't thought of things that way.
Posted by: roy at October 22, 2005 12:16 PMI think they should tell all the gays that they can be married if they would agree to sit through today's UNC vs. UVA game ( a final of 7-5). No person on this planet would take this deal.
Posted by: Chad at October 23, 2005 01:07 AMCome to think of it, that cartoon is quite true. I am against Proposition 2 because its like saying banning mixed-race marriages. If they are the same sex, why would it matter? If you are white and you marry a mexican, would you want some amendment to be against that? I wouldn't. Marriage should be free to all, heterosexual OR not, the same race or not. As for marriages going to far, I think its common sense to all that you couldnt really start marrying farm animals, appliances or who knows what because once it comes down to "divource" something like a farm animal or an appliance couldnt really have its "say-so" in any matter.
Posted by: Linda at November 6, 2005 10:20 PM