Schwarzenegger Dismisses Prop 8 as “waste of time”

June 29, 2008: When asked on TV’s Meet The Press if he supports the Nov. 4 ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger explained:

“No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I think the Supreme Court made a decision there. It was apparently unconstitutional to stop anyone from getting married. It’s like 1948, the interracial marriage, when the Supreme Court of California has, you know, decided it was unconstitutional and then later on the Supreme Court of the United States followed, I think 10 or 12 years later. So I think it is, it’s good that California lead – is leading in this way. I personally believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But at the same time I think that my, you know, belief, I don’t want to force on anyone else, so I think we should stay with the decision of the Supreme Court and move forward. There are so many other more important issues that we have to address in California. So I think to spend any time on this initiative I think is a waste of time.

Marriage Equality: Overview and CA Prop. 8

Marriage Equality: Overview and California Proposition 8
Freedom, Fairness and Equal Treatment under the Law

The historic struggle for marriage equality is a struggle for freedom, fairness and equality for all. It is a fight for the most basic of American values: equal treatment under the law.

The most central American value is freedom. It is the principle upon which our nation was founded. It is what we pledge our allegiance to: “… with freedom and justice for all.” Fundamental freedoms like the freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the freedom to marry are at the heart of who we are as Americans. While many things divide us; this principle is what binds us together as a great nation.

Those who support the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples understand this. Regardless of their own personal views on gay and lesbian couples, regardless of whether they personally wish to marry; they understand that the freedom to marry is basic. No group of tax-paying, law-abiding Americans should be singled out and denied freedom or equal treatment under the law.

Those who oppose marriage equality seek to single out and exclude long-term, loving, committed gay and lesbian couples from the freedom granted to all Americans: the freedom to marry. In state after state they work to write exclusionary language into the state constitutions that denies the basic freedom to marry to gay and lesbian couples.

Even in California.

Gay and lesbian marriages began June 17th, 2008 in California. It was an emotional and moving day for all Californians that believe in love and commitment. A day some couples had waited 25, 30 and even 50 years for. But the struggle for freedom did not end on that note.

On June 2, 2008 the California Secretary of State certified Proposition 8 for the November 2008 ballot. A yes vote on Proposition 8 would amend the California constitution to excluding lesbian and gay couple from the fundamental freedom to marry and to only recognize marriages “between a man and a woman.”

Those who oppose equal treatment under the law are determined, will go to any lengths and have promised to spend millions to deny gay & lesbian couples the fundamental freedom to marry and deny those couples equality.

Some call the battle for equality in California the “civil rights battle of our lifetimes.” Other writers remind us that the nation is watching. Civil rights and equal treatment for all Americans is what is at stake.

Make sure your answer to the question from our youth, the question that will undoubtedly be asked: “Where were you when that fight was going on?” is a resounding “I was there. I was there fighting for freedom for all Americans.”

Feeding the Fears of their Faithful

By Delores Jacobs, Ph.D., CEO The Center Advocacy Project

In their on-going, desperate efforts to exclude gay and lesbian couples from the fundamental freedoms promised to all Americans under our constitution, the extremists resort to the sad tactics we have all seen before. Tactics designed to manipulate their own faithful congregations!

Their basic strategy is to feed the fears of their faithful.

What is to be feared, according to them? They say (with an entirely straight face) if gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, it is only a matter of time before pastors will be arrested in their pulpits and all Christians will be forced to give up their religious beliefs. Sound contrived and alarmist? It is.

But it is a message they continue to repeat over and over, pull up obscure cases from Spain and Canada, and take decisions about the improper use of government money out of context. Apparently, they never met a fact that couldn’t be made up or misrepresented.

Read below from their own www.protectmarriage.com website. First they tell their readers that, in fact, the constitutional decision that granted gays and lesbians the right to marry DOES PROTECT THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

“On page 117 of the California Supreme Court ruling, it exempts pastors, stating the following: “Finally, affording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 4.);”

Wow, they can all relax a bit! It is possible, as the US Constitution and its framers saw decades ago, to guarantee us all freedoms: freedom to marry and freedom of religion. But, instead of preaching hope, optimism, faith, belief in justice, and celebrating a great nation, they go on with the following:

However, before you breathe a sigh of relief … the freedom to proclaim the Gospel hinges on the outcome of this election.

Instead of celebrating the protection of their freedoms, they tell their faithful that they are more vulnerable, they are going to be arrested for believing, and the very freedom to believe itself is in danger!!!

Unbelievable? It shouldn’t be. These are the tactics we have seen time and again throughout this country and in this battle. The only difference is that this time, long-term, committed gay and lesbian couples are the alleged hidden, explosive, world-altering danger. And , according to their spinners, the only apparent remedy or safety lies in excluding loving, committed couples from the fundamental freedoms granted to us as Americans.

Defeat the fear-tactics. Say NO to the deceptive, divisive, hate-filled rhetoric. Support the faith leaders who stand up and denounce these tactics. Vote NO on the Marriage Ban November 4th.