My (conflicted) feelings on Prop 8...

The issue of gay marriage has been weighing heavily on my mind lately for obvious reasons. I know that this is just one blog of one million on this extremely delicate topic, but I wanted to get my conflicted feelings out there and receive feed back from all of my readers (all six or seven of you). I'm really lucky to have an amazing and diverse group of friends that always help me see things in a new way. I wish we could all meet in my living room and stay up all night talking, but since we're all so spread out this will have to do...

So, if you had asked me two weeks ago if I supported proposition 8 I would have said absolutely not. No way. Who am I to tell a couple that they can not enjoy the same union of marriage that I find so fulfilling in my own life? I don't feel like homosexuals getting married threatens what I have with Chris in anyway. To me the act of committing oneself to another in a monogamous relationship through marriage is something that can only bring about positive results. These are my personal feelings on the subject and they have remained the same.

What has changed, however, is my understanding towards those who oppose gay marriage. For many of them it's not an issue of gay rights as much as it's an issue of freedom of religion. Fear, which always sells, was used as the main tactic in getting Prop 8 to pass. I'm sure you're all as familiar with this (or more so) than I am, but in case you're not check out this blog:

http://protectingmarriage.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/six-consequences-the-coalition-has-identified-if-proposition-8-fails/

and this article, When Gay Rights and Religious Liberties Clash:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486191

And even though you can just as easily search for written rebuttals to every argument, once the seed of fear is planted it is not easily removed. So while people may not have a problem with a homosexual's right to marry they don't want to feel forced to condone that behavior in their churches at the risk of being sued or losing their tax exempt status. I can understand that. I can understand how the perceived loss of religious freedom is more threatening to someone than gay marriage.

What I do not understand is all the hate and anger directed specifically towards the LDS church: riots outside the temple, churches being vandalized, blogs being written about wanting to "stick it to those Mormon bastards." It seems so counter productive to their cause. The latest thing is this blog:

http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/

urging people to write the IRS to report how the LDS church violated Section 501(c)(3) of US Code Title 26, which governs tax-exempt organizations in order to get its tax exempt status revoked. Personal feelings aside, I don't think they have a case. I'm sure that the LDS church has a legal team that would have advised against the first presidency's statement regarding prop 8 could there be any legal ramifications. But my point is, isn't this attempt just going to perpetuate the majority's initial fears that lead to the passing of prop 8 in the first place?

I totally understand why this is such a heated topic. My heart goes out to those who feel like their rights are not being recognized and that their voice isn't being heard. But I guess if it were me, I would recognize that the general population just isn't ready to change what they feel is the definition of marriage. They need another few years or so. I've no doubt that in the next decade same sex marriage will be legally recognized in the whole untied states. But in the mean time, I would perform a civil union and take out a living will. But then again I've always been a little passive. I'm a lover not a fighter.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you all have to say on the topic. So please share, and feel free to correct me where you feel I may have mis-spoke. (You can even correct my spelling and grammatical errors.) Like I said, I learn so much from y'all.