Archive for the ‘bigotry’ Category
13
As expected, Federal Judge Vaughn Walker lifted the stay on Same Couple Marriage! Using the same legal standing that was presented in the overturning of Prop 8, Walker then reiterated that Prop 8 discriminated against Same Couple Marriages. Which means that on August 18, 2010, Lesbian and Gay couples will be able to get married again!
As in his original ruling, Judge Walker stated the obvious. That Same Couple Marriage “doesn’t harm heterosexual marriage or anyone else for that matter.” That there is “no reason to deny Same Couple Marriage.” That denying Same Couple Marriage is “NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.” And most importantly, whether “opponents of Same Couple Marriage have not made a strong showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits (of their appeal).”
Opponents of Same Couple Marriage had ample opportunity to present a case during the Appellant trial. And as Judge Walker stated in both of his rulings, “Proponents had a full opportunity to provide evidence in support of their position and nevertheless failed to present even one credible witness on the government interest in Proposition 8.” Prop 8 supporters presented two witnesses. One who based much of his theories on the research of closeted anti-gay leader George Rekers. And the other on a man who stated, on the stand, that he got his research “from the Internet.” Why are they surprised that Prop 8 was overturned?
According to the ruling, Judge Walker stated that “Proponents replied that they have an interest in defending Proposition 8 but failed to articulate even one specific harm they may suffer as a consequence of the injunction.” The reason they didn’t present any “specific harm” is because there is none. Never was. This has always been a moral issue and not a legal one. And as the judge stated in the original ruling, “California’s obligation is to treat its citizens equally, not to mandate [its] own moral code” and that ““Moral disapproval, without any other asserted state interest, has never been a rational basis for legislation.” For those who can’t read behind the lines, Judge Walker meant that just because you don’t like something, it doesn’t give you a right or reason to make it illegal.
If people took the time to read the original ruling overturning Prop 8, with an open and honest heart and mind, they will see two things. One is that Judge Vaughn Walker went to great lengths to explain his ruling. Second, he cited legal precedents to back up his ruling. So for all those clowns saying that he ruled the way he did because “he is gay”, get passed yourself! Whether he is Gay or not is irrelevant. Unlike you, Judge Walker applied the law. He didn’t use morality, the bible, or fear tactics to scare people into voting for a discriminatory law!
Unlike the title of this blog, I AM FEELING THIS!!!!!!!!!
P.S. To the citizens of California, YOU’RE WELCOME! Welcome for what? For all the money that will come into the state of California because of Same Couple Marriages!!!!!
Check out my Lesbian comic called Lesbionix, that follows the lives of nine Lesbians, friends since summer camp and the one woman who holds their lives and freedom on her hands. Think the ORIGINAL L Word in comic form! For more information on the comic go to Lesbionix Comic.
09
With these four words, it is so ordered, millions of Lesbian and Gay citizens in America, and around the world, found last Wednesday’s ruling that overturned Prop 8 to be a GODSEND! Yes, I said it, a GODSEND! Because what we have been saying all along, that Prop 8 was UNCONSTITUTIONAL has been proven to be just that. And for the last nearly 96 hours I have been happy and smiling without knowing why. And when I do remember why, my smile gets wider and wider! The air seems clearer. The birds seem to be chirping more, and the sun seems brighter. But those in the struggle know the battle is still not over.
One of the things the Judge Walker stated was that there was no evidence that Same Couple Marriage harmed “traditional marriage.” The six states that currently allow Same Couple Marriage are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. The world didn’t come to an end nor did the roof fall in. The opponents of Same Couple Marriage have done nothing to prove we cause them any harm. And they had the same opportunities to present evidence that it does and came up with NOTHING!
Iowa, the only state to perform Same Couple Marriages not on the east coast, has seen a jump in tourism. Why? Because Lesbians and Gays in the Mid-west can go to Iowa and get married. Since there is a three day waiting period to get married in Iowa, money is being spent in the local economy. For an country that is still in the midst of a recession, that extra money is a blessing. Do you hear that California?
In the now four days since the ban was repealed, the Republican party has been eerily silent on the ruling. And these are the people who have been on the front lines of opposing Same Couple Marriage. With mid-term elections coming up, they are afraid to make Same Couple Marriage an issue. Especially since the economy, health care, the federal deficit, the war, unemployment, and immigration, seem to be more important than Same Couple Marriage. Or maybe the Republican party is seeing the writing on the wall. The tide is changing and Same Couple Marriage isn’t and never should have been an issue.
It is so ordered. No finer words were EVER uttered!
18
A recent Newsweek article states that seventy-five percent of Americans favor the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. This federal law requires Lesbians and Gays to be discharged from the military of it comes out that they aren’t straight. Yet fifty percent of those same people still don’t think Lesbians and Gays should be “allowed” to get married. The article goes on to give three “reasons” for the change of heart about Lesbians and Gays in the military. And while I understand what the author, Sarah Kliff, is saying, it’s straight out BULLSHIT!
The first reason is that discharging military experts because of their sexual preference is a National Security Risk. I remember when DADT was being drafted, some of the lame arguments for not allowing Lesbians and Gays in the military were that we weren’t “tough enough” or would try and “recruit or sexual attack and harass other soldiers.” DADT didn’t stop us from serving in the military. It stopped us from talking about our sexual orientation. So exactly how did DADT prevent that from occurring? It didn’t! That argument was another red herring in the lies told by bigots to prevent Lesbians and Gays from openly serving in the military.
The ironic thing about this issue is that many of the soldiers discharged because of DADT are people we can ill afford to lose at this time. They are Arabic linguists. And to bring even more light to this issue, an Out and Proud Gay Arabic linguist, Daniel Choi, was discharged from the military because of DADT. He was recently brought BACK INTO THE MILITARY and is waiting to be deployed because his skills are in demand, but few people have them.
The second reason for the changing opinions about DADT is because other Super Powers allow Lesbians and Gays to serve openly in the military. And have been doing so for DECADES! That alone proves that DADT was silly when it was created and that the “experiment” to see what would happen if Lesbians and Gays served in the military has been completed. The outcome? The decision to lift the ban on homosexuals had no impact on military performance, readiness, cohesion or ability to recruit or retain.” REALLY? Go figure!
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