Same Sex Marriage- Proposition 8

Sunday, November 30th, 2008
by emma.phillips

Just recently a proposition for same sex marriage was voted on in California. Proposition eight was written to amend the states constitution to change the definition of marriage and restrict it to just between a man and a woman. Even though there was recently a California State Supreme Court decision making same sex marriage legal, this ballet overrode that decision. To vote yes on this amendment meant that you were in favor of changing the constitution and against same sex marriage. There was a five-point percentage difference between the yes and no votes. The people against same sex marriage won with 52.2% and the people for same sex marriage lost with 47.8%.

Many have struggled and sacrificed a great deal to try and convince people to vote no against a second-class status for same sex couples. Same sex couples want the equality and freedom that heterosexual couples have. California has been one of the first states to  have voted for the freedom of marriage and the equality of all spouses no matter what gender they are.

Proposition eight eliminated the rights for a large group of people living in California. One reason people voted for the proposition is because they believed that allowing the law to stand would allow children to be taught about same sex marriage in schools.  In fact, California law prohibits children to be taught about family or health issues without the consent of a parent. Every one, even people living in California, should have the choice to marry who they want, it is a freedom guaranteed by the California Constitution, proposition eight aims to take away basic freedoms from same gender couples.

Since same sex marriage has become illegal in California people who supported same sex marriage came together in a rally of protest. Though it is not yet clear what impact the ban will have on approximately eighteen thousand same sex couples in the state. The California Constitution should guarantee the same freedoms to everyone; no one should be singled out and be treated differently. In the United States the founding fathers desired equal protection under the law. To take away the rights of one group may lead to the seizure of other rights such as religious, freedom or civil rights. The freedom to marriage is essential in our society and by letting same sex couples marry it conveys the dignity and respect to the lifetime commitment couples make.

Some people are concerned that traditional marriage may be impacted; however one abolished marriage tradition was only allowing members of the upper class or the nobility to marry. Also, arranged marriages that proceeded without the couples consent were once tradition.  There was once only a tradition for white people to marry and for races to never mix. Again, all these various marriage traditions have been destroyed or changed. How come the constitution cannot include same sex marriage?

Marriage is a right and should not exclude same sex couples. Even though proposition eight was passed in California there will be another vote. The couples that have been married since the law passed in June that made homosexual marriages legal in California face legal limbo.  By passing this proposition a group has been singled out and rights have been taken away. No group of people should be discriminated against because of their sexual preferences.

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