Neutral

It is sad though that so many black people voted for this amendment in light of the struggle for interracial marriage. It also puzzles many people who are gay and lesbian that a historically marginalized group can in turn come out and marginalize another group.

The struggle to allow interracial marriage ended in the Supreme Court with Virgina vs. Loving in 1967.

The language used against gay marriage is extremely similar to the language used against interracial marriage.

This was another instance where people used the bible in a way that God did not intend. Per Wikipedia:

"In the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, many American states passed anti-miscegenation laws, which were often defended by invoking racist interpretations of the Bible, particularly of the story of Phinehas and the "Curse of Ham"[10]."

And today the bible is being invoked in a homophobic fashion to promote bigotry against gay people and to make them second class citizens by denying them the right to marry — a right that is most certainly guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

A portion of the legal that struck down anti-miscegenation laws read as follows:

"The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."

Change the words 'racial discrimination' to 'homophobia' and 'another race' to 'the same gender' and the extent of the discrimination becomes clear.

READ IT AGAIN:

"The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious homophobia. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of the same gender resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."

Human beings who happen to be homosexual are still human beings and do not deserve to be forced into a second-class citizenship and denied the same rights as every other human being who happens to be heterosexual.

Discrimination is discrimination and it's all tied together. United We Stand. Divided We Fail.

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Neutral

It is my suspicion that when voters voted for Prop 8, they were not fully aware of what they were voting for.

I noticed on the ballot here in Connecticut that when the question was posed regarding amending our constitution, people for the most part aware of what they were actually voting to deny or support. There should've been some kind of explanantion in writing on the ballot offering an explanation of the question on the ballot.

However, I firmly believe that the Supreme Court of California should take this and reverse the decision. The Mormon Church, shame on you for pushing you warped views off on people.

Today, I was watching a group of conservative women on CSPAN and was appalled by what they were saying about Obama and the election. They are a bunch of devils whose only mission is to keep other people than themselves down. They will go to hell when standing up to be judged.

Hateful, white conservative women, get on board. Times have changed and the majority of people no longer want to be separated. Hopefully, you will embrace our wonderful PRESIDENT and work with him so that we can all get out of this shit that YOUR President, Bush, put all of our asses in.

McCain was not intelligent and did not have the temperment to be the Commander-in-Chief, and Palin with whom you praised did not have the skills nor brain to be VP or President. Own up to the fact that YALL again made a bad choice by supporting McCain/Palin, which would've had dire consequences had they been elected. And you had the nerve to infer that Palin would've made a great VP, you are all idiots of the highest order.

Jesse in Hartford / Obama-Biden Support

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Neutral

I'm curious about the african american vote (ok, i'm really disappointed). on the day of the election, i received a robo call from the Yes on 8 campaign that had Obama's voice saying, "i do not believe in same sex marriage, i believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. . . " then the Yes on 8 voiceover came in and said Vote with Obama Vote Yes on 8.

Obama did have a duplicitous message. on one hand he had stated that he was opposed to same sex marriage. and, then he also stated that he was opposed to Proposition 8. He became a Tool of the Yes on 8 campaign. Just like Hillary was being used to fight Obama with the McCain camp.

Also, there was a flyer sent out to african americans with similar information on it.

How much do you think these misleading tactics by the Yes on 8 campaign influenced the 70/30 split in favor of Banning Same Sex marriage?

Also, Is the african american community aware of the Mormons Racist viewpoints that people with black skin are cursed and deserving of discrimination? I'm curious if african americans know who they got into bed with.

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Neutral

Same sex marriage is wrong!! Wake up people. Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. Joined by God, in a Holy union. That of which God Has blessed. Equal rights I understand, but you guys are seeking the destruction of our society as we know it. You guys have plenty of rights,JUST NOT THE RIGHT TO MARRY. I voted yes on prop 8, I proudly did and would again. A union between two men or two women is just decusting.You people need to keep your day job, and stop forcing your immoral ways on the young and impressionable minds of our youth. In an attemp to create your very own completely Gay state. Now realize I have nothing personal against homosexuals, I don't agree with with there lifestyles, but thats there choice. I think that you guys should keep it to your self. Than we can all be Happy!!

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Neutral

People, people, people.

It is beyond my comprehension why African Americans in California would be preoccupied with Gay Marriage to vote "YES" banning marriage for those who want to get married even if it is to the same gender.

African Americans have:
- The highest rate of out-of-wedlock births;
- Highest rate live-in loves rather than marry;
- Highest rate of crime in the communities;
- Highest rate of STDs among our young people;
- Highest rate of HIV/AIDS;
- Highest rate of men in prison.

I could go on and on. Yet, out of everything in the bible that we could focus on, is "Homosexuality"?

It's like we spend all of our time at church, but get nothing out of the experience except some whore mungering pastor's ranting sermon about "homosexuality". It would be better if you took care of your own house before you try and fix the house of Same Gender Loving people.

I think there are more Christians among Same Gender Loving people than among you. Thank God for Philip baptizing the Eunuch. He came back up a Eunuch, that didn't change, but he was changed within through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I rather be a Eunuch in God's army than one of you!

A Lesbian for Christ!

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Neutral

Way to go Ben!!! You have proven once again how someone can spread hate in the name of religion. If marriage is a religious term than it should not be used by our government, as last I checked there was to be a seperation between church and state. We know this, yet we do not implement this fundamental belief. This is to be land of the free, correct? If that is the case than how can any of us discriminate against another for any reason? If we are children of God then how do we have the right to judge God's creation?

Just out of curiousity have you seen the divorce rate in this country? Have you paid attention to number of children that are born out of wedlock? How can you blame gays for trying to destroy our society when we have already done that?

I will not judge you as a person for your beliefs as they are what they are. I do however take offense to your using religion to defend spewing hate. Perhaps remembering that we have no right to judge another would help you... maybe not. At any rate... God Bless you.

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Neutral

This is just so sad, so very sad.

I don't believe the black population should be blamed for Prop 8 passing. I don't believe one group of individuals should be blamed.

What should be blamed is how people HATE. Is wasn't that long ago that women were finally given the right to vote; that minority citizens finally had rights; and that inter-racial couples could get married! It's hard to believe that these were even issues! I am a woman. I am a minority. My husband is of a different race. Had I been born at an earlier time, I would have been denied these rights. How is this discrimination from a not so distant past be any different from Prop 8?

"In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Loving Versus Virginia that the state of Virginia’s laws against interracial marriage (known as the Racial Integrity Act) were unconstitutional and went against the Fourteenth Amendments’ principle of equality." This is from a great article I read by Angelo Lopez; http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2008/10/the_fight_for_interracial_marr.html

This article also goes on to explain that the ban on inter-racial marriage targeted African Americans, but was not limited to them. I encourage everyone to read this article.

As hard it is to fathom it was only 41 years ago that a law passed making it legal for COUPLES OF DIFFERENT RACES LEGALIZE THEIR UNION. 41 years ago! My dad has some clothes older than that!

It's hard for me to accept that so many people would put so much of their time and energy into preventing other people from being happy.

I understand a certain Church put in in a large amount of money into getting Prop 8 passed. I listened to many individuals use the bible to justify why gay marriage should not be allowed. It's sad how the perception that some get from what the bible teaches makes them feel it's OK to hate. If anyone remembers history, the bible had also been used to justify slavery, striping women and children of rights, and other horrible injustices.

If some churches are adamant about the government not getting involved in preventing them from practicing their beliefs, shouldn't it go the other way around too? Just a thought..

I read the bible; I go to church regularly; and I beleive in the Golden Rule. I don't support Prop 8.

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Neutral

I believe that this whole fiasco has been manipulated by the media, first of all there is not that many black people in California to shift this vote. We need separation of church and state; we all need to follow the golden rule "do unto others as you would have others do unto you". These people work and pay taxes and therefore should have the same rights under the government as anyone else. It is not up to us to judge unless someone is being hurt (which is not the case). Everyone deserves to live, love and be productive in their own truth. We as a society should become more inclusive versus exclusive.

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A same-sex has been living together for 25 years. Today, they want to get married. Why should anyone cares? Are the words "I Do"; That upsetting to you Jesus Freaks? Is that the ONLY SIN you're concern about?

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Neutral

To Jesse:

"The Mormon Church, shame on you for pushing you warped views off on people."

Since when did upholding traditional families and desiring a moral society become warped? You can believe all you want that homsexauality and gay unions are wholesome...but that warped concept has never been part of the Status Quo.

Keep twisting those words, you might find comfort one day.

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