Comments on: I’m Protesting Proposition 8 Tomorrow; Please Consider Protesting Too

By: nikolay

nikolay — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:55:55 +0000

I have one good friend who out of the blue came out to be gay and we’re still good friends with him. He’s not gonna marry another man though.

By: Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:56:15 +0000

I’m a father of two. It’s not confusing. Some boys like girls, some boys like boys. Some girls like boys, some girls like girls. I have no fear talking about this with them is going to “turn them gay.” And for all the fear I’ve seen expressed over the years from people who worry someone straight will be turned gay, the reality is I don’t know anyone like that — but I do know many gay people who feel they were born gay. And I’ve seen far more harm done to them because they’ve not felt able to openly live the way they feel. And none of them — none of them — have lived as gay adults because they think it’s something “cool” to do.
I can’t stress this enough. If you do not have gay friends, then it is easy to dismiss the concerns and they way they feel in the abstract. It is not abstract to me. They are people I know, friends and others who I know closely, rather than through theory.
I also think America is a strong enough country that we can work on many problems at once.

By: nikolay

nikolay — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:29:29 +0000

I don’t mind giving more rights to gay people or any other minority if it’s in the benefit of the entire society. What I mind though (as a father of 3) is confusing the little ones – our children. It’s one thing to accept and tolerate and another to manifest and promote. Some people are born gay, but others born straight are turned gay just because it’s considered cool or due to some other circumstances, but the majority during the most psychologically fragile moments in a child’s life – the puberty.
Anyway, I think fighting for more and more rights gets blown out of proportions! Millions are losing their jobs and homes and those are the real problems even though many are confident that Obama will magically fix everything within days.
I was contesting a speeding ticket recently and nobody from the entire court room was able to pay a $150-200 fine on the spot, even with a credit card! People chose to pay $30 financing setup fee just so that can pay $120 over time (you can calculate the huge APR this corresponds to!) And this was Newport Beach Harbor Justice Center! That’s how bad things really are, but some just don’t want to accept it!
Also, if Proposition 8 was able to pass in California, then it will surely pass in all other states, too! It’s clear that America does not agree with same-sex marriage concept! So, let’s all (both gay or straight) focus our energy on jumpstarting the economy!

By: Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:57:16 +0000

I accept the vote. I just disagree with it and will work to change opinions so that a future vote won’t go that way. This is the way our country operates. I accepted the vote for Bush, even though I didn’t personally vote for him. But that didn’t mean people’s opinions didn’t change over time. They do.
The point of the protest to be was to help raise awareness to indeed some of those same people who voted for Prop. 8 that there are some real people out there that it impacts.
Marriage is not a privilege. In terms of the law, it is a legal entity that assigns certain property rights and legal rights between a couple. It is a right that any couple, if they are not gay, can have. Can you name any other rights that gays cannot have aside from serving in the military openly?
Marriage as a religious institution is another thing.
As for whining, sure. You know back in WWII, Black were discriminated against, but they really should have swallowed all that because of the war going on. After all, they still had a pretty good standard of living compared to say, Nazi Germany.
It’s about what’s right. America is a country that’s based on providing equal rights. This isn’t equal, and I hope the law changes.

By: nikolay

nikolay — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:59:15 +0000

So, you accept the vote of the people for Obama, but don’t want to accept the vote of the same people on Proposition 8?
And what’s the point of such protest? It’s not the government saying “yes”, it’s the people of California and you can’t protest against that. Plus, the vote itself was very confusing. Many people voted “no” thinking they vote against gay marriage.
My last point is that marriage is not a right; it’s a privilege for heterosexual couples that want to raise kids and build a family. There’s domestic partnership for the rest.
In general, gay people should just calm down and stop whining. At the end, this country is one of the most liberal to their kind and they should not be ungrateful by adding distractions during this country’s worst financial crisis!

By: Alhan

Alhan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:30:40 +0000

I was indeed very disappointed to see the news about the ban on election night. It was a bummer that on one side we had taken some great steps of progress, while on the other we were regressing. The same goes for Missouri’s ridiculous vote on their official language.
Perhaps using different vocabulary could help in the issue. I am thinking that the word “union” could be used instead of “marriage”. Legally it would mean the same thing but under a name that does avoids bringing religion into the discussion. I feel like it is more difficult to argue against gay marriage when religion is not brought up. Of course, as you said, that would be one more unfortunate compromise that should not have to be made.

By: Alhan

Alhan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:29:58 +0000

By: victorcab

victorcab — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:18:53 +0000

Thanks Danny for writing this.
There are so many people that really just don’t understand. I have a brother who is adamantly opposed to gay rights.
Over the years I have come around to better understand and appreciate the rights issue. I have a good friend who is gay and a cousin from my wifes family who is gay and married to another man. These gay people are happy, live “normal lives” just like other members of our society. They should have equal rights like other people.
This issue will continue…