Cross posted at the OC Progressive.
Sure, the back of the bus arrives at the same time as the front of the bus, but civil unions are not marriage!
Yesterday's California Supreme Court decision was one more call as to why we need members in Congress, the Assembly, and the State Senate who support Marriage Equality. Separate but equal cannot stand.
As some married Californians have learned, they get to pay the gay tax when they file their Federal tax returns since the Government does not recognize their marriages.
Here in the OC, we have one candidate for Congress who not only speaks out, but also can win!
California's 48th district is a dynamic and changing district with representation that does not uphold this value. John Campbell not only doesn't support civil unions, he wants to keep to the stringent definition of "marriage". Here are his comments on the issue.
"In 2000, over 61% of Californians (including this Congressman) voted to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman (Proposition 22). However, because this language wasn’t put into the California Constitution, four activist judges from San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote in a closely divided 4-3 decision. Proposition 8 reverses the court’s decision by restoring the definition of marriage as a man and a woman in the state Constitution.
The entire text of Proposition 8 is as follows: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California." It’s not an attack on the gay lifestyle. Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gays or lesbians in domestic partnerships. Under California law, "domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits" as married spouses. (Family Code §297.5.) There are no exceptions. Proposition 8 will not change this."
Source
I highlighted all the talking points and fallacies that continue to push the idea that separate but equal is okay. Campbell's statement includes all the hot button phrases the far right likes to throw around, such as "activist judges" and "gay lifestyle" which are meant to invalidate the Court's ruling of last year and to continue to push the idea that being Gay is a choice.
As it stands, gays and lesbians are an official second class of citizens in this State, something that no progressive should tolerate.
It's time that Orange County had more representation that holds our values and in November of last year, the 48th voted for Obama (barely) but it also voted against Proposition 8!
Until now my district hasn't had much of an alternative, but I'm excited to be able to say that Former Irvine Mayor Beth Krom threw her hat into the ring earlier this year. She supports marriage equality and not only that, she released this statement...
A Statement on the California Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8
When I speak to young people, I tell them I was born at a time when segregation was legal throughout a large portion of the United States. Given the diversity they see today, legal discrimination is a concept that is hard for them to understand. In upholding Proposition 8, the California Supreme Court has validated legal discrimination against one group of Californians. I share the disappointment felt by those who had hoped the Supreme Court would place the civil rights of all California citizens above the sanctity of an initiative process. There is little courage to be found in a decision which reverses the courts own position on marriage equality and which validates the legality of 18,000 same-sex marriages while abridging the rights of thousands more who would aspire to have their own marriages affirmed.
I look forward to a day when there is no legal discrimination in America.
Beth Krom
Irvine City Councilwoman
Candidate for Congress, 48th district
Beth Krom gets it and recognizes all the twists and turns this battle has encompassed in the last year but most importantly, she understands that separate but equal is not tolerable under any circumstances. Even though this battle is more about when and not if, I still hate the idea of people having to wait to be recognized as equal in the eyes of the law.
It's obvious that Beth Krom shares this sentiment. I hope you will help her reach her goal of raising $250,000 by June 1st. First she has to out raise Republican John Campbell and then she's going to have to fight and she will fight. I think she can win it too, we just need your help.
Even if it's only $5 or $10 it adds up and shows that Beth Krom is a force to be reckoned with and that she supports full marriage equality.