Below the fold is a lengthy excerpt of
the Dallas Morning News' editorial against Proposition 2 in Texas, the so-called "Gay Marriage Ban."
Normally, I would not subject Kossacks to ramblings of the right-wing DMN. But, the issue is extremely important. Frankly, and I mean this respectfully, it is more important in general than in its specifics. Gay rights are advancing, inexorably, and they can withstand a demagogic hit like the passge of Prop. 2. Rather, the vote today is about whether Texas is a civilized place. It is conceivable Prop. 2 will pass despite the rantings of bona fide right-wingers like the DMN Editorial Page. The passage of Prop. 2 would confirm Texas, as a place, is not civilized. There are millions of fine Texans, but Texas, the place, would not be civilized.
from the paper:
The marriage amendment: No on State Prop 2
...
DO vote against this proposed amendment if you realize that the state of Texas already has a law defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
DON'T believe that this amendment would change the status of your own marriage, and don't believe the Ku Klux Klan when it says this is a vote "to legalize" gay marriage. It's not. Gay marriage is illegal in Texas today, and it will remain illegal, regardless of Tuesday's result.
DO vote against Prop 2 if you understand that it would call into question private legal arrangements that help gays manage their households and their families' lives. The Legislature had a chance to include language in the amendment that would have expressly protected all legal contracts currently available to gay men and women under the law, but House members voted against such a safeguard.
DO question why they did that.
DON'T trust lawmakers to not use gays as political pawns. Many lawmakers see anti-gay laws - such as limits on joint custody of children and the banning of gays as foster parents - as an easy way to appeal to "values" voters.
DON'T cast your vote believing it's just a moral statement and that no harm will come to anyone. Gay employees of the city of Dallas and Travis County may lose some health coverage for their loved ones as a result of local control being taken away on this issue.
DO realize that supporters of this amendment, when pressed, admit that it is about marginalizing gays and denouncing what they view as "perversion."
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