This is my first diary, but I felt that I should share this email with everyone who might need a boost in the fight for Proposition 8 to be defeated. Growing up in Mississippi, I have seen first hand the discrimination and violence that has been done in the name of Christianity. The "Yes on 8" people have come out with more ads and more "people strength" in the last week, and the polls are showing it. That is why this is important.
Update: The No on 8 website link :
www.noonprop8.com
I got this email from a friend of mine, and I wanted to share it with you. She told me to share it with anyone to whom it might make a difference. The response of this Christian minister puts into perspective the criticisms of marriage equality due to religious beliefs. Several Letters to the Editor to our local paper have caused me indigestion due to their references to the "history of marriage" and "God's law for marriage". However, last week, some of the members of our quite conservative community (by California standards) surprised me with some beautifully expressed support for the equality of all people to marry the person they love. The "Yes on 8" people have been talking at the grocery stores, making house calls and phone banking with wildly crazed messages of teaching homosexuality in schools, insurance companies going broke and people being free to marry their dogs (although THAT one scares me - it seems that a person who would go straight from same sex marriage to bestiality needs a little therapy). The election is only three weeks away, and the future of the LGBT community is in our hands. I know that might sound ominous, but it is true. Some of us are old enough that we don't really worry about it, but we have hopes for the future. Every day, I see young gays and lesbians who have their whole life in front of them. Just think...they can know what it is like to marry, to have a common bond with every other American...to have children with the one they love without fear of reprisal or drawn out legal proceedings...to raise their children without worrying about a backlash from the ignorant. We can help them - and help ourselves...Marriage equality is good for EVERYONE...it will bring back dignity to marriage, because it will be a right freely given to all. Gays and lesbians have fought for a long time - not to "ruin" marriage, but to have a share in the commitment, the hope and happiness of spending their lives married to the person they love.
Hi Friends & loved ones:
I'm forwarding a letter that Darrell, one of my partner's relatives, sent to her in response to her email to him (and the rest of the family) regarding Proposition 8, the proposition that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry (see her original email below his response). I'm writing to ask that if you are touched or moved by his response, or feel that someone might benefit or learn from this message, please swiftly pass it on.
Best wishes as always,
Julie
Mary,
Thanks for forwarding the link to the "No on 8" commercial.
Allow me to offer another perspective on this issue from my religious perspective. I strongly oppose Proposition 8 because it goes against every moral and ethical teaching of my faith. Many of you know I am a Christian pastor. The Bible has been misinterpreted by many evangelical groups to condemn committed same sex relationships. Such efforts are misguided at best, and destructive at worst.
Jesus said ALL the law and the prophets (in other words, all the teachings of his faith--Judaism) could be summed up in two commands--love God and love neighbor. Jesus did not make exceptions to his command to love my neighbors, e.g. if they were gay or lesbian. He simply said to love my neighbor. When pressed as to who constitutes a neighbor, Jesus gave an example using someone from a despised ethnic and religious group to drive home his point that we don't get to choose--we love our neighbors--period.
The references to homosexuality in the Bible do NOT refer to committed relationships. Nearly all the New Testament passages refer to pagan temple homosexual prostitution engaged by married men. The Bible does not speak directly to committed gay or lesbian relationships. Therefore, the applicable teachings with regard to same sex relationships are the ones that deal with fidelity within relationships. Since most committed heterosexual relationships fall short of the standards set in Scripture, I think heterosexual couples ought to focus on how they can practice fidelity in their own relationship before they make judgments about others' relationships.
Jesus hardly speaks about sexuality, but he spends a lot of time speaking about justice. Proposition 8 is an affront to justice. Gay and lesbian couples cannot enjoy the legal protections and recognition marriage affords unless they are allowed to be married. Every legal attempt to protect couples under designations such as registered domestic partnerships has failed to protect couples.
The historic understanding of marriage has changed constantly. The biblical notion of marriage is one based on property rights, with women treated as legal property. In the book of Exodus, the Bible provides guidelines under which a man can legally sell his daughter into sexual slavery! Polygamy is a foregone conclusion in Jesus' day. Less than a hundred years ago in this country, and up to the present day in many other countries, women were/are treated as property.
We have come a long way in addressing injustice with regard to committed relationships. It is time for us to recognize the sin of treating anyone like a second-class citizen. Proposition 8 would codify unjust treatment. As a person of faith, I implore you to stand for justice. Join me in opposing Proposition 8.
Grace and peace,
Darrell
The original email:
Dear Loved Ones, Many of you have most likely seen the television commercial trying to scare people into voting for Proposition 8. People from all over the United States have been pumping millions of dollars into the campaign for Proposition 8 to get California to change our constitution.
Before you make a decision, please at least take 30 seconds to view this rebuttal ad so that you can make a decision based on the truth. And please consider that if we start voting on propositions that take away the equal rights and freedoms for all citizens which is the basis of our constitution and essence of what our country was founded on, that this will set a precedence for people to use more propositions to take more fundamental rights and freedoms out of our constitution.
Thanks for taking time to consider such an important issue.
Rebuttal ad can be viewed by clicking on the address below:
Lies - Don't Eliminate Marriage For Anyone
Blessings,
Mary