Californians will be voting on Proposition 8, come election day. This confirms that marriage is between a man and a woman, after California’s courts recently struck down Proposition 22–where 60 per cent of Californians affirmed that marriage is between a man and a woman back in 2000. I highlight this because it’s interesting–California is not a conservative state. And yet not eight years ago, they affirmed opposite sex marriage. (Homophobes, all of them? The whole state? I think not.)
Anyway, people like Jennifer Roback Morse have been working hard on this issue. And my colleague and I (for the day job) wrote this a while back. Marriage–it’s complicated–but in the end, that’s good. (ie. It was never so simplistic as to say “hey–what does someone else’s marriage have to do with me?” which seems pretty consistently to be the argument of those in favour of same sex marriage.)
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I find this blog pretty interesting because it does seem to have people from many different backgrounds speaking on abortion – which makes me question my own assumptions. Then, sometimes, I see a post like this which seems to have nothing to do with abortion and a whole lot to do with fundie-christian-beliefs. And that’s kind of sad.
I love the article that you linked (“Same-sex Marriage : What Can Americans Learn From Canada”.) I’ve often wondered why it wasn’t more obvious to people that giving one group of people special “rights” opens the door to redefining marriage and family over and over again. How can you deny polygamists their “rights” too? You can’t. And what a thought provoking proposal that “Marriage as an institution is meant to constrain human behavior, not liberate or grant rights …”!!
Californians aren’t particularly conservative yet they supported the ban in favor of traditional marriage – it’s not just those “sad” fundie-christians. A larger majority supported the ban in 2000. The attitude seems to be changing but only because people are bombarded with the idea that if they don’t support this “right” they are intolerant.
Marriage, family, children – they are all part and parcel of each other. As the “Same-sex Marriage” article points out redefining marriage affects the rights of children. So – a blog that is largely about being pro-life (read: pro-child) will most certainly touch on marriage. Just look at the various links to your left. Things like social justice, sexuality, health care – they all matter within this context.
“me” in the comment above needs to read that article.
To all a PWPL thanks for all of your effort, input and voices of reason.