Spring Break
Proposition 8 not met with open arms
Daily Vidette Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Editorials
As Illinois takes progressive steps towards gay rights, the citizens of California voted for Proposition 8 in order to ban gay marriage. Additionally, equal rights for gay couples were denied in Arizona and Florida with amendments that ban gay marriage.
What does this mean for those who were married when it was legal? It has to be tough to fight, finally get married and then have it taken away just like that. It does not seem fair.
On a small scale, this issue seems very disheartening. However, as a whole there has been more work done recently than in the past. As a whole we are moving towards the idea of accepting gay marriage. This is an unfortunate step backwards, but it's a part of the fight.
The Civil Rights Movement began when our country was founded and continued until the 1960s. That's almost 200 years. Hopefully it does not take that long to legalize gay marriage, but it obviously isn't going to happen overnight.
We think many who are against gay marriage do not consider what it would be like if they could not marry who they wanted. The scenario of the loving couple who have been together for 50 years and cannot see each other when in the hospital because they are not married is disturbing.
A common assumption might be that anti-gay ideals are from a conservative Republican viewpoint, but this is a myth because Florida was actually a blue state. Besides, neither presidential candidate was for gay marriage.
It could be a generational issue. On a whole, it seems like younger people are more tolerant of such ideas. This gives us much hope. However, religion could also be the reason for anti-gay sentiments. This ties into parents and past generations instilling religion, but there are many other sources for religious beliefs without considering age.
It is confusing to think that abortion is legal on the federal level and gay marriage is not. Religiously inspired or not, the issue of "killing a human" versus letting two people get married seems like a bigger deal.
Abortion was brought to the Supreme Court though and made a federal issue. Gay rights remains an issue within each state. Politicians seem hesitant to take a stance for gay marriage because it risks losing support.
No matter the reason for Proposition 8, the fact is that our democracy made it so. More than half the people who voted in California are against gay marriage.
Hopefully it does not take 200 years, but one day rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people will be recognized. Maybe in four years there will even be a presidential candidate who is for gay marriage.
Currently, the fight continues. On Nov. 5, a group for equality of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in California filed a lawsuit against the decision of Proposition 8. On campus, there will be a support rally on the Quad, Friday at 7:30 p.m.
What does this mean for those who were married when it was legal? It has to be tough to fight, finally get married and then have it taken away just like that. It does not seem fair.
On a small scale, this issue seems very disheartening. However, as a whole there has been more work done recently than in the past. As a whole we are moving towards the idea of accepting gay marriage. This is an unfortunate step backwards, but it's a part of the fight.
The Civil Rights Movement began when our country was founded and continued until the 1960s. That's almost 200 years. Hopefully it does not take that long to legalize gay marriage, but it obviously isn't going to happen overnight.
We think many who are against gay marriage do not consider what it would be like if they could not marry who they wanted. The scenario of the loving couple who have been together for 50 years and cannot see each other when in the hospital because they are not married is disturbing.
A common assumption might be that anti-gay ideals are from a conservative Republican viewpoint, but this is a myth because Florida was actually a blue state. Besides, neither presidential candidate was for gay marriage.
It could be a generational issue. On a whole, it seems like younger people are more tolerant of such ideas. This gives us much hope. However, religion could also be the reason for anti-gay sentiments. This ties into parents and past generations instilling religion, but there are many other sources for religious beliefs without considering age.
It is confusing to think that abortion is legal on the federal level and gay marriage is not. Religiously inspired or not, the issue of "killing a human" versus letting two people get married seems like a bigger deal.
Abortion was brought to the Supreme Court though and made a federal issue. Gay rights remains an issue within each state. Politicians seem hesitant to take a stance for gay marriage because it risks losing support.
No matter the reason for Proposition 8, the fact is that our democracy made it so. More than half the people who voted in California are against gay marriage.
Hopefully it does not take 200 years, but one day rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people will be recognized. Maybe in four years there will even be a presidential candidate who is for gay marriage.
Currently, the fight continues. On Nov. 5, a group for equality of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in California filed a lawsuit against the decision of Proposition 8. On campus, there will be a support rally on the Quad, Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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