11/5/08

Prop H8: The Fight is NOT Over

If there's one thing that REALLY gets my blood boiling, it's seeing the following note scrawled on a dirty truck driving down the highway, which I spotted while on the road in Malibu only a few short hours ago. Luckily, I was returning from a photoshoot for work and had my camera in hand. I am still in shock and awe at the rampant discrimination that is running through California at this very moment. I had to use some serious self-restraint to stop myself from ramming into the back of this truck, but I knew deep down that a little fender bender wouldn't accomplish anything. Now, if he had a "How is my driving, please call..." sticker on the back, that might have been another story...





Seeing that just made me realize one thing. This fight is far from over. Never before in California's history has a group, who currently enjoys a basic right, been singled out and then had those rights ripped from them by a vote of their fellow citizens. This decision is so radical and so egregious that every voice must first be heard, no matter how unlikely a changed outcome might be.


If you have some time this evening and you live in California, please come join us and show your support at the following locations:

Community Gatherings

Event listing updated regularly at www.NoOnProp8.com/events

Los Angeles
7:00 p.m. | West Hollywood
Corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente Blvd

Modesto
7:00 p.m.| Stanislaus Pride Center
Silent walk to Graceada Park

Sacramento
5 p.m. | Capitol Steps

San Diego
6:30 | The Center
3909 Centre Street
Co-sponsored by the Center, EQCA and HRC

San Luis Obispo
5:30 p.m. | Mission Plaza Amphitheater

San Francisco
6:30 | City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

And to keep hope flying high, action has already been taken. According to Lamda Legal:

The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court today urging the court to invalidate Proposition 8 if it passes. The petition charges that Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group — lesbian and gay Californians. Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such radical changes to the organizing principles of state government cannot be made by simple majority vote through the initiative process, but instead must, at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.

The California Constitution itself sets out two ways to alter the document that sets the most basic rules about how state government works. Through the initiative process, voters can make relatively small changes to the constitution. But any measure that would change the underlying principles of the constitution must first be approved by the legislature before being submitted to the voters. That didn't happen with Proposition 8, and that's why it's invalid.

Because of the struggle fought here in California and fought so incredibly well by the people in this state that loves freedom and justice -- our fight for full civil rights will continue. Stay tuned for more from Lesbiatopia on the fight for equality.

13 comments:

Landlady of Fat said...

To the bitter end... darlin'... til the bitter end.

ReneeG said...

Amen, sista.

p.s. I'm glad to see you've become an activist ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Renee - remember me? Old Roomie? I just wanted to say that I was so disappointed to hear about this and I hope things will change.

Anonymous said...

It makes me so sad and angry. Even though I've been around people like that, they're not easy to identify. A few years ago in Cupertino, a drunk guy staggered up to me in an up-market pub and said, "...I think there are way too many of you chinks moving here." In a multi-ethnic city with little crime! Of courrse he got my ethnicity wrong too...sheesh. They're out there. I think I'm going to participate more politically too.

Anonymous said...

totally agree. I'm glad you caught this pic, because the sentiment is everywhere

You know, in Mass, when they started signing petitions against same-sex marriage, a group started publishing their names online (knowthyneighbor.org I believe)...it was a way of not letting bigots be invisible.

You rock. Thank you for not letting this deed go without notice, and for being angry. The rest of us feel it too.

As for the photoshoot you were at...since you didn't mention any details, I'm assuming it involved some sort of sketchy broken down apartment, and you getting $50 for some foot pictures that will soon go online.

Queers United said...

Renee, we will keep fighting till "dirty trucks" and dirty truckers like this can no longer impose their dirty immoral views on us.

Anonymous said...

dont worry, Renee, this is exactly what this nation needed to make everyone realize how ridiculous this is. I'd like to slightly alter a family guy quote, chris says 'belt buckles are a great way to express opinions..." well, "Dirty trucks are a GREAT way to express opinions!" yeah...

BOSSY said...

Bossy is so sad. What a backward "forward-thinking" country this really is.

Janet said...

This is the kind of behavior that is more prevalent when the economy is poor -- people are frustrated and look for scapegoats.

This is not only a social issue.

Improved economics, universal health care and you won't see proposals like this pass.

It is all related and together we will change it.

-janet

Landlady of Fat said...

That's a good point MLC

Anonymous said...

Let's push for a ballot initiative to prohibit divorce because we want to protect the sanctity of marriage. Let's start a petition and see if we can get it to a vote. It should pass by a landslide, shouldn't it?

Snarky said...

i love you Karen.....lets do it and start at the churches...

Halfsies said...

jointheimpact.com

protests are being organized across the nation as we speak. find your location.

saturday, nov 15th, 130pm est.