Happy 4th of July!
The Haight Street Underworld
Giants Clobber The Astros, 13-0
SFist Tonight
Utah Mormons might win they battle in Prop 8/seizing control of the California constitution if those of you who can donate don't (i.e., Google, et al.) But thanks to philanthropist Steve Bing and No on 8, we can flood the airwaves, radiowaves, and internets with NO on 8! How so? Well, for every dollar donated between now and Sunday at midnight your gift will be matched dollar for dollar.
So, double the impact of your donation and give now.
Ask your friends and family to go to www.NoOnProp8.com/challenge so the goal of $1 million can be reached by the deadline on Sunday. Cool? Thanks.
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
Good GOD! Enough with the Prop 8 stuff.
Its like you're "forcing it down our throat".
This gives me a huge happy. Here's hoping it turns the bigoted tides.
Sometimes this amazes me. People either think it's cool for people of the same sex to marry or they don't. I don't think it matter how much money you spend on it it's not going to make people change their mind.
it's not about changing people's minds. it's about getting the word out to younger potential voters.
Yes, folks .... I read in this week's BAR that only 30,000 people have donated money to NO on Prop 8, and a lot of them are heterosexual allies that we should be VERY thankful for ....
If a 70/80 some year old lady (not me, just sayin') who just lost 50% of her household income because her wife passed away and the Federal Government doesn't recognize their marriage (think going from $2,000 a month to $1,000 a month) can come up with $1,000 for the campaign, couldn't you chip in $500?
If you don't want to have regrets about LGBT losing their equal rights to marriage in California, I'd suggest you get off the porch and find out how you can help today .... we're going to lose this thing if the apathy in the gay community continues through election day.
Between Obama, Prop 8 and Prop 2, my wallet will be glad when the election is over.
Missiondweller is right. It is absolutely terrible when someone relentlessly tries to tell you what to do. I can't imagine how terrible that must feel.
thank you so much for bringing the prop 8 stuff to the forefront...
I was at a No On 8 fundraiser down at the ferry building on Wednesday and I definitely got the feeling from Geoff Kors, Mark Leno, and the other folks that this sorta "snuck up" on us. Like we were ahead in the initial polls and all went back to focusing on the 10 million other critical issues this November.
Then both the public polls AND No On 8's *internal* polls started showing us falling behind and now everyone's scrambling to catch up. I think a lot of people just assumed that we had this in the bag and we don't. Honestly, I think half the Castro still thinks we're ahead...
Seriously folks, if you've got any friends or family outside the "dark blue" parts of California, think about giving them a call. A heartfelt message from someone they know and trust carries more weight than a phone-banker or TV ad. And it's (most likely) free.
omg people, wake up!! those who support prop 8 are not biggots, nor are they against "equality for all" as the media has been putting it. I used to be a staunch supporter of gay marriage, and then i realized that its not about equality - it's already been proven that civil unions already hold the same weight as traditional marriages. so what is everyone arguing about? why does sexuality have to play such a big role in self identity? Being gay or straight is not who we are, it is one small aspect of our total make-up. I just dont see how this issue has become a quasi-civil rights issue ... where is the inequality?!? Would someone please point it out here??
@maxer: Really? You don't see how this has become a civil rights issue? Well, let me break it down for you. It's a little thing we like to call the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. That amendment says you don't treat one group differently from another. Then there's a case we like to call Brown v. Board of Education, that backs that amendment up, holding that "separate but equal" is unconstitutional.
Hence, if you have "civil unions" for some, and "marriage" for another, you are treating one group (gay people) differently. Claiming a civil union "holds the same weight" as a traditional marriage" (aside from being false), is a violation of the 14th amendment. Therefore, if you are claiming that it's perfectly okay to eliminate the right of gay people to get married, you can in no way say that as a backer of Prop 8 you are for "equality for all." You are not. You are for inequality for one group.
Is that what you wanted pointed out?
what it really comes down to is sexual preference, and that is NOT a good reason to change the law. if we allow same gender marriages to occur, where do we draw the line? If down the road gay marriage gets written into the CA state constitution as being another definition of marriage i can guarantee you that within 5-15 years of this happening that someone will want to marry 2 people, then 3 or 4, and after that, there will be cases of people wanting to marry their pets (no shit, yes its been attempted already) and who knows whats next after that. all im saying is that we ought to keep marriage the way its been since the dawn of time, between a man and a woman. marriage isnt a term that was devised by the state, it came from religion and thats where the heart of this issue also lies - with god and people's beliefs that god is the one that designated marriage for men and women and no one else. there is also another issue here. that is one about adoption and the school system. currently certain organizations have the legal right to say who can and cannot adopt children, thus preventing gay couples from adopting children. some organizations go as far as to believe that raising children in a gay home is not fair to the children. i happen to believe this. i have a different experience but one that makes me feel it is essential for children to grow up in a home with both a mom and a dad, not 2 dads or 2 moms. this is not what was intended and is not in the best interest of children. it is true that while it is not required of the public school system to teach gay marriage in schools - that is only partially true. if gay marriage becomes written into the constitution it must be taught in schools and will be.
"if gay marriage becomes written into the constitution it must be taught in schools and will be."
maxer, that is a lie. but thanks for trying!
Every single claim that Maxer makes is false.
1. There is no question of a slippery slope. Gay marriage have been legal in many states and countries for years with no push for any further changes. In fact, in Massachusetts, the divorce rate has DECREASED since gay marriage started.
2. Civil unions for gays have existed in San Francisco for decades. There has been no attempt to create civil unions for polygamists. The claim that gay marriage leads to any other kind of marriage is simply a myth. Or, if you like, a lie.
3. Nobody is going to attempt to marry their pet. Sorry. Nope. Won't happen. One or two crazy people might. But to say that they have anything to do with gay marriage is tremendously insulting to gays.
4. Marriage does not "come from religion." Marriage has changed considerably over the the past few centuries. In fact, for most of history, the church was not involved at all. Religious marriage is a relatively new invention that only started in the last few centuries.
5. Raising children is gay homes is not only healthy, fair, and advisable -- it is crucial. There is a tragic shortage of foster homes; and if you limit them even further, children will suffer. It's very nice that you want to make an ideological stand about what you believe. But it is a stand that produces real suffering in children. It is a shameful crime.
6. It is not essential to be raised by parents. Millions of children are raised by single parents, step-parents, foster parents, or by nonparental relatives. They turn out fine. It may be preferable to be raised by your parents.
7. It is not essential to be raised by a mixed-gender couple. Study after study after study shows that gay parents raise kids who are just as healthy, happy, and well-adjusted as straight parents. It's wonderful that you disagree. But you are wrong, wrong, wrong.
8. Gay marriage will not be "written" into the Constitution. What is currently written into the Constitution is equal protection. Prop 8 would edit the Constitution to create an institution that is separate but equal. It is wrong, wrong, wrong.
9. If gay marriage remains legal, it will not be taught in schools. That's another myth -- excuse me, another lie. It simply. Is not. True.
Civil marriage brings with it at least 1,049 legal protections and responsibilities from the federal government, including the right to take leave from work to care for a family member, the right to sponsor a spouse for immigration purposes, and Social Security survivor benefits that can make a difference between old age in poverty and old age in security. Civil unions bring none of these critical legal protections.
While civil union laws vary state to state, here's a quick comparison with Vermont's civil union laws and rights. Please note that they are in no way equal:
Rights of Civil Unions (Vermont):
Federally Recognized Marriage Rights:
* Preferential hiring for spouses of veterans in government jobs
* Tax-free transfer of property between spouses (including on death) and exemption from "due-on-sale" clauses.
* Special consideration to spouses of citizens and resident aliens
* Spouse's flower sales count towards meeting the eligibility for Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information Act
* Threats against spouses of various federal employees is a federal crime
* Right to continue living on land purchased from spouse by National Park Service when easement granted to spouse
* Court notice of probate proceedings
* Domestic violence protection orders
* Existing homestead lease continuation of rights
* Regulation of condominium sales to owner-occupants exemption
* Funeral and bereavement leave
* Joint adoption and foster care
* Joint tax filing
* Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility, and benefits organization of mutual benefits society
* Legal status with stepchildren
* Making spousal medical decisions
* Spousal non-resident tuition deferential waiver
* Permission to make funeral arrangements for a deceased spouse, including burial or cremation
* Right of survivorship of custodial trust
* Right to change surname upon marriage
* Right to enter into prenuptial agreement
* Right to inheritance of property
* Spousal privilege in court cases (the marital confidences privilege and the spousal testimonial privilege)
Far from equal, by any stretch of the imagination.