For all the right and wrong reasons, the GLBT minority is slowly but surely becoming a major force to reckon with and one whose rights must be ensured at all times if you are to progress in any endeavor in this country.
GBLT is the Gay (men who love men sexually), Lesbians (their female version), Bisexuals (those who do both) and the Transsexuals (males or females who have switched their sexes) either due to biological reasons attributed to hormonal ‘unfairness’ or some other reasons.
In education, the work force, health care, the military and the general American life situations, the GLBT group cannot be done away with. My university recently inaugurated its GLBT center with pomp and pageantry. This is one group that cannot be simply wished away with prayer and supplication in America. You only have to respect them as human beings exercising their right of choice, period.
Like Florida and Arizona, California had on its ballot a number of propositions on constitutional amendments and this included the now famous Proposition 8 which gave citizens the opportunity to vote in favour of an amendment that will recognize only marriage contracted between a man and a woman.
This followed a Supreme Court ruling in May this year which overturned the state’s year 2000 law and decided that marriage could be between two women and two men and it was valid in California. As soon as this ruling was passed in May California became the place to be for same-sex lovers who rushed to get married in the state, which also houses most of the famous people and places in this country.
Now thanks to effort and hard work of the Mormons, Californians voted for Proposition 8 which means that only marriage between a man and a woman will be valid and recognized.
The 52.3 per cent yes votes has not come without consequences for the church identified and known as having supported the passage of the proposition. The Mormon Church or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been faced with days of “shame unto you, shame unto you” from the about 2,000 protesters who have been picketing outside the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The supporters blamed the church for fighting against same-sex marriages with the same vigour which the presidential candidates fought for the peoples’ votes. Why are people angry with the Mormons simply because they also exercised their democratic right to speak against something they do not believe?
A Washington newspaper interestingly pointed out that most Blacks voted against same-sex marriage by 70 to 30 so why is the group not even blaming Blacks and simply marching against the Mormons.
Mormons in California are said to number more than 750,000 and have been instrumental in fighting against same-sex marriages with church leaders encouraging their members to sacrifice their means and time to overturn the Supreme Court ruling and they won.
Their leaders ensured that they drummed the message very hard at any given time to protest what for them was a moral rape against the sanctity of marriage and they won.
Now they have to face the brunt of angry would-have-been couples some of who were smart enough to commit to each other by marrying before the elections but too bad, it still will not be recognized in California.
The issue of same-sex rights especially as it regards marriage remains highly contentious in this country but my question is that why should the Mormons be blamed for exercising the same democratic right that the GLBTs also exercised?
Everyone has a voice in a democracy. You are free to fall in love with whoever you choose, others are free to use any legal and appropriate means to express their opinions but in the end who wins – the thumb.
It is the silent participant in all of this and yet ends up as master of all. Can you dispute that?
My only wish though is that the Mormon temple in Los Angeles also has a trumpet like the one on top of the Ghana temple. Who knows maybe one of these days the protests will trigger it to blow and then we will see.
The Mormon Church has been marginalized by Americans for far too long. It's about time that most people see that they are really on the same page as they are. The gay community needs to be thanked for bringing this commonality to wider attention.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what would have happened if Prop 8 had not passed. Would those who voted "yes" have gone to court? I don't think so. What the result tells me is that even in California, a very liberal state, there is still substantial opposition to gay marriage. In fact, in the states where gay marriage is legal, it was legalized through the courts and not through the legislative body. The point is, the courts are NOT supposed to make law - the people do. And they have spoken.
ReplyDeleteI AM A FIVE GENATIALIAD HERMAPHRODITE
ReplyDeleteThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exercised their Constitutional right to voice their opinion on a moral issue.
ReplyDeleteIn the state of Massachusetts gay marriage is legal and young school children are being taught about gay sex. Parents are not allowed to prevent teachers from teaching their children about gay sex. This is why so many Mormons fought to pass Proposition 8.
Gays and lesbians say the Proposition was passed because of hatred. This is not true. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and grandparents of every race and religion spoke in defense of traditional marriage so that every child can have a father and a mother. This is not hatred, this is love of family.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate bigots for voting my right to marry away. A more important question to ask is would it be right for me to treat them the same way? Should I support an amendment to vote their religion from California? Don't think for a second that it couldn't happen. It can, and right now, it would be a fitting retribution to a bunch of bigots that would deserve it!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not believe in Mormon most beliefs I wholeheartedly agree with two things. Proposition 8 HAD to be defeated and the groups marching and staging protests are outright wrong. But the solution is to pray for the Mormons stand against this unjust treatment.
ReplyDeleteAnd pray for the people that are demonstrating. "Father, they know not what they do".
voted Yes on 8 not because I am Black. I voted the way I did because I didn't think that marriage should be desecrated. Even two of my three kids, ages 7 and 12, did not have any doubt that I was going to vote Yes.
ReplyDeleteThe LDS are being targeted for the wrong reason. There were many groups that supported Prop. 8, including Focus On Family and Rick Warren's Church. So what's the fuss about this?
We don't see similar demonstrations in Florida and Arizona, two states that voted on similar measures.
The Vote No on 8 group were very confident that they were going to carry the day until reality dawned on them. And now they want to say that Blacks and others are to blame with all the name calling. As if Blacks are not educated enough to make informed decisions. This is all crap.
That's the beauty of democracy. Sore losers can go to court; this time up to the Supreme Court. And my guess is that the losers will wait for sometime before proceeding to court hoping that President Obama will have the opportunity to appoint some liberal judge to the Supreme Court.
This nonsense cannot take place in states like Texas, Utah, SC and NC, among others.
That's a good point. The Mormons do not really have that much voting power since 5 million 8 hundred thousand voted for proposition 8. And why can't they express their opinions to others? The reason they are targeted is because its the easiest group, many people already think of it as a cult. If they targeted the blacks, then they would not get very far, haha.
ReplyDeleteDear Friend,
ReplyDeleteThe reason GLBT people aren't satisfied with the vote is because we are human and we consider it an issue of human rights. Estimates say that 10% of people are homosexual, making this a minority issue for the courts, not one that should ever be put to a 50/50 vote. We know we will win in the Supreme Court someday and that people who fought equality tooth and nail will be as heroic then as George Wallace is today (you'll find that under US desegregation history). Slaves couldn't marry each other in America's past. Why is this such a different issue? Whether or not it's about morality for you, America was founded on the separation of church and state. No one I asking you not to believe something, we are simply asking for the same treatment under the law.
The reason why GLBT people are upset at Mormons more than other groups who oppose our equality is because the Mormon Church publicly encouraged its members to get involved in the effort to amend the constitution. In a letter read in congregations across California, the church's First Presidency announced that it would "participate … in seeking [the amendment's] passage." It also pleaded with its members to "do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage." Obviously, the church is well within its rights to support what it considers a "moral" issue, but it's also not surprising that members have begun to publicly demonize both homosexuals and proponents of same-sex marriage. Mormons were very visible everywhere in the anti-campaign, and the claims they made about the proposition's loss were blatant lies. Hence the outrage and accusation that Utah meddled in California's affairs.
Whether or not you are Mormon, you should look into the Mormon church's opposition to Civil Rights in the 60's and ERA in the 70's. The logic they used to dehumanize blacks and women then was the same.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints and I read your article online about the fight that the GLBT people have brought to us as a result of our standing up in support of a righteous definition of marriage. I have read much written about this topic over the past week, and I believe your understanding comes closest to the truth from among all that I have read. Thank you for showing the world the injustice happening in this situation, where we as a religion are being persecuted for exercising our rights in a democratic society.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we are now being attacked for living our beliefs, we are reminded of the teachings of Jesus Christ, to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate, and to pray for those who persecute. It is a privilege to stand in the place of Christ and to suffer persecution and hatred for following his teachings. He told us that if we were of the world, then the world would love us, but we are of Him and not of the world.