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Vote YES on Prop 8
A little Background...
In 2000 over 61% of Californians voted in favor of Proposition 22 to reaffirm that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. However, because this language wasn’t put into the state Constitution when it was approved, four activist judges from San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote. In November 2008, Proposition 8 gives California voters the opportunity to reverse the court’s decision and restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman in the state Constitution.
What is Proposition 8?
Proposition 8 is about preserving marriage, it contains the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." By putting these words directly into the state Constitution, the court cannot strike them down as unconstitutional. Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gay or lesbian domestic partners. Under California law, "domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits" as married spouses. (Family Code §297.5.) There are no exceptions to this. Proposition 8 will not change this.
What does this mean for our future?
Proposition 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. In health education classes, state law requires teachers to instruct children as young as kindergartners about marriage. (Education Code §51890.) If the same-sex marriage ruling is not overturned, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage.
Proposition 8 protects marriage as an essential institution of society. Proposition 8 protects marriage and the important role of a traditional family. While death, divorce or other circumstances may prevent the ideal, the best situation for a child is to be raised by a married mother and father.
Voting Yes on Prop8 will:
- Restore the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and human history has understood marriage to be.
- Overturn the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.
- Protect our children from being taught in public schools that "same-sex marriage" is the same as traditional marriage.
Update: Terms Bride and Groom Restored to Marriage Licenses
The San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday that the Department of Public Health is restoring the terms “Bride” and “Groom” to marriage licenses. If you recall, these terms were replaced with the “gender neutral terms” “Party A” and “Party B” soon after same-sex marriage was legalized in California, further proof that the legalization of same-sex marriage comes with some very serious consequences. After an outcry of public objections, including from one couple who sued, the licenses are once again being revised. Beginning Nov. 17, couples will be able to check boxes next to their names indicating whether they are a bride or a groom. Couples can check bride and bride, groom and groom, or bride and groom, allowing for same-sex and opposite-sex pairings.
It’s important to note that this happened only after Californians stood up to the Department and demanded the change. Had we remained silent and were we not in the middle of a very public battle over the definition of marriage, we may have never seen these important terms restored. We have to continue standing up for what we believe and have already voted for: marriage between a man and a woman.
Unless Proposition 8 passes, state bureaucrats could easily change the license forms back to “Party A” and “Party B” right after the election.
Information adapted from www.protectmarriage.com