What happened to the separation of church and state? NO on Prop 8!

I saw a sign supporting Proposition 8 the other day that said "Support religious freedom." on it and it made me really upset. It's not just that I think that people who support Prop 8 are incredibly selfish and not concerned about the rights of others, but it's that they're trying to pass religious rules as law in California.

Not only does supporting Prop 8 push religious agendas and policy on those that may not be religious or recognize the rules of the religion as something that should govern their lives and life decisions, but it goes against a person's basic civil rights. Supporting Prop 8 is saying that since a gay person is different than you, they shouldn't have the same rights that you do. What's so wrong with allowing gay people to get married? I honestly don't think that this should even be something that we're allowed to vote on. I don't think that the general public should have any decision on what happens in the private lives of others. The government and other private citizens should get the hell out of everyone else's personal business.

I hear a lot of argument about how bad it would be if Prop 8 doesn't pass, since marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. That's fine, and I understand that but can things not change? They've already changed the marriage forms at the recorder's office to allow for someone to check off man or woman twice, so apparently change isn't as bad as things seem. Women and black people didn't used to have the right to vote (or much else, really) back in the day, so should we retroactively revoke those privileges that they have now because things can never change? California is one of the most accepting and progressive states in the Union and I honestly can't believe that this Prop isn't going to be killed as easily as it should be.

It bothers the hell out of me when I see TV ads saying that schools are going to start teaching gay marriage if Prop 8 doesn't pass. Where are they getting this information? In fact, as mentioned on NoOnProp8.com, not one word of the proposition mentions education. It's not about that at all. I don't remember being told what marriage was or taught what the "right" form of marriage was when I was in school, so why would a proposition that mentions education nowhere inside it change this? The truth is that it won't. Your kids will not be learning about gay marriage (or probably straight marriage, either) in public school if Prop 8 does not pass. If you don't believe me, hear it straight from the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction on YouTube.

I would love for someone that supports Prop 8 to explain to me how not passing the proposition and allowing gay marriage is going to affect their lives in just one way. Just one. I'd like to hear one thing that is going to impact their life in a negative way that warrants banning gay marriage entirely. I'm pretty sure that nobody will be able to give me one, because it's not going to affect anyone's lives other than the couple that is going to get married. Getting married to my wife was the happiest day of my life and I can't imagine denying that joy to anyone else, especially if nothing negative is going to come to me because of it.

This whole thing is all about religion. The only people that I have heard or seen supporting Prop 8 are religious people and allowing gay marriage goes against their beliefs. That's wonderful and I totally support their decision to not agree with something like that. It's a touchy subject for some and one of the joys of America is that you're free to think how you want about anything. I don't see how or why this gives them the right to force their beliefs upon somebody else, though. I'm not a religious person and I don't feel that anything that's a part of someone else's religion should affect me in any way. I fully support their right to practice their religion as long as I don't have to (either actively or passively) partake in it or its rules.

I concede that some people who support Prop 8 may not be religious it shouldn't change the fact that they should not have a say in what a private couple is able to do, especially when it comes to something as important to people and civil freedoms as marriage. It just confuses me and baffles me and offends me that people think that they should be able to determine who someone else is able to marry. Marriage is such a basic right and amazing thing that us straight couples have been able to take advantage of for a long time. Should gay couples be denied this same thing because a book that is holy to some and guides their life says so? Should gay couples be denied marriage because the definition of marriage is so archaic and apparently does not qualify for an update to more modern times? I don't think so.

Someone told me that if gay couples are allowed to marry, that churches will have to marry them even if they don't support gay marriage. This is absolutely not true. No church or religious officiant is ever going to be forced to do something that goes against their religious beliefs or practices. That's another beautiful thing about America... you're free to practice your religion how you see fit. If you don't agree with gay marriage, don't marry a gay couple. That's your right and you are protected legally from being sued or otherwise punished for that decision.

There's probably a lot of things you've read about, heard about, or seen on TV that make it sound like supporting Prop 8 is going to be a good decision and that if it doesn't pass, a lot of bad things are going to happen. It turns out that just about everything you see on TV in support of Prop 8 is a lie or huge twisting of the truth. Read more about the fact-vs-fiction and educate yourself instead of blindly believing everything you see on TV.

Prop 8 is a horrible and discriminatory proposition that aims to restrict the rights of people just because they're different from the people that support it. Isn't the United States (and especially California) beyond things like this now? Aren't we at least more understanding, accepting, and progressive to prevent new laws that restrict people's legal and personal rights from being passed? I thought we were and hope that everyone can do what's right and support basic civil rights and prevent discrimination and the encroaching of religious views into state law. Vote no on Prop 8!