My thoughts on Prop 8

Yes, there are anti-gay and intolerant people that voted yes on 8, as well as intolerant anti-religious (specifically anti-Mormon) people that voted no on 8. Is it at all possible to believe that maybe not everyone on the Yes side are intolerant bigots? I understand why people would vote no on 8, but it seems that no one wants to listen to one reason I have for voting yes. It wasn't easy, but I researched it and have many reasons. Honestly, some do happen to be because I am religious, I won't deny that. But some of my main concerns aren't based on religion at all.  

I did originally want government out of it all. I didn't care who wanted to say they were married or not. I don't care what people do in their bedrooms. I really don't. Just because I view it as a sin, doesn't mean they are evil or can't be loved and respected. Many make better parents than some heterosexuals. No one can deny they can love like anyone else can. No matter how much you love, you can't deny the difference there is when you talk to people that were raised by one loving parent as opposed to a loving mother and father.

Being Mormon, bigotry and intolerance are not new concepts to me by any stretch of the imagination. Mormons have suffered greatly in this country and the bigotry hasn't gone away. I am not a victim, people can hate me because of my religion all they want. That will not affect the way I live my life and will not stop me from believing. At least the murder, torture and violence is, for the most part, in the past. That is why this was a hard decision for me. I don't want to deny any right for any good American. Most people that read this blog, know me. They know I have many friends from all walks of life. Gay people can be some of the nicest and most helpful people. It is not my place to take rights away from people because I think they are sinning. That is why it is important to make sure that they have the same rights as heterosexual couples. I just don't understand what rights have to do with changing the definition of marriage.

There are things I do hate. I hate the aggression and violence this issue has brought out of people, especially from the NO side. But I know where this passion is coming from, on both sides.  I will say beating people up, throwing drinks, bleach and food at people aren't furthering your cause. I know that spitting in people's faces and screaming hateful names instead of healthy debate only alienates your side further and further out of the mainstream. When you steal signs, stickers and vandalize private property this also doesn't help your cause. I've seen a lot of this in my own community and on the news. At least some of the No voters can acknowledge that censorship and intolerance ran wild on their side by their actions. Yes on 8 supporters have been likened to the KKK and many other abhorrent comparisons, but which side has shown more KKK characteristics during this 8 campaign?

I know that legally, polygamists, incestuous and other types of "consenting adult" relationships would have to be acknowledged as marriage too. Gay relationships are more socially acceptable and normal (even in my eyes, yes, the intolerant bigot) but how legally can we deny them the "right" too? How can that not be considered intolerant to deny them "the right to marriage"? It is not necessarily natural for men to be with one woman. When they get married, they seem to go against their natural instinct. Wouldn't it make sense that the natural progression would then be to make the practice of polygamy mainstream? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, I am curious because I haven't been able to get a NO person to debate with me. They just yell and call me names.

I also know what people say when I bring up polygamy considering I am Mormon. Haha, laugh it up people. But look, Mormons do not practice polygamy and haven't for a long time and the fact that I believe it to be a sin is not the reason I want to keep marriage between one man and one woman. It's because of the many sociology studies that show the negative effect it would have on the society as a whole, including kids. But if 3 or even 10 adults want to get married, how can we not show "intolerance" to their alternative lifestyle?

I am just trying to think of kids, now that I am a mom and have seen all the many sociologist studies about what is best for children, that is what matters most to me. I just care more about kids than anything else and I see the effects it has already on kids. I'm sorry if that sounds intolerant or bigoted, but that is my most motivating factor.

As long as people are allowed to love who they want, be with who they want, have the same civil rights as everyone else, then I feel government can keep marriage as is. Government may say no on changing marriage, but it can't stop people from loving and living as if they had that certificate. On the same note, religions can continue teaching traditional marriage without losing tax exempt status, labeled as hateful bigots, forced by the courts to marry non-traditional couples, have their adoption organizations closed because they won't adopt kids to non-traditional couples, etc. This seems like a great compromise. Religious rights won't be taken away, and the civil rights can be kept in tact through civil unions, etc.

Just like homosexuals believe I am wrong as a Mormon, I believe that the practice of homosexuality is wrong. I also believe that everybody sins. I can love people that don't live their life the way I do and believe is right. I am by NO MEANS perfect, though I like to make the opposite case to my husband at times ;) Otherwise, I would only have practicing Mormon friends. I believe in the bible and it's teachings, which is what I am going to teach my children in hopes they will too. If they choose not to, I will love them all the same. But I want to reserve the right to teach my kids what I believe is moral, not what teachers at the schools think is moral. They are my kids. I am all for teaching tolerance in schools. What does that have to do with gay marriage? My kids will be taught and punished if they treat ANYONE badly for ANY REASON. I was raised that way, and my kids will be too. I don't want to be contradicted as a parent, which happens already in Massachusetts. As a parent, can I not have the right to teach my kids about ANY sex when I believe they are ready? I would like to bring the innocence back to children. Why must they learn about sexuality at such a young age? I know it's a losing fight, but how can I give up so easily? When I was in 6th grade, there was a girl telling me about how she was having sex with 8th graders. 6th grade!

I am sure eventually there will be another vote, and eventually it will be legalized, and I will respect whatever the majority of the people decide.  That is what America is all about.

I am not the most eloquent, but I am genuine in everything I say. I do understand the reasons of the opposition and see how this can seem as "hate speech". I am not trying to change your view, I am just hoping some people might see that it is possible that a person might not hate at all, and still support prop 8.