Yesterday across the country and in parts of the world, protesters stood together to protest California's proposition 8 vote - a vote to take away the rights of a class of citizens. California's State Supreme court had already ruled that gays and lesbians, by law, had the right to marry. So, religious groups who believe otherwise decided to try to legislate their beliefs. "This is democracy", they argue.
Our constitution was designed to protect minority citizen's from such religious intrusion.
I walked away from the rally in Erie with a much clearer understanding of this issue.
In Erie, 6 people stood to tell a bit of their stories. For far too many years we have all been forced to accept second class status. We accepted the religious teachings that said we did not have the right to build our own families. We accepted that the rights guaranteed by our constitution, the benefits of family granted by our government, the freedom to openly be part of our communities, did not include us.
As a result we have suffered indignities and outrageous atrocities. We need to talk about those specific issues. Partners build a life together - a home - and after 40 years together, one dies. The surviving partner is forced to pay inheritance taxes on the home and all it's contents. OUTRAGEOUS!
The very real consequences of discrimination are also seen in denial of health care benefits, pension benefits, health care decision making ... the government and society sanction some families and not others. It's that simple. And the only reason anyone can give is a religious one.
We have a right not to practice a particular set of religious beliefs in this country. Our constitution guarantees that right. It's time the government stop sanctioning those religious beliefs that discriminate against a particular class of citizens!
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