Election Day and Marriage Equality
Today is it. After months of endless advertisements, talking points, TV appearances, and fundraising appeals, voters in three states head to the polls today to determine whether 2008 is the year of marriage equality, or whether it's the year of writing discrimination into state constitutions.
This is arguably the most important Presidential Election in decades. But while the race at the top of the ticket is monumental, it cannot be understated how important today's vote in Arizona, California and Florida will be for the future of marriage equality. Between 2004-2006, 24 states enacted laws that banned gay marriage. Think of the message it would send that, just two-to-four years later, all states considering banning gay marriage rose their voices and said "No."
Talk about a rejection of Karl Rove politics!
Arizona's Proposition 102 will rewrite Arizona's constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Arizona rejected this proposal in 2006, becoming the first state to rebuff efforts to ban gay marriage through a constitutional amendment. One can only hope Arizonans, no matter who they decide to vote for in the Presidential race, repeat their performance from two years ago. As retired University of Arizona President Dr. Peter Likins said, Proposition 102 will "inject religion into politics, splitting the people of Arizona as well as our legislators into bitterly divided camps with opposing views, which create personal animosities that become obstacles to the collaborations required by our more-central societal challenges."
California's Proposition 8 will eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unjust, and ordered the state to start recognizing marriage equality. Proposition 8, funded largely by conservative religious groups including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Catholic Church, seeks to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling. If passed, it will be one of the first ballot measures that rescinds a right granted to a group of people. In other words, this ballot measure would take away liberty, which may be one reason why Prop 8 has been widely condemned by Republicans and Democrats alike. Polls show a tight race.
Florida's Amendment 2 would do two things if passed. It would define marriage as between one man and one woman, and it would also prohibit the recognition of any union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent to marriage. The implications for this are huge, both for LGBT couples and for straight couples. If Amendment 2 passes, domestic partnership rights could be rescinded, hospital visitation rights could be taken away, shared health care benefits could be banned, among other things. Amendment 2 is a slippery slope. In order for it to pass, more than 60 percent of the Florida electorate has to support it. A Mason Dixon poll last week showed that 56 percent of the state favored the amendment, while 37 percent were against it. This one, too, is going to be close.
If you live in any of these three states, or if you know of people who live in these three states, PLEASE encourage them to vote No on 102, No on Prop 8, and No on Amendment 2. For more information, please click on the following links:
Vote No on Proposition 102 - www.votenoprop102.com
Michael Jones
is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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