Proposition 8

Dear Fellow Bloggers,

Embedded in this e-mail is a video I received yesterday morning. After viewing it, I felt the urge to pass it on, along with this brief explanation. Please note that it is never my intent to support or advocate the hateful or malicious treatment toward any group of people, including those who practice homosexuality. However, I feel it is important to express why so many Californians are pushing so strongly for this Proposition to pass in the coming November election. Even though some of you are out of state, it is a good idea to start learning about the issue now, as it will undoubtedly effect all US States at one point or another, and likely many other countries as well.

By way of a brief summary, if Proposition 8 is passed, an amendment to the California State Constitution will be made stating these 14 words: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California ." This is ALL the proposition states-- no gimmicks, no loopholes.

A similar Proposition was raised in 2000 and passed by 61% of California voters-- nearly 14 million people! Recently, four activist judges based out of San Francisco overturned that decision. Proposition 8 will restore the official wording and definition of marriage in California, and make it a Constitutional amendment—meaning that never again will the CA Supreme Court be able to change the definition or override the voice of the people.

Please understand that this is not an anti-gay or a minority rights issue. The issue is the need for clarification of the definition of marriage, so that practices, such as same-sex marriages and behaviors, stay out of the public school curriculum. Such a definition would not affect, change or withhold any rights or liberties granted to domestic partnerships or civil unions; nor would such a definition discourage the acceptance of how others choose to live their lives or organize their own families. Homosexual couples would still have all the same legal rights and privileges as any other heterosexual married couple. Defining marriage as only being recognized between a man and a woman simply keeps the State from requiring teachers to teach our children about it without a parent's knowledge or permission.

This is what we are fighting for in California . Below is a video in which a Massachusetts family is interviewed. It is quite shocking to hear how the school system reacted to these parents' request regarding the teaching of homosexuality as "diversity" to their 5-year-old kindergartner.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815820715?bctid=1822459319

Please watch this video and share it with those you know. This is something we ALL need to be aware of, and we especially need to talk about! We are not the minority. You will be surprised at how many people you might meet that feel the same way you do, and are afraid to talk about it for fear they might offend someone or come off as being anti-gay. Again, this is not the intent of the Proposition, nor it's campaigning, and it is NOT an anti-gay issue! We want to educate the public, help them understand some of the realistic ramifications, and then let them choose for themselves.

If you would like to look up further information on the proposition, get involved in the campaign, and/or register to vote, visit www.ProtectMarriage.com.

Kimberly Perry