Boycott Utah

I'm going to protest California's passage of Proposition 8 Saturday morning. It's a nationwide protest against the forces that drove California, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas to limit the rights of Americans. Obviously the most notable is California because of the amount of money spent on both sides of the issue in that state, and given the California Supreme Court's decision earlier this year holding that the 2000 California law recognizing only marriage between heterosexual couples as unconstitutional. Following the court's decision social conservative and religious groups waged an all-out war to get Proposition 8 on the November ballot and passed into law. Proposition 8 amends the California state constitution to restrict marriage to only that between heterosexual couples, effectively limiting the rights of ALL Californians to marry. Yes, all. If you're homosexual you can marry someone of the opposite gender; if you are heterosexual you can marry someone of the opposite gender. However, homosexuals and heterosexuals alike cannot marry someone of the same gender. Even if you don't use a right, does not mean you shouldn't care that you no longer have the option. You may never get arrested, but you will be glad due process protections are in place in case you do.

Direct democracy in action. This is why I don't like ballot measures. Imagine the Civil Rights movement if the voters of Alabama and Mississippi had put segregation on the ballot. The majority is not going to vote in favor of the minority. This is one of the reasons we have a judicial system.

The Portland protest is at 10:30am this Saturday at Portland State University on the South Park Blocks near the Farmers Market.

Promote love and equality in your city!