California voters

Tomorrow we face a monumental choice not just in the presidential election (though I by no means want to downplay that) but also in state propositions. Proposition 8 was officially added to the ballot in June of this year, and I'm sure you've seen ads from both sides, yard signs, received calls from me and other phone bankers and on and on. There's one thing though that I feel is getting lost in all this, and if you'll bear with me for just a moment, I hope this will give you pause.

There are two pieces to the concept of Westernized marriage. When someone says "marriage" in America they mean the promise of life-long commitment. They also mean a legally binding formal contract which clearly delineates property rights, custody rights, end of life care, taxation rights, and other tawdry legal issues.

So let's be very clear here. What Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate has nothing to do with the idea of two people promising to stand by one another until the end of time. It has nothing to do with what the Catholic church considers "married". It has nothing to do with what a Rabbi, and LDS, a Protestant, or even a Wiccan views as married in the eyes of their respective gods. Churches (separate from the state still under that pesky little Constitution if you'll remember) will not be forced to sanction gay weddings. No one will be suing to have the Pope bless their union.

No, Proposition 8 is a dangerous and sneaky little piece of legislation that seeks to relegate a certain section of the population to second class; devoid of property rights, not allowed to feel secure in their ability to care for their children, and not allowed to look after partners should the worst occur. It marginalizes over 10% of the population into not being deemed worthy enough to enter a legal contract. It prevents even basic things like tax benefits common to heterosexually married couples, and shared health care benefits.

Proposition 8 is formalized, de jure discrimination.

But here's the dangerous part in this. Gays are being scapegoated over this issue. The real danger is that if Proposition 8 is voted up it sets a legal precedent in this state and thereby in this nation as a whole, that any group can have their rights limited or removed essentially on a whim.

Not so long ago Armenians here in California were prohibited from buying houses.
The courts struck that down.
Interracial marriages used to be illegal.
The courts struck that down.
Gender discrimination barred women from jobs, schools, and even voting.
Eventually, courts struck that down.

Every single one of those things will be in jeopardy if Proposition 8 passes.

A yes vote on 8 means that protection of minorities is no longer a matter for the courts. A yes vote means that any mean-spirited group with enough money (because let's face it, we all know what wins campaigns) can take away fundamental rights of any minority group they set their sights on.

And let's face it, in this nation of immigrants, not a single one of us can be certain we won't wake up on the receiving end of discrimination one day. Sure, today it's Hispanics and gays. Yesterday Jews, Asians, women, Irish, Armenian, Eastern European, Native American, African American, and on and on. Tomorrow, who knows. Is that a chance you really want to take?