Decius wrote:

It cannot be denied that this feels like a punch in the gut. It is. I'm not going to pretend that the wound isn't deep and personal, like an attack on my own family. It was meant to be. Many Obama supporters voted against our rights, and Obama himself opposes our full civil equality.

Doesn't it seem wrong that a simple majority can pass a Constitutional amendment in a referendum? I must confess some ignorance of state Constitutional issues, but no minority is safe from a process that can deny any basic civil right whenever a razor thin majority desires it. If not for incorporation of federal constitutional rights, this would be a recipe for unrelenting tyranny.

Apparently, the courts could decide that this is a "revision" and not an "amendment" -- "revisions" can only be put on the ballot by the legislature.

Decius wrote:

It cannot be denied that this feels like a punch in the gut. It is. I'm not going to pretend that the wound isn't deep and personal, like an attack on my own family. It was meant to be. Many Obama supporters voted against our rights, and Obama himself opposes our full civil equality.

Doesn't it seem wrong that a simple majority can pass a Constitutional amendment in a referendum? I must confess some ignorance of state Constitutional issues, but no minority is safe from a process that can deny any basic civil right whenever a razor thin majority desires it. If not for incorporation of federal constitutional rights, this would be a recipe for unrelenting tyranny.

I thought the same thing. I thought that 3/4 of a majority was what it took. I suppose certain states have different rules.

I was very disappointed that so many would vote to hurt so many others. Because, to me, that is all this is. Hurt others in the name of protecting your idea of godliness.

Now, when do we get to vote on the civil rights of evangelical fundamentalists? I wanna make sure I don't miss that one.

skullaria wrote:

Decius wrote:

It cannot be denied that this feels like a punch in the gut. It is. I'm not going to pretend that the wound isn't deep and personal, like an attack on my own family. It was meant to be. Many Obama supporters voted against our rights, and Obama himself opposes our full civil equality.

Doesn't it seem wrong that a simple majority can pass a Constitutional amendment in a referendum? I must confess some ignorance of state Constitutional issues, but no minority is safe from a process that can deny any basic civil right whenever a razor thin majority desires it. If not for incorporation of federal constitutional rights, this would be a recipe for unrelenting tyranny.

I thought the same thing. I thought that 3/4 of a majority was what it took. I suppose certain states have different rules.

I was very disappointed that so many would vote to hurt so many others. Because, to me, that is all this is. Hurt others in the name of protecting your idea of godliness.

Now, when do we get to vote on the civil rights of evangelical fundamentalists? I wanna make sure I don't miss that one.

This is my wonderful home of California. The constitution was made purposefully to be easy to change, leaving us with something like 522 amendments and a budget that keeps getting more and more dedicated chunks that are untouchable, no matter the situation. The number of sigs needed on a petition to get something on the ballot is something like 5% of the people who voted in the last election, making it normally a pretty small number.

We are constantly bombarded with multiple, complex and often competing propositions in the same election. It feels like the legislature should be deciding these issues, debating, considering the implications but we get EVERYTHING and the kitchen sink thrown out in 30 second TV ads.

I think the passage of Prop 8 has really shaken some people beyond it's own terrible purpose. It is ridiculous that the underage parental abortion notification proposition was defeated for the third year in a row and will be up again next time, until they find a commercial scary enough to accomplish what the "They'll teach gay sex to our babies!" ads did. (and some number of people voted for obama, and for the rights of pregnant teens to make their own private decisions but then voted AGAINST gay marriage? Bizarre)

I have a lot of faith in the courts here that ultimately this right will be restored and made permenant but am deeply sad for the continuing pain for so many while that happens.

Well there are those of us in the Bible thumper belt that are pulling for it to pass. California often leads the way for the rest of us. It takes a while but if CA makes progress it is not all that long before the rest of the more strict states, go, hmmm, well, that didn't cause fire and brimstone to rain down on us after all!