After receiving the news this morning that Proposition 8 passed in California, I sat here at my desk and sobbed. Hours later I am still crying. I have been outraged about this, primarily the Mormon Church’s role in it, for months but today my anger has become something different. Something bigger. It has been replaced by a fierce determination and an undying commitment to be as loud and clear as I possibly can about what has happened. And what has happened is wrong. It is frightening. And it is inexcusable.
As a little girl I marched with my gay father and gay friends on Castro Street in the rallies and parades and was filled with pride and love. At the same time, I was filled with confusion because I was a righteous little Mormon girl and I was taught that homosexuality is evil and wrong. That it is a sickness.
I am here to scream from the mountaintops that I am no longer a righteous little Mormon girl who can be scared and manipulated and I am certainly no longer confused. I have learned to recognize evil when I see it and I am abundantly clear on where the sickness is coming from.
I want you to know that you are loved so far beyond my ability to express it. And you are not alone – there is an army behind you, with me on the front line, ready and willing to fight this fight and none of us will rest until you have been given every right that is yours as a human being and a child of heaven.
I want to thank you for the countless ways you have blessed my life. For the beauty and strength you have given me. When I walked away from the Mormon Church nearly seven years ago it was far easier for me than most and that is because of you. Because of you who taught me, since I was a child, how to stand up and shout, “I am what I am!” For you who have shown me, by example, how to live in truth and freedom and without apology. I am who I am because of you. Because of the father that gave me life and more love than most children ever get. Because of the father that lost his callings as a Mormon patriarch and temple sealer and saved my life. For the father who is an artist, whose works of art filled the home I grew up in and hang in my home now, and is the sweetest human on the planet. Because of the father that photographed me, believed in me, and taught me about beauty and courage. Because of the father that flew to my mother’s house to set up a computer that he gave her containing a program that he happened to be a creator of, and has blessed my family in more ways than he will ever know. For the dozens of precious friends that continually fill my life with joy, and love, and magic, and belief, and healing, and sunshine and laughter.
You are all the loves of my life and I am here to remind you that you have my heart, my soul, my energy and my commitment that things will be different. That change is coming.
I promise.
Emily
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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7 comments:
No on 8 has not conceded this issue yet. The difference between Yes and No is 400,000 votes and 3 to 4 million provisional and absentee ballots have yet to be counted. It may still trend the way the votes have so far, but they are not giving up yet, and I'm not either. Besides, several challenges to Prop 8 are already in the works. It's not over yet.
Dollar for dollar, I submit that the intellect, the influence and the disposable income of the GLBT community AND their str8 supporters will eventually make the Right difference. There is an excellent discussion of the legal basis for challenges that may actually lead to the eventual overturning and resolution of this matter on pamshousblend.com. It's a great site.
Keep at it Em, we'll hold each other up and take turns on each other's shoulders.
p-in San Diego-where some right-minded LDS folks "Just said no" to the pressure from Zion.
Ironically in this new Obama era, it was the minority vote that put Prop 8 over the top. 53% of white voters were against it. From the New York Times yesterday:
“Without the Latino vote,” Mr. Rodriguez said, “Proposition 8 would never have succeeded.”
Frank Schubert, the campaign manager for Protect Marriage, the leading group behind Proposition 8, agreed that minority votes had put the measure over the top, saying that a strategy of working with conservative black pastors and community leaders had paid off.
“It’s a big reason why we won, no doubt about it,” he said.
Also, I thought this comment from the same NYT article was interesting:
In Arizona, where same-sex marriage was already against the law, the victory for Proposition 102, which amends the State Constitution, was met with a shrug by some.
“I think the country was like, ‘Look, you get Obama, call it a day and go home,’ ” said Kyrsten Sinema, a Democratic state representative who led opponents against Proposition 102. “And frankly, I’ll take it.”
Also, I too am confident that gay marriage will eventually become nationally legal, probably by mid-century at the latest. But of course I disagree about what that means, since I view at as a key component of the moral chaos that will precede the return of Jebus.
But I do admit to feeling quite a bit of Obama orgazma...
Em-
This was sent from a friend of a friend to me and he's hoping it will get published in the LA times.
Do not think for a second that repealing “Gay marriage” is the will of Californians, as you will be told. The passage of Prop. 8 was largely the devious machination of the Mormon Church of Utah that spent more than 20 million dollars in our state for lies and fear in violation of the commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” No one’s marriage or children were harmed in the slightest during that May to Nov. window when marriage was legal for all CA. citizens. The majority of Californians were against Prop. 8 until activist churches began their multi-million dollar campaign for discrimination. Now we have more freedom for chickens (Prop. 2) but not humans.
Hey, people: unlike religion, being Gay or Lesbian is NOT a choice! It’s not contagious! Prop. 8 defiles Jesus’ messages of love and compassion for your neighbor. I’ve been on the verge of tears since Tuesday night. After 57 years, I finally met the man with whom I will spend the rest of my life. He hinted he might propose during our Christmas vacation. Now that’s been taken away.
What churches say within the walls of their buildings is their free speech. But as soon as they spend money on political agendas outside their property (and especially outside their state) and print literature telling people how to vote, they should have their tax-exempt status repealed. I encourage everyone to write your representatives to that effect. Uphold the separation of church and state our founding fathers knew was vital to fair democracy: with liberty and justice for all. Freedom does not mean, “You’re free to do anything as long as activist churches approve.”
Hi Mr. B!
That's a good thing though, right? Don't y'all want Jeebus to come back?
Obama Orgazma. I love that! Feels good, huh? So happy there are still reasons to dance in the street!
AS A CHILD OF "HOLY ROLLERS" I WAS TAUGHT MUCH THE SAME...THANK GOD TODAY I KNOW BETTER AND HAVE TAUGHT MY CHILDREN BETTER. THIS IS A FIGHT WE MUST ALL FIGHT...NO ONE IS FREE IF WE ARE ALL NOT FREE!
Thank you Emily. As an ex-mormon gay man living in SLC, this means a lot to me.
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