- ‹ previous
- 2245 of 8902
- next ›
Oakland Ground Zero for Prop 8 Hate Speech
Another night of Prop 8 campaigning in east Oakland, this time with supporters and opponents of the ban on gay marriage verbally battling face to face. At least 150 people packed each streetcorner, spilling out into traffic causing tie-ups in traffic and mayhem (I counted 14 police cruisers at one point) with cars honking and both sides yelling back and forth for hours. There was so much energy and anger in the air, people of all races, ages, and backgrounds, so passionate and fervent in their beliefs, taking to the streets. But I kept thinking, what a tragedy, that such energy is wasted on this fight.
Mormon churchgoers have been rallying for Prop 8 at this intersection for several days now and in response neighbors organized via email to counter the message in person with messages of their own. Their message: "Equality for All," "Don't Discriminate, No on 8" and "Say No to Hate, No on 8." The chants were dirtier tonight on the Yes side, along with "Save Our Children" and the "Protect Marriage" there were plenty of "Don't Hate, Be Straight" and "Stop the Virus AIDS" chorus rounds.
Last night I was surprised when one young woman told me the only mark on the ballot she'll make is for Prop 8. Tonight I heard a chorus of the same. "Gay marriage is an abomination under god and it shouldn't be taught to children in our schools," said Cassandra Jones, 33, a black woman who's also voting for Obama but added, "If it's Obama or McCain, it doesn't matter, this matters, because children are our future."
In fact, there's not a word in the proposition that mentions education or any mandate for schools. So all of the concern for kids in schools, who will be learning they can "marry a princess" is thanks to misleading ads. Unfortunately that scare argument seems to be working, Prop 8 is gaining in the polls.
One pro- woman told me she was from a nearby baptist church. But she wouldn't tell me which one, and I saw her last night with the Samoan churchgoers who said they were there together with their Mormon community. I think she didn't want to tell me she was Mormon, to distance the church from the campaign. "It's not about hate, or civil rights, it's a mentality," she said. "We are here on earth to be replenishing. There can be no future generation if Ann marries Mary."
The No-on-8ers carried banners, crossed the streets when the pros did, a couple of women kissed purposely in a sea of yellow yes signs, some were crying, most were silent, signs held high. Elyse Hochstadt, who organized the response offered this: "I may not agree with the way a lot of people live, but I don't want to take away their freedoms, their right to live as they choose. Once again, here's a religious agenda in our democratic state." She was compelled to act after seeing all of the kids with signs. "They have no idea what they're out here for; it's utter propaganda."
There were A LOT of kids, some as young as six, and plenty of teenagers. They carried banners back and forth and planned to stay till midnight, and come back every night. The No team will likely be back as well. No on 8 protester Molly Kenefick, who yesterday was spit on and told "to die of AIDS" at a Prop 8 rally in a nearby neighborhood is undeterred. "You know what's as strong as an army? An idea whose time has come. Sure," she added holding up her hand-painted "Jesus Didn't Teach Hate" sign, "if Prop 8 passes it will be a setback. But the time for equality is here."
You are WRONG about it not being taught in schools. All you have to do is look to MA and the court case the paretns LOST when they didn't want the children being taught about marriage of a girl to a girl and boy to boy.
The academic world is full of gay people, and they WILL keep trying to teach our children that it is good to be a b**t boy or a caprpet m****r.
You can't lie your way out of this. The homo community went a little to far, and now is being slapped down.
Bill
Bill, I bet if you tried to bring it to this homo, you'd find your doubtlessly large ass sprawled on the floor faster than you could say, "i'm scared of being gay!"
The argument that somehow kids will be taught 'gayness' is like admitting that with a little encouragement at a tender age, we'd find Bill Nigh blowing some guy under a bridge in Frisco right at this minute.
Authentic sexuality is innate, not learned, you moron.
The entire crux of the Prop 8 argument seems to be that if we don't ban homosexuality, we'll all become exclusively attracted to people of our own gender.
Really?
I suggest that rather than try to write laws to control other people's lifestyles, we all take a good hard look at ourselves. If you're so unsure of your sexuality, that's your own problem.
And as an aside, can we please act like adults? You can't talk about teaching kids morality and then go insulting people. There's no argument to support the idea that victimless relationship choices are evil, but hurting other people is okay.
What's with this Bill Nigh guy anyway? why you haten bill?
The most hilarious part of all is that if homos can marry, there will be no more reproduction....says one stupid woman,"We are here on earth to be replenishing. There can be no future generation if Ann marries Mary."
Yeah, cus Under-population has always been an underlying threat. Damn Homos! They'll end all humanity, if they're able to marry, everyone everywhere will stop popping out babies.....if only.
"But I kept thinking, what a tragedy, that such energy is wasted on this fight."
I'm not so sure Elizabeth. It seems like fighting bigotry is always worth it. The NO side will have something to be proud of, win or lose, while those poor kids being roped into this will one day be ashamed of what they helped promote.
Yes Eric, I agree. I was referring to the Yes on 8 people, who are out there every night till midnight. That they are out in force against gay marriage is the reason the No on 8 folks came out in the first place. It is always good to fight bigotry, but that bigotry gets such a lion's share of effort is my frustration.
I notice the picture shows African American faces. This is a hate article because it implies that a large segment of those against equal rights are African American. As we know, it is the white people that have a long history of oppression of African Americans. This article makes people think less of African Americans and makes people hate them. I expect better from MoJo.
Leroy,
The pictures are most likely not of African American families but of Samoan families (as stated in the article), many of which are heavily rooted in the Mormon church. Samoans may also have dark skin but the are NOT African American - their history and path to freedom was very different indeed. The issue is not of race, but of fear-based demagoguery in the name of religion.
How this prop ever got on the ballot is beyond me. Why can't we recognize that this measure violates the separation of church and state and stop it before it reaches the ballot? Why can't we see that its the concept of separation of church and state that prevents us from becoming an overbearing theocracy like, say, Iran? Do we really want to go there?
In favor of Prop 8 and bigotry, by race: whites48% Blacks58% Hispanic 47% . Clearly, bigotry is alive and well in the Black community, much more than the White community. Leroy, if Prop 8 passes, we know who the bigots are.
Leroy/Aaron,
There were people of all races on both the Yes and the No sides of the Prop 8 rally, as I suspect there are statewide. That there were a lot of Samoans at this particular protest has to do with the proximity of a Samoan Mormon Church to the area. The bigotry is not about race, but about religion, though because of the alignment of race and religion it can look like it's so. Let's not let this discussion be one of race-baiting and make the same mistakes of prejudice that spur on both homophobia and racism.
Jews support Prop 8. "The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more popularly known as the Orthodox Union, or O.U., and Agudath Israel of California, an ultra-Orthodox group, have joined a coalition of California religious groups supporting Proposition 8" Baptist support Prop 8." FRESNO, Calif. (BP)--The executive board of the California Southern Baptist Convention unanimously endorsed the state's proposed constitutional marriage amendment during its meeting Sept. 11-12 and encouraged Southern Baptists in the state to do the same."
Go on the Southern Baptist website and you will see. I didn't have time to check out the Archdiocese site, but I expect that they also support 8(not sure, considering some of the priests).
It's funny how the Black community, a community that once fought for equal rights, is the first to discriminate. I guess "f*****" is the new "n*****". I guess it feels good to be the ones discrimating instead of being the ones being discriminated against. How soon we forget...
Are you trying to convince us, Joyce, that CHURCHES have a problem with gay marriage? I feel blind-sided. That these organizations, which have never before been at the root of bigotry or oppression, could be part of anything like this, is just shocking!
Paul, don't forget the Jews, otherwise, they will feel left out. You know what the Muslim world believes, the President and former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that it was appropriate at times, to apply severe actions to gay/lesbian/transgender people. You buy good from China, you thereby support their oppression too. Homosexuality went underground after the formation of the People's Republic of China. The Communist regime persecuted homosexuals, especially during the Cultural Revolution, when many homosexuals were punished with long prison terms and sometimes execution. Social tolerance of homosexuality declined.
Since the policy of Reform and Opening Up in 1979, the communist party has been loosening its control over this kind of behavior. But the practice of homosexuality is still labeled as a "moldering life style of capitalism".
That is good info, Joyce. I am actually a retailer and have tried to limit purchases from China just because of other issues I have with their communist government. As a gay person, this adds extra incentive to boycott them. It is hard to do these days because so much comes from that one country, but I am starting to make headway.
Paul,it is racist to boycott China. China is an ancient civilization. Look at what happened to Greece. The American people are addicted to inexpensive Chinese goods. As our beloved Chairman said, in days gone past, give the capitalist a rope and he will hang himself for greed. Look at your Wall Street and Bank collapse. It is all capitalist greed. You greedy consumers can't help it. China will one day rule Asia when the bankrupt Americans can no longer fund the 7th fleet.
Both sides of this proposition have very strong feelings about their cause. I, myself, strongly believe that homophobic people need to work on their own marriage/relationships before focusing on taking other's rights away due to fear of the unknown. However, those of use who are truly spiritual know that there is only way to make positive change. I'm not talking revolution (although I actually think we are headed in that direction). The only thing that can conquer hate is love. In honor of all of civil rights visionaries of the past, I ask - how can we apply this concept to this situation?
We went through all this about 4 years ago in Canada. Churches were going to be dictated to by the government. Pastors were going to be jailed. Perverts were going to adopt innocent children.
Well, we've had gay marriage from coast to coast now for the past 4 years. No calamities have befallen us, and nobody really notices the issue anymore.
I really don't understand the gay lifestyle but, to me, it seems that if any two people want to commit themselves to each other in marriage, then society is the stronger for it.
All of the hate against 8 is based on fear and the fear is based on ignorance. It's as though these folks are thinking "If we show tolerance for homosexuals than everybody will want to be one." It's normal to be gay if one is in fact gay because it's not a choice. A person has no more say in deciding his / her sexual orientation than s/he does in deciding his / her race, sex or who their parents are. The ability to procreate is not an issue with male / female marriage and we don't see people up in arms because the couple is in their eighties or because one or both of the parties sterile. I do hope that those who do have an agenda against gays have the courage to stand for their convictions and not approve or use any contributions to society invented by a gay person. That would of course include Alan Turing so no computers for you!
California's Proposition 8 is un-American. Within the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers claim people have an inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness. An "inalienable right" means 'not able to be forfeited.' It means each of us is stuck with this right to pursue happiness no matter what and no one can take it away. Not even the government.
The question becomes, what is happiness? As the stereotypical Caucasian straight guy, "happiness" includes my right to marry my wife some 26 years ago and to enjoy all the legal and emotional benefits of our union. Had I been gay, I would not have enjoyed the same right to pursue what makes me happy. This is wrong and hurtful. Proposition 8 is un-American.
I totally agree with you Joe and you said it so well!!
For all the straight people who thing 'gay' is a 'lifestyle choice' - you obviously aren't keeping up. There is more and more physiological evidence that proves being gay is a result of genes - the same genes that tell you what color your eyes are.
So...you may not understand the 'gay', but it is not a lifestyle. It is who that person is. Turn that around. How would a gay person understand the straight 'lifestyle'. They have no more reference for being straight than you do for being gay.
So stop the hate. Gays are humans, people, citizens who deserve EQUAL rights. There is no 'gay' agenda. There is only a human rights agenda.
BTW, I'm straight, but have many gay friends.
Well said! I totally agree with your remarks! This Amendment is UN-AMERICAN and those who support it are UN-AMERICAN!!! I will not give one more dime to any church that supports this UN-AMERICAN crusade!
A coalition of conservative African American pastors is lobbying Congress to vote against a bill that would extend federal hate-crimes laws to cover gays, saying they fear it would prevent them from preaching against homosexuality.
They say it would pin the hate crime label on their sermons against homosexuality, which they consider a sin.
"This bill will offer a status for gays, lesbians and transgender people under the equal protection status that can muzzle the black church," said Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., pastor of Hope Christian Church in Lanham and founder of the High Impact Leader Coalition. "This law can be applied in the way that can keep the church from preaching the Gospel."
Mormons are a despicable cult. They are right up there on the level with scientologists when it comes to CRAZY. The fact that they do anything that their "church" tells them to do is very cult like in itself...Shame on the Mormon Church.
frenchcanuck, you know that in Canada you are not allowed such hate speech that you say about the Mormon Church. Soon in America, we will have our hate crimes laws, and then you will be prosecuted.