My Thoughts on Prop 8

There have been many email messages that have been circulating about Proposition 8. This is a very important issue to me and I wanted to take a minute to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you, regarding it. For those who may not know, proposition 8 is going to be on our California ballots in a week, and it is regarding marriage. If passed, it will put into the constitution that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California. I am writing to you, my friends and family because I care about you and because I care about my family. I want you to know that I have absolutely no dislike, hate, or unkind feelings toward gay or lesbian people. I have had friends who are gay. This proposition is not about gay people. It is about the definition of marriage. There are several reasons why I personally want this proposition to pass and why I have donated much money and time to helping it do so.

1. I believe it is my responsibility to teach my children moral issues. I have a huge problem with school systems thinking they have the right to teach my children that marriage between two men or two women is acceptable. I don’t believe it is acceptable and I don’t want my children being taught that it is. If Prop 8 doesn’t pass, I will not even be notified WHEN my children are taught this, before or after. I will have no idea when my children are being taught or have been taught it. I personally watched and heard in person, a couple from Massachusetts describe how all of this has happened to them in their family.

2. Gay and lesbian partners do not lose any of the rights they currently have. They still have all of the rights of being domestic partners. They just don’t have the right to change the fundamental definition of marriage.

3. I don’t think it’s right for a doctor to be forced to do artificial insemination to a lesbian or gay couple, when he believes it is morally wrong to do so. This has happened and will happen here if prop 8 doesn’t pass.

4. Even if an adoption agency believes it’s wrong to give a child to gay parents, they will be forced to allow children to go those homes, or they will be shut down. That is taking away their freedom.

5. I don’t think it’s right for a teacher to be forced to teach gay marriage is acceptable, if he/she doesn’t believe that. This has happened and will happen here if prop 8 doesn’t pass.

6. I don’t think it’s right that a church would have to allow a gay marriage to happen in their church, even if they believe it’s wrong. That is not freedom of religion. This whole issue is not freedom of religion. That’s what many of our ancestors came to this country for. Freedom of religion. And that will be taken away if prop 8 does not pass.

7. The people already voted for this. But four judges overruled the vote. That’s not right.

8. Changing the definition of marriage will change our country. It will affect taxes, schools, medical insurance and much much more. There are no bounds to what this will affect. We have no idea of the far reaching effects of Prop 8 not passing. It will change our society.

There are so many other reasons. Go to www.protectmarriage.com or www.preservingmarriage.org for more information. I’ve also put some videos up here, on my blog and on my facebook and myspace pages.

None of these reasons even deal with my belief in God or His plan. They simply deal with the fact that by not passing this proposition, there are so many rights that will be lost in our society. Fundamental rights to believe and practice and teach your children what you want to. In schools, we don’t teach that gay marriage is wrong… why should we have to teach that it’s right? That is for the parent to teach their child according to their own beliefs. This goes for the doctors, adoption agencies, teachers, and everyone else I’ve discussed. They have the right to believe and practice as they feel is correct.

If you disagree with me, that is fine. This letteris a chance for me to do my part in supporting something that is so important to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read some of my thoughts and feelings. I hope you will join with me and do all that you can to protect marriage and the family and vote YES on 8!

Love,

Crystal