07th Nov 2008
Proposition 8: What planet do we live on?
Now that I have recovered from the shock of not losing another election, I turn my interest to to the appalling defeat of gay marriage in California. For anyone who has not come out from under the rock of media blindness, the proposition now bans gay marriage in California…yeah, I know, it was just legalized. 16,000 couples were married this year, and now find themselves being told that their marriage was not valid. In Arkansas, gay couples are now forbidden from adoption…ironically, in many provinces in Canada, social workers in adoption look for gay couples as an ideal adoptive couple for children.
How much hate must a person have to deliberately fight someone’s happiness? Why would this affect anyone other than the people directly involved? What is the pedagogy involved in a child’s early and formative years that creates someone so devoted to ruining others’ lives?
Recently, pundits have said that positive images help to create a climate of tolerance….well, Will and Grace blew it, we are now back in the dark ages. Hopefully, Canada will never follow this example.
Blog 9
It is truly a sad situation when, so soon after receiving the right to vote, homosexuals in California have been stripped of that right. My girlfriend and I both have quite a few homosexual friends who were really outraged by this decision, and understandably so. From what I have read, the vote was a close one with 52.5% voting in favor of Proposition 8 and 47.5% voting against. Though I already had some suspicions, I wondered what arguments people in California had put forward to justify voting “yes” on Proposition 8, and so I did a little research on the subject.
The primary argument that I encountered was that only allowing heterosexual couples to marry “restores” the “traditional definition of marriage” and “protects children from the view that there is no difference between gay and traditional marriage.” These statements seem to be set against a background of fundamentalist religious value judgments, and notions that homosexuality is a “lifestyle choice” and an “unnatural” one at that. These claims stem from homophobic discomfort with the idea of people of the same sex coming together and having their long-term commitment certified and legitimated with the stamp of marriage. Underlying this is the antiquated belief that homosexuality is somehow impure and that to allow homosexuals to marry is to desecrate the sanctity of marriage, thus requiring that we “restore” marriage to its prior pure state in which only men and women could take part in it. The argument in favour of proposition 8 comes down to this basic emotional aversion and discomfort, not to a rational or intellectual defense.
Another argument I came across was the claim that “Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits of gay or lesbian domestic partnerships. Under California law, “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits” as married spouses.” The argument assumes that access to marriage if you are a committed, long-term and serious couple is not a “right,” at least not for gay people. However, from a social standpoint, marriage confers dignity and respect on couples, and to be barred from the right to marriage is to be barred from receiving this same dignity and respect that are accorded other couples in the same situation. Thus, to not grant the right to marry to gay or lesbian couples on the basis of their sexual orientation is to treat them unfairly and unequally under the law, an action which goes against the American constitution, and involves unjust discrimination by the dominant group.
The belief that gay couples are unfit for adopted parenthood also seems to be undergirded by the acceptance of the stereotypical view that “all gay men are promiscuous,” (and thus, bad role models for children) and by the aforementioned emotional discomfort with a sexual orientation that the traditionalists view as “impure.” These do not constitute grounds for barring gay people from being adopted parents at all; the first claim is refuted by the fact that there are committed, non-promiscuous, loyal gay couples, and the second by the fact that it has no foundation in reason whatsoever, but is based only on an irrational feeling. As a counterexample to the stereotype that all gay people are promiscuous, my family is friends with a wonderful gay couple who are really delightful people and extremely committed to one another. They both have strong morals and are very responsible, and though they do not wish to be adopted parents, I think that they would be excellent ones. The homophobic claim and fear that gay parents would “force their child into becoming homosexuals” by influence is ridiculous. If many people discover they are gay even when raised by heterosexual parents, why should heterosexual children lose their sexual orientation simply because they were raised by homosexual parents? Such children are not naïve; they would see that some couples are composed of people of the same sex and others of people of different sexes, and they would follow their own natural feelings in determining which sort of coupling they would prefer.
In Zen, we sometimes talk about attachment to words. Many people are attached to the word “marriage” because of its religious valences and associations and view it as referring exclusively to the “traditional” heterosexual family arrangement. If there were another title for a relationship that confers on a couple the same dignity and social respect as the word “marriage,” there would be no problem. Gay people could simply accept the title “civilly united,” or an equivalent. However, the fact of the matter is that people in civil unions are not regarded with the same respect and treated with the same dignity as people in marriages are, so changing the name would not solve the problem. Gay people deserve a right to the same level of dignity and respect as that accorded their heterosexual equals when they enter into the same sort of long-term, serious and committed relationships. Marriage has the same symbolic power for many gay people as it does for straight people; it symbolizes a sincere, sacred commitment which is significant and meaningful to them. Proposition 8 is a ridiculous affront to equality and fair and just treatment under the law. I sincerely hope that the three lawsuits that were recently filed,
“challenging the validity of Proposition 8 on the grounds that revoking the right of same sex couples to marry is a constitutional “revision” rather than an “amendment”, and therefore requires the prior approval of 2/3 of each house of the California State Legislature” (Wikipedia)
are successful and that this unjust legal policy is overturned once and for all.
I am so glad that it seems like the US has finally gotten their heads on straight, since they really couldn’t have afforded another 4 years of the republican party. I am very shocked that gay marriage has been banned in California since isn’t San Fransico home to a large gay population? Really what buisness is it of mine or anyone else’s who other people choose to love and spend the rest of thier lives with. As long as they pay marriage tax who really gives a shit, they aren’t doing anyone harm by being together. And if you have a problem with it, move to a polyigamy community, I guarantee there are no gays there, and it will be to your loss. I am saddened that gay couples can no longer be recognized as married under law, because they have the right to union as everyone else does on the planet.
Now the banning on adoption is just horrifying!!! Preventing chldren from being put with loving parts, no matter what their sexual orientation, is just a crime against children. The gay couples are just the same as other parents, and have the right to adopt like anyone else. Sadly in this case it is the unadopted childern here that will suffer. So instead of being placed in a home with two parents who could give them love, a family, and a future, they will be shipped around in foster homes and never find a place to truly call home. And really what’s so bad about a gay couple raising a child? They have the same odds as any straight couple to screw up their kids and can probably help their kids face adversity better then anyone!
The states it seems has taken a big step forward in changing their ways, yet at the same time are so behind. I can only hope that Obama will be around long enought to create a more tolerant USA and I wish him all the best. As for the gay couples wanting to get married and have kids I say this. Come to Canada we want you and we don’t care what wrapping paper you come in.
Found this little panel discussion today:
Here’s and interesting little exchange on the subject:
Okay, let’s forget trying to embed the clip and just click on the link …
please.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeq-VEM4WZo
First of all, i think that it is outrageous that people are still so closed minded. The society that we live in is afraid of changes and the majority of peope do not react really well to changes. Many times when a changes occured there is a lot of people that don’t really take the time too think about it and there first reaction is to be negative and reject it.People will have to learn to adapt to changes. Secondly, it is outrageous that the state of California has decided to come back on the decesion they had made of allowing gay marriage, evenmore all the gay that got married find them self with a marriage that is not even legal anymore. The only reason why a legal law would become illegal is if it has become a threat to the society, therefore i believe California only went back on there decision to make the closed minded people happy. How are we to decided what is right and what is wrong. We can not allow areself to keep people from being happy if the one thing they want doesn’t harms us. On tope of everything social workers say that they make great couples for adoption. Finally, everybody has the right to be happy!
I agree with Alyssa on this one. It bothers me that the right for gay people to be together has been taken away in California. I have a gay friend who is very helpful and sweet. He was actually having a conversation with me the other day about how he feels discriminated against because he is different than the norm. He has had very deep and emotional conversations with me about how he is afraid of ever adopting a child because he feels that society will ridicule and judge him. I never know the right things to say to make him feel better and socially accepted. It’s a little sad to say, but my family is a strict Italian family, and they never came out and said it, but I know that they are against gay marriages and gay people being together. I always ask myself why? I noticed this while I was growing up. Anytime the news would speak about gays and lesbians on television my mother would let out a disappointing type of sigh. This made me really mad. My parents have also had discussins about how Jesus didn’t make men and women for nothing. They feel that a man and woman’s purpose in life is to marry each other and start a family. They don’t understand how two people from the same sex can also create a family together. I also have a couple of friends, including my boyfriend, who make comments when they see gay people or lesbians. WHY? This is so disrespectful. Rather than making fun of them and wondering how weird they are, we should think to ourselves; I wonder what the gay people are thinking of us? In their eyes we can be the abnormal ones.
It is also very disappointing to know that two people who love each other cannot express their feelings and love for one another without being judged. Adopting a child and loving the child is a very great thing to do. I really wish it wouldn’t be so hard for gay men and lesbian women to do this. I see it as, as long as you love the child and give him/her an amazing life, than you’re set to be a parent. It doesn’t matter whether your straight or gay, raising a child comes with readiness and commitment and I think those are the only tools you need. People forget that children who are being put out for adoption were created by a man and a woman. Obviously these two people didn’t care for the child all that much, so who are we to say that gays can’t raise children when many straight couples can’t themselves!
I feel that gay people always have to try and defend themselves. They have to take on certain actions because they are afraid. My hairdresser is gay and he wears shirts that say “I’m not gay my boyfriend is”, and “Too cute to be gay”. I feel like he wears these shirts to make people laugh and accept him, but he shouldn’t have to feel this way because in life we are all equal and we should all be treated with the same amount of respect. Everybody always looks at originality as being something good, so why can’t they view gays as original and stop abusing.
I also would like to add that I am thrilled that Obama has been chosen, I wish him luck, and I hope that he will make a difference.
Blog 9
When hearing about Proposition 8, I immediately thought about all those individuals who recently got married because it was legal to do so. Passing the law to legalize gay marriage gave the opportunity to 16, 000 people in California to finally show the world that their marriage counts. One individual who always fought hard to see gay marriage legalized is Ellen DeGeneres. I remember watching her show when the law was passed, and she than announced that she and her partner would be getting married. Ellen DeGeneres, as well as thousands of other couples, took this opportunity to marry the ones they loved with a sense of justice and accomplishment. However, this happiness was soon taken away due to Proposition 8. Proposition 8 is a slap in the face to all those gay couples in California who recently got married or who wished to get married. How evil are people to just give something so great and than just take it away. I don’t even understand why they had to change the law in the first place. Ellen DeGeneres has stated that she is saddened by the whole thing, while Melissa Ethridge is outraged, and in retaliation is refusing to pay her taxes because equal rights in California does not exist. To make matters worse, all those who did get married while it was legal, their marriages won’t even count anymore. I find it absolutely sad that people are offended by gay marriage, and that those who are opposed to it should take a minute and think about how they would feel if they were unable to marry the one they love.
Like so many others, I think that proposition 8 is ridiculous! I cannot bring myself to understand why people feel the need to pry into private lives of others. Why should others care whether or not the married couple down the street are of same sex? They’re human beings who love each other…what else matters?
What’s worse, is the whole adoption thing. It is unbelievable that people can ban gays/lesbians from having children. I met someone today who was telling me about his experience growing up as a foster child. He was bounced from home to home, and while he cared deeply and was cared for by foster parents, he never did get adopted. Now, at 18, he lives alone, balances school and work to pay for tuition, rent, and everything in between. What made me even more sad, was the fact that he held absolutely no anger toward the cards he was dealt. Instead he turns to religion, telling me that he considers everyone part of his family, and therefore treats everyone like a brother/sister. For someone younger than me, he seemed to know a lot more about life….and the reality is, there are so many kids in his position, and some, don’t turn out as great as him. Allowing gays/lesbians to adopt can help these kids…it can give them the opportunity to live in a stable environment, and experience that unconditional love that many of us take for granted. I once read that the kids of gays and lesbians are more social accepting of others who are labeled as “different”. clearly their parents are doing something right if their kids are better able to accept people for who they are.
I really hope something is done in the states in favour of the gay and lesbains, becuase no one deserves to be banned from marriage or child rearing. And i truly hope Canada doesnt follow in the US’ footsteps
I baisically agree with everyone. I didn’t even know this had happend but I do remember reading an article this summer in Maclean’s or Time. It was about a couple who had gotten married in a state where gay marriages were allowed. They then moved to another state and after a couple of years wanted to get divorced. However in State #2 gay marriages were not see as valid nor were they accepted. This couple had two choices. To be divorced they had to move back to their old state and live there for a certain amount of time, or they would have to live with one another. I just thought that it was really sillly, as silly as the word sounds. I don’t understand why a country does not have the same rules and regulations throughout the entire country. IF one state legalizes something so important as gay marriages, all he states should have the same rule.
This is a little bit off, but its like how Quebec has their own immigration policy, that is different from the rest of Canada’s. It just doesn’t make any sense, if we are a part of Canada, then we should actually have the same immigration laws. Sure minor laws such as how our signs have to have the french writing bigger can differ among provinces/states. But I just think that the whole point of being a country is to be united and unified by laws…. With something as huge as immigration policies or marriage laws, a country should be unified in those cases with no doubt.
I always thought marriage was defined as the union of two people by law, mainly two people who love each other and decide to spend the rest of their lives together, regardless of their sexual orientation. I was surprised to see that the dictionary defines marriage as “the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies.” I had no idea that the definition marriage was restricted to a man and a woman. I don’t see why anyone should have the right to decide who people want to spend their lives with, it’s not like it’s affecting anyone but the people involved anyways. One thing about Canada that I find truly fascinating is that we’re so accepting of people’s differences (cultural, sexual orientation, etc.) For instance, take a look at the Gay Village in Montreal, a place filled with restaurants, clubs, and bars for gay people. Not to mention at McGill, there is a student run organization called “Queer McGill”, and a support line. The fact that gay couples in Arkansas are forbidden from adoption is beyond me. One of my best friend’s was raised by her two gay uncles, and the amount of love she had growing up is unreal. Despite the problems she had with her mother before moving in with her uncles, she had a pretty amazing childhood. Another thing I find interesting are all the celebrity role models that are gay, like Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Clay Aiken, and Elton John. One of my sister’s friends is gay, and she practically worships Ellen. It’s becoming more and more socially accepted, and shows like Ellen may provide people with support and make it easier for them to come out. It’s important not to be ashamed of who you are, and people who are gay should be allowed to wed and spend their lives in happiness just like anybody else.
I know already blogged, but last night I went to watch Eagle Eye and it got me thinking of the discussion in class that we had about how certain people are portrayed by the media. Within the first few minutes of the movie, we see scenes from the war. The US is monitoring a gathering in what looks like the desert where they believe a terrorist is attending. Some people are saying that it’s a meeting relating to terrorism and future attacks on US soil. A few others think that it may be a funeral…and it’s only a 50% chance that the man in question is the terrorist they are searching for. One character feels the risk is too great and that there are too many casualties to risk an attack. The president is then phoned and he states that regardless of the risk, it is an even GREATER risk to US citizens to allow this man to run free. Unsurprisingly, they bomb the area…MASSIVELY, but right before the bombs fall, we clearly see that it is in fact a funeral.
The scene was awful. And watching it, I was completely disgusted at the decision made by the President. What freaked me out even more, is that Bush is actually making decisions like those on a daily basis, and we never hear of them. In the end (and i promise it doesnt give away the movie for those who havent seen it) it wasn’t even the guy they were looking for. Which is even more awful.
Proposition 8
I’ve honestly never been so shocked to find out that once leagalized gay marriage in california is now once again being made illegal. The first thing i thought of was “how can they do that?” If two people love each other they shoulsd be able to express their love through law. I remember watching the news when gay marriage was leagalized and watching just how happy the couples were, and now 16000 people have to find out that their marriage is invalid. I have know i dea why someone would want to take that kind of happiness away form anyone.
As well, I was shocked by the fact that gay couples are forbidden in arkansa!?!? thats rediculous! If a couple can provide a safe, warm, loving environment it should not matter what their sexual orientation is. I was also interested in the statement that a gay couple is the ideal adaptive couple for social workers in canada.
I agree with the notion that shirley made that we are going back to the dark ages….I really thought that in this day and age people were open minded enough to let gay coulpes live their lives in happiness and legally express their love and comitment for each other.
I was really surprised when i heard about the banning of gay marriage sin California. It is a very big state and holds a lot of power and as such influences the other states to follow in their foot steps. I believe that to be a very big problem. Moreover, how is it that a country with such a bad history of racism is able to elect Obama as president but cant accept gay marriages. I don’t see what the big problem is. A lot of people I have spoken to about this issue do have , to some degree, an uncertainty on the topic of gay marriages. But as someone mentioned previously, how do the personal lives of others effect our own lives? They don’t, so why withhold their rights? They are like any other citizen, so why take away their rights. By taking away their right to marry, society is classifying them as outsiders or simply aliens who shouldn’t be regarded as equal in comparison to other citizens.
I really want to know why or what the big deal is? Why are homosexuals so unaccepted? Are there any disadvantages or problems that come along with legalizing gay marriages? Why are people, in general, so against homosexuality?
While browsing the internet and looking for more information about the ban of gay marriages in California, I came across this article that mentioned that because of proposition 8 many gay couples rushed to get married before this law came into place.
However, Shirley says these gay couples are now being told their marriages aren’t valid?? So I am a little confused. How can their marriages not be valid?? They were considered married not too long ago and now because of this law they aren’t considered married. Sorry but that is just ridiculous. No one should have the right to say that these couple’s marriages aren’t valid.
One would think that the world is advancing and growing to accept the diversity that exists in the world. However, it is clear that we have ways to go before people begin to open their minds and realize that there are individuals who choose to be “different”, in comparison to the norm of society. Moreover, these people have the right to be “different”.
If anyone’s interested in reading article,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/us/08gay.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
But I thought that by electing a “black” president, the US is no longer a discriminatory country. (obvious sarcasm)
The passing of this proposition into law on the same day that the United States made history in its race relations conflict just goes to show us how far the US has come and how far they still have to go.
I just don’t understand how TAKING AWAY rights is in any way okay! It’s no one else’s business who people chose to marry. Obviously there are age requirements and what not but if two consenting adults no matter what sex or race chose to marry than who are we to judge or worse refuse. I agree with Anita that the US has far to go because I do believe once upon at time in the US many states made interracial marriage ILLEGAL!! They can elect a black man to be their president but they can’t agree to let men and women marry other men and women if they chose too. Talk about taking 2 steps back, especially since they passed it not too long ago. For all those married couples that are now being told their marriage is not valid. I’m Sorry. My only hope is that people see the injustice and the discrimination behind Proposition 8 and change it fast because I thought that the US was going in the right direction and I was wrong. It makes me so sad to think that once California was the US progressive state and has now literally turned back the pages. I can only hope that people see the error in their ways. No one has the right to tell someone who to love and who to share the rest of their lives with. Who has the right to take away rights? Why do people continue to live in a world of hate?
I completely agree with everyone so far. I think its ridiculous that we would even question the right of two consenting adults to marry each other, let alone allow the general public to vote on it. I consider myself somewhat conservative on alot of issues, but I’ve never understood the hatred that so many people seem to feel toward the gay community. Conservatives are supposed to believe in individual liberty and small government, yet at the same time they want the government to restrict basic rights. And it’s clearly not just the far right thats against gay marriage, as a fairly liberal state like California just voted against it. Even Barack Obama doesn’t seem to believe in full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. He says he believes in a strong version of civil unions, but still thinks marriage is defined as a relegious union between a man and a woman. I’ve seen footage of some of the protesters in California, and I think they have every right to be furious over whats happened. I’m not too up to date on the legal status of gay marriage accross Canada, but at some point I hope we can set an example for Americans, and show them that the world will not end if we allow gay couples the same basic rights as anyone else. What bothers me most is that, as Shirley pointed out, these marriages won’t affect anyone other than those directly involved. Nevertheless, the general public is given the oppurtunity to vote on the issue, and decide the fate of other people. I can’t imagine my rights and life decisions being put to a vote, and wouldn’t want to live in acountry where that was possible. My decisions are nobody’s business, and theirs are none of my business. Can’t we all just live and let live?
I definitely agree with the blogs above; California’s decision on proposition 8 is just terrible. Just when you think there is positive movement towards equality, something like this happens to stall it. I was talking to a friend the other day about the reasons behind voting “yes” to proposition 8. He explained that some people believe the term “marriage” should only be applied to a union of a man and a woman because that is what marriage officially refers to. However, he was saying that marriage did not always apply to only one man and one woman. In fact if you go back in history, it actually applied to one man and many woman… Back then, the idea of marriage between only one man and one woman seemed just as unnatural as some people find the idea of gay marriage today. I thought that this was an interesting perspective because it goes to show how attitudes can change and yet the general power of the majority to impose its judgment on the minority remains the same. All I mean to say is that although the majority of people in California are not gay and may not agree with it, they have no right to impose their judgments of on gay people in such a way that inhibits their equality.
I hadn’t taken much interest in the individual state elections, because like most people I was too enthralled with the outcome of the national election. However I did hear about Proposition 8 in the news. It totally through me off guard and appalled me! It is ridiculous and outrageous for a government to give people what seems to me, a basic right, and then take it away from them. I agree whole heartedly with ever one else. Why do people believe they have the right to vote and tell others how to live? Discrimination towards the gay and lesbian community has been an issue for so long, and what make me sad is the fact that many felt change and hope had finally occurred just to be snatched away by people with hatred and judgment. Personally, I do not see one single reason why gay and lesbians should not have the right to marry each other. Too many people are too ignorant and scared of change, but this does not give them the right to hate and deny equality for others. No one has the right to tell people who they can or cannot love, so why do we feel we can tell people who they can or cannot marry. Additionally, what shocks me the most is the idea that we can reject adoption rights to gay couples!! What is the justification behind that?
What is so wrong with same sex marriages? What do we hold against gay couples? It seems to me that America needs something to hate, something to discriminate against. Is it that victimizing a certain group gives them a feeling of power and control? Because there is obviously no justification and right for a society to ruin someone’s life and deny their basic right to love.
I voted against the ban and was so disappointed to see it be put in place. In such a liberal state like California, it is truly shocking to see this kind of a legislation. There has to have been some kind of a mistake because there is no way people are so close minded. I grew up in LA and I can’t think of people who would vote to put this ban in place. Not to mention places like San Francisco, which has a tremendously large homosexual population. What does the government plan on doing about the 16,000 marriages already in place? How can they just decide to invalidate marriages? Who gives them that right? The government should not be able to tell me whom I can marry. If this continues we will revert back to no interracial marriages. I mean really, what’s next?
I made it a goal to blog on the readings this week, however, after reading the blog about proposition 8, I felt compelled to blog on that instead.
I was very upset to hear that my fellow Californian’s had voted yes to this horrendous legislation. In California, a traditionally blue state, the vote on Proposition 8 was almost more significant than voting for the president. Everyone knew that Obama would get his 55 electoral votes, but there was great debate about proposition 8. I even express-posted my absentee ballot, even though i was very confident that Obama would win - just to make sure my voice was heard on the propositions. Though it ended close with 52% of votes for proposition 8 and 48% against it, the numbers don’t mean anything. The only important thing is that 16000 will now have their marriages voided. Isn;t that progressive of us. It is also ironic and unfortunate that this has happened just before a pro-gay rights movement movie is coming out entitled Milk, depicting the struggle of gay rights activists, and there eventual success in San Francisco. Luckily my fellow Californians have some compassion in their souls, and Proposition 2 was passed which gives farm animals the right “for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around”. I am not being cynical here- I was happy that this prop passed, and I voted for it. I feel that a lot of animals are subject to inhumane treatment…
Election night brought with it the election of a progressive leader who will help change America, but steps backwards through the passing of proposition 8, and other such propositions in Florida and Arizona, as well as the ban on gay parents adopting children in Arkansas. It is funny that the first blog discusses the fact that many social workers in Canada look to gay couples as excellent adoptive parents, because my mother is a social worker in Toronto, who has much experience with gay couples and actively encourages them in the adoption process.
I guess what we have to do is be happy that Obama was elected - we will see radical change within the United States - and hope that groups will appeal and fight against these propositions. In fact many Californian cities are fighting the proposition on the grounds that the proposition was illegal because it took away a fundamental constitutional right from a select group of people. Before such propositions can go to the ballot the state Legislature must approve them which did not happen. One day there will be more equality. I am sure of it. Until then, I am a little disgusted that Californians felt that farm animals ought to be given rights, while gay people should have theirs taken away.
It takes a lot of hate to vote to take marriage rights away from an entire group of people. It is hard to understand why voters are against gay marriage. People who voted against it obviously think that gay marriages will hurt them in some way. Personally I think this is the doing of previous generations. Older generations seems to be less tolerant of homosexuality than my generation. Maybe Will and Grace didn’t work for my parents and their friends, but it desensitized my friends and I. progress wasn’t really made in the US, but only for older voters and this is because when they were younger they were exposed to way more gay bashing than we are, and back then it might have been more publically acceptable. Now that the younger generation has become more accepting of homosexuality we will pass this on to our children and progress will be made.
There will always be people who are anti- homosexuality, but the number is decreasing thanks to the media. The more positive exposure homosexuality gets, the less people will hate gays.
What is really scary about gay bashing is that the same kind of thinking can lead to al kinds of other hatred. Racism, sexism, etc. develop from similar thoughts of hate as gay bashing. Obviously all forms of hatred against minorities is still out there and this is where the real problem lies.
I cannot believe that California would take away the right for gay couples to get married after legalizing it not too long ago. It’s shocking to see that so many people are still so close minded. Why can’t people just mind their own business and let other people do that ever they want, if it makes them happy. In the US there are many right-winged people who strongly believe that gay people are evil and that the Bible must be followed. It is these types of people that are ruining the lives of others. I think that it’s horrible for the people that already got married and can no longer be considered as a married couple. Now 16,000 previously married couples lost not only their title as a married, but also the domestic partners which, stipulates that if something happens to one of the spouses, the other is entitled to protections and benefits from the other partner. I do not believe Canada will follow the footsteps of the USA. We tend to be a more open minded country and we do not always copy want the US does. Just look at Montreal, a couple of years back we hosted the Gay Games. Montrealers welcomed them with open arms and many heterosexuals even went to observe the games. A strongly believe that Canada will not do what California has done with proposition 8.
I am totally appalled by what I am reading here. I nearly fel off my chair when reading what shirley wrote. How can anyone be so cruel and say that someones marriage is not valid anymore. Even more sick, how can they just take away that law that said that gay marriage was allowed? I have never seen any other law being just taken away like that. The government is being truly unfair. Sadly, things will get a lot worst then they will better. I think these things will be getting worst and worst and people will be getting more and more close minded when it comes to this issue. I believe that the government is convinced that homosexual parents are not as great parents as the heterosexual ones are. Personnaly, i have never known a child who has 2 mommies or 2 daddies, but it doesnt mean that child will turn out to be a bad person or raised incorrectly just because his parents are homosexuals. That is rediculous. I have met heterosexuals who should not be parents becuase they are so horrible! I feel very sorry for these couples who have to face this tragic law. I pray that things will get better in the future becuase they are people with a beating heart too! As for will and grace, i always liked that show because it showed gays through a funny and normal perspective. Jack lives a normal life and will has a normal job. They do not live any differently than anyone Ive ever met. That should seriously say something!!!!
Gay rights is a huge issue in our society today, and it is really interesting to look on how different our neighbours to the south treat the issue much more differently than we do. In the United States, where the Republicans have been in power for the past two elections there was no sense of promoting gay rights in any states across the United States, and when the state of California approved gay rights it was seen as a controversial move, seeing that only Massachusetts was the only other state to approve same sex marriage in courts. Honestly it does not surprise me that they took away the marriage rights away from same sex couples because I dont think that they never accepted it anyways, and they do not believe in something like same sex marriage. There is a reason that only 1 state in the whole country approves it, because most people in the US (republicans more specifically) do not believe in same sex marriage, and that it should not be an issue discussed as much as something like racism. I hope Obama comes in and brings more liberal views because the United States has become more or less a homogeneous point of view country, rather than accepting everyone for who they truly are. Canada treats the issue openly, but with Harper in power I think that we might to start the issue differently, because I honestly do not think that he believes in gay marriage, and if he ever said he did, it is just an act to remain the Prime Minister of our country, and to steal votes from the LIberals.
Chapter three was an interesting read. Of all the products which reflect the producer’s bias, I have never considered that maps may reflect a map maker’s world view. But I guess this is true. If one were making a map about tourist attractions, one would indeed have to determine which attractions they deem to be important and exciting. I feel like all the classes we take in the Faculty of Education are constantly pushing us to look out for biases and hidden agendas. The thing is though, if you feel indignant every time you find someone’s cultural views or social norms embedded in a product, then you’re going to go around feeling indignant all the time. No one is neutral, and since we need people to produce our products, we need to use these unbiased people to make our art and our text books and our maps. Perhaps then we should not feel scandalized every time something reflects the views of the dominant class- perhaps we should just understand that this product was likely made by a member of the dominant class, and yes this class has a right to their views, and yes that’s ok. There’s a bias behind almost everything really. I’m sure there’s a reason why the person who designed your toaster had it be one colour and not another. There is nothing wrong with that. Deeming other toasters inferior is problematic- yes. But simply expressing an implicit worldview is human; it is inevitable; it is healthy. Now, this is not to say that the chapter in Mediacology has asked us to hate biases- it just triggered my thoughts on this emphasis McGill Ed. places on bias awareness.
I was surprise to hear about the banning of gay marriage in California. I know that gay marriage is a huge issue in today’s society, but i really don’t know why.. Personally, I have no problem with gay couples getting married, because it does not affect me in any way what so ever. It’s ironic that the United States have banned this right when they are known as “the land of the free” and where “freedom” is one of their main value. This is why i find it ridiculous to have laws limiting one’s own freedom. The way i see it, if it is not causing anyone any harm, then it should not be banned. Research have demystified the idea that homosexual parents are going to influence their child’s sexual orientation. There is so many starving kids in the world who needs the love that these couples are ready to give, and by banning homosexual marriages, we are depriving these kids of a better life. I really don’t understand how people could actually go against this. Banning homosexual marriages makes no logical sense. It just creates discrimination which then translates into hatred. And for what?! To “protect” the religious views that a man cannot get married with another man? It’s this kind of things that upsets me. Hopefully we will see changes done in the near future.
First of all, I would like to say: “For crying out loud, what the heck is going on in this world.” Why are people so cruel today, I simply do not understand? It’s like the majority of the population thinks that homosexuals are possessed by demons, Jesus! Constantly, I hear debates on the news, in the newspapers and even documentaries. More and more gay marriages are being banned in many countries and cities. I don’t get it, is gay marriage a crime or something to the people? Are people getting more homophobic these days seriously? What the hell is wrong with this planet? Like what we always say in general, same sex marriage is a term for a legally or socially recognized marriage between two people of the same sex. What makes this sentence so dangerous to the society? I can’t get over the furor around the “same sex marriage issue.” it’s just that I don’t understand the shock and dismay behind it. I keep asking myself: “In a society that allows government to license and therefore define a personal relationship, what do you expect?” Of course if you view marriage as a spiritual or holy union (and not a legal one) then you really have nothing to fear. Gays can’t be married in biblical terms no matter who redefines what in any legal dictionary, statute or code. But that does not make gay marriage illegal all around the world. I believe that straight and gay people should have equal rights no matter what the issue is. Gays are exactly like any other human being when it comes to normal thinking routines, but just loving the same sex, is not the end of the world, so common “WORLD” WAKE UP. That’s why I decided to focus on this topic for my final project, because look at what just happened now in California! I believe gay marriage should be LEGAL, because it will not harm the society. Obama make this problem solved please!
There are gay people getting married!? When did this happen?… Years ago?… Did they overtake the country?… no. Do they make all men wear extra tight jeans?…no. What has changed?… nothing.
If two, responsible, consenting adults, want to be married. Does it make future and past marriages less significant? Does it change how you feel about your partner when you get married? Will there be an increase to your taxes? …no?
Then shut the *bleep* up.
Have we honestly run out of good homes in the world? Good homes that can raise good people? No one goes hungry, or lives on the street?
Ballux.
Good gay people want families. WANT families, and we disallow them? Good people are around but nobody stops to find out.
My question, what makes religious folk madder? Abortion or Gay married couples?
Grow up,
SG
So I’ve after reading all the previous blogs I have only to say I agree. I really got into proposition 8 when I saw Ellen Degeneres talk about this. She was giving her usual monologue in her show and had a message for Sarah Palin. “I don’t know if you saw this, but vice presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin, says she’s that in favor of a federal ban on gay marriage. Basically wants to change the constitution, so if you’re wondering…how I feel about this…I don’t like it, I don’t agree. Maybe it’s because I’m gay that I think we should all be equal. But I feel that we’re all equal. I don’t know what people are scared of. Maybe they think that their children will be influenced. I gotta’ say, I was raised by two heterosexuals. I was surrounded by heterosexuals… just everywhere I looked: heterosexuals - and they did not influence [me]…. I mean I dabbled in high school, who didn’t? Everyone dabbled, ya know? People are gonna be who they’re gonna be And we need to learn to love them for who they are, and let them love who they want to love.”
I think that Ellen is a great example of someone that speaks her heart and mind. It is very brave of her to say what she wants to say and in this case, to actually face those who are pro 8. She gave her opinion to McCain about gay marriage when he was in her show and now this. I personally believe that she, as well as the other blogs are right. You can’t vote to take away someone’s right. You can’t make it harder for them to be happy. With the results of the election and also with the first elected transsexual mayor in Silverton, Ore, the US gave such a huge step towards equality and now this? This only shows how narrow minded some people can be. Youtube has a great number of videos against and pro 8. But you should definitely start by watching the Ellen show with McCain as a guest. He was so uncomfortable and seemed so unprepared.
This banning of gay marriages in California is very upsetting. I can’t understand, as you put it so simply Shirley, how someone could ban people from being happy. It really bothers me and i just don’t get it. I was watching one of my favourite tv shows “brothers and sisters” and aside for there being a gay brother on the show, it also focuses on a senator and his stance on gay marriage. The senator in the show actually has a gay brother and his views on the whole situation are so shady that it lets me think that if in a fictitious show like “brothers and sister” can’t even depict a distinct view on this issue. It is definitely mentioned in the show but never fully addressed, and that bothers me,
I have to agree with what Francis said. I am fully aware of the issues of gay marriage, but it has no affect on me, or anyone else. If there have been certain arrangements made by religious leaders to accommodate issue regarding the religion, why can’t things be adjusted to accommodate people who love each other. They are not causing any harm to anyone else, and this is only causing heartache to them.
I find it very unfair and illogical. I just don’t get it and hope that this could stop being such an issue and concern for so many people.
Firstly I am soooo Happy that Bush is now out and am hoping that Obama will make a significant difference! However I am scared just because we are so closely linked to the States. With all the problems that America has …poverty, crime, drugs, etc all they can worry about is gay marriage? Wow, why do the states never seem to amaze me? Like who cares? Don’t worry America there’s are so many heterosexuals your population wont decrease!*! It’s not your happiness at stake; it’s not you who has to wake up beside that individual for the rest of your life! So why do you care? One concept that I’ll never understand is why do people always have to get involved in other people’s lives? You can never live your life and be happy, there will always be someone trying to hassle or bother you.
I guess that many Americans don’t watch their local news very much. We are consist hearing stories were heterosexual parents beat, molest, even kill their own kids! If someone is mentally ill it doesn’t depend on your sexuality. You’re either a good parent or not! It’s not rocket science!
When I hear people saying that gay marriage should be banned it really get me aggravated! What is we banned heterosexual marriages? How would the rest of America feel? Not too happy I bet? Like if it doesn’t pertain to you why would you vote? I understand governmental elections; because it’s your country and you want it run a certain way! But why you vote against gay marriage? It doesn’t even relate to you? Do these people not realize that they are literally ruining lives? Like hello..Okay they can’t get married it doesn’t mean they’re going to break up and leave and pouff become a heterosexual again. NO! Face it were always going to have homosexuals in society, it’s nothing big, it’s a part of life, face it!
Has anyone looked in the adoption agencies lately? There are so many children who are treated poorly who would love a loving home, regardless of the sexual preference of his / her adoptive parents. There are so many children who are in need of a home..but who cares about them right? When will people realize that sexual orientation has no …no relation with parenting>? Me and my boyfreind know numerous individuals who are homosexuals and unless you knew them personally you wouldn’t even know that they are homosexuals! Yes they do act, sleep and eat like heterosexuals..wired eh? These people are amazing parents and give their children the world like any other parent would do.
So California, I say to you, why don’t you look around and realize that we are in a time period that has changed and evolved. You can’t decide who you love, you just love them! No matter their gender! I know that many people say that Canada is like the states, well at least were different in this context, we care if people are happy, we don’t discriminate and stereotype.
It is things like this that make you realize how much further our society has to go. I must say that we had come quite a long way when gay marriage was legalized, but now the United States is going right back to where it came from. With Obama winning the election, I guess you can say that the United States is moving forward again, but who really knows what to expect? Unfortunately, I am really worried that Obama will be assassinated, which is ridiculous. Not that anyone deserves to be killed, but wouldn’t you have expected Bush to have been assassinated since he is basically the most hated president ever? If Obama does get killed simply for being Black, we will once again witness how far society still has to go, because Bush has done so many horrible things, yet he had no issues. Here’s another suggestion for the United States: why don’t you get rid of women’s right to vote too? And while we’re at it, let’s just bring back child labour to North America! Oh, what great ideas! Anyway, getting back to the gay marriage, like many people have said, I don’t see why people are so relentless about this issue. Why do you want to prevent people from being happy? Do these people get some sort of sick pleasure out of seeing others unhappy? With the way the world is going, we should be encouraging things like peace, happiness, and love – in whatever form that may be.
Honestly, I have no idea what’s going on with our society today. First, they announced the legal right of gay marriage, then months later they decide to take it back. This is like a game to them and I certainly don’t see the respect (if they even have any) they have for homosexuals at all by being so inconsiderate towards their feelings. I think that marriage is just to bond two people who love each other. I never even knew that the dictionary defined marriage as the bonding of a man and a woman before reading Audrey’s blog. I am actually very surprised (and disturbed) about this definition and absolutely think that they should change the definition because I don’t think that marriage has to be between a man and a woman. I don’t know why some people have to discriminate homosexuals or find it disturbing/disgusting to see two same sex people being together. Why do some of us have to limit love and marriage to a man and woman? Why is it necessary or only considered appropriate to fall in love and marry someone of our opposite sex? When we want to get married or be in a relationship with someone else, is our main criteria to look for someone of the opposite sex? I think that love is just a feeling, we probably don’t even know why we love someone, but know that we’re happy to be with that person. Someone we love can be someone of the same sex or opposite, I have a friend who tells me that she’s a lesbian not because she hates guys or feel disgusted by them, is just because she found someone she loves and appreciate and that person happens to be a girl too. So, I think love is a feeling that we merely can’t control, if someone feels happy to be with another person of the same sex, then why should other people separate them or look at them differently.
I was just reading about Ellen DeGeneres’ response to this ruling the other day, and its funny, because the headline actually said that “Portia & Ellen were no longer married”, making it seem as though they divorced. I started to read the article, thinking how it was too bad that another celebrity couple called it quits, when I got to the part about the fact that the wedding no longer was valid because of this whole Proposition 8 thing. How could society be so stupid? Just when you think we’ve made progress, we take 3 steps back… I really don’t get it. I don’t understand the rationale behind such a decision, and I particularily don’t get how they could BAN gay couples from adopting children. I mean, what makes gay parents unfit parents?! There have been so many success stories of children growing up with gay parents, who turn out to be very accepting and well rounded individuals. What would the state of California prefer; children just staying in the foster care system, getting shipped from family to family? I really am disappointed with this proposition, and I never would have guessed that in this day and age, rights would still get taken away from people. We really do have a long way to go. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll live to see a gay person become president of the United States… Now that’ll be the day!!!
Gay marriages are starting to get annoying just simply because the images in the media are becoming more and more about how everyone is turning their backs on them. Like You said it Shirley, how bad do we have to be to deny someone their happiness? I honestly think that we need to look at ourselves a little. I thought it was in the constitution ( something about the pursuit of happiness…) (and yes the movie had something to do with me knowing about that lol). I do not see how we are pursuing happiness by denying americans their happiness. Sexual orientation does not really affect my choice in friends. I have a few gay friends and I would not be upset to find out if a few of my long time friends turned out to be something other than heterosexual. I just do not see the point in trying to fight racism but then turn around and say that kissing the same gender with love is wrong. I do understand where it arises from…religion. But todays laws should not be based on a religion especially here in north america, the one that proclaims to be multi cultural. I am just annoyed at everything that is going on UGH!
Amen, Amy; I fully agree.
Similarly to the majority of the comments posted, I definitely agree that proposition eight is absolutely unreasonable and ridiculous! I find unbelievable that people still feel the need to involve themselves in the lives and happiness of others as a result of this discriminatory and narrow-minded perspective. Honestly, I do not understand why people find it so despicable and intolerable for homosexuals to want to be together and tie the knot through means of marriage. Are they not real people with real feelings? Of course they are. People should be able to love and be with whoever they want. They should not be penalized for feelings that are uncontrollable. To top it off, there is the whole adoption dilemma. There have actually been many studies which have shown that parenting by same-sex families is just as good, if not better, for children when compared to heterosexual families. In some ways children of same-sex parents actually may have advantages over other family structures. They are brought up in families that are open to the idea of diversity and are probably more accepting of others. How would you feel if you were told that you couldn’t marry someone because of the colour of your hair? I am sure you would feel like it is unfair. The point that I’m trying to make is quite a simple one: homosexuals are just like anyone else, and their sexual preferences should not be a reason to pick on them and remove their inherent rights. They can be good people, and we should give them the opportunity to live their lives in peace. Why should they not deserve the same rights and freedoms as anyone else? They should, and that’s the point. Luckily, here in Canada we accept diversity in its many shapes and forms – let’s just hope it stays that way.
So I know this has nothing to do with proposition 8, but if I want to blog, it’s here it has to be done! Anyway, I decided this week to talk about a publicity campaign that took my attention recently, the dentyne “make face time”. I found the little quotes like “power down, log off, unplug. Have mercy for your thumbs. Browse the world wide something else. Send some not so instant messages. Undo. Hit cancel. Be together. Make face time.” very interesting and it made me prone to reflection. Since the last ten years (since it has been around ten years that everybody started having both computers and Internet) how many actual letters have written to your friends? How often have you decided to simply give a date, time and place for a get together with friends relying solely on your belief that they will come and not use your cell phone to call them? When was the last time you sat for hours with your friends doing nothing else than talk? I feel that though all the present technologies made contact between everyone constant, it sort of rendered it shallow. I feel that all those things sort of pushed people toward a more self centred world in which opening up face to face with someone is harder. Is it a positive or a negative change in society? Anyways, strange that an add sort of fights that tendency. I really like this campaign… When you will be done reading this, you should close your computer and go discuss face to face with someone else, it’s a nice thing to do…
I never really understood the argument of conservative people stating that gay people should not adopt children. They base this by saying that it creates an abnormal environment for the child, that children need a daddy and a mommy, that having two daddies, or two mommies, can traumatize a child. What about the trauma and/or “abnormality” children undergo in abusive homes, in neglectful homes, or dysfunctional homes, where there is both a mommy and a daddy. Based on the arguments given by anti-gay adoption activist, none of the parents who create homes (as the ones mentioned) should have children. Granted I agree not everyone demonstrates “good” parenthood, but what the hell does one’s sexual orientation have to do with this. Who are we to start policing who can have kids or not. “Crazy” strait people have them all the time! Should we then start emitting parenting permits? If a gay person or couple is more than willing, ready, and capable of offering a child a healthy and rich environment (and I’m not talking about money), then God bless them. We need more parents like that, not less. And anyway, what is a normal family nowadays? Tons of kids don’t have a mommy, a daddy, 2.3 siblings, and a golden retriever, and seem to do quite well. Child rearing is about adequately preparing your children for the world. How is conveying homophobic values doing anyone a favour? Because guess what?! Gay people have been here, they are, and they aren’t going anywhere, so deal with it.
The entire situation in California is making the government look like a farce. By adopting the rights for gays to marry and then revoking it seemingly overnight, it just makes me feel that whatever laws are in place regarding X topic, they may not be there tomorrow. A similar issue can be seen with stem cell funding and research, where Bush has slowed down development in this area while Obama has pledged to support it. It’s becoming clear that America is divided and depending on who is in power, the laws will shift in said direction. Two steps forward, one step back seems to be the expression to best categorize these events.
I met a couple at a wedding on the weekend and they had been recently wed in the states. They were very happy and very much in love. Once it had been legalized in California they quickly made the plans because they knew that it wouldn’t last long before the laws changed. They told me that a lot of their friends were doing the same, and that they had been to a number of weddings in the last few months. I couldn’t imagine have one right or freedom on day and not the next. I think that it is cruel that people can play such games - or have the right to chose something so significant in another humans life. The couple didn’t mind rushing into it because they knew they wanted to get married, however I’m sure they wouldn’t have mind having a few extra weeks to organize the day. It’s a very special day, one full of memories and thankfulness, and being at a heterosexual couple’s wedding that night, it was so clear how much each and every one of us deserve to celebrate and announce our love for our life partners.
I just wish that people would stop making decisions for others. We deserve the right to choose - choose our partner, choose our vows, choose happiness, and choose to have a family.
Honestly it is really sad to see what they are putting gay people through, it is bad enough they fought so hard to get the acceptance of the law and now they are banning it and telling people who were married that it is not legit. I think that is going beyond low … that is like practically telling all gay couples they may as well get over each other now because they will never be able to be what the California Government considers a legal couple. All this talk on the media and how they are making the gay marriage thing out to be reminds me of a commercial I seen not too long ago. While I was watching gossip girl a commercial trying to ban gay education in schools or talking about it at all, I don’t remember what the bill was called but they were showing two parents sitting on a couch talking about how their child came home talking about homosexuality and how they were shocked and not ok with it, and wanted the school to control the situation and stop talking about the issue. Then some women comes’ on and says if you agree vote for bill something I forget the number. The point is I could not believe they were actually saying that. It just goes to show you how harsh the media can be and how much they try and persuade us, Dr. Shirley is right if we have not noticed yet there is a problem.
I won’t pretend to understand why a good(quantitatively, not qualitatively) percentage of the population feels uneasy about gays and lesbians, but that fact remains that there is. And I am pretty sure that most people who do don’t realize how much that hatred or uneasiness stems from their cultural background, very rarely from first-hand experience or well-founded, sound argumentative logic.
All I can rely on is my own experience. And my lack of it from outside of this continent is an invitation to any of you to enlighten me. I have no clue as to how Indians, Russians, Chinese, Icelandics or any other group, sub-group or culture sees this.
But I have lived in the land of the religious. Day to day. And to them being gay is a lifestyle choice because everything is. (You have no choice to be Christian because otherwise you are damned, but still) Instincts, DNA, whatever might be the cause for homosexuality is not at stake here. And damn right you’d better not educate their children about it. Because it is easier to hate something you don’t understand. I was just curious one evening and asked, at a BBQ party we were hosting, how many knew when the Bible had been compiled. There were gasps when I “suggested” that it was edited in the Fourth Century. This is knowledge that is widely available, and made popular in the Da Vinci Code.
The world is static, and will forever be, for most of them. 24% of Americans believe the Earth is flat(Newsweek), and YECs believe it is only 6-7000 years old. So of course homosexuality is a threat to that short, neat, natural order.
I’m not making an apology of their views, by any means, and I am the first one to scoff when my beliefs get ridiculed by a creationist, or a flat-earther. But I’d at least be willing to consider empirical data. They might say I am gullible for believing that we went to the moon. Since the only source of truth is the Bible, of course homosexuality is against the norm. And this is where knowledge of other worldviews would help me put this into context. Are other worldviews so exclusive or torn in their interpretation? How is empirical science seen by other cultural groups? Is the western view the only one to be so bitterly divided? I know we owe Muslim scientists a lot in the field of optics, logic, medicine, astronomy…
Maybe we need to stop saying them and us (the haters and the non-haters) and start thinking we are all in the same boat, even if some of them (or us) don’t want to see it. I want a solution. If I believe in one thing, then let that be it.
Oops! I just realized that i made a majour typo in the first line of my blog; I wrote that gay people had just recently gained, and, with proposition 8, lost the right to vote! For anyone who was confused by that, I meant “right to get married.”
Sorry about that!
While I was watching the news the other day with my mom, a story about gay marriage being banned in California came on. I had heard about the law being passed, and didn’t really understand why it was being taking away so quickly. My mom explained it to me… the state had a vote on whether or not it should be banned. My main thoughts… what is wrong with people in California? Honestly, who does it affect when two people decide to get married? I’d say no one who isn’t family, so what does it really matter who gets married? This law being banned is going to ruin so many people’s lives, celebrities included (Ellen and Portia). I can’t even imagine how it would feel to be told your marriage isn’t valid when you’ve had a wedding and been declared married just months earlier. People are just so mean and inconsiderate of others… I truly feel for the gay residents of California who have to deal with Proposition Eight.
I found the point Shirley mentioned about gay couples not being able to adopt in Arkansas very interesting, when compared with Canadian adoption agencies deeming gay couples best fit for adoption! Gay people are people too, they really aren’t that different than anyone else, besides their sexual preference. Who’s to say their parenting styles aren’t the same? How can two countries right next to each other have such different views?? It’s almost unbelievable to think that whilst Obama was making history, this was occurring in the same country.
I’ve been following this proposition for quite some time now myself, and am appalled that it was passed. Although I am a fan of Democracy, and the proposition was passed because the majority voted for it, I am also fully for the separation of church and state. This issue is quite obviously being influenced by religion- if it weren’t for the concerns of the evangelical Christians in America, I highly doubt this would even be the issue that it is right now. I guess my point is that it should never have been something to be voted on in the first place. Civil rights are civil rights- if the majority was always allowed to take away these rights from people, I think we would be in for a lot more trouble. This should not be an exception.
I also read that one reason why many people voted for it, especially those who might not have otherwise, is because they were told that very young children would be exposed to “gay propaganda” and other nonsense. Although I think that classrooms should strive to be inclusive (and I would certainly not shy away from talking about gays or lesbians), whether to talk about gay marriage in the classroom is still a different conversation.
Another thing that makes me fume are many of the comments defending proposition 8 on CNN’s “iReport” video page. One that I read yesterday said something along the lines of-” why should gays want children? it doesn’t make sense! why should a child have to live in that situation and think it is right and have to explain it to everyone”. Thankfully someone mentioned the fact that people live in all sorts of situations, and to think that children with gay parents are the only ones who don’t have the stereotypical mom and dad (never divorced of course, and of the same race and religion) and 2.5 siblings.
Another comment I just found reads “If you want a state that accepts gay marriage, then goooo to that state and have all the gay marriages your heart desires. Just don’t come here imposing your lifestyle, a chosen lifestyle that is; on us and then say we are being bigots because we don’t want that imposed into our lives. Now what’s so wrong with that? ”
Wow! Where to start! I think it is very important that when gay marriage is finally allowed all over the US (and I am hopeful that eventually people will stop being idiots), that priests/ministers do not have the obligation to wed gay couples if they do not want to. I think that would actually be imposing and would go against their rights to religion. However, as long as the priest/minister/whoever is willing to wed them, then there is no imposing whatsoever.
Just when it seems that we have moved forward and actually achieved something…we are taking a humongous step back…how upsetting. I personally feel that this is such a ridiculous step backward. My best friend is gay and was with her partner for 13 years before breaking up recently. They had planned to marry, and I was really looking forward to attending the wedding. There is no reason to take away this privilege. In my mind, it shouldn’t even be up for debate. We are all human. There is no difference whether you are a man, woman, or are transsexual, and whether you like men, women, or both. We should not have the right to decide who can marry and who can’t. Also, both of my aunts on my father’s side are lesbians. Strange? Perhaps. But they are wonderful people who deserve everything in the world. If they would like to marry their girlfriends, why shouldn’t they? If two people are in love, then there should be no holds on them. I find it unbelievable that we are still in a position where laws are preventing such unions. Who’s to say that a man and a woman should have the right to marry…why should this be allowed and the other not? I am on a rant because I have never understood some people’s stance on this subject, and this change in California is crazy. Two women or two men might very possibly make a stronger, more loveable couple than a man and a woman in union. Soooo….I don’t think that we even come close to having the right to say what they can and cannot do. People just need to be more empathetic, and stop making backward decisions.
Man i’m gona be critisized and shat on for sayin the following…
I actually don’t support gay marriage. Yes i come from a religious backgorund that doesnt encourage gay marriage, and that is christianity(i’m catholic and i’m a strong believer and practising catholic too). Alright, traditionally, marriage is called Holy Matrimony. It’s originally a one of the seven sacraments between a man and woman,and it’s a promise before God to love each other and to have a Christ centered relationship and to grow together in faith. Alright, that was probably bla bla for some of you. Key word is,it’s supposed to be between man and woman. Now you might say we live in a society today that doesn’t take christianity into consideration anymore because we’re in a multicultural society. True, but mind you, the purpose of marriage in the first place is a promise to stay with each other for the rest of their lives and to found a family. Suppose we allow gay marriage now,even if it’s against the nature’s law(nobody’s gona argue that one i hope),but we allow it to satisfy a part of the population,what if in future years,people would wana marry animals? I know this sounds a bit weird and like wtf am i talking about,but can’t you picture people finding arguments to legalize that? “we love each other” and “we want to,it’s our right” kind of argument.
I wana make something clear though, i’m just against homosexual marriage, this doesn’t mean i’m against homosexual relationships. They are allowed to do whatever they want,they can have homosexual relationships(i’m speaking of lover relationship,not sexual because that goes into another discussion implying my religious values). In my humble opinion,as long as they don’t bring marriage into their relationship,then s’all good. If you’re going to reply or retort to my blog,plz give it some thought and consider my position first. Thx =)
Blog 10
Today in class we discussed the idea of depriving or excessive filtering of T.V. viewing for today’s generation of youths. We also discussed mass media as being a primary agent of socialization mirroring who we are as a society. Wanting to voice my opinion, I soon realized that the class discussion had taken a turn, and I wasn’t able to speak up. So I decided to use this blog to do just that.
Nowadays also referred to as the “technological age”, most information relayed to the public is media based. Technology in contemporary society has come to the point where individuals are no longer turning the digital world on or off. And yes, the messages often-transmitted via media can leave many with a bias take on reality.
I think it’s natural that as we continue to progress technologically so will our dependence /addiction to media. Changing as it evolves, society dictates what is commonly deemed corrupt or unjust. I feel however, that as civilization continues to progress and adjust so too will certain standards. What was once considered radical may well one day be acceptable. The bar that determines what as a society we accept as “the norm” is constantly rising. Therefore what was once feared may soon be tolerable however, new fears will arise despite best efforts and only self-regulated rearing can prepare future generations.
Nevertheless, there are many notions that stand the test of time, and they are as relevant today as they were in the past and will be in the future. Common sense visa a vie child nurturing including basic parental instincts, should by no means be ignored or disregarded. The well-adjusted parent is neither both exceptionally aggressive and severe, nor do they over indulge their child. For the reason that in practice, a well balance parent or caregiver ought to come to some sort of healthy medium that agrees with the individual child at hand.
alright Ignatius here are my thoughts….
I was, once upon a time, a born again Christian. I was taught to accept Christ as my saviour and all the jazz. I was also told many a time to “respect” homosexuals but do not “accept” them. Here is my problem: I understand the Catholicism is quite different from Anglicism but I believe the message of God still reins for both: Love all, Serve all. Jesus spoke of servitude and peace, of loving our neighbor as yourself. He reserved judgments and did not teach that our relationship with God to be one of rules and fear. With that being said, we should reserve our judgments and include people- of any sexual orientation- of having the liberty of equal rights.
Our society today is not secular. The state and church are separate and one could argue that marriage is a civil union more so now than a religious union.
For you would it be just as disgraceful for two people, who do not believe in God, to get married? Because like you said, it is declaring your love and eternal commitment to this one person in front of God. Or how about a women who is not a virgin wearing a white dress at her wedding?
We must keep in mind of when the bible was written and to also realize, even though it is the word of God, it was still written by men. Men with their biases and resentments that I am sure bled through their honourable duty to record the word of God and only God. Was it not thought of back then that women were unclean when they were on their periods? Should we still be thought as unclean?
Culture, society, nations- they are always changing, evolving and growing. We cannot expect anything to stay static. For our world to truly embrace the teachings of Jesus we need to take steps forward, we need to reconstruct our distribution of power to ensure that everyone has equal rights. That is when we can truly love our neighbor as ourselves because we would stop seeing them on this vertical hierarchal ladder of power and prestige.
Yesterday in class we were discussing the effect violent TV shows and video games have on children. I gathered that the class had a lot of different views on this issue. I believe that, yes, they do in fact affect children but I definitely do not believe that violent TV and video games are the cause for violence among youth. Growing up my parents always censored sex way more than violence. My brothers were always allowed to play video games with fighting, like Mortal Kombat, and watch any movie with violence and fighting. My parents obviously talked to my brothers about violence and made sure that this was not their only source of entertainment. They are grown up now and so far they seem fine; they don’t want to kill anybody. On the other hand, I babysat for three young boys for a few years and the 2 older boys were allowed to play video games like Duke Nukem and Streets of Rage at the ages of 4 and 6. This I thought was a little extreme. Their mother claimed the games belonged to their father as if this made it better, but I didn’t see what that mattered if all they did was play this and other games whole day long. When I first met these boys they were playing video games and after that everyday when I arrived at their house they were playing video games. They sat there and at 4 and 6 actually said things like “Die you f**kers.” They were also very violent with each other, one would be hitting and coughing the other screaming that it was his turn to play and it just went on and on. If I asked the boys if they wanted to go the park or go swimming in their massive pool that was barely ever used they would instantly drop the video games. So I realised that they were actually being encouraged to play these games just so they wouldn’t bother their mother. I blame their behaviour on the fact that they were never taught any better. When I gave them a time-out or any sort of punishment for beating up each other or cursing they were in shock and I found that in quick time their behaviour while they were with me improved. I just wanted to give these 2 examples to show that the way TV shows and video games affect young people will depend very much on the environment they grow up and of course other factors.
I found chapter 5 “Lost in Splace” in the mediacology book really interesting since Lost is actually one of my favourite shows. When i first saw the Pilot Episode (Premier) i fell in love with it. I came to know Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sun and the Lovable Hurly. I found it was really interesting the way that the producers made it so we could learn about each character through flashbacks. I have to say when i watched it i loved how it was always so intense especially the last few minutes of every episode, i was glued to the tv. However i never realized how many references there were to other types of media such as Alice in Wonderland. I loved how the characters were given a second chance to become who they really wanted to be or they were cured from a disease such as Rose who was healed from Cancer, and Lock who was no longer paralyzed. In the newer episode i found it interesting how their lives have totaly changed such as Jack’s who feels he needs to go back to island after he’s been rescued to go and help the other survivors, or Hurley who seems to always be hallucinating and see’s Charlie’s “ghost”. I just think the show is really cool and interesting, you could never get bored, well at least i can’t.
When I heard about this I was absolutely appalled. It was frustrating enough when the government didn’t allow gay people to marry in the first place, but now that they gave them the right and took it back, is infuriating. I first heard it from my best friend, who is gay. He is a Canadian citizen and proud to be, and goes to school in the states, so he feels personally attacked when the people around him believe that he doesn’t have to right to marry. I really don’t understand how and why a few select politicians decided that it was in their hands to decide who is happy, who has a family and who is in love. It’s a terrible world to live in when a certain group of people believe that they have more of a right to express their love to an individual and others do not, ironically most of these politicians cheat on their wives with prostitutes. I am saddened to hear that this happened and feel for the American citizens which have been affected by this. It is unfair to deny them of the rights which should be accessible to everyone. I have never been more proud to be Canadian when I heard about this. I know Canada’s not perfect, far from it, but it’s comforting that we recognize gay people as people, who should have the to right to do whatever they want without question.
In these last few classes I have found myself very torn. In a way it really angers me what has been going on all this time in school this whole semester when oppression or anything else bad is discussed we only talk about Muslims. It really slowly getting to me we say that it wrong how our society is desensitizing us our classes are desensitizing us, it is not only media it every class why have we not talked about the misrepresentation in Africa our south America, why do we not talk about the poverty in the carrabein, why do we not discuss about Rwanda and how badly it was portrayed, or why not Georgia a very big event that happened and almost tried to slip under the radar why did we not discuss this. Why is almost every class we discuss about one problem, when there are so many, When have we taken any time analysing how during our election the different channels were clearly talking only about certain parties, I find we are not critically analysing anything we analysed one thing over and over and over again, it is not the fault of just this class but the world, we have the a tendency to put all of our attention on one problem and many disasters in the world go unnoticed. It just really is beginning to annoy me that we only discuss the Muslim oppression and wars and not the rest of the world’s problems.
This issue of banning gay marriage is absolutely appalling. I find it amazing how much effort some people put into the unhappiness of others. Of course I know that what goes through their minds is not “I’m going to make people unhappy today by banning gay marriage” but that is certainly what is happening. How could someone possibly think that it’s ok to control someone else’s life and happiness to that extent? What difference does it make to them that gay marriages are allowed or not allowed? It really sickens me to think that we have raised and are raising children who see this struggle for gay marriages. What are they being brainwashed to think? How are they interpreting society’s social norms regarding this topic as well as many others? As educators I think it is important to bring a wide variety of views into the classroom and to emphasize the fact that these views are all different and ok. I fear that some students may only be getting a one-sided view of important social issues such as this. They are being influenced by their parents’ beliefs which is completely normal and fine however I feel it is our job to open up the issue to many different views. We as educators have to act as mediators in a sense. We have to take the false images students are getting from the media as well as the opinions they hold that may be from their parents, and smooth it all over. I’m not saying at all that we have to change how students feel about a certain issue. We just have to make sure they understand every angle to approach the issue.
As for the defeat of gay marriage in California…I am sort of speechless. All I can say is that I am happy to be Canadian and I agree with Shirley…let’s hope Canada doesn’t follow this example.
So Ignatius, I’m going to take on some of your points here. I realize that you feel outnumbered by all the people in the class who have written posts defending gay marriage, so I want to make it clear that I’m not making a personal attack. I too feel outnumbered because in most of my classes I am one of the only out/visible homosexuals and when this topic comes up it’s often uncomfortable for me.
First of all, marriage has its origins in husbands legally owning their wives; when a father gave away his daughter this was at one point quite literally about a transfer of ownership. That’s not very romantic.
Marriage may have religious significance to many but it also has civil significance, which is why atheists marry, people marry outside their religious communities and so on. I don’t support the idea of forcing churches to marry us, but I think the reasoning is still flawed considering how many heterosexual couples do not fit the guidelines you’ve laid out here. Do people protest atheist couples’ rights to marry? No. Its pretty ludicrous to imagine the religiously motivated groups who actually held hate rallies in my home town when gay marriage passed marching in front of an atheist couple’s house because their vows are not holy.
Forgive me but I am going to challenge your assumption about homosexuality being against ‘nature’s law’. Discourses of ‘what is natural’ are easily twisted when we convince ourselves that one particular position is ‘natural’ simply because a lot of people hold it or it’s convenient. People used to say in England that monarchy was natural and people shouldn’t be allowed to govern themselves, yet we don’t usually say that anymore. Homosexuality is natural in mammals all over the place; it is natural because it exists, even when people try to repress it. It’s no less natural than anything else in the human community that doesn’t harm anyone.
What doesn’t strike me as natural is the slippery slope argument that allowing us to marry will lead to bestial marriages between humans and animals. I want to be patient with people whose unease with me or my right to marry is rooted in a perceived loyalty to tradition but it’s really hard to do that when people make such outlandish, dehumanizing claims. Gay marriage has been legal for years now in Canada but we have yet to see a bestiality rights movement of people clamoring to marry their pets and we all know we’re not going to. What that argument does do however is suggest that queer relationships are related to, or not far from, ‘relationships’ between animals and humans, and you might not intend dehumanize us in deploying that connection but you do. And this idea isn’t new: people used to compare interracial marriage to the union of humans and animals, implying that interracial marriage would lead to bestiality, but as we know, it didn’t and race is a construct, despite its material effects.
I was also appauled at the ban of gay marriages in california. I was in the United States when Canada officially legalized gay marriage and I started listening to the talk shows there. I was amazed at how afraid everyone was. The fact that CANADA legalized gay marriages was enough to make people afraid and threatened in the United States. People were afraid that the United States would legalize gay marriages. People felt that gay Americans would now start to “take over” and start riots for their own rights to be married. Other people said they were afraid that nobody in the united states would reproduce anymore and there would be no more United States. I just couldn’t believe that people were actually this ignorant.
I long been a fan of reggae music, but i never liked the anti gay attacks. when the whole thing came to a head a couple of years ago and Buju Banton was called on his hateful attitude towards gay people expressed in his music I was very very immpressed with his collegue’s (Berrres Hammond’s) reaction - he said that homosexuality was against his culture but that it is not for us as human being to judge it. This is my point exactly, whether you have been taught to be against homosexuality, whether you believe it is right or not, homosexuality is of NO THREAT to anyone, therefore we should live and let live.
Blog 10
Alright Ignatius, don’t take this personally, but I must take the other side of the argument on this one. I would like to say, before I begin, that I appreciate that you took a stand for your own beliefs even though they run counter to many of the views presented here. That takes integrity and courage, and I respect that. With that said, allow me to address the ideas and arguments that you have presented.
I would like to begin by acknowledging your religious background and the central place that the sacrament of Holy Matrimony has within the Catholic Church. As I was raised Catholic, and even taught at a Bible camp when I was younger, I can understand why you would see marriage in this light. Now, the description that you provide of an ideal marriage, in the Catholic sense of the term, is “to stay with each other for the rest of their lives and to found a family,” and is “a promise before God to love each other and to have a Christ centered relationship and to grow together in faith.” I do not see anything in these definitions that precludes a homosexual couple from fulfilling the conditions stipulated within them. Two men or two women are capable of being very devout, having a Christ-centered relationship, growing together in faith, staying together (ideally) for the rest of their lives, and even founding a family. The latter condition may be met by adopting children, which can be a praiseworthy deed in the Catholic Church’s eyes if, for instance, the children are thereby extricated from an abusive life or from a poor life situation and raised by two parents who really care about them. Since all of these conditions may be met without the people in the relationship necessarily being male and female, why should homosexual people, even on Christian grounds, not be allowed to marry?
Furthermore, we should also consider the practical aspect of marriage, that is, marriage as it is actually practiced. If we do this, we find that many Christian couples frequently divorce (the divorce rate now stands at around 40% in Canada, and around 50% in the United States), and also, that many non-Christian couples currently marry. There is thus already some diversity in marriage practices in contemporary society. In a multicultural society, marriage may still retain the traditional notion of being a powerful, symbol of lifelong commitment, and there is nothing in homosexual relationships that precludes them from meeting this symbolic definition, which is already accepted by many in our present society. Since those who go through with somewhat traditional marriages presently include people of many faiths, including even atheists, why should the definition of marriage not be extended to include a group of people who have a capacity to love, to make a lifelong commitment, and even to be faithful in the relationship sense and in the Christian sense? We note, in addition, that Christianity is not incompatible with homosexuality. The United Church presently welcomes homosexuals into its congregation, insisting that Christ died to redeem all people from their sins, including homosexuals, and that homosexuals are as capable of faith, and as worthy of God’s love as heterosexuals. When two people are as capable of a lifelong commitment, as capable of love and as capable of being good parents (even if the children are not born of them, but of others), why should they be denied the freedom to marry?
Next, you assert that gay marriage is “against the nature’s law” and state that “(nobody’s gona argue that one i hope).” However, I will argue against this point, because there is a wide body of scientific evidence that contradicts it. If homosexual behaviour is against “nature’s law,” then we should not find it practiced among other animals, except perhaps us human beings. However, this is not the case. Empirical research in biology and zoology has revealed that many animals exhibit homosexual behaviour. Here is only a small sample of them (and if you are interested, I can give you a whole bibliography of scientific, peer-reviewed articles to back up each of these examples): African Buffalo, African Elephant, Agile Wallaby, Amazon River Dolphin(Boto), American Bison, Antelope, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Lion, Asiatic Mouflon, Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Australian Sea Lion, Barasingha, Barbary Sheep, Beluga, Bharal, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear, Blackbuck, Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Black-tailed Deer, Bonnet Macaque, Bonobo, Bottlenose Dolphin, Bowhead Whale and many more. Even Canadian Caribou have been found to exhibit homosexual behaviour on occasion (see Bagemihl, Bruce (1999). Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity. St. Martin’s Press). Given how widespread homosexuality is among mammals of multiple species in nature, we must reasonably see as groundless the claim that homosexuality is “against nature’s law,” because the fact of the matter is that such behaviour has been observed and documented in many species of animals in nature.
Further, you make the argument that if we allow gay marriage to satisfy a part of the population, before we know it, we may find people wanting to marry animals. This is called in logic, a slippery slope fallacy, because it suggests that an action will initiate a chain of events that will culminate in an undesirable event later, without establishing or quantifying the relevant contingencies. It does not follow from the mere fact that we allow gay marriage that we will have to allow marriages between humans and non-human animals. If marriage is defined as a strictly human activity between consenting parties, then marriage can be kept within the human domain, even if it allows homosexuals to marry. Marriages with animals would not be accepted, on this view, because animals are not in a position to consent to the marriages. Therefore, we should not assume that allowing homosexuals to marry would lead to a total “anything goes” definition of marriage. You next say, “can’t you picture people finding arguments to legalize that? we love each other” and “we want to,it’s our right” kind of argument.” Given the consent-based definition of marriage, there would be no way to prove that the animal wants to marry, since it cannot articulate consent, therefore, such an argument would not hold.
In conclusion, for all of the reasons presented in this response, I do not think that the arguments you have raised so far are sufficient to justify forbidding gay marriage. To summarize my arguments: Gay marriage can meet all of the conditions of an ideal Christian relationship; Gay marriage can meet the definition of marriage that is currently used and by which even atheists marry; many non-human animals exhibit homosexual behaviour in nature, so homosexuality is not intrinsically unnatural; finally, it does not follow from the mere fact of allowing gay marriage that we would have to allow marriages between human beings and non-human animals. I appreciate your thoughts and your religious devoutness, but I must disagree for all of the reasons presented here.
Last Blog
I would like to thank to the lab technicians and the professor of the course Media, technology and Education for making this class very interesting. I learned a lot in this class by completing the assignments and participating frequently in class discussions. This class actually motivated to use technology in a smart way not by just going on hotmail and facebook 24/7. In this course I did assignments like power points, movies, blogs and lesson plans that involve technology off course. Also why this course is essential for me as a teacher is because when I will teaching high school, students will be already involved in new technology it would be embarrassing for me to walk in to the class one day and when it will come a time for me to present a powerpoint or create a website helpful to my students related my teachable subject, the kids will start to realize that I am a teacher of “Old School”. Off course everything that we do today, the world technology comes along with us. In conclusion I would like to say thank you very very much for making me understanding clearly and better how to apply technology in the classroom. It will get me very far throughout my teaching years until I retire which is in Forty years from now. I will remember also the fun times I had in this class when it came the time for me to create a movie related to media and social justice with my group.
Final Blog:
It is devastating to know that the bitter past is haunting the gay population once again. After many decades, the Gay Rights Movement fought to eradicate discrimination against male and female homosexuals. After the inspiring radical protest during the Stonewall riot in 1969, the gay rights movement in North America had pursued the battle for many years, it demanded policy changes and legal rights that will eliminate discrimination and protect gay men and women from the violation of their civil rights. Although presently, this civil rights movement had succeeded in Canada and across many states, the state of California deliberately terminated the right of gay people to wed and adopt which betrayed the movement.
Like many others, I am greatly disappointed of California’s Supreme Court for revoking the rights of gay couples to marry. The Proposition 8 overtly dehumanized gay people and subtly embarrassed homosexuals from worldwide. I wonder what incited the creation of this state ballot? And what the gay population had done that suddenly resuscitated discrimination amongst gay citizens? If gay people do not pose any threat in the society, how can the Supreme Court allow this insensitive proposition that denounce the fundamental rights of harmless human beings, whose demand is, basically, to be legally wedded. Is there going to be another Stonewall riot to awaken the narrow-minded Californians? We suppose that once we acquire full citizenship, we will also hold civil liberties that will protect us against government interference in our lives. Unfortunately, we have just witnessed a roll back of civil liberties in California supported by its conservative Supreme Court.
After so many years of fighting for their rights, same sex couples were finally able to legally marry in California. What I don’t understand is how that right can be taken away so easily and so quickly by Proposition 8. How can a subject that is so important to so many people be flipped back and forth as if nothing. In Canada, same sex couples have been allowed to legally wed for a few years now. I am proud to say that I live in a country that sees each individual as equal and gives them equal rights, no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation. Who are we to tell people whether they can or cannot marry? What angers me the most is that these couples, who had been married, can no longer consider themselves married under the law. It must be devastating. I am hoping that the United States will follow in Canada’s footsteps when it comes to treating all humans with respect and equality. They can certainly learn something from us Canadians. What’s worst is that the results were relatively close. 52.2% of the population voted yes to passing Proposition 8 and 47.8% of people voted no. The spread is certainly not a huge one. Shame on the Americans once again…
Blog 10 -
It’s interesting to see that most people in the class support gay marriage, while others don’t. I don’t have a problem with gay marriage myself, but I’ve never really thought about it in depth before until now. I just don’t see why people should be forbidden from spending the rest of their lives with the one they love. In my opinion, gender shouldn’t be an issue. And what is even more appalling is that their rights were taken away. It’s not like they never had the right to be wed, but they were given the right and then had it taken from them.
Will and Grace is a show in which two of the main characters are gay. There’s Jack, who is portrayed as flamboyant, superficial, narcissistic, and simply hilarious. There’s also Will, who’s gay but less showy about it. The show stereotypes gays as flamboyant, superficial people, but the reality is that most gay people aren’t like Jack. However, the audience loves Jack’s character, and accept his sexuality. There are also shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which feature gay men who display all the stereotypical gay characteristics that the audience love.
Even shows like The O.C treat the issue of homosexuality; Marissa had a relationship with a girl for a while, and Luke’s father turned out to be gay. When people found out Luke’s dad was gay, it rendered Luke social outcast, significant humiliation, harassment, social isolation, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and his tires getting slashed at school. On the show, the water polo team often make anti-gay comments, like “suck it queer,” “welcome to the O.C. bitch,” and “I’d be pretty jealous right now if Ryan wasn’t gay; doesn’t bother me, he was born that way.”
It seems to me that younger generations are more accepting of gay men and women, and perhaps that’s because of the media featuring the issue repeatedly. Hopefully in years from now, gay marriage and adoption will be allowed without question.
I don’t have any problem whatsoever with same-sex marriage. In my opinion people should be allowed to do whatever they want provided they aren’t hurting anyone. I’ve seen marriage hurt people. Marriage and the dissolution of that marriage has profound effects on the two parties. I guess i have a problem with marriage. I’ve seen my parents develop a nice rivalry with each other despite or maybe because of the fact that they’ve been married for 20+ years. I’ve also seen my friends parents break-up and the damage it caused my friends. With that said i guess we still need to make kids and our society seems to think that marriage is the best way to bring up these kids. So i got no problem with same-sex couples adopting kids. I’d rather the kids grow up in a place with people who love them and care about and cherish them, rather than in an institution. It’s the child that everyone should be worried about rather than their own adgendas. So i guess this means that i’m pro same-sex marriage and pro gay adoption. I guess this makes a lot of sense because i consider myself a liberal person. I want everyone to be happy. If you think that getting married is going to make you happy, then you should be able to do it. I feel like it’s the same debate that was happening years ago with interacial marriage, eventually there won’t even be a debate about gay marriage.
I was verey shocked when I heard about proposition 8 in California. Same-sex marriage was just legalized and now they wanted to ban it. It doesn’t make any sense. Same-sex marriage is something that does not bother me and it shouldn’t really bother others. Everyone should be allowed to live their lives the way that they want and it shouldn’t be up to us to say yes you can get married or no. same-sex marriage isn’t hurting anybody nor society. It was interresting to hear that in Canada, adoption agencies prefer same-sex parents. Same-sex couples shouldn’t have any problems when it comes to adopting children. Just because they are from the same sex doesn’t mean that they are going to be bad parents. Children who are adopted into these types of families might have more difficulty growing up since they might have kids and others that will make fun of them.
I do find that society and the media have become a bit more open on same-sex marriages and relationships. In most TV shows there are gay characters like Will and Grace, The O.C., Gossip Girl, etc. At the end of the day, if they are happy together then they should be able to live their lives the way that they want, and it shoul not bother the rest of us.
It’s really sad to see that just when I t