While on Facebook, one of my friends wrote a note that I considered to be worth mentioning here. I am trying to save the world and Proposition 8 seems to play a role in it. Anyways, my friend Ijay posted some powerful words from his friend Jeff and then responded to it. What each of them wrote appears to speak for many and so I will help spread their message.
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Here is what Jeff wrote:
"I've had an impact on your life in one way or another. Maybe we've been friends since kindergarten or high school, maybe we spent Summers together at camp or in classes, maybe you only just met me recently, or maybe you only met me once and hardly remember me. Regardless, this is my personal appeal to you, and I beg you to please read it carefully and give it your deepest thought.
I am a second class citizen, and I hate it. If I'm beat until I'm bruised and broken, I'm not protected under a hate-crimes bill. If my partner were to be injured, I don't have the right to visit him in the hospital, nor do I have power of attorney if the situation should become grave. If my partner were to die, I could be denied access to anything he leaves me in his will. The few steps we've made toward progress are being threatened, and you can help change things for me and for the rest of the United States.
We are in the midst of the largest civil rights battle of our time, and we are the ones who hold the keys to change it. In California right now, I have the right to marry, to make the choice to spend the rest of my life with someone I love. There are those who want to take that away. Proposition 8 is a California proposition that wants to take the right to marry away from gays and lesbians. Regardless of how you feel about marriage for gays and whether or not it affects issues of "sanctity", please, please, please understand that this is a matter of basic civil rights. No group should be singled out for differential treatment under the law, and that is exactly what this is doing.
So what can you do to help preserve rights and take steps towards equality? It's more simple than you'd think.
Firstly, vote NO on Proposition 8 if you are a California voter. Many people become confused. They think that they're voting "yes" on gay rights, but this bill has been worded to deceive the public. To protect equal rights, vote NO.
Secondly, spread the word about Prop 8. Let people know what it is and how serious its implications are. Encourage your friends and family to vote, and to vote for equality for all Americans. If you're not in California, the odds are that you know someone who is. Let them know about Prop 8! Look up old contacts, get back in touch, and educate them.
Lastly, if you are a Stanford student, come to the Mega Phone Bank this Saturday, November first. For eight hours we will be meeting to contact undecided voters by phone. There will be two free meals and it's a lot of fun. You don't need to be there for all eight hours, but for those of you who do come for the whole time, there will be a special prize for your commitment. You will be trained when you get there, and it's really not as scary as it sounds. It's so easy to make a difference! Bring as many people as possible!
Now I know you're busy. We're in college, and we have midterms and homework and papers and auditions and all sorts of things imaginable. Realize, though, that there will always be midterms and homework, but this is your one chance to change history and to really, truly influence politics in the most important civil rights issue of our generation. I currently have a 16 credit load at Stanford, with dance classes two nights a week and homework overflowing my desk. I've made it to 11 phone banks in the last month. All I'm asking is that you please, please take the time to Vote No on Prop 8 and come to the Mega Phone Bank on Saturday if you can. A few hours now can help us to not have to spend thousands of hours in the future trying to reclaim rights that should intrinsically be ours.
Please feel free to use my letter in any way, shape, or form that you want to help pursue our goal of equality. For more information on the Mega Phone Bank: http://www.facebook.com/re
It's a narrow race. We've come too far to not pull through.
Thank you,
Jeff Gerson "
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And here is what Ijay wrote:
"That's right, I did not write this, but I may very well have. If I were to have written a note about this issue, I would like mine to have turned out to be this one, virtually word for word. Jeff beat me to it. He's a personal friend of mine, and I have the utmost respect for him. He's right. No group should ever be singled out for differential treatment under the law.
Just to clear up some confusing matters:
Same-sex marriage may already be taught in schools. California law reads, "Instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage and committed relationships." PROP 8 HAS NO EFFECT ON THIS!
California Law EDUCATION CODE SECTION 51937-51939
It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage pupils to communicate with their parents or guardians about human sexuality and HIV/AIDS and to respect the rights of parents or guardians to education on these subjects. The Legislature intends to create a streamlined process to make it easier for parents and guardians to review materials and evaluation tools education and HIV/AIDS prevention education, and, if they wish, to excuse their children from participation in all or part of that instruction or evaluation. The Legislature recognizes that while parents and guardians overwhelmingly support medically accurate, comprehensive sex education, parents and guardians have the ultimate responsibility for imparting values regarding human sexuality to their children.
The Church and State are separate. No Religious Establishment will be forced to perform a same-sex marriage and their tax exemptions are UNAFFECTED.
My hope is that you empathize with Jeff's plight and think carefully about this issue. As some of you may be aware most of my friends and I are avid Disney fans. Deep down we all dream of that "Happily Ever After"; of finding our own Aladdins, our own Ariels, our own Prince Phillips, our own Belles. A dream nobody has the right to deny any other person.
Please Vote NO on Prop 8.
Sincerely,
IJay Espinoza "
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