Women's Rights - Change.org: Election Reflection #4: Gay Marriage Bans

Election Reflection #4: Gay Marriage Bans

Published November 09, 2008 @ 07:49PM PT

In an election which created joy and jubilation around the world, many are feeling bittersweet about the landslide victory of Barack Obama due to measures effectively banning marriage rights for same sex couples in several states.

Ann over at Feministing shares a brief run down of the disappointing passage of several anti-equality measures in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas.

Proposition 8 in California: Passed. This is such a crushing loss. I went to bed last night before the final results were in, and woke up to the news that the people of California actually approved the gay marriage ban. So devastating.

Amendment 2 in Florida: Passed. Yet another gay marriage ban.

Proposition 102 in Arizona: Passed. As Dana noted previously, "Arizona became the first state in the nation to reject an anti-gay marriage amendment in 2006, but they're likely to pass the measure this year, now that it has been stripped of language that also denied domestic partnership benefits to hetero couples."

Act 1 in Arkansas: Passed. Now gay couples are unable to adopt or foster-parent children. This from a state with 3700 children in the foster-care system, and only 1000 foster homes. Disgusting.

The passage of these ballot initiatives indicate a cultural void of understanding when it comes to gay rights. These results have delineated where our efforts as champions of equality need to be focused now more than ever in order to ensure that equal rights are delivered to these individuals.

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Thanks so much for your support!

Posted by Lezzy Mom on 11/09/2008 @ 08:04PM PT
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These are all tragic, and should never have been placed on a ballot to begin with.

There is one bright spot from the Election...Connecticut voters rejected a ballot measure that would have opened a "constitutional convention" so to speak. This would have allowed conservative groups to get in there and write discrimination into state law. Thankfully that didn't happen, and now this week (11/12/08), Connecticut will issue its first same-sex marriage licenses.

Still, while Connecticut is great news, it's tough to see California, Florida, Arizon and Arkansas head down a road of discrimination again.

Posted by Michael Jones on 11/09/2008 @ 08:26PM PT
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It was disappointing to see all of these initiatives pass. I have to continually ask : "how does homosexuality affect heterosexual people exactly?" Why do people feel like they need to legislate against a whole group of people? Why? WHY?!

Posted by Lisa Smolen-Jenk... on 11/09/2008 @ 08:47PM PT
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Why are women's rights being equated with gay rights? The rights of women to receive equal pay for equal work, to have privacy in a doctor's office, to be considered for management positions, to retire with equal social security are caues all women can speak with passion and intelligence born from experience. Why is this web site posting gay rights issues when there is a gay rights link on the change.org website?

Posted by J L McWorkman on 11/10/2008 @ 11:44AM PT
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JL - are there not women who are also gay? Your statement seems a bit short sighted.

While, yes, the Gay Rights blog is covering this issue, from a feminist perspective this not only discriminates against same sex couples, but the concept of equality entirely.

Take a look at what is going on in the Third Wave Feminist movement - many women's rights advocates believe, such as I do, that the women's rights movement is not just about gender specific equality, but equality across the board.

I would check out the Third Wave Foundation if you have questions about this:

http://www.thirdwavefoundation.org/about

Posted by Jen N. on 11/10/2008 @ 12:44PM PT
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I always feel defeated reading things such as this. I have a few friends who are gay and it's just so heartbreaking to see that my girlfriends can't celebrate their love through a normal marriage ceremony.

It makes you wonder, like Micheal said, how much of an impact do gay relationships have on everyone else? Why do we feel the need to impose laws on them, banning them from ever having a normal relationship and unity with the man/woman they love?

Posted by Lesa Rondeau on 11/11/2008 @ 01:23PM PT
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Author Biography

Jen N.: Washington, DC; Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media.