Our opponents are preparing to get their voter referendum passed this election day which will effectively reverse the court ruling and write that "marriage can only be between one man and one woman" into the California state constitution. They are spreading a campaign of lies and misinformation about marriage equality.
It's important to correct these misrepresentations and be equipped with the knowledge of the facts...
"MYTH #1: Churches in California will be forced to perform same-sex marriages, even if they don't want to.
FACT: No church will ever have to perform any marriage it disapproves of. That's protected in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and will never change.
MYTH #2: County clerks can pick and choose which marriages they officiate.
FACT: Unlike religious leaders, county clerks are civic officials who are required to administer the law without discriminating. A civil marriage isn't a religious ceremony -- it's a legal contract. County clerks need to perform an official government duties.
MYTH #3: The Supreme Court shouldn't have done this!
FACT: The state Constitution requires equality under the law for all Californians, and the justices on the Court had an obligation to stand up for that principle. Throughout American history, courts have stood up for those who couldn't defend their rights any other way. Those decisions were often unpopular, but now we look back on them proudly.
MYTH #4: This is bad for marriage.
FACT: This is great for marriage! When two people love each other and want to make a lifelong commitment to care for and be responsible for each other, they should be able to get married. Starting today, marriage will be stronger, not weaker. Stopping some people from getting married doesn't help anyone's marriage -- it only hurts those who are discriminated against and their families.
As Election Day draws closer, no doubt we'll see more misrepresentations and half-truths from anti-gay organizations. We'll be working with our allies to be sure the truth is told."
Thanks to Alternet for the fact check.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Counter the Lies & Myths Regarding Marriage Equality in California
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#1. Why do people even begin to say this, when the Catholic Church freely denies divorcees and interfaith couples church weddings? It happens so often in other churches and synagogues, too. Just plain ridiculous.
#2. If those county clerks are allowed to "express their consciences" against same-sex couples, as some people are putting it, I wonder who's next.
I was so amazed at Kern County stopping civil marriages for *everyone*, which prompted some poor mixed-sex couples to rush and get married on a Friday the 13th. You know, we didn't want that for those couples. It looks a lot to me like it's the "pro-family" crowd's fault!
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