Oct 25 2008
Prop. 8: Fiction and facts
Fiction: Proposition 8 doesn’t discriminate against gays.Fact: Proposition 8 eliminates fundamental rights for
California same-sex couples to marry. Proposition 8 denies equal legal protections and writes discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people — in the
California constitution.
Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless Proposition 8 passes.Fact: Not one word in Proposition 8 mentions education and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school.
California law prohibits it. -Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has already ruled that this claim by Proposition 8 proponents is “false and misleading.” -The Orange County Register reports this claim is false. -So do lawyers for the California Department of Education.
Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.Fact: Nothing in Proposition 8 would force churches to do anything. California, as a member state of the
United States of America, values freedom of religion a cobblestone the country was founded on. In fact, the Supreme Court of California decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiator will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs.”
Fiction: A
Massachusetts case about a parent’s objection to the school curriculum will happen here.Fact: Unlike Massachusetts,
California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don’t agree with.
Fiction: Four Activist Judges in
San Francisco…Fact: Proposition 8 is not about courts and judges, it’s about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn’t grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Proposition 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren’t supposed to protect rights and freedoms. This campaign is about whether Californians, right now, in 2008 are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.
Fiction: People can be sued over personal beliefs.Fact:
California’s laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.
Fiction: Unless Proposition 8 passes,
California parents won’t have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.Fact:
California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.
