They Really Said That!
Submitted by anne on Fri, 2008-10-10 23:15.
Okay, I'm just shaking my head in disgust at the ignorance running rampant around Prop 102 here in Arizona. I found a site for the supporters of this proposition... Look at what they said in one section (and I don't think I'm taking it out of context, either):
The threat from California
Additionally, the legality of gay marriage in California sent out powerful shockwaves of destructive gay energy throughout the country. Without an amendment to our constitution specifically barring homosexuals from obtaining marriage rights, this destructive force will continue to turn thousands of upright, decent straight couples into deranged, out-of-control gay perverts.
Additionally, the legality of gay marriage in California sent out powerful shockwaves of destructive gay energy throughout the country. Without an amendment to our constitution specifically barring homosexuals from obtaining marriage rights, this destructive force will continue to turn thousands of upright, decent straight couples into deranged, out-of-control gay perverts.
Okay.... I just gotta ask. Would one of you (straight) readers please tell me: could anyone convince you to go gay? I mean...really? Did you feel that "powerful shockwaves of destructive gay energy"? Did it suddenly make you (guys) look at Matthew McConaughey and go all weak in the knees? And you gals? How about that Angelina Jolie, eh? (Of course, I thought she was hotter before Brad, but that's another topic... *wink*)
I'll repeat what I used to say on the LGBT alliance panels in college: Close your eyes. Imagine a kiss that makes your toes curl, hands curving around you in that way you desire most and feel the pounding of your heart. It's just a kiss, but it wakes the desires of your soul for the intimacy it promises. And when it ends, you open you eyes.
Who do you see? A man? A woman? The answer to that question isn't really an issue, until you stop to think of what you are...and suddenly it's a BIG DEAL. You are who you are. You desire whom you desire. End of discussion. No one can force you to feel something you don't.
Stop the spread
New research from the Family Focus Forum (FFF) indicates that homosexuality may in fact be a communicable disease. In fact, many previously heterosexual men are now leaving their families for no apparent reason in order to persue careers in fashion design and hair styling. One has only to tune in to Bravo to see how such shows as Shear Genius or Project Runway are transforming popular culture toward the sin of homosexuality.
New research from the Family Focus Forum (FFF) indicates that homosexuality may in fact be a communicable disease. In fact, many previously heterosexual men are now leaving their families for no apparent reason in order to persue careers in fashion design and hair styling. One has only to tune in to Bravo to see how such shows as Shear Genius or Project Runway are transforming popular culture toward the sin of homosexuality.
Okay, I'll break this down. First, why would "many previously heterosexual men" leave their families? Could it be that the narrow-minded preachings pushed them into straight marriages?
"But, Anne, you just said you can't force someone to feel something they don't."
Exactly. So in the cases of these men (and women) leaving their families to "become" gays, maybe they've just decided to stop lying? How many gay people have heard from their mother, "But don't you want to get married?" (Which totally makes me laugh, when I think about this Prop 102... "Uh, yeah, Ma, so don't vote for it!")
As for the multitude of shows showing gay/lesbian people and characters....shows only last if they sell ad space. Right now, gay is hot. And frankly, because of all the work the anti-gay groups have done to deny a "normal lifestyle" to gays, gays usually have more money to spend than straights do....so, in short, gay sells.
(That's not even covering the whole weirdness about how some straight men find the topic of lesbians quite interesting... 'cause that's a whole other post!)
Too many people I've spoken to who've come out later in life, cite the pressure to marry and have kids. Or to not disappoint a parent. Or the pressure their church put on them. Until our communities understand the pain we are inflicting on each other by demanding people be what we want/expect them to be, we'll keep seeing people who have lied to themselves and their loved ones, to avoid the hate, anger and disappointment we've taught them to expect.
Your marriage may already be in trouble
It is estimated that, since 2006, approximately 20,000 heterosexual marriages have failed in Arizona due to inadequate protections from the possibility of activist judges ruling in favor of some future homosexual plaintiffs. State authorities fear that we may be on a slippery slope of failed heterosexual marriages and broken families if we don't take immediate action to pass Prop 102.
It is estimated that, since 2006, approximately 20,000 heterosexual marriages have failed in Arizona due to inadequate protections from the possibility of activist judges ruling in favor of some future homosexual plaintiffs. State authorities fear that we may be on a slippery slope of failed heterosexual marriages and broken families if we don't take immediate action to pass Prop 102.
First, the whole thing is based on an estimate. And I'd really like some connecting evidence. Sure, you can quote some statistic about the (obviously heterosexual) marriages which have ended in divorce since 2006. But, where are they getting "due to inadequate protections from the possibility of activist judges ruling in favor of some future homosexual plaintiffs." from?
And which "state authorities" fear this "slippery slope"?
I call "bullshit" on all of this. There's no supporting data. Since most cases are public record, I'm sure such a concerned group of citizens could point to specific examples...were there any. Instead, what we have is hate and fear. How interesting that we want to protect an institution theoretically built around love with hate and fear.
It gets more ridiculous as I continue to read:
Landmark Marriage Poll Asks "What Makes Your Marriage Special?"
30,000 married Arizonans were interviewed in order to determine what makes their marriage important to them, and what makes it last. The survey results have a percentage of error of 2 percentage points.
The first question: What makes your marriage special to you?
The responses:
9% Not Sure/Other
12% Raising our child/children together
21% Our love and respect for one another
58% Because the gays can't have it
Clearly, allowing gay marriage would render over half of all Arizona marriages completely irrelevant.
Another survey question attempted to gauge potential threats to existing marriages, and the results were astounding.
The second question: What would be most likely to break up your marriage?
The responses:
4% Financial difficulties
10% Cruel treatment/abuse
14% Incarceration of spouse
18% Spouse cheating/adultery
54% The legalization of gay marriage by activist judges
Allowing gay marrige would completely destroy over half of all marriages in Arizona.
Are you just as speechless as I am? Are you just as sure as I am that these are made-up numbers? I mean... first, only 10% of the 30,000 married Arizonans--that's only 3000 Arizonans---would break up their marriage over cruel treatment / abuse. Does anyone have a problem with this statistic? And are they really expecting me to believe that only 5400 of these Arizonans would have a failed marriage due to their spouse cheating (which is what adultery is, thank you)?
From the page on The Minuteman Project:
Arizona chapter president Jim Gilchrist thinks his members can leverage this specialized equipment and training to help the state enforce Proposition 102 after it passes in November.
"We figure the state is gonna need some help dealing with all the gays from California trying to get in and use our benefits. The California-Arizona border is one of the least secured borders in the world, and we are not willing to stand by while our politicians do nothing and let this crisis spiral out of control," he said.
Members have already set up an observation outpost just outside of the Maricopa County clerk's office in Phoenix, and have began work on a makeshift fence along it's perimeter.
What? Are these "minutemen" expecting a moving drag show? What is so great about Arizona (especially if Prop 102 is passed!) that makes these people think "the gays" will be coming here in droves??? And what makes them think they have the RIGHT to deny any American citizen to cross into Arizona? I'm just...speechless.
(Well, not actually or this would be a pretty empty post.)
Are we supposed to take them seriously?
I am appalled at the rhetoric being spouted by the supporters of Prop 102. I also imagine very few of them are readers of the true masters of science-fiction. If they were, they might not be so "up in arms" over such a total non-issue: gays exist. Get over it.
I'm going to take a break from reading that page and sharing my vitriolic response. I can feel my blood pressure rising in reaction to the crap I've read. Ugh. Now I really wish I had a copy of In & Out. Oh well, I guess it'll have to be Bound instead.
ugh. All that makes me ill.
ugh. All that makes me ill.
P. and I went to the most joy-full wedding on Labor Day weekend - a Lesbian wedding in California. We've known each of them since before they were a couple and have watched them grow into being each other's life companion. :)
It was so beautiful and so amazing.
It's sooo wrong to deny that joy and beauty.
grrr...
Nevermind that my own marriage not harmed in any way by going to that wedding - I'd argue the opposite!
-Karen
Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church is the party responsible for this website. As for Phelps, he's an evil old bastard, and while I generally am a live and let live kind of guy, the sooner that odious piece of human excrement dies the happier I'll be. Even most conservative evangelical Christians think he's a complete whack-job. They're right.
And If God is truly like Fred Phelps' God, then he's only worthy of my scorn and derision, and wholly unworthy of my worship. In that case I would be proudly and unrepentantly anti-God. I'd rather burn for an eternity than follow such hate.