Here's an exclusive sneak peek at the ground breaking original Binside TV documentary series everyone will be talking about. Proposition 8 Episode Part 3 shows the battle for and against gay marriage. Featuring Reverend Troy Perry of the Metropolitan Community Church.
Producer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor : Shani Harris.
EPISODE DOWNLOADS
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IPOD/IPHONE/PSP EDITION
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD WINDOWS ZUNE EDITION
Find out Barack Obama's position on the controversial California Proposition about gay marriage. The LA Times ran a useful Yes or No on Prop 8 Voter's guide. The passage of Proposition 8 has led to anti-prop 8 protests and threats of legal action. There has also been a growing Anti-Black sentiment in the gay community against the large turnout of minority voters who were in favor of the proposition. However, according statistics a large turnout of Latinos, The Religious Right and Asian voters also voted in favor of the amendment.
Excuse me? I voted against Proposition 8. I'm among the 30 percent of black Californians that did so. And as much as I can condemn the homophobia and intolerance that drove a portion of the 70 percent of blacks that voted in favor of Proposition 8's ban on gay marriage, it's an outrage to lay its passage at their feet. I've read several editorials already about how the ungrateful blacks betrayed gays right after America gave them their first president. I know there are some wounds and frayed nerves right now, but this type of condescending, divide and conquer isn't going to help at all. And it's a gross oversimplification of what happened.
According to the exit polling, there's enough blame to go around. Don't forget the 49 percent of Asians who voted for Prop 8. And the 53 percent of Latinos who fell in line for it too. And then there is the white vote in support of 8. Slightly under 50% percent of them, a group representing 63% of California voters, voted "Yes" on 8. Last I checked blacks held little sway over all of those groups. source
Gay activist Harvey Fierstein quoted the landmark Plessy Vs. Ferguson segregation discrimination "Separate But Equal ruling in his argument in favor of gay marriage and against civil unions.
While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-American president let us not forget that we remain a nation still proudly practicing prejudice.
I have heard this day described as one of transcendence where Americans came together to prove that we are, above all, a nation of fairness. World witnesses wrote that we rose above ideology, politics and bigotry to achieve a great moment for America. Meanwhile, on this same Election Day, we great Americans passed laws as heinous as any Jim Crow legislation. We great Americans reached out and willfully put our name to language that denies an entire minority group their equal rights.
Of course I am referring to the states of Florida, Arizona and California passing legislation to specifically deny gay people from entering into the contract of marriage. Actually, that's not true. We can still get married, just not to each other. Yes my friends, Florida and California have now made it legal for gay men and lesbians to marry as long as we don't marry our partners. How much sense does that make? source
Here is an excerpt from a memo from Kathryn Kolbert, President, People For the American Way Foundation, to Progressive Allies and Journalists. Read her call to stop the scapegoating against Black People for Proposition 8.
Blaming Black Voters for Prop 8 Loss is Wrong and Destructive
The past 72 hours have brought an extraordinary range of emotions — great joy at the election of Barack Obama and defeat of John McCain, and sadness and anger at the passage of anti-gay initiatives in Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California. That sadness has turned to outrage at the speed with which some white gay activists began blaming African Americans — sometimes in appallingly racist ways — for the defeat of Proposition 8. This is inexcusable.
As a mother who has raised two children in a 30-year relationship with another woman, I fully understand the depth of hurt and anger at voters’ rejection of our families’ equality. But responding to that hurt by lashing out at African Americans is deeply wrong and offensive — not to mention destructive to the goal of advancing equality.
Before we give Religious Right leaders more reasons to rejoice by deepening the divisions they have worked so hard to create between African Americans and the broader progressive community, let’s be clear about who is responsible for gay couples in California losing the right to get married, and let’s think strategically about a way forward that broadens and strengthens support for equality. source
Raymond Leon Roker wrote an open letter titled "Stop Blaming California's Black Voters for Prop 8" and re-posted an open letter on the Huffington Post.
Somebody posted a link to this letter on my recent post about the racially characterized attacks against blacks by some in the gay community for what CNN exit polls said was a 70% vote in favor of Proposition 8.
The letter is from Kathryn Kolbert, President of People For the American Way Foundation. Among other things, it called the accusatory rhetoric of gay activists towards African Americans, "deeply wrong and offensive." And she added--as I stated in my original piece--it was counter productive. And since Ms. Kolbert (a HuffPo blogger) hasn't posted this yet, I took the liberty to. In the letter, she is eloquent and impassioned. But, more importantly, she's accurate about the facts. I just hope people put down the pitchforks long enough to listen. source
BARACK OBAMA ON PROP 8
The basics
What it would do: amend the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Main arguments in favor: Eight years ago, California voters
passed Proposition 22, which defined marriage as between a man and a
woman, by more than 60%. Proponents say the will of the people was
overturned by the California Supreme Court, which allowed same-sex
marriage earlier this year. This undermines the value of marriage,
backers say.
Main arguments against: Foes argue that people should not be
treated differently under the law because of their sexual orientation.
Gays and lesbians should keep the right to marry like everyone else,
say opponents.
The money
Major donors to the "yes" side: Knights of Columbus, Focus on the Family, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Major donors to the "no" side: Pacific Gas & Electric;
Robert Haas, chairman emeritus of Levi Strauss & Co.; director
Steven Spielberg; Service Employees International Union's California
State Council; California Teachers Assn. source
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