How Democracies Actually Work

prop 8, traditional, marriage, homophobia, homosexual, gay,
I'm sure you've seen the latest traditional marriage meme: We voted for it! Basically, this is the "Let the minority have its say and the majority have its way" theory of government.

Keep in mind, plenty of the traditional marriage advocates we all know and love would have suffered terribly under that logic: namely, the female ones. If we had gone with "we voted for it!" as the prevailing theory, women wouldn't have the right to vote. Blacks would still be living under Jim Crow.

Is the DNA trying to argue those would have been more positive outcomes than the government stepping in and guaranteeing civil rights for women and blacks? I think they are.

Just as a refresher kids: in the United States, the majority does not have the right to trample the minority. Sorry.

Let me give an example that the DNA would understand. Mormons are approximately 4% of the population of the US. (I calculated this by taking the stated number of Mormons (13,000,000) and dividing by the population of the US (305,000,000) as a whole.) Therefore, through sheer numbers alone, we could declare the Church of Latter Day Saints illegal. I don't recommend this. I benefit from freedom of religion as much as anyone else, but it could be done. (Don't get started on the First Amendment and all that. I know. I'm just making a point about majorities and minorities.)

Christa Jeanne gives us the "skinny":

Big news, folks!Tomorrow morning (Tuesday, February 17th) at 10:30 a.m., The Assembly Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Proposition 8, followed at 12:30 p.m. by a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The committees will be considering crafting a joint resolution encouraging the California State Supreme Court to overturn Prop 8.

By issuing the resolution, the Assembly will officially express its opposition to Proposition 8, calling for its repeal, and stating that it was an “improper revision” to the state constitution.THIS IS WRONG!!! blatant abuse of exclamation points. writing tip: if you see it commonly used on a 15 year old's myspace page, avoid it. The people of California have spoken see above- the lawmakers who the correct word here is "whom" the people voted into office (lest they forget who WHOM they're representing oddly, they're also representing gays. funny how that works.) have a responsibility to protect the people's voice, not to disregard it! could we please stop with the unnecessary exclamation points, please? Several of my DNA colleagues colleagues? do you work together? and others who want to preserve traditional marriage bigots will be there to represent the votes of the nearly seven million California citizens, whom so she does know about "whom". these legislators failed to represent. If you can make it, attend the hearing. yes, please do. By attending you will send a visible signal to the committee members in support of the family. the heteronormative family, she means. gays have families, too.

The Assembly hearing will be in room 4202 at 10:30 a.m. The Senate hearing will be in room 4203 at 12:30 p.m. We encourage you to make the trip. unless you're anti prop 8, in which case they really do not want you to show up.

Here's the skinny: "the skinny"? really?

Please put the following information to good use. Don't let Christa's voice be the only one to be heard!

WHO: Defenders of traditional marriage
WHAT: Prop. 8 rally and attending the hearings
WHERE: The California State Capitol - 1400 Tenth St., Sacramento
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17
WHY: Because California lawmakers need to remember who it is they're representing - the people of California who passed Prop. 8. The voters have spoken - the lawmakers need to listen!
Event info is up on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=67214066808
If you can make it to Sacramento, GO. If you can't but you still want to support the cause, contact your local lawmakers. Call the members of the committees and fax letters asking them to VOTE NO on HR5 and SR7.Assembly Judiciary Committee-Vote NO on HR5
Mike Feuer - Chair (Dem-42)(916) 319-2042Assemblymember.Feuer@assembly.ca.govVan Tran - Vice Chair (Rep-68)(916) 319-2068Assemblymember.tran@assembly.ca.gov

Julia Brownley (Dem-41)(916) 319-2041Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.govNoreen Evans (Dem-7)(916) 319-2007Assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.govDave Jones (Dem-9)(916) 319-2009Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.govSteve Knight (Rep-36)(916) 319-2036Assemblymember.Knight@assembly.ca.govPaul Krekorian (Dem-43)(916) 319-2043Assemblymember.Krekorian@assembly.ca.govTed W. Lieu (Dem-53)
(916) 319-2053Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.govWilliam W. Monning (Dem-27)(916) 319-2027Assemblymember.Monning@assembly.ca.govJim Nielsen (Rep-2)(916) 319-2002Assemblymember.Nielsen@assembly.ca.gov
Senate Judiciary Committee-Vote NO on SR7
Ellen Corbett: Phone: (916) 651-4010; Fax: (916) 327-2433
Dean Florez: Phone: (916) 651-4016; Fax: (916) 327-5989
Tom Harman: Phone: (916) 651-4035; Fax: 916 445 9263
Mark Leno: Phone: (916) 651-4003
Mimi Walters: Phone: (916) 651-4033; Fax: (916) 445-9754