Election 2008: New Laws in Your State

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

I'm SO anti-Prop 8 that I probably shouldn't even discuss it on here in detail for risk of starting a war. Let's just say that I'm disgusted with 52.5% of my fellow Californians. It's a sad day for civil rights in California.

Yeah, that! Girl, I was too thru! Legal bigotry at its best (or worst)

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by epchick

But I will say that i'm pretty disappointed in California. I kinda wish that I was still registered to vote there, but I don't know if it would have made a difference. California voted Yes on Prop 8.

ETA: In case there is someone that doesn't know, Prop 8 is initiative to amend the California constitution to eliminate gay marriage & to add that marriage is between a man & a woman.

I know it's a little late, but I'd still like to share this anti-Prop 8 PSA.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by LightBulb

I know it's a little late, but I'd still like to share this anti-Prop 8 PSA.

I feel stupider for having watched that.

[ZTAMich]

NY Proposition 1 Passed. I didn't vote yes or no, I didn't know what it was for! I'm a little ashamed for not being educated. If I read it correctly, Veterans do not have to be receiving disability to receive credit for their service for a promotion.

from Vote-NY.org

New York Ballot Measure / Referendum
Amendment to Article 5, section 6 of the Constitution, in relation to additional civil service credit for members of the armed forces of the United States

Description: The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that veterans who were disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the United States Veterans Administration in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion. Under the proposed amendment, the disability must only be certified to exist by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The proposed amendment would also update the reference to the “United States Veterans Administration” to instead refer to the “United States Department of Veterans Affairs” to reflect current federal government structure. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

Detail: The purpose of the proposal is to eliminate the requirement that disabled veterans be receiving disability payments in order to qualify for additional credit on civil service examinations.
The State Constitution currently requires that, in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion, a veteran who was disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war must be receiving disability payments from the United States Veterans Administration, and the United States Veterans Administration must certify that the veteran’s disability exists at the time that the veteran applies for appointment or promotion.
The proposed amendment would change the reference to the “United States Veterans Administration“ currently in this section to the “United States Department of Veterans Affairs” to reflect the Veterans Administration’s redesignation as the Department of Veterans Affairs under federal law.
The proposed amendment would also eliminate the requirement that a veteran who was disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the federal veterans department in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination. Instead, the proposed amendment would only require that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs certify that the veteran’s disability exists at the time that the veteran applies for appointment or promotion.

[the rocketeer]

I'm celebrating because the state of Colorado cast a resounding NO on Amendment 48. I worked so hard on campaigning against it, and I think I cheered the loudest when they called it at 75% no.

[Scandia]

Proposition 2 in my state was voted for as YES by a rather narrow margin. What did Proposition 2 state? Something very similar to Proposition 8 in California- limiting marriage to "one man, one woman".

I am NOT happy that such propositions were passed. Forbidding same-sex marriage is not going to make homosexuality or homosexuals go away.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Scandia

Proposition 2 in my state was voted for as YES by a rather narrow margin. What did Proposition 2 state? Something very similar to Proposition 8 in California- limiting marriage to "one man, one woman".

Unfortunately, Amendment 2 did not pass with that narrow of a margin. I believe it received 62% of the vote, while it needed 60% to pass.

Although I'm sickened that Florida passed that stupid amendment, I am more frustrated that Proposition 8 in California passed with only 52% of the vote! If they needed a 60% majority, it wouldn't have made it.

[Senusret I]

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05




Yesterday morning, a young Black boy woke up and believed that he could be absolutely anything in the world he wanted to be – even President of the United States of America. And for the first time, no one had to tell him. He could see it for himself. He could see it because the American people chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to realize Martin's dream. He could see it because we voted for Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. as our 44th President.

Overnight a change swept our nation. Perfect strangers stopped to say congratulations. People who had forgotten how to smile proudly wore Cheshire-cat grins. Americans went to work early and stayed late, even though they had promised to stay home on Obama Day because there was work to do. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘what can I do on the ground to help,’ ‘I want to do something more meaningful,’ ‘how can I be the change I voted to see.’ Grandparents openly wept, not at the opportunities unjustly denied them, but at the great promise afforded us. Because of one vote, it was truly "morning in America."

Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

A change against seeking equality and fair treatment for all, and for second-class citizenship for "others" -- so long as we aren’t the “others”. A change against separate being inherently unequal, and for 'it's the same thing under a different name.' A change against the Church being the beacon of hope and renewal, and for being a herald of hate and intolerance. A change against believing that we are all in this together, and for this is not my problem, but yours. A change we cannot believe in.

Yesterday night, our hero went to sleep and no longer believed that he can be anything in the world he wants to be – certainly not President of the United States of America. And sadly, because he is gay, no one had to tell him. He can see it for himself. He can see it because the people of California chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to crush Martin's dream. He could see it because California voted to selectively revoke the fundamental right to marriage from a minority of its citizens simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

But it wasn't just Martin's dream that was crushed. It is Bayard's, César's, Coretta's, Del's, Harvey's, Huey's, Mildred's, Ruth's, and Thurgood's. It is my dream and if you ever truly believed in civil rights it should be yours, too. If you want to do something more meaningful, if you want to be the change you voted to see, embrace the fight against second-class citizenry despite your misgivings and even some discomfort because you know in your heart that the struggle for racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, class, and disability equality is the same, inseparable struggle. For as one of us loses, we all lose.

[TrojanWoman]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05


Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

This whole article moved me but this specific paragraph hit home. I can't believe that we as Californians were able to see why Prop 4 should not be passed but then voted yes on Prop 8. My heart hurts for my friends in the gay community and I proudly joined them on Wednesday to voice my displeasure. I can only hope that the multiple law suits that have been brought forward will bring down Prop 8. Tuesday was a day of huge emotional swings, from finding great hope in Obama to being blindsided by California. I think that I often take for granted living in Los Angeles and the community of people I surround myself in, so I was completely shocked to wake up on Wednesday morning to this result. I have to have faith that this will not stand up.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05




Yesterday morning, a young Black boy woke up and believed that he could be absolutely anything in the world he wanted to be – even President of the United States of America. And for the first time, no one had to tell him. He could see it for himself. He could see it because the American people chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to realize Martin's dream. He could see it because we voted for Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. as our 44th President.

Overnight a change swept our nation. Perfect strangers stopped to say congratulations. People who had forgotten how to smile proudly wore Cheshire-cat grins. Americans went to work early and stayed late, even though they had promised to stay home on Obama Day because there was work to do. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘what can I do on the ground to help,’ ‘I want to do something more meaningful,’ ‘how can I be the change I voted to see.’ Grandparents openly wept, not at the opportunities unjustly denied them, but at the great promise afforded us. Because of one vote, it was truly "morning in America."

Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

A change against seeking equality and fair treatment for all, and for second-class citizenship for "others" -- so long as we aren’t the “others”. A change against separate being inherently unequal, and for 'it's the same thing under a different name.' A change against the Church being the beacon of hope and renewal, and for being a herald of hate and intolerance. A change against believing that we are all in this together, and for this is not my problem, but yours. A change we cannot believe in.

Yesterday night, our hero went to sleep and no longer believed that he can be anything in the world he wants to be – certainly not President of the United States of America. And sadly, because he is gay, no one had to tell him. He can see it for himself. He can see it because the people of California chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to crush Martin's dream. He could see it because California voted to selectively revoke the fundamental right to marriage from a minority of its citizens simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

But it wasn't just Martin's dream that was crushed. It is Bayard's, César's, Coretta's, Del's, Harvey's, Huey's, Mildred's, Ruth's, and Thurgood's. It is my dream and if you ever truly believed in civil rights it should be yours, too. If you want to do something more meaningful, if you want to be the change you voted to see, embrace the fight against second-class citizenry despite your misgivings and even some discomfort because you know in your heart that the struggle for racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, class, and disability equality is the same, inseparable struggle. For as one of us loses, we all lose.

Very moving article. It makes a good point. African Americans in Calif. voted in large numbers for Obama, then turned around and voted in large numbers to take away the rights of another minority.

[LightBulb]

So happy to have enlightened you!

They made a few others if you're interested:
PSA #2
PSA #3
PSA #4

[AOII_LB93]

The yes on prop 8 PSAs were so full of S. As an educator in the state of CA, it saddens me that people didn't actually ask their school boards if marriage is even taught about in schools. It's not MFers!

*Still saddened by some of the people in this country and state. * I understand, being gay may be a sin according to some, but a person should be allowed to marry the person with whom they want to be.

As an aside, is there really a difference between calling it a civil union and a marriage? A marriage is a contract, and as far as I know, you need to apply for a marriage/civil union license just about everywhere in the US.

As long as people don't start forcing churches to marry those whom they don't believe should be married, what's the problem?