Prop 8 has officially gone through. Regardless of an overwhelming majority of votes for Barack Obama in California, Californians said “Yes” to Proposition 8, which will alter their state’s constitution and eliminate the right of same-sex marriages.
It is hard to imagine why people in this day and age still oppose a person’s right to marry whomever they choose, especially in the extremely liberal state of California whose own Supreme Court over-turned a ban on same-sex marriages in May 2008.
Despite the passage of Prop 8, there is a glimmer of hope. If two states like Virginia and Florida, once part of the confederacy, can choose a black man as President of the United States, we can hold out hope that Americans will one day off their intolerance for homosexuals as well.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- LGBTQ+ Rights
- The passing of Prop 8 highlights the ongoing struggle for basic human rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Activism
- The fight against Prop 8 shows the continued importance of grassroots activism.
- Political Backlash
- The passing of Prop 8 sparked political backlash and furthered the divide between liberal and conservative values.
Where This Applies
- Legal Services
- The legal battle to overturn Prop 8 highlights the need for legal services in the pursuit of social justice.
- Non-profit & Non-governmental Organizations
- NGOs play an important role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and fighting against oppressive policies like Prop 8.
- Media & Communications
- Media coverage of the Prop 8 vote and aftermath brought attention to the issues of LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination.
