Why Proposition 8 is Anti-Family

by Michael A. Jones

Published January 12, 2009 @ 03:35PM PT

The folks championing Proposition 8 spent much of their time trying to point out how same-sex marriage harms families and children.  But if these activists were really serious about protecting the integrity of the family, shouldn't they support the institution of civil marriage for LGBT families?

As it turns out, there's now clear evidence that Proposition 8 as a measure itself hurts families and children.  Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) has a new report out today, "Prop 8 Hurt My Family - Ask Me How," that depicts the painful and tragic stories of children and families who struggle against anti-LGBT rhetoric and policies.  As Molly McKay, MEUSA's Communications Director, put it: "Marriage Equality USA received hundreds of gut wrenching stories, particularly from children of same-sex couples and LGBTI youth, that describe harm and even threats and violence that resulted from California's Prop 8 campaign.  These stories mirror research released this month from the American Psychological Association that anti-gay initiatives create psychological stress 'as a direct result of negative images and messages associated with the ballot campaign and the passage of the amendment."

Here's a sampling of some of the stories reported by "Prop 8 Hurt My Family - Ask Me How":

• "My six-year old, the day after we lost Prop 8, asked me, with tears running down his face, if we were still a family" a story from a lesbian parent;
• "My gay son and I started rallying on visible corners…. I was told I was going to hell…  My son was spit on, called names, told he was a demon and a pedophile.  It was hard for me, but all I could see was the pain on my son's face," one mother’s story;

• "I work in a high school and the students have begun gay bashing openly now.  They feel the majority has voted that being gay is not ok, thus they can make fun of them," a California school administrator;
• "While in my car at a red light, four men came up to my window and started yelling threats because of my No on 8 bumper sticker.  One man yelled, 'I will kill you bitch.  I will follow you home.'  I had to call the police and they escorted me home,”  Sacramento County;
• “While standing on a corner with my No on 8 sign, and within the community where I live and work, I was approached several times and told to go home.  I replied that I am home.  I feel the pain of knowing that my neighbors, from perhaps across the street or down the block, thought that I was so...what...different, bad, not worthy...that they couldn‟t bear the fact that I lived among them.”

And that's just a mere sampling of the rather emotional stories shared by California residents from the heat of the Proposition 8 campaign.

MEUSA's report also provides a list of counseling and community resources for families and children affected by the passage of Proposition 8.  It also concludes with a plea for overturning Proposition 8.  As the report notes, "Our hope is that as Californians, including those who may have voted Yes on 8, reflect on these stories, they will come to the conclusion that no individual and no family should ever have to go through these painful experiences.  Overturning Prop 8 will not only restore dignity and respect to LGBTI people, but it will send a message that it is wrong to strip a minority of their fundamental rights by a simple majority vote."

Check the report out. You can also view a report issued last week by MEUSA chronicling the weaknesses of the No on 8 Campaign, and how future campaigns for marriage equality can learn from the lessons of the Prop 8 fight.