Interesting Facts

Our local paper, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, in endorsing against Prop. 8, began its editorial, "Who gets to define marriage?" It then goes on to say that the proposition "redefines" marriage by stating "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

But the opening question is a good one. Who gets to define marriage?

Answer: We, the People, do.

And we did.

This is from http://www.marriagewatch.org/:

On March 7, 2000, the people of California voted on Proposition 22, a proposal to enact a state "Defense of Marriage Act" as an initiative statute. The text of Prop 22 reads:

“Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Proposition 22 was ratified by an overwhelming majority of California voters, prevailing by a 23-point margin. Statewide, 4,618,673 votes were cast in favor of the proposition, comprising 61.4% of the total vote. Opponents garnered 2,909,370 votes, for 38.6% of the vote.

Final vote counts revealed that Proposition 22 won in 52 of California's 58 counties, including all of the major metropolitan areas except for San Francisco. The six counties which did not approve Prop. 22 were all in the immediate San Francisco Bay area, including: Alameda county, Marin county, San Francisco county, Santa Cruz county, Sonoma county, and Yolo county.

Interesting facts, aren't they?

It's telling to me that those favoring actually redefining marriage as something other than being between a man and a woman have never tried to put their idea before a vote of the people. Instead, they fight it through the courts until they find the right handful of judges. They know that they are attempting to redefine the very basis of our society (and virtually every society for that matter), and that the people do not support them. Their only alternative this relatively small group has (reference the 6 counties out of 52 above) is to force this upon us.

Who gets to define marriage?

We do.

Vote Yes on Proposition 8.