Mayor Jerry Sanders, daughter, Lisa (right), and her partner (K.C. Alfred / Union-Tribune)

It looks like one Republican has come over to the other side - of the gay issue, that is. Mayor Jerry Sanders found that some legislative measures can hit home in a most unusual way (from Sign On San Diego):

In San Francisco this morning, Supreme Court justices will hear arguments about the validity of the measure and the same-sex weddings conducted before its approval. The justices will have 90 days to issue rulings.

Sanders, a Republican who reversed course two years ago to support gay marriage, announced at yesterday’s rally that his daughter, Lisa, recently had become engaged to her partner, Meaghan Yaple.

Sounding a theme that would be repeated by several speakers who followed him, Sanders said those who oppose Proposition 8 are defending the rights of all minorities, not just gays and lesbians.

“When one group starts taking away rights from another group, it can happen to any group,” he said. “Proposition 8 puts all minority groups at risk.”

This is a human rights issue. Always has been. It’s embarrassing that we continue to deal with narrow-minded, ignorant public servants who have a boner for pushing this kind of amendment through.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a great supporter of gay rights not due to a personal affiliation with it (I’m a happily married heterosexual) but because of the larger issue. There are so many things on this planet that need to be corrected, so many, that things like this, little issues, should glide through easily.

Unfortunately, there are too many people out there who are uncomfortable in their own skin and, because of that, need to control the world around them to your detriment. Hopefully smarter, more emotionally sound minds will disown this amendment and we can move on to other things.

Current News, Politics California Prop 8, gay marriage, homosexuals, lesbians, Mayor Jerry Sanders, Proposition 8, Rally against Gay marriage ban

It’s no great wonder the majority of Americans reject the politics and cloaked racism of what I’ll refer to as the intolerant right. And no, I don’t give a rats ass what religion they want to hide behind to claim their intolerance and bigotry is God’s will. I grew up a Congregational Protestant and not a single minister in my church would preach the intolerant garbage some on the far right seem to consider gospel.

I’m a heterosexual male - yet to me, the idea of dictating the terms of a gay person’s life here through legislation is grotesque and backward. Quite honestly, if there are those out there who truly feel gay people are an “abomination” and deserve less rights than we have, I think we know who the real abominations are. Their ignorance is embarrassing and, by the way, the opposite of Christ’s teachings (no, I don’t care how you wish to interpret the bible. The minute your interpretation descriminates against others, you’ve completely missed the point).

In fact, when one actually READS the bible, it’s surprising what you find:

“Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather
than criticizing others.” Matthew 7:3-4

“Treat others as you would like
to be treated.” Luke 6:31-34

There are many lessons in the bible that contradict the hard line on “punishing” the sinners. Besides, that’s HIS job. Unless the intolerant right fancy themselves God, they should leave that task alone.

Simply put, these beliefs are not the norm. They are bigoted and racist. I think people with these type of beliefs find their own justification any way they can and religion is just the mask they use. There are millions of Christians who would disagree with this hard-line interpretation, just as there are millions of Muslim who scoff at the belief that all Christian infidels should be destroyed. Beyond that, if the alternate interpretation of the bible allows for treating others equally, I’m apt to believe the intolerant right is wrong.

So here’s my message directly to the intolerant right:

Stay out of others lives. Someone being gay and wanting to have a civil union does not impact your life (I know you think it does, but you’re just wrong, again). We’re not heading back to the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. I know it’s convenient to believe that, since it allows you to continue being a bigot, but it’s just not so. Because what you consider sinful behavior in the Christian faith another faith or religion might not. And this is a country that allows freedom for many religions - and a government that is not supposed to be governed by any one of them in particular.

I find a great deal of difficulty not voicing my opinion (opinion, not legislation) about something that is exclusionary at it’s core - and treats another group as second class citizens. Would you understand if you were told you couldn’t legally marry your wife or husband because society finds that desire to “marry” another person detestable? Could you understand if you were not allowed to legally vote because of the color of your skin? It’s clear some groups understand this issue more than others.

And if you chalk it all up to your religion being the catalyst for your descrimination, you really ought to question what your minister is preaching.

Lifestyle, Politics bush loyalists, gay marriage, homosexual marriage, intolerant right, lesbian marriage, religious nuts