On Prop 8 and Marriage

As a Canadian here on Gaia it is often with great difficulty that I have to watch what takes place south of the border between our two great countries. In Canada the denial of gay marriages was struck down by virtue of it being a human rights violation. That left the door open for gay marriages here in Canada. Now, I'm not sure if all provinces went along with the Supreme Court of Canada ruling, but I do know that the province I live in, Ontario, automatically made gay marriages legal. Part of the reason it is a human right violation is quite mundane. The current laws regarding what happens after a person dies left many same sex partners without legal rights. In short, whole estates were forfeited to the government, leaving the same sex partner out in the cold, with no leg to stand on.  I felt that Keith Olbermann's speech was spot on, impassioned, and absolutely the right thing to say, but afterwards I went back to the start and made sure when he gave it. It was after the vote on proposition eight. Perhaps there is an appeal process that being a Canadian I am unaware of and there still might be a second vote that could rescind this barbaric inhumanity, but if there is not then, it's too little too late on Mr. Olbermann's part, no matter how well he puts it. This speech a day before the election might have had a tremendous effect on the voting. But, we'll never know, because he gave it after the vote. Hugs Michael.

Jessica,

 Thank you for placing this video in your blog ! It is in mine as well and on my statis
Being gay and part of the Radical Faerie community there is a lot of enery around this action, why and how, and what we can do to change this belief system…

I was very moved my Mr Olbermann's manner, his language, his tone… he seemed to be very moved if not upset with the countries lack of Love for others.. and he is correct…

Thank you again there is also this piece from LA Times I just posted on my blog for a Black lesbian why blacks did not vote for this Prop… give it a look see.

Thank you for posting this Jessica, great blog and video.  Mr. Olbermann's speech is great and should be rank among history's best.  I hope that all those who watch this wil especially those who opposed same-sex marriage or just plain 'marriage' will have a change of heart and let love rule the head and the hearts and the world. 
They are trying to repeal Prop.8 and let's all hope and pray that it will be successful this time. 
Samme

I have seen this so many times over various friends' blogs and feeds… so much depth and feeling… I love this video!

In my own opinion… I don't think marriage should be a “governed” action… it is FAR too sacred for that… we are so conditioned by the government & religions on “what's proper/what's right” … that we loose that Love in conditioned “shoulds” … when all actions stop being about Love, then “they win” … when Love is destroyed by socially acceptable rituals … it is no longer Love.

When … and possibly IF I ever get married… it will not be through the government, it will not be through a church… it will be a sacred ceremony that I and my beloved create together… something that means a reflection of our Love … not the same prattle that every other church member has heard… I do not ever want to be married by rote.

I agree with Keith… this isn't about yelling or politics… it's about being an emissary of Love, the Divine Love that we are all born to be… and being able to act on that Love regardless of with whom or how.

Jessica, you know speaking from a person that took it personal when Prop 8 was banned I thank you for this remarkable video by Olbermann.  He stated the facts and make good points with compassion and grace. I think Ellen said is simply with her statement after Obama's win and Prop 8's passing “Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away”. It is sad that in world with so much bigger things to worry about like global warming, taxes, education costs, and health insurance that some people still feel it is still a focal point in their life to take something away from someone else that did not do anything against them.  I hope that in the near future we can knock down this last equality barer and just start loving people for who they are and stop judging.  We are all different…but isn't this a good thing!? Love is love…it is all anyone wants in the end.

Hi, Jessica - I'm sitting in the public library where I came to get high speed access crying.  I've been part of the lbgtq civil rights movement for many years - and his confusion and pain hit me in the guts.  I honestly believe that the passage of Prop 8 may be a tremendous catalyst for people all over to stand up and open more fully to each other.  In the meantime - it stinks.  Thank you for posting this.


love and blessings -


Sylvia

I believe that every right that I have, EVERY other human being oughta rightly have, plus a few more, WE ALL ain't got yet.  Period – NO exceptions.

Thank you so much for posting this. My father and I do enjoy Olbermann, but sometimes he is a little loud, and it was really nice to see him not “yelling” for once. It was downright touching to see him not yelling so eloquently and with such depth of emotion. 
I’m much too young to be thinking of marrying anyone yet, but it’s very difficult for me to understand why anyone has any business telling me who I can or cannot marry. Mr. Olbermann expressed sentiments I’ve felt but have never been able to verbalize, so I thank him for saying them and you for posting them. :)