Since we are opening the blog discussion to broader issues, I want to voice my opinion regarding Proposition 8. The California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in May of this year, ruling that the state Constitution's promise of equal protection affords gays and lesbians the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. The ruling overturned Proposition 22, passed by voters in 2000, which defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. By amending the Constitution, Proposition 8 would remove the basis for the court's ruling.

I had an acquaintance send me an email (who must not know me very well) a few weeks ago, asking me to vote yes on the proposition. I told her that my family was voting NO on PROP 8 because we believe in equal rights for all people. Her reply was "I agree w/equal rights for everyone, too, in fact, there are people in my own family who are gay- I just don't feel it is needs to be 'taught' as part of curriculum, esp in kindergarten." 

I was surprised by the connection she made between gay marriage and school curriculum so I looked it up on the internet. Of course there are arguments made from both sides of the Proposition on how it would or wouldn't impact school curriculum. Here is what I believe:

Kate Kendell, executive director for the national Center for Lesbian Rights, said it’s a mistake to compare Massachusetts education policy with that of California because of the different education laws and provisions for opting out offered to parents in California.

“The claim that Prop. 8 has anything to do with schools is a lie,” Kendell said. “The way children are taught today won’t change one bit.”

The California Teachers Association, state superintendent O’Connell, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the American Civil Liberties Union, and gay and civil rights groups oppose Prop. 8, saying it is misleading to inject education into the debate over gay marriage.

“Bringing in education as part of the campaign for Prop. 8 is solely designed to scare people into supporting the elimination of rights of people to marry the person they love,” Kendell said.

On Tuesday, supporters of Prop. 8 attempted through blogs and e-mails to encourage parents to keep their kids home from school to protest a decision last week by the California Teachers Association to donate $1 million to the “No on Prop. 8” campaign. But local school districts reported no significant changes in absentee rates.

The thought also crossed my mind that as someone who believes in equal rights for everyone, I want my children to be taught in school that all human beings have (or should have) equal rights when it comes to marriage, voting, job opportunities, or any other human right for that matter.  How sad to think that some people feel so threatened by that notion of human rights for everyone.