I am sorry, I am heartbroken

[KitchenWitch]

I wish there were more I could have done.

I feel like I have let you all down. I know I do not have the power over all California voters but I felt like my getting involved and active in the NO on 8 campaign would make a difference.

:cry:

I feel so defeated.

[WillParkinson]

1. We're in the same boat...

I hope you'll at least make snacks. :-)

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. There's still a million or so votes out there

But, looking at where they are, I dunno if it's enough. :(

[whirlygigspin]

3. still some room for hope

from what I can tell, there are still 4012 precincts to report...maybe that's a good sign?

[Eryemil]

4. Oh love, we're used to this.

We will endure.

[KitchenWitch]

9. Well, you shouldn't have to be used to it.

x(

[Behind the Aegis]

5. You silly goose.

You have been a friend to the DU GLBT population for as long as I can recall your posts. You have posted against longtime posters who were either homophobes, closeted homophobes, or just Palin (plain) stupid. So, don't you dare cry. You made a difference when so many didn't. As hated as I am here, I know good posters when I see them, and you are one of them. Hold your head high; you stood up for your gay and lesbian brothers and sisters...so, don't cry, stand proud and get ready for the next round, cuz we will need you!

:hug:

[Jamastiene]

29. I certainly don't hate you.

I just haven't seen you in such a long time. :hug: :hi:

Edit: I can't type this morning.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. Hello to you!

:hug: :hi:

Well, you know, how "oversensetive" our kind is...oh wait...not talking about gays. :)

Why is bigotry so appealing to some people? I really don't get it. I can understand "racist/bigoted" outbursts, that's conditioning, but blatant bigotry, what is the rationale?

(Sorry, had a bad few days.)

No need to respond, but, if you want to give me another hug, I will appreciate it.

[Downtown Hound]

6. I am heartbroken as well

This is a serious wart on what should have been a perfect night. But I can tell you this, I'm fired up about this issue, and I'm a straight, white guy. I intend to make this a priority issue for me. In so far as this issue is concerned, I kind of feel like it's 2004 all over again. I look at that map, and I just wonder how it could have gone so wrong. Even Humboldt County voted yes. I lived there for five years, it's about as liberal as they come. My God, how disgusting and disappointing. I'm so ashamed of my state, and I'm so ashamed of Humboldt.

But as we did after that dark night in 2004, so shall we do here. We go to work tomorrow, and we will fight this injustice. One of these days, hopefully sooner rather than later, we will have true equality for all in this state, and from here, the rest of the nation.

My heartfelt apologies and sympathies to all my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters on what must be a dark night for you. California failed you.

[barbtries]

7. it really dilutes the joy

that on one day the country affirms in such a big way the equality of all of its citizens, on the very same day its most populous state (my home state for 52 years, and i'll be back) tries to strip a portion of its citizens of their civil rights.

but it's unconstitutional. it cannot stand for that reason. i'm not a lawyer but have any lawyers weighed in on this travesty yet?

[MNBrewer]

21. unfortunately, if it's in the constitution, it's constitutional

[barbtries]

23. you're talking state

i'm talking nation. i believe and hope it will be challenged.

[Eryemil]

8. I won't lie though, thinking about it makes me want to cry

And thinking about all those Mormons and Christians thanking their God for it makes me furious. So I am in some sort of emotional tug o' war game between grief, rage and denial.

[readmoreoften]

11. Me too.

[readmoreoften]

10. The fact that some straight people care really cheers me up though.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that even if 55% of Americans are afraid I'll infect their children with the evil of my very happy and loving relationship, 45% of Americans care enough to realize that the other 55% are seriously touched in the head and need to be stopped.

[mnhtnbb]

12. Having lived in CA, all I can say is, I'm so sorry.

[MichaelHarris]

13. I know what I will do

I will go after every organized religion in California that affected this. I will do everything in my power to see that they loose their tax exempt status.

[DCKit]

14. Don't forget the businesses and wealthy individuals who funded it.

They need to be hurt economically.

[AnAnonymousDemocrat]

16. Agreed.

Are there any ways to find out which businesses in California donated to support Prop. 8?

[DCKit]

19. They're not all from or in CA.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California_Proposition_8_(2008)#Supporters_of_the_amendment

"Donors who support Prop. 8

Some of the larger or better-known donors supporting Prop 8 are:

* Knights of Columbus, $1,400,000.<26> <27>
* Howard Ahmanson, $1,150,000.
* John Templeton, $900,000.
* National Organization for Marriage, $785,750.<28>
* Elsa Prince, $650,000.



* Fieldstead & Company, $600,000.
* American Family Association, $500,000
* Focus on the Family, $411,000.
* Doug Manchester, $125,000.<29>

Donations from individual Mormons account for about $6.4 million of the approximately $18 million raised through September 24. <30>

In the 72-hour period ending Friday, October 24, Proposition 8 supporters raised $661,000 in donations exceeding $1,000. Campaign manager Frank Schubert announced on October 25 that an undisclosed "Yes on 8" supporter had agreed to match any contributions made by others up to $1,000,000.<31> "

[MichaelHarris]

17. we really do need

to start challenging churches all over America that have inserted themselves into politics. If I lived in California I would start with that LDS church.

[bluedawg12]

24. You betcha - pruveryors of bigotry

and hate, asking their ideology in theology and getting away with trampling on human rights.

[bullwinkle428]

32. Those disgusting rat bastards running the LDS knew exactly how to skirt the law -

they just encounraged...no - put TREMENDOUS PRESSURE on their followers to donate all of their time and money towards pushing the Yes vote, so they couldn't actually be nailed on their tax-exempt status! :mad:

[Loudmxr]

15. I fought too and will fight again

I want to let you know the oldest civil rights organizations in LA, the Burbank Human Relations Council, came out early and strong against Prop 8. I did one of my best pieces of writing against it.

I thought LA county could be counted on defeating it. But no.

The good news is the millenials don't care about who marrys whom. They just need to grow up and vote. And of course by that time some of the opponents will have ....died.

The fight will pick up a little later and justice and equality will win.

One more thing. So you feel defeated. You are not alone. Lots of others feel defeated. But take heart... you will not be alone when we pick up the fight... later.

[GodlessBiker]

18. I was so close to moving to Palm Springs. Now I just can't.

[jonnyblitz]

20. I heart Kitchenwitch and her family.

thanks for your efforts! the fight continues... :hug: :hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. so am i

[polichick]

25. It's inexplicable - this is terrible!

[bluedawg12]

26. It's inexplicable because it's the last ugly bastion of bigotry

and we know what a tough up hill battle bigotry is.

[WhollyHeretic]

27. What the fuck is wrong with these people.

:cry:

[bluedawg12]

30. I think gay issues are marginalized.

Even if people accept that it is not a choice, they still see it is a choice in being "out" and so what's the big deal? gays go live in the closet and STFU, they must think.

They fail to see that you cannot, people read you, people ask "Are you married?" "do you have a husband or wife?" common themes that bind us all, and straights ferret out gays, one cannot truly live in the closet. Then again, why should we?

[Jamastiene]

31. Each one of us should start living despite them.

After all, I'd rather die on my feet fighting than live on my knees. They might have won this battle, but we'll win the war. I just hope it happens in our lifetime.

[Jamastiene]

28. For your true friendship, I thank you.

It takes a true friend to stand with us when we are down. It takes a true friend to stand up for us when we need to fight for our very survival, hope and liberty. You didn't let us down. The hateful voters who were only thinking of themselves let us down.

You did fine. You deserve a huge thank you and a huge :hug: for your love. I think I'm more than safe to say we love you too. I don't think anyone in GLBT would disagree with that at all. :hug: :loveya:

[KitchenWitch]

33. I just wish it had been enough.

:cry:

[Jamastiene]

34. We'll keep trying.

:hug:

[Chovexani]

35. KW you have been a true friend and ally to us all for so long

I know you did all you could. I'm heartbroken it went the way it did, but it wasn't because of good people like you.

The hatemongers just had more money and outplayed us. :(

[The Brethren]

36. Your caring and motivation is not wasted.

The battle in CA and elsewhere is not over. Propositions and Amendments, for better worse, can always be overturned or repealed....unless our country suddenly stops being a democracy. Changing laws that are wrong or discriminatory can take a lot of money and effort to work, but it can be done with persistence.

A suggestion if you like -- contact their campaign and find out what you can do now while they're pursuing a lawsuit for ex. to help them. If nothing else, your emotional support to them will help. Likewise, every attack on the gay community is also a lesson that can be learned from and turned around to fight discrimination nationwide. Much like the old adage: turn anger into action and action into power. We're not defeated, we're given a reminder to take our rights seriously.