WTF Carrie Prejean
My husband and I have had the conversation (over and over again).... if only the movie, MILK, came out before the Proposition 8 elections in November, 2008. Maybe the outcome would have been different, and No on Proposition 8 would have won. I remember waking up to hear that Obama was elected President and that "YES on 8" was probably going to win. With mixed emotions, I felt insanely happy (Barack Obama elected President) and utterly sad (that No on 8 was defeated), all at once.
Passionately in favor of same-sex-marriages and equal rights for everyone, I participated in many No on Proposition 8 rallies and vigils. I messaged out NO on 8 through my tweets, facebook groups, email lists and phone calls through the phone banks. I honestly believed that there was NO way that this great State of California would not support ALL of our citizens with equal rights. Heck, it was 2008 - time for change and inclusiveness. It was time that the world and our country was going to be a better place.... that was the dream.
I am not gay, but I have many friends, family members and colleagues in same sex relationships and SAME SEX MARRIAGES, even if California does not recognize it as "legal". These are couples that have been together for over thirty years! And to them, I feel ashamed that our great country and state could be full of bigots. I am not going to sugar coat my words. I know that some day, our children and grandchildren will look back at our generation and shake their heads - how come there weren't equal rights for ALL people, regardless of race, color or sexual preference? How come "mommy couples" or "daddy partners" were not given the same rights as a "mommy and daddy marriage?" They will look back on us, and think we were just as awful as past generations that supported slavery.
If only Harvey Milk were still alive. He could help and recruit us.....
And then there is Carrie Prejean. Miss California, Carrie Prejean. Miss RUNNER UP for Miss USA, Carrie Prejean. Miss YES-WE-ELECTED-CARRIE-PREJEAN to represent the state of California in the Miss USA beauty pageant. Watch this video, if you must!
Carrie Prejean, OFFENSE TAKEN!
Words fail me. Ok, they don't really fail me..... but they shock and sadden me more than anything else. Because isn't Miss USA suppose to embrace our country and ALL of our citizens? Shouldn't Miss USA be a roll model for ALL AMERICAN'S? Not just heterosexual couples? And couldn't you have come up with a more inclusive answer? You lost this competition in disgrace, because of your divisive answer. And let me be clear. I don't fault you because I do not agree with your answer. I fault you because you could have taken this as an opportunity to show compassion and support for every American. That is the job of Miss USA.
Same sex marriage is about human rights. Period!
As a resident of California, you should know that NOT all our residents have equal rights. You should have could have been a lot more sensitive to the way you responded to Perez Hilton's question, knowing that California has been divided and wounded, because of Proposition 8.
Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, as a California resident and Silicon Valley Mom, I applaud your victory!
This is an original post to Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Jill Asher is the co-founder of SV Moms Group.
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