Of the People, For the People

The issue of gay rights has been one that has stirred many people’s emotions in the last few years. States across the nation have voted on the issue of gay and lesbian marriage, and while several states have passed legal marriage into law, some have gone against it. For various reasons people believe that same sex couples should not have the right to marry one another. There are also a lot of people that believe all people should be entitled to marry and for that reason same sex marriages should be made legal in every state. Recently, the state of California just passed a proposition in response to a former law making gay marriage legal. Proposition Eight was brought up by those who still disagreed with the decision the state had made and with a state wide vote during the 2008 election the proposition was passed into law, making it illegal for any same sex couple to be wed. Before Proposition Eight was passed many people expressed their opinions through blogs, different articles, protests, and even television commercials. In particular, these television advertisements that were viewed prior to the proposition being passed look to the grassroots of human rights by trying to identify with those who believe in the right of equality for all.

A certain television commercial that was aired shortly before the election took place includes three well know Latin-Americans, America Ferrera, Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz, who in the commercial speak out and encourage their listeners to vote no on Proposition Eight. Through their dialogue the listener is able to get a sense that they are speaking to all ordinary citizens of the United States in a plea for equality. They point the issue out to be more than just about laws and political opinions, but more of an issue on the right to have a family. A quote by Jane Howard sums up the importance of this kind of group. “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” This subject will most definitely appeal to anyone who knows what it is like to have a loving family and that is how they make their point on the issue so strong. Tony Plana also seeks to bond with anyone who thinks their marriage is important to them by saying, “Eight discriminates against our families and friends by eliminating their rights to a civil marriage.” By voicing his words like this he is able to a simply connect with a part of everyone’s lives and that is treating our family and friend kindly, equally, and most important how you would want to be treated.

In this group’s message, they especially try to get away from the political sphere and look at what directly affects the people of this country. Ana Ortiz says, “Laws should not be used to discriminate against anyone,” and American Ferrera continues to say, “It’s about eliminating a human right.” They are trying to get to the foundation of this issue and that is human rights. Human rights should not be dependent on the views of political leaders or even activists against gay marriage. By voting yes and passing Proposition Eight, these people are eliminating some people’s right to a civil marriage, and this brings up the question, would you like it if your right to a civil marriage was nonexistent or taken away? They also bring up the other side of the issue and that has to do with the rules of certain religions and schools. But because we know American is a Secular state making religion and government a totally separate entity, it should come from what is fair and what is right. These positions are what help strengthen the bond between the speakers on this commercial and many of its viewers. Many times this issue also becomes a matter of discrimination. While politicians and our nation’s government are the ones to create laws, these laws should not be used to discriminate against anyone and this comes down to equality for all people.

If we begin to look at other issue and debates like this one, many of our views may be changed. As politics continue to have large impacts on the things people do every day and the way people may think about certain issues, it is important to look back on the grassroots of the issues and see from a different perspective what the issue really comes down to.