Walking for Prop 8

Proposition 8 will appear on the November 2008 ballot in California. It is variously known as the Protect Marriage Act, the Same-Sex Marriage Ban or the Limit on Marriage Amendment. If it passes, it will add a new constitutional amendment to the California Constitution that will have the following text: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The ballot title for the measure says that Prop. 8 "eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry".

The electoral contest over Prop. 8 has attracted both national attention and dollars. By mid-August, supporters of Prop. 8 had raised about $8.4 million, while its opponents had raised $8.5 million. Money is not expected to be short on either side as the campaigns gear up for the fall battle, with consultants saying they expect about $30 million to be spent altogether. The initiative has attracted national dollars from both sides, with opponents raising 44% of their money from out-of-state donors, with supporters raising 34% of theirs from out-of-state.

I saw this article online and thought it was fascinating that both sides have raised so much money so far. Over the last few weeks the community and church members all over California have been walking the streets to get the word out about Prop 8. I went with my dad one Saturday and I really enjoyed it. We were sent to a poor area of Orange with mostly Hispanics so there was definitely a language barrier. We went out for a few hours and were only able to talk to a few people that could really understand us. I heard from people in other areas that had much more success. The church has asked us to give of our time and means to help with this effort. It is so important that this proposition pass.