I wasn’t able to watch yesterday’s CA Supreme Court proceedings. Like many of you, I spent the day at work with no streaming video or television broadcasts to keep me up to date.
I spent the day with young children. I spent the day with children whose home lives reflect the permeating diversity we understand to be quintessentially Californian. I spent the day with children who have working parents, lesbian moms, mixed ethnic backgrounds, and birthplaces located outside of the United States.
My morning was filled with much laughter as the three year olds I spend my days with gave mock presidential speeches. It’s a highly politicized time and even preschoolers are getting more exposure to politics as their parents fretfully tune in to the news.
The children’s presidential addresses were spontaneously created by them, as a group. It was an unusual endeavor and entertaining to witness. One particularly savvy child suggested lollipops for all people. Then they called me to the floor. I promised bikes and garden beds and schools for all children. As I concluded my stump speech the lollipop proponent reminded me I had failed to promise “friends” for all people.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I heeded his advice and promised “friends for all people”.
These three year olds are a remarkable group. I count myself among the very lucky to spend my day with such loving, aware and compassionate human beings.
These three year olds are tomorrow’s thirty year olds and at their core they understand that a loving community is an essential part of their well being.
My opposition to Proposition 8 is rooted in these same sentiments. Will my love for my same-sex partner change because the guy across the street is morally opposed to it? Absolutely not. Will a law prevent me from choosing a same-sex partner to share the joys and responsibilities of life with? Again, no.
But does it matter that hate is sanctioned by Proposition 8? Absolutely. It impacts our culture-it creates a climate that nurtures bigotry. It communicates to Californians and all of those watching that it is acceptable to discriminate against those whom are different from you. It validates the irrational notion that two loving, mature adults do not deserve to be accepted as they are and make decisions for themselves.
I spend my days with young children. I am sending them a much different message. I am teaching them to allow for and embrace the differences in their friends and their peers.
Yesterday’s addresses told me that I am being effective in my effort. It also reminded me what I’ve heard so many times-homophobia will die with the passing of a couple more generations…
