No on Prop 8 is Anti-Feminist
As a former court protective services worker for abused and neglected children, I am in favor of Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage; however, I am unpersuaded by all the arguments for and against it.  

The arguments in favor of the Prop 8 are overly defensive, conjectural, seemingly discriminatory and moralistic for the wrong reasons. Concern over a speculative future harm to children as the weakest members of society will not likely overcome the perception of actual discrimination against gays today in the eyes of much of the liberal public. Moreover, many people believe on religious grounds that children should be taught not to discriminate against gays.   

Conversely, the arguments against Prop 8 on the basis of injustice, unfairness and the unhappiness and social stigma inflicted on gays by denying them the sanction of marriage equally miss the mark.  The social status of gay couples is no different than that of anyone else who lives in an unmarried status, including widows.     

The notion that progressive “change” will overcome the “centuries long struggle for civil rights” for gays is historically myopic. The past Progressive reforms of busing in our public schools (“white flight”) and recent reform of affordable housing credit as a civil right (“sub-prime” loan foreclosures and investor wipe-outs) are tragic cases of the unintended consequences of the politicizing “civil rights.”  If Prop 8 passes we may sadly see "straight flight" from our public schools by parents who were formerly tolerant of gays.     

The word “marriage” comes from the Latin word “mater” for mother. And “mater” is what matters in marriage. Marriage is unavoidably built around female sexuality and procreation. Marriage can only concern a relationship to a woman for procreation. It is the opposite of concubinage, which is an involuntary relationship with a man of higher status in a traditional society.

A social order that doesn’t protect a woman from rape or incest or concubinage can’t give women freedom to control who the father(s) of their children are, or their own bodies, or even their own health. Marriage is the structure of this freedom of choice for women in a modern society.  Women’s freedom to control access to their body for procreation is what modern marriage is all about. Without that there is no societal or religious basis for laws to protect marriage, particularly gay marriage.  

Defining marriage down to a mere contract between companions or non-procreative sex partners will only end up harming all women for if everyone can marry, no one needs to and it becomes meaningless. Women will ultimately suffer most. Gay marriage robs something that belongs exclusively to women. Traditional man-woman marriage is not anti-gay, it is pro-feminine. Same sex marriage is anti-feminist.

If we grant marriage rights to one group - gays - we will find it politically impossible to deny such rights to others scripted with their own resumes of "victimization." And politicians will always be ready to politicize modern marriage by expanding it beyond its original purpose.    

Marriage isn’t a conspiracy of patriarchs, straights, or the respectable capitalistic bourgeoisie class. It is part of the divine and natural order – only through marriage can the world persist.   

It is more important to exclusively preserve the freedom of marriage for women than to elevate the status of a few famous elite gays who don't feel equal. Perhaps, once gays understand this they will no longer feel of lesser status; unless their true goal is to politicize marriage purely for the economic benefits therefrom which have mostly already been granted them. Preserving marriage exclusively for procreation and women's freedom transcends the politics and religion of Left and Right. Even though I am disappointed with the arguments both for and against Prop 8, I nonetheless urge you to VOTE YES ON PROP 8.

Wayne Lusvardi, MSW
Pasadena