And yet
By Jess McCabe | 5 November 2008, 11:09
As exciting - as much of a blessed relief - as it is to see Barack Obama elected president, and Congress swing to the left - as elating as it is to see the amazing reaction to this in the photos from across the US and the world - including Obama’s family celebrating in Kenya, as much as I also cried when I woke up to this news today - it’s not all good news.
(Although on a further plus note, two anti-abortion ballots were defeated.)
But Proposition 8 looks set to pass, re-banning same sex marriage in California by a narrow margin. Bans have also passed in Arizona and Florida.
Arkansas banned unmarried couples from adopting children - Alex at The Bilerico Project explains some of the background ‘reasoning’ behind this ludicrous decision.
To echo Sarah Warn, “This also makes me want to cry, but not tears of joy.”
And Melissa at Shakesville:
And I still want to grab by the shoulders and shake every person who voted for inequality and demand to know of them: How could you?
Meanwhile, also over at Shakesville, PortlyDyke has written some predictably wise words of wisdom on what happened:
When you push on the gates of power, there will be pushback. At first, for sure. Later, perhaps less so. Much later, maybe not at all.
And Ampersand points out that - as bad as it is - the margin by which the ban on same-sex marriage passed has actually been cut by nearly 10% in the eight years since California’s last ballot on the issue:
They’ve won. Today. But they’re losing the war, and they know it. It’s only a matter of time.
Screenshot from protoflux
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Anne Onne said:
Not prop 8. I couldn't believe it! It's so sad that the same nation who voted to elect their first black president also voted to deny gay couples the rights they are privileged to enjoy.
It's some comfort to think that opposition is slowly being reduced, and that one day it will be reality.
At least the anti-abortion ones failed. But that's not exactly good news, considering these rights should NOT be contested.
But I was ecstatic when I read that Obama won. The polls had been ahead for a while, but it's been such good news. It's been truly inspirational to see pictures of people turning out to vote, and read their stories.
I know Obama's human, and that the road ahead for the US or the world won't be easy. On the other hand, to feel some of the hope in the air, and see so many people who have not dared hope for years believe that something might be possible. Whatever happens in the future, it feels like the world took a small step today.
Posted on 05 November 2008 at 3:27 PM
Sian said:
I cried too.
Posted on 05 November 2008 at 8:00 PM
julia said:
Today was no victory for feminsts in America.
This (s)election was 'won' on lies and blatant misogyny. The Obama cabinet will be mostly male. This campaign shoved the US Women's Movement back thrity years as it became cool to degrade women candidates and all women who supported them.
I am mourning today. The only woman running for president, the true progressive Cynthia McKinney, got only
one percent of the vote. She came in 6th behind three male independent candidates. How to explain this except
sexism?
Men in America refuse to take orders from a woman. The traditional role of women is alive and well in a country that
was so alive 35 years ago with the Women's Liberation Movement.
I am tired of coming in last and being pushed to the back of the bus.
Posted on 05 November 2008 at 11:38 PM
Gem said:
Looking forward to the day when a lesbian woman is elected in as president of the US....
Obama being elected in as a black man does hold some hope but let us use it to fuel momentum in our efforts to create equality for all.
The cry from the civil rights movement is a resounding 'keep going!' same to the womens movement...together we can turn the tide.
Posted on 06 November 2008 at 1:16 PM