The Dallas Principles: The Best Response To Prop 8

One day, as a society, we will look back at the absurdity of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals as something as abhorrent as racial discrimination. But, that day is not here yet -- and it's likely the California State Supreme Court today will make the road just a bit harder. Which is why everyone of us must use today as a beginning point to push the Dallas Principles.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a group of "thinkers, activists, and donors gathered to discuss the immediate need for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender people in the United States." Here is what they came up with:

The following eight guiding principles underlie our call to action.

In order to achieve full civil rights now, we avow:

1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.

2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.

3.Separate is never equal.

4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.

6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.

7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.

8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

It appears that today the California State Supreme Court will uphold Proposition 8 -- which banned same-sex marriage. Like many people around the country, I will take part in rallies today to protest (and, if predictions are wrong, celebrate) the decision.

But, then what? The Dallas Principles is a call to arms to begin to end discrimination. Spread the word.

Comments

[ditchdigger]

i have no problem with what goes on behind closed doord. i have no problems with wanting the same secular benifits,that are given conventional couples.the expectation politically bothers me. i am pro life,and do not get that privilige to vote my conscience. political coreon that issue is pro-choice. the spinless way out. if i openly came to your cause as a daily communicant,compassionate marxist. i find it hard to believe that their would be much support from your groups. the problem with your movement is not the issues. it is you want tolerance,but display very litle to the rest of the human race.

[Romulus]

Is marriage a cuvil right? In Loving v. Virginia (1967), CJ Burger wrote, “Marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man, fundamental to our very existence and survival”. What did he mean by that? What is the one thing that is fundamental "to our very existence and survival"? Obviously he meant procreation. Burger's LEGAL argument was that marriage is a basic civil right because it's necessary for procreation which is necessary for existence and survival.

[JoadTT]

If marriage is all about procreation, it's time to start the annulment process for all heterosexual couples that chose not to have kids. Hmmm....maybe it's just easier to pick on the gays, honestly all those rich old guys with young wives not having kids, better annul those ceremonies, we know that arrangement isn't about procreation..what a joke. Gay sex makes puritan old white guys uncomfortable (unless they are involved) and if it's uncomfortable, it must be bad...On the bright side, the dying often thrash loudly before the last breath, so maybe that's what we're seeing now, the thrashing of a large dinosaur on its way out. I hope so, our society has much to deal with: climate change, poverty, health care, a failing educational system. The sex lives of people I'm not involved with is none of my business.

[allthings]

I will not celebrate or protest today regardless of what the court decides.

The court is not in place to decide what is right, only what contradicts the wording and spirit of the state constitution.

All attention must be put toward winning the hearts and the minds of the those who voted for Prop 8 and keeping the state legislature on notice that its days are numbered. Courts are not supposed to be political so protests feel a little weird.

Here in Maryland we can't even get a gay marriage bill out of committee.