OlderMelissa Etheridge: No Same-Sex Marriage? No Taxes!
Melissa Etheridge is standing up to the state of California, which passed Proposition 8 (banning same-sex marriage) on Election Day.
The 44-year-old singer took to The Daily Beast to blog about her refusal to pay taxes if same-sex marriage is banned. Here’s an excerpt:
“Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen…Gay people are born everyday. You will never legislate that away… Obama has been elected president. This crazy fearful insanity will end soon. ”
Read the full blog entry at TheDailyBeast.com.
Pictured above: Melissa with her wife/roommate/girlfriend/special lady friend Tammy Lynn Michaels back in 2001. They had a wedding ceremony in Sept. 2003 in Malibu, Calif. The couple planned on legally getting marrying later this year.
FYI: During Madonna’s concert last night, she said, “Sorry to hear we didn’t win on Prop 8, but don’t give up the fight. If we can have an African American in the White House then when we can have gay marriages.”
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122 Comments
This is heart breaking. I cannot believe that this bigoted proposition passed. Shame on that 51% in California. You are discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. That is totally un american.
hold on! She voted for obama she IS paying taxes. I quit my job so I can get her wealth. She better get back to work.
As sad as I’m that prop 8 didn’t pass, this women is nuts if she think she can get away not paying taxes, she would be taking to prison.
Grow up Melissa - stop throwing your temper tantrums. Boo hoo I didn’t get my way. You are not patriotic if you don’t pay your taxes.
YAY PROP 8!!!!!!!!!! <3
What is she complaining about - She should just call nobama and tell him to override this vote. He is her savior. She should be very happy. She got who she wanted for President.
Isn’t Obama AGAINST gay marriage?
I am celebrating prop 8.
This woman is NUTS!!!!!!
I dont know why its such a big deal for gays to get married?
If they want to get married with the person they love then
there shouldnt be a law stopping that.
That is their PERSONAL descion
its not the end of the world
#7, Obama is NOT against gay marriage. He beleives it is a choice who you love.
I say way to go Melissa. Anyone who is apposed to this prop, ignorance is bliss.
I am a straight, 40 yo mom. Does it really matter who you fall in love with, as long as you’re happy? Why shouldn’t the same rights be given to everyone.
Look at it this way: If you’re a smoker, it’s a “choice”. But lets say your “rights” of all things were taken away..insurance, marriage, etc…just because you smoke……YOU’D BE PISSED, AND WANT THE SAME RIGHTS AS THE NON SMOKER….
Don’t say its different. People are who they are, think about it.
Shelly - Biden said in his debate that he and obama are against gay marriage. Get it - Against it. Pay attention.
Grow up Melissa. As much as I hate ALOT of things in this country, I still pay my taxes.
Melissa just gave the IRS full rein to audit her.
So tired of these bully celebrities boo hoo’ing when they don’t get what they want. Jail the gay ***** !
Obama is NOT against gay marriage
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are u serious? <im not being sarcastic, i really just dont know..
I don’t get it- gay people are not allowed to get married, because it violates the meaning of marriage? Straight people can get drunk, marry vegasstyle and get divorced after a week, but homosexuals can’t marry people they honestly love for years. This is so stupid. Again I’m glad to live in liberal europe.
Good for you Anne. Now stay in liberal Europe !
She better pay her taxes. Great she votes for obama and then makes the statement she is not paying taxes. Give me a break.
Oh, shut up. Good grief. Your messiah Obama isn’t going to fullfill all your wishes. Get a life besides being an angry gay woman.
Obama IS against gay marriage. Biden said so in his debate, or is that just another in his long line of gaffs. With Biden it is hard to tell if he is coherent or not.
She get a liberal President and STILL she is not happy. Whats up with that. She needs to grow up. What a cry baby.
it is apparent that America is not ready for gay marriage, and hopefully never will be. Get over it.
I’m happy Prop 8 didn’t pass. She can choose to not pay tax and the government can choose to throw her in jail.
Smart move Melissa. Withholding our state taxes is another undeniable argument that the state, or the federal government cannot defend. We pay our taxes, so we must be treated equally. Plain, and simple. Take it too court!
A statement from a womans organization (CWA):
“California judges provoked the voters to pass this marriage amendment by ignoring the referendum that was passed in 2000 to define marriage as between one man and one woman. If a judge ignores California’s citizens a second time, the damage would go beyond imposing same-sex ‘marriage.’ It would destroy trust in the judicial system. In demanding that they get their way, homosexual activists are threatening public safety and the integrity of our system of government.”
First I am not sure how same sex marriage would threaten public safety…that is a new one.
Second, it is almost eery to me how this easily could have been an argument made in regards to interracial marriage or other civil rights because without the ACTIVIST judges in the 1960s, etc segregation would not have ended because the majority at the time were almost rabid in their desire to maintain segregation and how interracial marriage would be the downfall of society.
So I would like to thank the CWA for using the same terminology and ideology that supported the some of the worst civil rights violations in our nations history.
How can it be discrimination when NO woman can legally marry another woman and NO man can legally marry another man, gay or straight? Can it really be called discrimination when the law applies to all? Just asking. Don’t go ballistic on me.
I don’t know much about this woman but…GO MELISSA! If she isn’t going to be given the equal rights that this ****** country claims to have then she shouldn’t have to give up her money. And for everyone saying she should still have to pay - technically, there is no law stating that we as citizens have to pay taxes. In fact, it goes against the constitution.
She probably just wants to go to prison to have some more girl on girl fun!
I don’t get it…..she does not know what to call her lover…wife?girlfriend?special lady friend?
Come on if she’s marry to her and calls her wife then what does her wife calls her…. husband?
The thing is that is people’s choice they voted and that’s the result….she can’t make up a lame excuse saying that people consider her as second class citizen!!! How is it that she can voice her opinion about what she believed in and not likewise????
I think marriage is between a man and a woman, not a woman and a woman and not a man and a man, that’s just what I believed in and it’s my opinion.
Throw her ass in JAIL where it belongs. Yea!
Thank you CA for voting this proposal down. Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!!!
Just wondering what about the gay people that are married now will they have to get a devores
anne: yup, it is pretty dumb. On the same night we elect an African American to the highest office in the land, we still withhold basic rights from a portion of the population.
And from what some of these posters have to say, I bet they’re pissed that a black guy is going to be their next President. I wish all the ignorant f*cks in the US would just go form their own country (say, in the South) and leave us in peace…..
YES @ 11/07/2008 at 11:42 am I don’t know much about this woman but…GO MELISSA! If she isn’t going to be given the equal rights that this ****** country claims to have then she shouldn’t have to give up her money. And for everyone saying she should still have to pay - technically, there is no law stating that we as citizens have to pay taxes. In fact, it goes against the constitution.
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Have you READ the constitution? There are many ammendments about taxation. Wow you are such a genius! Go call Warren Buffet and Bill Gates and tell them the news! They will now save a boat load of more money thanks to you!
So if we don’t get our way on everything we vote for we don’t have to pay our taxes.Lets see how she feels in jail.What a dumbass.
Is Hollywood ever happy. Come on. you vote for nobama who wants to raise your taxes and she dosn’t get her way on gay marriage so she won’t pay her taxes. It dosn’t make any sense. Besides I need her wealth. I was counting on her putting out a few more CDs.
there will be lawsuits and this will go all the way to the US supreme court. you can count on it.
and it should. in point of fact, this amendment is going to end up as the first shot in a war to take away legal rights such as adopting/fostering kids etc.
not only that but it is all about religion. seriously. by ‘restoring the sanctity of marriage’ they are pushing a particular religious belief on the whole state (that belief being that homosexuality is sinful and any union is also unholy).
and I don’t wanna hear about protecting kids, blah blah. that junk about the field trip was either totally exaggerated and it wasn’t just about the marriage (but that it was happening was pointed out to the kids in a casual comment) or the parents are lying about being forced to let their kids go. the school had to have permission slips and legal waivers on every kid and if you don’t sign, they can’t go. or you just call in that Sally is sick and won’t be coming to school. and if you feel that strongly, you home school and you can teach your kids whatever you want. but don’t use them as a tool to shove your biggoted beliefs on everyone else for our own good.
and don’t try to tell me that gay parents are all bad and kids need a happily married straight couple for parents. I worked at a shelter for abused kids and almost all of them came from homes with straight parents. some of them their natural ones, some foster parents etc. it was a nightmare. almost every one of those kids would have been thankful for a safe and happy home regardless of whether they had a mommy and daddy, two mommies or two daddies. as long as they had a warm bed, food and no one yelling at them and beating them
hey meeee - we don’t need to form our own country. We live in America so you will never get your way. God Bless America.
as for the Melissa thing. if it gets attention to the issue that she tries to avoid her taxes, it’s not a bad thing. and folks are correct, the whole income tax issue is a total gray area. there are clauses in the US Constitution that, if pressed, could be judged as making such taxes illegal. and frankly I wish someone would press it. I would love to see things go the way they are in many places overseas. no tax on your income but rather on what you buy, ie, sales tax. with a few exceptions like essential food items. but all those houses, cars, fancy handbags and big screen tvs are taxed. and rarely highly.
What does Obama in the White House have to do with anything, Madonna? Most of his black and Latino supporters are very conservative and, yes, are against gay marriage and most forms of abortion. I think some of his supporters would be shocked to know how liberal Obama when it comes to gays and abortion. I’ve even heard some blacks say that Barack is pro-life (ha!).
she’s kinda right actually, but not paying taxes is not an option either.
Lucas @ 11/07/2008 at 12:03 pm as for the Melissa thing. if it gets attention to the issue that she tries to avoid her taxes, it’s not a bad thing. and folks are correct, the whole income tax issue is a total gray area. there are clauses in the US Constitution that, if pressed, could be judged as making such taxes illegal. and frankly I wish someone would press it. I would love to see things go the way they are in many places overseas. no tax on your income but rather on what you buy, ie, sales tax. with a few exceptions like essential food items. but all those houses, cars, fancy handbags and big screen tvs are taxed. and rarely highly.
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OVERSEAS???? Which country are you talking about? Rich Europeans are notorious for sheltering their money because of high income taxes. Average income tax rate in Europe is 42%
To all the people who voted “YES” on prop 8:
why are you commenting on a blog owned by a gay person?!
and i really don’t get why sane sex people cannot get married, after all they’re living together everywhere nowadays. Marriage should only concern do those ones that actually are a couple. And gay plp already are couples. It’s non-sense. It’s not like they’re going to be asking plp to marry them in the streets..everything will continue the same as it is now, with the exception that they’ll have rights on each other.
And marriage has not been necessarily related to religion for a long time already..those arguments saying it’s a sin to have a same sex partner shouldn’t be held on court.
Prop 8 won by 53% to 47%, not 51%. Eight years ago the public voted to ban same sex marriage and it was three judges this year who over turned it, not the people. It’s not a right to get married, it’s not a civil rights issue, please start comparing this to the civil right movement in the 1960’s it’s insulting. No one is beating you, imprisoning you, killing you, sending attack dogs on you, turning water hoses on you or making you sit at that back of the bus. If Miss Etheridge chooses not to pay her taxes then the government will just seize property or levy her bank accounts, they don’t fool around with tax evaders.
Obama and Biden ARE against gay marriage. They have both stated so. Biden during his debate and Obama on several occasions. Charlie Gibson asked him during an interview and Rick Warren asked him and McCain during that question and answer session. Both Obama and McCain said they were against gay marriage but were not against civil unions. Obama stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. Melissa obviously didn’t know her candidates stand on this issue. How’s she going to stop paying taxes? Taxes are automatically deducted from her check. Please.
Her justification for not paying taxes is “she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen.”???? Of course she has the same rights as any other citizen. First, the ban on gay marriage applies to all citizens, i.e. no citizen can marry someone of the same sex. Second, the corollary of the first point is that just like every other citizen, she can marry any person of another sex that she wants.
For the entire length of human history, marriage has been between a man & a woman. Period. Now liberals want to change it into something else.
Here’s a new slogan for liberals: LIBERALS: Making the abnormal normal since 1968!
Despite all the rhetoric from both sides, there is a much greater issue than gays getting married. The will of the people, the rights of voters being overridden by a very small and arrogant group.
The people voted in 2000, gays lost, and 4 judges decided to ignore those votes. Prop 8 wasn’t about gays, it was about voter rights.
it is We the people, not I the judge
Perhaps Melissa should consult with Wesley Snipes regarding tax issues. He can be reached through Federal Prison Authorities.
You go girl! Our founding fathers said “no taxation without representation!” Whatever happened to separation of church and state?!? Even the ladies on The View looked dumb when they said that a minster could be sued for not marrying a gay couple if this law didn’t pass. That is ridiculous and ignorant !!!! The government cannot dictate what goes on in church, so why do the churches try to dictate what goes on in government. How dare these people take the rights away from others. I am a straight married woman with a beautiful family and I wish everyone could be as blessed as I am, regardless of whom they choose to love. In the 21st century it is time to end ALL discrimination of the majority over the minority! If we can elect a multi-racial President it is a first step, but we cannot stop until all our citizens have equal rights.
Melissa, Obama being elected President is an Awesome breakthrough for our Country! You being gay and wanted to get married to your girlfriend/lover/live-in friend is your personal problem and I am so proud of Prop 8 being passed…why don’t you read the Bible…namely Genesis…Adam and Eve…not Adam/Adam or Eve/Eve…traditional marriage is a Divine, God given right and is not subject to interpretation…the laws of mankind do not reflect the laws of our Heavenly Father…or were you borne from 2 mothers? Why don’t you live your life and stop trying to get the world to accept your lifestyle? Or better yet, why don’t you make a run for the presidency and then we can call it a miracle ( you did mention Obama of course….not the same thing!)
One Nation, UNDER GOD. God does not agree with such a gross thing!
And yes, thank you CA for restoring my faith in your state! :)
First, Biden did NOT say he or Obama were against gay marriage, he said they wouldn’t try to “redefine marriage”. Check the video..
Second, the opposition to gay marriage is strictly and only moral/ethical based. Our government, federal or local, should have NO BUSINESS legislating moral issues. Any of our laws (with the exception of our ridiculous and out-of-date drug laws) that can be said to “legislate morality” (i.e. murder, theft, etc) have to do with CAUSING HARM. Please, someone explain how 2 men or 2 women getting married causes HARM? It doesn’t, period. Therefore, we should not be passing laws restricting these actions, BECAUSE IT DOESN”T HARM ANYONE. If you disagree with gay marriage, don’t get married to someone of the same sex, but DO NOT restrict my happiness because “you don’t like it”.
I think it hilarious that all the ignorant, bigoted people on these comments keep saying “boo hoo, you didn’t get your way”, when that’s EXACTLY what they are trying to do. They “don’t like” gay marriage, so they’re forcing their views on everyone. Well, I “don’t like” ignorent, morally bankrupt so-called Christians, maybe I can get an amendment passed banning them.
Finally, Jesus loves everyone, and God created us all (if that’s what you believe), so stop using a book and your beliefs to hate, discriminate and condemn HUMAN BEINGS IN LOVE.
You know, Jesus’ one true message was one of love, and I can’t believe these people spouting hate are doing it in his name. When and if he does come back, I bet he’s going to be pissed…
the proposition is going to the courts here in cali from what i heard. most likely, it will get overthrown!
america the land of free? yeah fcukin right. america is a hypocrite at its best.
by the way, Obama and Biden doesn’t support gay marriage, but they also didn’t support prop 8. they’ve said it over and over that decisions about marriage should not be made about someone else regardless of how one feels.
it’s one thing not to favor gay marriage, its another when you want to INTENTIONALLY take the rights away of others just for your own selfish satisfactions. people like that are worse then trash.
#53, you have your opinions and i have mine. You are absolutely right about the government not being able to legislate a moral issue…its a moral issue! it should never have been brought before the people to decide on in the first place! just live your life and stop trying to get people to accept it because the people have spoken and they do not want to “legalize” gay marriages for the express reason that it is not divine nor does a gay union serve to bring children into this world. and stop trying to think around this because to have sexual intercourse with a man as a gay woman or to use a petri-dish or invitro is also not what God intended. God is Perfect and He loves you, but He does not love what you do.
She seems to forget that all but one state does not allow same sex marriage, not just CA…I think people are forgetting also that FL and AZ passed the same No same sex marraige prop’s this election too.
To all those who voted YES for Prop 8, be proud and be strong because it is not over…Let’s not let the government overturn this decision. You in CAL are not alone and those of us from around the country will rally with you to keep this Prop from being overturned. You voted and you won and now they want to appeal (their right to do so of course) and they may just win if you aren’t diligent enough. Let’s not let the courts win this time. A win for same-sex marriage community is a slap in the face to you and is the same as saying that your win at the polls is NOTHING and that as a majority, you suck and your vote doesn’t count. Don’t forget that your voice WAS heard and the Prop 8 was passed!
What’s the point of elections when judges can just overturn the vote of the people? If this is the case, just save all our tax dollars and just have the judges decide on everything. Respect voters rights please!
I believe it will take some incredible gyrations and backflips on the part of the California Supreme Court to declare a potion of the State Constitution unconstitutional. Given that California elects its Supreme Court justices it could be political suicide for the justices to engage in such arrogant actions.
portion not potion - OOPS
Obama has said that while he personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, he disapproved of Prop 8 and the effort to take marriage away from gay couples.
He understands what many of the religious alarmists simply can’t: That you can be against something PERSONALLY but understand how important it is to let it stand LEGALLY.
You may personally believe that divorce or interracial marriage is wrong and against your religious tradition, and you’re certainly allowed to. But when it comes to the LAW, it’s another story.
The judicial system exists PRECISELY to protect the rights of the minority from the whims of the majority. Justices are trained to interpret constitutional law in a way that the majority of citizens are not. They are there to decide on cases like this free from popular opinion. If we had let the majority vote on interracial marriage or women’s suffrage, there would still be states that keep voting those things down. If the majority is so confused as to the separation of church and state and the difference between RELIGIOUS marriage and CIVIL marriage, they have no business voting on them.
This not having the same rights drivel she is squealing about is BS. She has every single right that all women in America have. What she is talking about are SPECIAL rights..based solely on a persons sexual preferences.
OBAMA IS AGAINST GAY MARRIAGEBUT HE IS NOT AGAINST A CIVIL UNION. In his book, you are free to love whomever you wish and have civil right to back you as a citizen , BUT a marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. This WIFE - WIFE , HUSBAND - HUSBAND business is nonsense. Go with the civil union . Plus its so silly to see two men in tuxedos and two women in bridal gowns. That’s niot a marriage, that’s an imitation marriage!!
They can also be impeached! There’s always that!
Obama is for traditional definition of marriage. Two women cannot make a biological child. Get it???
YEAH on Prop.8!!!!!!!! Americans will regret voting for Obama!!!!!!
This guy has Ben Ladin in his basement!!!!!
The Dow keeps going down because many have no confidence on Obama and fear of him raising the Capital gains tax.
Obama pulling out of Iraq will be Afghanistan mistake America did against the Russians again creating Sept.11 thanks to idiots Carter and Clinton.
All the Going Green Propositions by liberals like Gore and the Kennedys and Obama’s plans lost too. All their Green propagandas talk but look at their planes,cars and homes. Bunch of liars.
Europe wants America with their godlessness and immorality.
No wonder Europe and all over are so dirt poor too.
#61, absolutely, the law is to protect the minority and valid issues and this moral issue should never had been brought to the table. Please do not compare this moral issue to interracial marriages or Women’s suffrage because they are not even the same. As proud as I am of Obama(multi-racial) being elected President, I will be even prouder when a WOMAN becomes president and that will be the truest test of whether this country can overcome their true prejudices against women and put one in the highest office. Gay people have the same rights as every other citizen except the right to marry each other and this is how it should be.
Bridget, gay people don’t have the same right to marry the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. They only have the right to marry someone of the opposite sex, which is just as ridiculous as saying that black people have the same right to marry someone of the same race as white people do… for them to want to marry someone of another race is a “special right” based on race. Utter stupidity.
Nastasia, none of our marriage laws require anyone to be able to make a baby. Can you show us which laws state that in order to get married, a couple must be able to or intend to have kids? Many heterosexuals are incapable or unwilling to have kids… should their right to marry be voted down? Many gay couples have adopted kids or biological kids from previous heterosexual unions… shouldn’t their families be equally protected?
To all those who claim they’re only trying to save marriage, I hope you’re also preparing a ballot question to outlaw divorce, otherwise, you’re just hypocrites.
Here’s Obama’s statement concerning Prop 8:
“As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law…And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states. For too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It’s time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. This is no less than a core issue about who we are as Democrats and as Americans.”
This is the difference that some people can’t wrap their brains around: to be against something personally doesn’t mean you have to force your personal opinion on everyone else.
I think Christianity is ridiculous and holds back the progress of the human race. I’m “against” it PERSONALLY, but I’d never tolerate anyone making it illegal for Christians to believe in whatever foolishness they want to. Respect and tolerance is a two-way street, so LEGALLY I understand that Christians have every right to live as they see fit, so long as it doesn’t infringe on my right to do the same.
It’s like recovering alcoholics who disapprove of drinking booze making alcohol illegal for all of us.
Not a lesser citizen, you uneducated ignorant idiot, and equal citizen, with NO EXTRA rights. If I love my dog, my car, or my cousin, should I be able to marry it/them!??????? NOPE. Get over yourself.
Oh, and just stop paying taxes; I would love it….have fun in JAIL!
#66
Ben Ladin :-D
That says it all to me….You’re such a ******* genius. All of you haters. Too funny.
“If I love my dog, my car, or my cousin, should I be able to marry it/them!?????”
Except no one has ever provided any compelling reason why marrying someone of the same sex is like any of these things. People used the same idiotic reasoning against interracial marriage.
If you think that a gay couple creating a household and raising kids together is like loving a dog or inanimate object, I’d have to say that you’re the uneducated ignorant one.
While I think Melissa is getting a little carried away, I understand how she feels. Gay people pay their taxes, contribute to society, teach your kids, bag your groceries, perform your surgeries and fight your wars. You can’t make people pay dues and then not let them into the club.
As for “extra” rights, Mark…
Gay marriage has been legal in MA for about five years now. Can you give us an example of a right that gay people have which straight people don’t?
Ant, your comments are bordering on redundant and insane at times..you make a valid point and i get the part that you are for same-sex marriage and i can feel your frustration at the passing of Prop 8, but to compare the views of Christians to an alcoholic trying to ban alcohol is mildly mental? anyhoo, where do you think we as people come from? monkeys, science or better yet, a gay union?/? to live and breathe is a testament of a God having created us, God who’s son Jesus died for our sins! Believe what you will, and in America, we do have religious freedoms, but most Americans still have strong moral beliefs which stem from Biblical times and the people have chosen to uphold that law of keeping tradition unions between man and woman, instead of same sex couples. To allow same-sex unions would open doors for other taboo unions. The bottom line to all of this is sex. sex between a man and woman produces children and our body parts are a testament of how we were created to fit each other. get my meaning? you have every right to love whomever you want and do whatever you want, but don’t try to make the rest of us accept same-sex lifestyles by making it legal.
Oh my freakin God!!! These celebrities have **** for brains. Everything seems to lead back to Obama being elected like the whole world should turn upside down. This is gonna be terrible.
Biden did say he and Obama are against gay marriages. Throw her ass in jail.
To everyone being so judgemental about gays getting married - YOU DISGUST ME! Gays are people too and they should be able to marry just like everyone else. I can’t believe the world is still so completely narrowminded.
for those who have said GOD to be perfect…so does that mean he made a boo-boo when creating the gays? hmmm…. if he’s oh so perfect, then all his creations should be seen EQUAL, regardless of how one differs from another.
gays should be allowed to marry and not be discriminated against!
you guys are seriously no different then racist!
i hope you guys grow up to have gay kids. we’ll see how you handle it then!!!
laura,
oh yeah, God in his infinite wisdom is perfect. being gay has nothing with Him being imperfect just as having a baby born with down-syndrome or heart defects etc…there are circumstances in which people are born to that we have no control over either due to factors such as a mothers diet, habits, age or genetics, too much testosterone or too much estrogen etc…sometimes people are put on this earth to test our capacity to tolerate and love and we do love people straight or gay because Lord knows that many heterosexuals are abuser’s, murderer’s, molester’s, serial killer’s etc…but as tolerant as we can be about people’s lifestyles and sexual preferences the law needs to draw the line at traditional marriage being the only kind of marriage recognized in our country. There is always MA for those who are adamant about having a same-sex union. Melissa should move there and quit complaining because the people have spoken and if this goes before vote again, the numbers are going to be even bigger for traditional marriage. God Bless!
I am really fed up with people using religion as an excuse to maim, murder, and steal.
Religion HAS NO BUSINESS interfering with the governing of state, ABSOULTELY NONE, and all you bigoted ******** know it. The passing of prop 8 is a blatant attempt to stripe taxpaying, law abiding citizens of their basic civil rights. Marriage is a religious institution and should have no legal standing in the courts. The only reason marriage has legal standing is because divorce is a legal institution that separates property and assets according to law. Other than that, marriages should only by acknowledged by YOUR particular religion and no one else, including state and federal government. The fact that it was so easy for voters to shift blame onto “God” instead of taking responsibility for their own attempts to subjugate a minority of the population is laughable and just proves that religion is misused in this country on an epic scale.
Melissa has every right to be upset by this disgusting display of hate and is dead on when she says she should not be expected to pay taxes. Why should she, as a second class citizen who is actively discriminated against, be expected to finance California and its government if that government prohibits her equal protection under the law? Why should she pay for your stop signs and your public transportation and your state infrastructure when you believe that she, as a gay citizen, is beneath you and does not deserve the same rights as you, a heterosexual Christian who also happens to be a bigot?
I am a straight female who voted NO against Prop 8 because IT IS WRONG to strip a human of their basic civil rights. Just as I would vote NO on any prop that denied a Christian to marry or live their life as they please. Get your head out of your a**es, stop being hypocrites and think about how you would feel and what you would do if this was happening to you.
And for the record, there is a special place in hell for people who abuse religion and use it as an excuse to hate. You can bet on it.
that 51% represented the sanity of human being…what’s right is RIGHT…what’s WRONG is wrong…there is no way it means gay people are 2nd class citizen but just to say…if you want NORMAL WAY TO LIVE…LIVE IT IN NORMAL MANNER!!!gay is about sex preference…not way of life…..get on with it….i gave all the respect to a many kind of people but that doesn’t mean i agree on how they do things…..so do not push that button…don’t ask for this and that just because….
She may not like it but California citizens made their decision and that’s that. Gay marriage should be decided within the states and in this case, it was. The ban should stand. And Obama is against gay marriage I heard him say it in the Saddleback Church interviews.
She sounds like a rich whiny ******* 8 year old. Waaahh, I didn’t get my way so I’m taking my ball and going home. Only in this case the ball is hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nice attitude in the middle of an economic crisis. I hope they throw her in prison.
Hate to break this to you summer, but your god has NOTHING to do with CIVIL marriage. You don’t have to believe in Jesus, Allah, Vishnu or any other deity to get married in this country. You don’t have to believe in god at ALL to get married. The government doesn’t care if you get married in a church or a courtroom. Civil marriage is not concerned with any one subjective religious view of it. The government is only concerned with liberty and equality.
Besides, many Christians, Jews, Wiccans, Unitarians and others don’t have ANY problem with gay marriage. Shouldn’t THEIR religious beliefs be protected under the law too, or just yours?
And you have yet to give us an example of any marriage law anywhere that requires a couple to be capable of having babies. I know it’s more convenient to ignore logic and reason, but could you at least try to take off your Bible-colored glasses?
Ugh these comments are seriously disgusting me. I cannot believe how ignorant people can be and it really makes me dislike some of my fellow Americans. The fact that Prop 8 was passed is despicable.
And to use God or religion in this argument is completely idiotic. There is such a thing as separation of church and state! You can have your beliefs but they shouldn’t come into the laws.
If gays marry, how is that going to do anything to YOU? Sure it might make them go to hell (if that is what you believe, which I don’t) but how does that affect you in ANY way?
I am SURE Melissa will still pay her taxes. She is just trying to make a point but she isn’t stupid. She wouldn’t risk going to jail, etc. not when she has a family.
Leah, did you notice the quote from Obama’s letter where he states his opposition to Prop 8?
Are you really unable to understand how a person could be against something PERSONALLY but be for it LEGALLY? Obama DID say he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman; and he also said that he doesn’t approve of taking anyone else’s marriage rights away from them.
In other words, you don’t HAVE to approve of something for yourself to understand that others should have the right to live as they choose.
Summer, sorry if you were offended by my analogy, but I wasn’t comparing Christians to alcoholics, I was pointing out how to enforce your personal beliefs on everyone else is ridiculous. To use another example, it’s like if vegetarians were to vote down your right to eat mean if you want to, or vice versa. Just because you may personally disagree with one side or the other doesn’t mean your preference should be forced on everyone else.
Eight years ago, when Californians voted on Prop 22, only 38% of the population supported gay marriage. The Prop 8 was MUCH closer… 48% of Californians supported gay marriage. In a few years, the majority of Californians will approve of gay marriage, it’s only a matter of time and some of you will be just as ashamed of your ignorance and bigotry now as segregationists of the sixties were then.
In the meantime, we still have two states in which gay marriage is secure, and several more states are poised to legalize it in the next year or two, making California’s debacle look even more ridiculous. It’s odd that gay marriage is taking hold on the east coast before the west coast.
btw summer, gay marriage has been legal here in MA for five years now. Can you give us an example of any other “doors” that have opened for taboo relationships within this time?
Newsflash: The government doesn’t care about sex, whether or not you have it and whether or not it results in kids. Maybe your RELIGIOUS definition of it does, but we have separation of church and state here. If you really want to live in a country where marriage laws have changed little since Biblical times, maybe you should move to the Middle East somewhere.
I live in California, and a big reason Prop 8 passed was the large numbers of minority (black and hispanic, read…more religious than typical white californian) voters that participated this year….due in part to some of Hollyweird’s Get out the Vote campaigning. Hmmm. And uhhh, Melissa and Madumpa…Obama is against gay marriage.
I live in California, and a big reason Prop 8 passed was the large numbers of minority (black and hispanic, read…more religious than typical white californian) voters that participated this year….due in part to some of Hollyweird’s Get out the Vote campaigning. Hmmm. And uhhh, Melissa and Madumpa…Obama is against gay marriage.
Whatever, the important thing is that while Obama personally disagrees with gay marriage, he does not think gay couples should have their marriage rights taken away. This is very important distinction.
It seems fairly easy to simply say “If one doesn’t pay their taxes then send them to jail.” However, what seems to be forgotten is that if every gay person living in a state where gay marriage is banned didnt pay their taxes you couldnt put them in jail because there is NO ROOM IN OUR JAIL/PRISONS NOW. As a heterosexual female I have no problem with who anyone wants to marry because who you marry is none of my business. So now that the marriage ban was passed those who voted yes to the proposition 8 now need to realize that in voting YES you now have opened the door for a very interesting and in the near future court battle….Melissa’s stand makes sense…not a full citizen….then i wont pay taxes……probable supreme court ruling…Allow gay marriage or homosexuals get a tax break
Makes sense. The outcome of prop 8 has now opened a door that I dont think 51% are going to like. Probable supreme court ruling….allow gay marriage or not allow gay marriage and be forced to give homosexual’s huge tax breaks due to them not being full citizens.
Go on fighting, Melissa. Sure your rights and your wife’s will be soon general and equal. Teocons and fanatics won’t win.
Obama got elected by 96% of the black vote and 70% of the blacks vote for prop 8 against gay marriage. Figure that!!! Melissa even blacks don’t want gay marriage!!
Okay. For the Record, I really don’t care. I have gay friends and they have the same rights as me. The only difference is it is not called Marriage. They have the same tax benefits, medical benefits, right down to maternal leave. I never understood this but to each their own. Had it failed, I would have been fine too.
But here is reality check time. Both Presidential candidates and VP candidates opposed federally legislated gay marriage. That is a FACT!
Also a fact that is wasn’t some nutjob conservatives. In fact, it’s probably because of the new voters that Obama encouraged to vote. Over 66% of African-Americans opposed Gay marriage. That is a FACT. This is not some conservative right wing wacko situation.
So Madonna can bite me. For Melissa, who is an awesome person, I am truly sorry.
But it happened in other states as well. I am sure things will change but, you can’t continue to deny what the people want. The 9th court circuit of appeals already is the most unconstitutional legal authority in history. You cannot continue to legislate from the bench.
The reason they don’t take it to the Fed level is because it would fail and everyone knows it.
There is no discrimination. If you get the same rights, then what is a simple terminology? For the most part San Francisco liberal are atheist or agnostic. Funny how the Church, which is the reason for most marriages is suddenly important. Just not enough to display religious feelings.
I don’t see the ACLU protecting Joe the Plumber for Democratic illegal witch hunts or standing up to the proposed Fairness Doctrine which will mussel free speech.
Everything is cool with protesters as long as it fits their lifestyle and agenda.
Get over it. Even in an Obama White House, they don’t want it.
Why not get married in churches as gays and leave it at that. They have the same benefits as non-gays and can say they are married. Having a state piece of paper is no big deal.
Anyway, Obama’s new voters voted it down. deal with it. Can’t have it all ways…. sorry to say.
The Truth
alot of you are ignorant ********.
Good for you! Everyone who voted Yes on Prop 8 should be ashamed of yourself…America, Land of the free??? pursuit of happiness?? state and church seperation??? It’s horrible that we are still discriminating against a certain type of people. WOW, i really thought Californians were passed that!
If she won’t pay taxes, then she shouldn’t be entitled to the same priviliges as the rest of us who pay taxes. She can’t be allowed to use the roads, she can’t have protection from the police (or fire department), she can’t live in the comfort of the USA, etc… All made possible by taxpayer’s money.
Umm.. thats why she is not paying taxes because she’s NOT ENTITLED TO THE SAME PRIVILIGES as the rest of us… Some of you are so blind!
rich men and celebrities marrying each other to be able to adopt poor women’s children who had no men to marry and take care of them… no thanks!
So Proposition 8 passed. People voted… this is a Democracy… deal with it.
By the way, so since Melissa did not get her way (tantrum…) and believe she should not have to pay taxes, I guess all the McCain supportes which REALLY did not get what they wanted (55 million + people) should not pay taxes either!
Right? It’s just dumb… Democracy means that EVERYONE expresses their opinion… Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose…
That’s life…
Oh come on, Melissa! You sound like my 5-year-old nephew. When he doesn’t get his way he starts spewing ultimatums! Get over it! You voted, as did your fellow Americans, and they didn’t agree with you!!!! It’s not the end of the world!
Thanks to YOU you will be paying more taxes than ever, so you better get used to it. I’m looking forward to getting some of your money :D
And remember what YOUR elect VP said, “Paying taxes is patriotic!”
So stop whining!!!!
WOW HOW LOW OF HER. SO I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN AT ALL, I DON’T EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE BUT I STILL PAY ALL MY TAXES! SHUT UP NASTY ***** AND YOU BETTER PAY YOUR TAXES OR MOVE TO A GAY ISLAND, LOCATED SOMEWHERE ON MARS, AND STOP COMPLAINING.
You people are such uneducated bigots! Taxes are patriot? Sure. Legal? No. Do you homework before posting and making asses of yourselves. Will she be taken to prison for not paying? Yes. Why? Because we let out government run us instead of the people running the government. It goes unchecked and becomes uncontrollable.
Every U.S. citizen has the right to marry. Marriage is a sacred union between two people. There is no room for the government in a relationship. The only reason we marry by law is for the government to collect a tax for the license. Who you marry is non of the government’s business. Noboby has the right to tell another who they can or cannot love. We cannot regulate love. We, the people, can’t make a man love a woman, if it’s not in his genetic make up. He being a gay man, shouldn’t have to spend his life alone because this country doesn’t think he has the right to marry.
We don’t govern what goes on in a straight marriage’s bedroom anymore. It’s time we let go of trying to control those that are oppressed. This country is based on FREEDOM! Let’s give all of our country men and women freedom. Freedom to marry the one person they love.
I support gay marriage. I support freedom.
You people and your man written bible! Seriously?!?!?! You say God doesn’t like gay marriage and read the bible. The bible was written by man to control the masses! I could write something that is about oppression and submissiion then say it was god inspired. Anyone can. Just because you were taught it was inspired by god, doesn’t mean it really was. Learn to think out of the box and you will make your own conclusions! Stop listening to what your told and do your own homework. Just because our parents told us that swallowing watermelon seeds would make wateremelons grow in our tummies, does mean it’s true. Even though they meant this to be a life lesson and told us these things as good parents. They meant us no harm, but they were WRONG.
Do your homework on the bible and it’s authors before accepting it as whole truth.
If Christ paid for our sins by dying, I say lets party and make sure we get our monies worth.
I thank God this ammendment to preserve marriage and its definition has passed. Who cares about the demonstations going on about this. People in California should be worrying about the wildfires.
You are a ******* IDIOT!
You need to go somewhere else where you can be treated like you want.
there is no where like that so get over it *****!
****!
FUPA!
*****!
You are a disgrace to this nation!
you are ignorant!
Unfortunately, ignorantly bigoted hetroids will continue to exist. Therefore, gay people should/must persue other avenues - instead of seeking the “umbrella label of marriage” - such as drawing up legal and binding documents which will allow them to name WHO may be presant in the event of hospitalization, WHO their money and possessions go to in the event of death, etc. I have witnessed far too many cases where families who have disowned a gay member swoop in like vultures and deny the surviving partner rights to THEIR OWN PROPERTY which was aquired and shared with the deceased. Marriage for hetroids automatically guarantees the surviving partner entitlement to money, property, hospital rights, etc. It is extremely disheartening that the travesty which is “Proposition 8″ was passed. So, until the USA truly becomes fair and indivisible with liberty and justice for all, I say: FELLOW GAYS, show that WE are stronger and WILL put in the extra effort to share the rights that hetroids have and take for granted!!!
(continued)…AND, I propose that a NEW LABLE be allocated to GAY UNIONS (hetroids could keep their “marriage” word…which would become “sooo last season”) which will guarantee ALL of the SAME RIGHTS - NOT “special rights” as many ignorami erroneously suggest that WE are asking for - and SOLVE the whole problem. Now, IF you bigots object to this, it would truly prove just how unfair and hateful you are!!!
Just to interject a little humor into this otherwise heated discourse…I say: ALL GAY florists, musicians, caterers, beauticians, dress designers, wedding planners, decorators and all others who are responsible for the making of weddings, DON’T DO IT ANY MORE! Just imagine the ruin, the chaos, the horrific ceremonies and receptions the hetroids would create!…OH, THE HUMANITY!…
I respect all your opinions, but please don’t think that gay couples have equal rights. I personally don’t care if I can get “married” or not, but what I do care about is I DO NOT have the right to keep the person I’ve been with for 2 years in this country with me when he graduates from school and although I’m supporting us both I CAN NOT claim him as a dependent on my federal taxes.
Call it whatever you like, domestic partnership, etc, but make a law that states that this union is equal to the term marriage in terms of federal and state rights.
Prop 8 won’t help either of these issues, but it’s a step in the right direction.
…oh, and one more thought…refering to the heterosexuals as “hetroids” was done deliberately to illustrate the profiling and catagorizing of a group in a term which may be taken as derogotory/condescending…what, don’t like it?!…welcome to OUR WORLD, HETROIDS!!!
…AND, FINALLY…I have a hunch that Melissa Etheridge made her tax commentary to ILLUSTRATE A POINT, not to actually follow through with it. SSSSEEEE how you all attacked her(!!!)…because, after all, we “ALL” have to pay taxes because we “ALL” are citizens of this “FAIR AND EQUAL-TREATMENT” country (…hmmm, NOT!!!…) By the way, that was sarcasm.
I absolutely understand the rage Melissa must be feeling. If you actually read the entire article, instead of this 2 sentence one, maybe you would actually spark something in your temporal lobe. Melissa and millions of others would just like to raise everyones attention. I think she go on with her fight : )
It’s not called a temper tantrum. It’s not called unpatriotic. It’s called civil disobedience.
She is allowed to get married, yet cannot call it marriage? We are spending all this time and money on legislature for a simple MATTER OF SEMANTICS?
Hell, I may not pay my taxes either, if they’re just going to waste my money on stupid crap like that.
Hey, let’s pay hundred of thousands to no longer call cats “cats.” From now on, they must be called “murtwiffs.” Why? Well, because.
We are now calling on all LGBT people to not pay taxes this year. If we are not full citizens of this country, then why should we pay taxes. The Governemnt can take us to court, I’m sure there is a judge who is going to agree.
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