Long before I became a writer and editor for the University of San Diego in the public relations office, I knew of Manchester from my mom who worked at the bank that helped finance many of his projects. At the university, buildings were named for him and he was the honored guest at function after function. Lately, though, he's been donating his cash reserves to something much less noble than education. Jones explains that Manchester "contributed $125,000 in early seed money" to support California's Proposition 8, which overturned the state's equal marriage law.
For the sake of USD, which also happens to be my undergraduate alma mater, I cringe at the thought that one of the school's major contributors is getting bad press. But for the sake of my dear friends who were married in August 2008, only to have their union nullified by the passing of Prop. 8 in November, I say, "Good on ya, Cleve. Give Clinton the what for."
Prop 8 did not overturn the state's equal marriage law. The law banning same-sex marriage had been nullified by a slim majority of the California Supreme Court, which acted contrary to the will of the people of the state. Prop 8 simply restored the law that had been in existence before.
ReplyDeleteA second issue: are you supporting the banning of free speech? Are only people who opposed the proposition are allowed to express a public opinion? Apparently so, based on the violence, physical threats, attacks on churches and damage to their facilities, and racist expressions of hate by those who opposed Prop 8. We have freedom of speech in this country and you seem to be trying to shut that freedom down.
Legal Beagle, you are stretching it a bit to say the least. Nowhere in Jill's post did she say that she was hoping to thwart the freedom of speech. As a journalist that would be counter-productive as well as counter-intuitive. She is merely supporting the move to ask former president Bill Clinton to join in the boycott of the hotel, due to it's owner having financially supported Proposition 8.
ReplyDeleteAs far as violence perpetrated by those opposed to Prop 8, it is unfortunate when protests get out of hand and citing many decades of violence against the LGBTQ community doesn't justify more violence. It would be wonderful if we could express our differences peacefully and allow each other to live in peace.
I would have to say that an economic embargo is a much better way to protest than fighting and property destruction.