As part of a larger mock election unit he’s conducting at Pitman High School in Turlock, teacher Isaac W. Farhadian had his students in AP U.S. government and politics, U.S. government and economics write letters to the editor.
Because of the volume of letters, we are breaking them up by ballot proposition. We will run batches of letters, edited primarily for length, in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election. This is the third bunch of letters.
Opinion
The following letters regard Proposition 3 , which would amend the California Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. It would remove language in the California Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
Continue California’s legacy of equal rights
Dear Editor,
What’s the difference between the same sex getting married than opposite genders? In agreement to California being supportive and protecting freedom, why is the same sex getting married an issue? Prop. 3 protects the right to those to be able to marry legally regardless of their sex. The race or gender of an individual should not interfere with the right to marry. California has always been a leader in protecting civil rights and individual freedoms. Proposition 3 continues that legacy to hopefully allow any race and any gender to be able to have equal rights for marriage. There’s no reason why gender or sexuality should play any role in what they can and can’t do, because everyone SHOULD have equal rights. Same genders together have already been normalized and the LGBTQ community would be affected by this change. California is an open-minded and equal state, therefore people should vote YES on Proposition 3 to finally normalize this issue.
Vianka Del Real, Turlock
Get rid of old, obscene language in state Constitution
Dear Editor,
Curse the old language! If you vote yes for Proposition 3, then a new language will replace it. This will improve the state Constitution because it will say who and what can marry in a more specific way. The people who gain something from this are the LGBTQ+, who in 2015 finally got the right to marry. However, the Constitution’s wording doesn’t acknowledge they can get married because it states that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” We should be able to change it to say everyone because it’s unfair to the LGBTQ+ community. If you vote no, then the obscene old language will stay in the state Constitution. Some people who don’t want it think it will open up the door to child marriages, incest, and polygamy because it doesn’t say that you can’t marry your relatives. The way we make it happen is to vote on it, so vote yes for Prop. 3 to change the world.
Nathan Willman-Garcia, Turlock
Proposition 3 would open a Pandora’s box
Dear editor,
I am not against gay marriage, living your life and the freedom to do as you wish, but the rewriting of the California Constitution and the repealing of Prop. 8 (2008) is unnecessary. Prop. 3 will write that “The right to marry is a fundamental right.” This will allow for manipulation of the Constitution and open a Pandora’s box for marriage of/to anything of interest, Ex: cousins/family members. LGBTQ members believe they need more and more power and that same-sex marriage is not supported in California, when in reality it is greatly supported through the use of a civil union, allowing for the same benefits as straight marriage. Prop 3 is the process of an unnecessary empowerment for the LGBTQ community who are stuck in a power struggle believing they must have everything favored to them. It has become politically incorrect to disagree with the LGBTQ community. In order to fix this, why not simply let everyone live their lives and accept each other without impeding on others through personal ideologies.
Elijah Rhoads, Turlock
Strangers marrying is none of your concern
Dear Editor,
How would you like it if strangers voted against your relationship? Proposition 3 asks we repeal Proposition 8, passed in 2008, which banned same-sex marriage. If passed, it will recognize that everyone in the state of California has the right to marry.
Personally, I find the fact that Prop. 8 was passed to be a strange notion, as I am aware that the relationships of complete strangers is none of my concern. Realistically, why should I be able to deny people across the state the right to marry simply because they are the same gender?
Majority of the time, when people get married, unless you know them, you will not even be aware, because their relationship is not of any concern to you. Additionally, because homophobia is still prevalent all over the country, the majority of same-sex couples keep to themselves regarding their relationships. Oftentimes, you might never even know they are in a same-sex relationship.
Mind your own business, vote “yes” on Proposition 3.
America Pena, Turlock
Enshrine the right to marry in California
Dear Editor,
The government needs to stay out of the intimate relationships of law-abiding, rule-following citizens. Whether it be abortion, fertility care, or – in the case of this letter – the right to marry regardless of sex or gender identity. It’s simply not their (nor us voters’) business.
Californians have the option to enshrine the right to marry in the state Constitution, protecting it from a potential reversal of Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that federally legalized same-sex marriage. Our choice and their protection comes in the form of Proposition 3, the measure on the 2024 California ballot that would finally repeal an amendment to the state Constitution from Proposition 8 (2008), which said only marriage between a man and a woman is valid in California.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 proved that some protections that we hold dear are up to the states. As a state with over 2 million LGBTQ+ individuals, comprising over 9% of our state’s population, we must all step up to protect our neighbors if Obergefell v. Hodges faces the same fate as Roe v. Wade.
For your fellow citizens, my LGBTQ+ peers, and love, vote “yes” on Prop 3.
Vien Shiloh Santiago, Turlock
Stand for people to wed whom they want
Dear Editor,
Proposition 3 stands for the people’s right to wed who they want, as it would repeal the wording in California’s Constitution that limits marriage to exclusively between a man and a woman. This change will only be in the language, for the act of same-sex marriage will remain legal despite the outcome. Not to ruffle your feathers, but if penguins can be gay, we can, too.
This proposition is not opening the gates for child or incestuous marriages, as detractors would say. Altering the language in a document does not diminish the preexisting laws we have to protect people from harm. This false equivalence is to distract you from the fundamental right being taken away — the stated ability for two consensual parties to marry. Our state Constitution’s language should reflect the inclusivity of marriage between willing parties.
Vote YES on Proposition 3. As the land of freedom, our California Constitution should reflect our integral values accurately.
Guadalupe Gonzalez, Turlock
Don’t disrespect God’s gift of marriage
Dear Editor,
It is absolutely essential that everyone in California votes no on Proposition 3. Proposition 3 proposes the repeal of Proposition 8, which states that marriage is between a man and a woman. If Proposition 3 is passed into law, there will be no strict definition of a marriage, implying that anyone can marry anyone they like. This would be wrong because God created men to marry women, and women to marry men. The abolition of this factual definition will do no benefit for this state, but instead disrespect the gift of marriage that God has given to us. We must not mock this beautiful privilege by opening the door to the assumption that a man can marry a man or a woman can marry a woman. It is crucial that we reject the lies of the secular world and show gratitude for all that God has given us. By voting no on Proposition 3, we will be protecting the definition of a marriage from the lies that the world is trying to feed us. Vote no on Proposition 3.
Dominic Crawford, Turlock
Marriage is a fundamental right
Dear Editor,
Why is the state of California trying to backtrack? Since when did the position and identification of marriage have such a strong grasp upon the hearts of California citizens? Eliminating the traditional statement of man and woman in marriage encourages advancement in the rights of marriage and who is involved in this celebration of love, and that is what Proposition 3 is proposing. The definition of marriage should not be specific to a certain group of people, as this proposition wants to declare marriage as a fundamental right in the state of California to everyone, it must include all groups and target the lives of those who choose to marry and that is beyond many different backgrounds. As citizens of California and the United States, we must set the example for comprehensive enrichment of the surrounding areas. Voting yes on Proposition 3 is that first step at leading towards a more unified and complete society.
Alani Lunares, Turlock
Change verbiage that is hurtful to LGBTQ+ community
Dear Editor,
It’s outrageous that in this day and age the right to marry is not protected under the state Constitution. According to Proposition 8, a marriage is defined as a union between man and woman. Proposition 3 aims to repeal the old proposition and redefine it as a fundamental right. This needs to be done as the current clause is outdated and constricting. Nevada was the first state to repeal their same-sex marriage ban from their constitution, and two other states are voting on it this year. Although same-sex couples can marry in California, this clause uses old verbiage that is hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community. California is known for being one of the states that leads the LGTBQ+ rights movement and this proposition reflects the opposite. Without Prop. 3, same-sex marriages will still be allowed in California, they just won’t be protected under the state Constitution. For this reason, any opposition to the proposition would just be an attempt to instill the fear-mongering that is already put on the LGBTQ+ community. As a whole, there are no good reasons to oppose Prop. 3, as passing it will only make the LGBTQ+ community feel more safe and welcome in California.
Everest Colnic, Turlock
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