How Discouraging Dissent in California is Bringing Old World Oppression to America. 

Using intimidation, threats, and public shaming, activists are discouraging dissent in California.

In a violation of privacy acts and common decency, gay rights activists who were frustrated with Californians who supported Proposition 8 during the November 2008 election posted addresses and names of targets on the internet and public forums. 

Proposition 8 was an amendment to the constitution of the state of California defining marriage in California as being valid only when it was between persons of the opposite gender, i.e., one man and one women.

Activists, who had used the courts to overturn previous legislation explicitly defining marriage in Re Marriages Cases earlier in 2008 were outraged to find that a majority of citizens in the most liberal and GLBT friendly state in the nation failed to support their cause in a voting situation. 

In a blow to democracy, activists began actively discouraging dissent with a campaign of harassment against those who had supported the bill.

Despite the fact the first amendment promises free speech to all, even those who disagree, activists felt that by using intimidation tactics and discouraging dissent they would be helping their case. 

Instead, negative press has ensued, leaving a bitter legacy on the ground in California that could have been avoided but for a single judicial ruling in the spring.

Flip Flop Led to Trouble

Having previously voted in legislation defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, many Californians were outraged when Re Marriages Cases overturned the popular vote and created legal gay marriage in California using judicial fiat.

Discouraging dissent, civic authorities strong armed local business into catering, hosting, and officiating at the ceremonies. 

Silenced citizen fumed. Most Americans in the same situation would fume as well. Activist judges overturning a public vote?

It was a dangerous precedent made worse by the media and the millions of dollars that bought commercials and canvassers in the months leading up to the repeat vote.

The judges had created a nightmare in the streets. 

Pushing the Hot Button Again

There’s no denying that gay marriage is a hot button issue in America. For Californians to have to vote on it twice was an unnecessary injustice.

Even worse, knowing that people had voted their conscience, activists behaved badly with their black lists and harassment campaigns. 

Hoping for a repeal, activists discouraging dissent through intimidation are forgetting the basics of human nature and the realities of the ballot box.

Harassment doesn’t win friends, and publicly harming someone who disagrees with your stance will not win them over.

Further, the ballot box is a private place harried neighbors will not vote in favor of measures they don’t in their hearts support.

The whole incident has been ugly through and through. By disrespecting the democratic process in the courts, the opportunity was created for further rights violations in the streets.

Free speech and dissent on issues should be protected from all sides, and the California incident is just a reminder why Americans must constantly be on guard.