MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA RELEASES REPORT: “PROP 8 HURT MY FAMILY, ASK ME HOW” – A COMPILATION OF REAL STORIES FROM THE CAMPAIGN

"Marriage Equality USA® received hundreds of gut wrenching stories, particularly from children of same-sex couples and LGBTI youth, that describe harm and even threats and violence that resulted from California's Prop 8 campaign," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA® Media Director. "These stories mirror research released this month from the American Psychological Association that anti-gay initiatives create psychological stress 'as a direct result of negative images and messages associated with the ballot campaign and the passage of the amendment.'"

"From our community forums hosted across California and our on-line survey, over 1,200 people shared specific instances of the harms they experienced as a result of these anti-gay initiative campaigns," stated Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. "In our second report summarizing grassroots input, ‘Prop 8 Hurt My Family – Ask Me How,’ we share a cross-section of these personal stories to illustrate how Prop 8 hurt real people, frightened children of same-sex couples, promoted bullying in schools, caused straight allies to experience homophobia, tore apart families and destroyed neighborhoods.”

A copy of this report can be found on our home page (http://www.marriageequality.org) or directly at http://www.marriageequality.org/uploads/library/REPORT%20TWO_PROP_8_HURT_MY_FAMILY_FINAL_VERSION.pdf
Our report also includes a list of counseling and community resources to provide additional support to those harmed by Prop 8’s campaign.

A sampling of the stories in the report include:

• "It is frustrating and exhausting to go through the course of each day feeling like we somehow have to defend our marriage," a perspective from one same-sex couple;
• "My six-year old, the day after we lost Prop 8, asked me, with tears running down his face, if we were still a family" a story from a lesbian parent;
• "I work in a high school and the students have begun gay bashing openly now. They feel the majority has voted that being gay is not ok, thus they can make fun of them," a California school administrator;
• "My gay son and I started rallying on visible corners…. I was told I was going to hell… My son was spit on, called names, told he was a demon and a pedophile. It was hard for me, but all I could see was the pain on my son’s face," one mother’s story;
• "My father and brother voted Yes on 8. It was a stab wound to my heart," a story from one gay daughter; and
• "The large presence of Yes on 8 lawn signs in my neighborhood…left me with a hostile feeling and I’m not gay. I can’t imagine how unwelcoming that atmosphere must have felt on any gay neighbors," Placer County perspective.
  

"These stories reveal the real-life impact that these divisive and hateful ballot measures have had on people," said McKay. "We are hopeful that in sharing these stories, fair-minded Americans will reflect on these harms and help us stop any future ballot campaign aimed at stripping people of their fundamental rights. Voting down the basic family protections and dignity of your neighbors, family and friends violates the most basic tenets of the Golden Rule which instructs 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you.’”

Despite all these harms, same-sex couples, their children and other supporters have made it clear that we will continue to fight for the same dignity, respect and security that only marriage provides. The report concludes with stories that describe why the California Supreme Court needs to overturn Prop 8. Our hope in sharing these stories is that Californians, including those who voted Yes on 8, we will, upon careful reflection, come to the conclusion that no individual and no family should ever have to go through these experiences.

This report is the second of three to be issued by Marriage Equality USA summarizing grassroots input. Our third report to be issued later in January will provide Marriage Equality USA's road map for the future on how to best harness the energy of grassroots supporters to engage in outreach and education in support of marriage equality in all 50 states and at the federal level.

All three reports will be posted and available for download on Marriage Equality USA's home page (www.marriageequality.org).