The low point of the November election in 2008 was the California passage of Proposition 8, seeking to overturn the decision of the California Supreme Court that declared gay marriage to be a fundamental right.  This Proposition was promoted by fanatics of the religious right, and the Catholic Church on the premise that they were saving "traditional marriage."

Traditional (Tarzan and Jane) marriages have been in serious trouble for several decades.  Half the marriages in California, and most of the nation, have collapsed in divorce.  I have been practicing family law in California for 30 years, and can confirm that heterosexual marriages have been falling apart long before this brief period when gay marriage was legal in California.  It's tragic. Failed families aggravate every conceivable social problem in our culture.  Rather than addressing the issue of failed relationships directly, many churches have acted to distract their congregations by attacking homosexuals.

Druid liturgy embraces science.  All forms of sexuality, including transgender, are found not only in humans, but in other species as well.  Therefore, we embrace all forms of sexuality as a sacred part of nature. 

There is no logical relationship between attacking gay marriage, and maintaining sound heterosexual relationships.  Attacking that which is different is an insect behavior that does not promote survival at our level of evolution. Yet such behavior is promoted from pulpits throughout the nation, with misinformation, and the stirring-up of this "us vs. them" compulsion that has been with us for hundreds of thousands of years: since our "early biped" phase. It's obvious that some of our evolutionary baggage does not travel well. Those who don't believe in evolution are condemned to repeat it.

Proponents of Proposition 8 insist that the Bible should direct our traditions in civil marriage.  Here is what the Bible says about marriage and relationships:

• "Marriage shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women.”
       — Genesis 29:17-28

• "Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives.”
       — II Samuel 5:13 and II Chronicles 11:13

• "Marriage between a believer and non-believer is forbidden.”
       — Genesis 24:3

• "Since there is no law that can change things, divorce is not possible.”
       — Genesis 38:6-10

• "Marriage is considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If she is not a virgin, she shall be executed.”
       — Deuteronomy 22:13

• "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.”
       — Deuteronomy 22:28

• "If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
       — Deuteronomy 24:1

• "If a married man dies, his brother must marry his sister-in-law.”
       — Deuteronomy 25:5-10

• "They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.”
       — Leviticus 21:7

• "The woman he marries must be a virgin. He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, so he will not defile his offspring among his people.”
       — Leviticus 21:13

• "But if a priest's daughter becomes a widow or is divorced, yet has no children, and she returns to live in her father's house as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food. No unauthorized person, however, may eat any of it.”
       — Leviticus 22:13

• "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.”
       — Numbers 30:9

• "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
       — Matthew 5:32

• "Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because you hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.' ”
       — Matthew 19:8

• "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
       — Luke 16:18

• "When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
       — Mark 10:10-12

It appears that the proponents of Proposition 8 are not, themselves, embracing everything the Bible says about marriage and relationships.  Misinformation, logical disconnects, and hypocrisy do not justify our denying our fellow citizens their civil rights.  We arise to oppose the passage of Proposition 8 and the evil it represents. On January 10, 2009, the Council of 7 of the House of Danu acted to join with the California Council of Churches in their Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) briefs in support of the three lawsuits filed to void Proposition 8 that are presently before the California Supreme Court, Case Numbers: S168047, S168066, and S168078. Let this be an end to it.  Our culture has some real issues to confront if we are to survive.

James L. Bianchi, Esq.

Gorsedd Master

House of Danu