It’s not just a matter of choosing between Obama and McCain on the Nov. 4 ballot. Among the 12 state propositions is No. 8, “The Eliminates Rights of Same-Sex Couples to Marry Act.”

Same-sex couples currently have the legal right to marry in California as the result of a May 15 state Supreme Court ruling that overturned a ban on such unions.

If passed, Proposition 8 will strip gay and lesbian couples of this right and amend the state Constitution to say that only a marriage between one man and one woman would be valid or recognized under the law. 

Proponents of Proposition 8 say its importance does not lie in denying rights to same-sex couples. Rather, it is about protecting the rights of children.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Sonja Eddings Brown, deputy communications director for ProtectMarriage.com, said: “We must protect the rights of our children or we’re going to have gay marriage introduced in our schools – in elementary schools is what we are really concerned about. And children’s rights won’t be protected; only adult rights … It’s really about us being true to our kids.”

Brown said the greater consequence of not passing Proposition 8 would be gay activists using the law as a “can opener or a sledge hammer on anyone who doesn’t see the world their way.”

Opponents of Proposition 8 dismiss these ideas.

“First of all, there is absolutely nothing in this initiative that says a word about children,” said Lilia Tamm, Director of Youth Outreach for NoOnProp8.com. “It is about the union between two men and two women and essentially what they are trying to do is scare everybody.

“It’s draconian. It’s these old scare tactics.”

Tamm added: “Gay and lesbian people… are our neighbors; they are our friends; they are our policemen; they are our fire officers; they are members of our community. And people in our community deserve to have equal rights to one another, no better no worse.”

This sentiment is echoed by Dayana Claghorn, president of the DVC Queer Strait Alliance, a club which works to bring together and support students regardless of sexual orientation.

“It’s important that Proposition 8 fail,” she said, “because it basically denies people equal rights … and our nation is founded on the idea of equal rights for all.”

For DVC English instructor Lisa Orta, the outcome of the November vote hits close to home. Having recently married her long-time partner, she hopes voters will keep history in mind when entering the voting booth.

“They need to think of it in the context of giving African Americans the right to vote, of giving women the right to vote, of giving mixed race couples the right to marry,” Orta said. “It’s not a gift. It’s not a privilege. It’s a human right.”

The Inquirer conducted an informal survey of students, and found that none were in support of the proposition.