Marriage is NOT equality. Some issues around the No on 8 Movement

last night, i attended the massive protests against prop 8's passing this week (votes are still being counted.. but.. you know). i felt a lot of things about it. let me begin by saying i am completely against ANY legalizing, state sanctioned discrimination against gender, race, sexuality and most commonly, class. being a queer woman who loves woman (and queers), i of course was heart broken at the CA's ability to hold such homophobic values at such a "modern" age.
with that said, i have a few bones to pick.

unfortunately, because we live in a racist, patriarchical, transphobic, capitalist society, the divisions constructed along lines of race, class and sexuality stood stark in this movement. there was talk about communities of color being responsible for the passing of this fucked up proposition, whether to do religion or simple homophobia... for example, the mission had a lot of "yes on prop 8" signs, causing comments to be made about latino homophobia and their lack of ability to separate church from state. i feel that because the face of the lesbians/gay movement is still white, is still middle class, it allows categories of ALL marginalized people to stay separated. at a time when the economic crisis is sending more people of color into the streets (because capitalism and classism and racism work TOGETHER) and into prisons, the fight for marriage equality can still be seen as not the most representative of equality, justice and human rights from the perspective of someone facing material, everyday struggle to eat, work, support their families (a fast-growing population) both queer and straight. i am not saying that marriage equality is not important, but rather, i feel that it is important to look at ALL issues and how they integrate to keep ALL people oppressed, across race, class, gender, sexuality.

i was also uncomfortable with this movement being compare to that of the civil rights movements. although all movements have been problematic (whether it be because of sexism, ignorance of queer issues, etc), these movements are not THE SAME. they can be relational, but it is unfair to say that "this is just like back when they were fighting for racial quality"... because its not. the stakes are different. the civil rights movement rose out of people of color facing continued oppression, violence, discrimination, segregation after SLAVERY, after latinos/asians/other folks of color had experienced their land, culture, and humanity be fucked over by a racist, sexist, capitalist state through war, imperialism, HISTORY. but i am not separating the issues, i just want to illuminate the complexities. and it is even more complex when we remember that there are and always have been QUEERS OF COLOR (who have historically felt isolated by both the mainstream LGBT movement and movements for racial equality)....

also... prop 2 and prop 8 connections being made... an example of a sign: "Animals are treated better than Gays in California!".... um... people are still treated worse than animals. people are still caged in california, gay and straight. why just fight for queers, not all people who face oppressive treatment worse than that of animals...

these are a few of the reasons why i didnt feel like i was a part of the protest, despite my desire to participate... which broke my heart again, because heterosexism/homophobia is a real issue i and many people experience daily. but its not the only thing. i dont not feel this campaign represented my beliefs around the issue, and instead stuck to problematic political goal of inclusion rather than challenging the institution.
i know many people may not agree with me or can find critique in my argument, which i openly welcome. this is a point of dialogue, of ranting, because i have a ball in my chest. I am ready to talk these boundaries down into action.