In 1928, my future grandfather met the woman he wanted to marry. They had to do so in Mexico because he was a Japanese man living in Pasadena and, at that time, California prohibited Asians from marrying people of European descent. The Bible was frequently used to defend such laws (see Genesis 24:3).

In 1960, one of their sons, my father, met the woman he wanted to marry. When they did so, they had to have two ceremonies, because she was Lutheran and he was Catholic and the Catholic church would not honor a Lutheran wedding.

Now it is 2009 and, once again, next door, down the street, somewhere
close by, there are two people who want to marry and, once again,
religion and the state are obstacles they have to overcome.

Who are we to tell them no? Who are we to use religion to condemn them? Love in its myriad forms is a holy thing. Religion, when given proper voice, helps us bear witness to this holiness.

What was done to my grandparents and parents was wrong. On Nov. 3, the voting public will have a chance to rectify the prejudice of the past by ensuring it is not state-sanctioned in the future.

I encourage the public to join me in voting “no” on Question 1.

Michael Hayashida, Auburn