Keith Olbermann expressed his disappointment over the passage of Proposition 8 with an emotional six-minute Special Comment Monday, calling the vote “horrible” and identifying the issue as a “question of love.” Proposition 8 rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry in California, a right which was granted in May by the California Supreme Court after a 4-3 vote deemed a previous statute, Proposition 22, a violation of the equal protection clause of the state’s constitution.

Olbermann reminded viewers of the history of marriage in the United States and the struggle, violence, and racism that sometimes accompanied the institution–marriages between slaves were not recognized, and as late as 1967, sixteen states had laws forbidding unions between black and white citizens. “The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn’t have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead,” Olbermann said. “What is this, to you?” the host continued. “Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don’t you, as human beings, have to embrace…that love?”

–Erica Landau

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