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Gay marriage tirade

Andrew Chapin of New York holds a sign during a rally outside the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Gay rights advocates want the Legislature to approve legislation to legalize gay marriage in New York. The Democrat-led state Assembly passed a gay marriage measure in 2007 and is expected to do so again. But Democrats in charge of the state Senate say they currently lack the votes for passage. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Will California be the next state to uphold equal rights to all? We should know by May 26^th (10 a.m. P.S.T. to be exact). The California Supreme Court is reviewing whether "Proposition 8 is invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution." It will also consider whether Proposition 8 violates "the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution," and what effect the measure has, "if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?" Proposition 8 added a clause to the California state constitution stating "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." It passed on November 5, 2008. 

 

I am hoping California will join the list of states upholding equal rights to all. Obviously I am a proponent of gay marriage. I admit bias as a gay female, but my main point of contention is based on denial of civil rights. Asking a large group of tax-paying citizens to equivocate on their share of civil rights, due to the fear and moral judgment of another group of tax-payers, seems illogical. However a majority vote to deny another group equal protection under the law is acceptable within our political system. I understand that the inalienable right of voters is an essential part of our system. Equal rights cannot be achieved for any minority group until they achieve acceptance and receive support from a significant number of people within the majority. 

 

The message sent by voters is that the majority are worried that being gay is a contagion…like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Oh the nightmare! Oh the horror!  A lesbian in our midst could virally taint the female population. All females within her presence would inexplicably feel a sudden disdain for men. They would develop superhuman mechanical ability, a compulsion to shave their heads, rescue dogs, grow out their body hair and line dance. A gay man could potentially infect the unsuspecting heterosexual males he encounters with rhythm, a keen eye for fashion, a compulsion for cleaning, a compelling need to collect cologne and a raging libido (oh, wait, that’s the same either way).   

 

The far right is worried that tolerance will be taught in schools, encouraging children to view gay marriage as acceptable or, gasp, normal. I would argue that teaching children that being gay is abnormal, perverse and depraved does not reduce the number of homosexuals, though it does increase the number of suicides amongst gay children/teens/adults. Teaching children to hate others or teaching self loathing is a bad idea. The boy who committed suicide in Atlanta a few weeks ago broke my heart. 

 

I think “fag” may be the first derogatory term that young children learn and can get away with using on a regular basis.  We are raised to believe homosexuality is a negative from an early age.  I remember being at a roller skating rink with my aunt when I was 8 or 9. She is only a few years older than me. We were there with several of her friends. She told me to go tell this other groups of kids “I am gay.” I thought gay meant happy and did as I was told. The kids laughed at me and taunted me. I walked back over to her confused and bewildered. She, and her friends, laughed at me and poured their drinks on my head. She told me later what “gay” meant. I still didn’t understand why anyone would care.  

 

I have a hard time understanding why people are so interested in other people’s relationships. If marriage was sacred, then the divorce rate would be lower. My father (genetically) has been sacred 8 times. Does that make him a Prophet? Marriage provides legal definition and protection, which is recognized by the state. Marriages occur at courthouses as well as within churches. If religious institutions refuse to marry gay couples, it is their right to do so. Taking over the definition of a word and all of the legal protections afforded by that word is unacceptable. The rights afforded by state sanctioned union should be available to all couples who wish to undertake “until death do us part.” If the government won’t protect my equal rights and protection under the law, then why are they so amenable to taking my gay tax money?

 

Why does one group of people feel compelled to pursue an agenda that denies rights to another group (other than the obvious motives of oppression, exploitation or eradication)? If God/Allah or any other deity is chafed about queers, then I am sure He/She/It has the power to retaliate. There are about a million issues that our species really needs to address immediately. With over a 50% divorce rate in this country, I think folks need to focus on their own relationships and keep their noses out of others’ business.

 

Unfortunately I live in a red state. Georgia is likely to be at the end of the line on gay marriage. Georgia does not have a glorious track record on civil rights. I am hoping the oasis of Atlanta pushes Georgia ahead of Mississippi and Alabama, but I am not holding my breath. They don’t call it the 'Bible Belt' for nothing. A pointless aside…Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn” is the soundtrack in my head as I write this.