the storm is coming?

Gay Californians can get married today. I must admit that the thought makes me somewhat nauseous.

Not because I'm anti-gay marriage. Partner and I have been together almost 13 years. Anyone that knows us knows about how many struggles we've been through simply because we couldn't get a marriage licence. Anyone that knows us knows we would marry in a heartbeat if we could.

Yet. I'm nauseous.

I look around and I see groups like the Westboro Baptist Church, the Promise Keepers, the Focus on the Family, Exodus International, and many others and I think "WOW!" all these groups lining up on the other side of the fence ready to attack me? [Really, US, but politics are personal.]

And I get nauseous.

I think I see what's coming. Court battle after court battle. Demonstration after demonstration, all over the news. Shouting, finger pointing, moralizing, much done in the name of God -- on both sides -- a sort of mini-crusade -- with plenty of casualties. The world will watch and think: "Didn't they learn anything the last time they denied people rights?" The shouts will ring out: "This is different! These aren't people! These are just fags! [yes Matthew, I still remember]. Burn them! Burn them! Crucify!

After many, many years in Washington D.C., I've been jaded to the point that all I see is the fight and know it's going to be a long one. How many paintings will there be of gay couples being turned away at church steps while holding marriage licenses? How many post-hoc amendments will crush gay families? There are more of them than there are of us. And, we don't exactly have friendly courts on our side. At least not yet.

Surely, that wouldn't happen in today's society? Got to go, my stomach hurts.

straight civil disobedience

The gay people are coming! The gay people are coming! To arms! To arms!

After the Supreme Court of California, with a majority of Reagan appointees I will add, decided that it was right and just for gays to get married, it seems that not all of California is ready for this to happen. Imagine my surprise. Kern County's Ann Barnett has decided that she will stop performing all wedding ceremonies just so she doesn't have to perform the gay ones.

Fantastic.

The lengths some people will go to, to deny human rights to others. History will judge you Ann Barnett. You will be remembered, and it wont be fondly. You will be that woman (no, not Lewinski) in California who tried to stop love, and failed. I hope your proud.

Follow the link for more information:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/07/america/NA-GEN-US-Gay-Marriage-Clerk.php

the unique status -- straight people are special

While on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Senator McCain told Ellen that he believed in "the unique status of marriage between a man and a woman." Not earth shattering news. The "unique status" (or a variant thereof) catch-phrase is repeated time and time again by those opposing same-sex marriage -- including Senators Obama and Clinton. Watch them. I love how they say it. They rarely make eye-contact. Instead they look down (or up) and to the side, pause, get a concerned, reverential, and benevolent expression on their face, and whisper -- firmly but with conviction -- I believe in the blah blah blah. It's as if the Holy Spirit itself swooped down, engulfed them and made the point. My God, how is an interviewer supposed to argue with the Holy Spirit?

It looks like this year, at least on this issue, we're left with no options. Gay people do not have the right to get married, at least not according to those running for president. Although the position is clear enough, I have yet to hear a fully developed "why?" in defense that does not dissolve into a God-centered religious, baby-making, child raising, home creating, world-ending, discussion. Note, I am neither anti-God, nor anti-baby. Interviewers apparently do not want to press the candidates too hard on the "why" lest they should be seeing as dueling with the Holy Spirit. Once the candidate says something like "this is what I believe," the interviewer folds. God has been invoked. The interviewer can't go further. And, we're are forced to swallow whatever religious dogma the candidate is vomiting.

I know, it sounds like I'm anti-religious dogma. Maybe. I don't know. It's not religion however, it's how it's being played. It's politics. And, politicians. After much time spent in Washington, D.C., I am decidedly anti-Politics ("p" capitalized on purpose --the type of politics that panders, that specializes in which way the wind is blowing -- wait, we should always capitalize Politics). And, anti-Politician (capitalized for obvious reasons). These same individuals who claim Gays demand special rights because they want to be treated like everybody else argue that heterosexuals have the right to a unique status by virtue of some moral authority. Doesn't unique sound an awful lot like special? Not to a politician. Who else but a politician can make an argument like that -- and get away with it?

Call them on it. Make them answer the "why?" Don't let them obfuscate the issue. Let them know they are not special.