No matter how passionate you are about Marriage Equality, it is in your best interest to understand the nuances of Walker’s decision, and what the next steps may mean. It could mean the difference between an end to Prop 8 for California, or a cornerstone for the foundation of the case that will allow Same- Sex Marriage across the entire country.
It isn’t being gay that is the problem, but rather it is the abuse, humiliation and isolation that come from living in a homophobic environment. David tried the “pray the gay away” and it doesn’t work. It drove him to a nervous breakdown, and almost suicide. Trying to not be gay is what leads people to suicide.
I think from time to time, from a gay man’s perspective, it can seem as if it is us (LGBT’s) against them (everyone else) as if that everyone else is a solid, unified group of folks. The reality is there are many factions and groups of folks, all with their own agenda. I saved this link a week or so ago to write about. It is really a (non) group that is pretty scary. As[Read More…]
The other option is for everyone to accept that there are two parts to marriage. There is the legal part, and a ritual/religious part. Gays and Lesbians are seeking equality in terms of the first- the legal or civil marriage. It’s not that some same-sex couples don’t want the whole church wedding, because some do, but that we aren’t demanding that every church honor same-sex weddings. So any of those churches who do celebrate same-sex marriage- that’s great, and for those that don’t, no big deal.
I posted yesterday and last week about the gay bashing in Highland Park, and the meeting with zone 5 police where we focused on response time, and the commitment of the police to treat all crimes equally because some within the LGBT community feel as if some police are not interested in helping if the victim is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person. The police, including an out lesbian officer affirmed for me that[Read More…]
Either way, from Glen Beck claiming that the Washington Monument building was halted during the Civil War (impossible since it wasn’t even begun till well after the war ended) and his co-opting of Martin Luther King, to the entire “don’t tread on me” Tea Party movement, any of these groups who are opposed to anything progressive are destroying the true basis of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by fictionalizing our past.
Yet, my experience also shows me how successful the anti-gay forces have been in their attempt to define being gay as a choice and a lifestyle. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what laws we pass- as long as enough people buy into that falsehood, the future for LGBT equality will be a rocky one.
If a police officer comes to take a report, and you feel that she or he directly ignores evidence or facts, then that itself should also be reported. If you ever feel that a police officer doesn’t treat you acceptably, at least in zone 5, the commander wants to know about it, because he expects all of his officers to treat everyone with dignity, respect and the full attention of the law.