The degree to which the very Constitution, or at least what it means is at stake, should give anyone from the progressive left to the vast moderate middle a pause, and then help them hurry to the ballot box to protect the very foundation of the country. Or it may be too late.
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.
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.
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.
All of these are opportunities by the defenders of the status quo to other a stereotyped group of individuals so that they are isolated and villainized. Villains are scary, right?
Then Walker handed down his prop 8 ruling, and everything started to shift. Imagine if there were 50 there without much organization, how big of a crowd could have been gathered if there was a major push to create a real counter demonstration?
I’m here to praise Isiah Thomas. He and his son Joshua, a DJ, have posed for the NOH8 Campaign, adding their support to the fight for same-sex marriage and equality for all.
Countering NOM may make Marriage Equality supporters feel good, and let them blow off a bit of righteous steam, they also totally play into meeting NOM’s needs and help them garner publicity where they might not otherwise get any. Why are we helping them be successful, even if it makes us feel good?
It never ceases to amaze me how trampled the constitution is by some of the very folks who scream the loudest that the Democrats are destroying our country
On the one hand, since there is no reason at all for the state to deny same-sex couples the right to marry, there is no reason, not to allow them to begin marrying right away. On the other hand, the Judge, and his decision are under heavy scrutiny. It could be seen as “pushing the gay agenda” to allow same-sex marriages to restart, and that could take someone away from the detailed, thoughtful, comprehensive, and logical decision that the Judge wrote. At stake however, is the rights of thousands of California couples to marry over the next year or so, and to fail to allow that would be the same as doing what was deemed unacceptable in his decision.