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News & ArtsTuesday, May 26, 2009
Homo MAKE IT STOP!
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, May 26, 2009 at 9:45 AM
WSJ:
California's Supreme Court on Tuesday will issue its ruling on whether the state's gay-marriage ban will stand, but the decision likely won't mark the end of the highly divisive matter.
If we lose today, we'll keep pressing for our rights —we're not going anywhere and we demand equal treatment under the law. The only way to "end" this "highly divisive matter" is to grant us our full equality. Want to end the gay marriage debate? Legalize same-sex marriage and—poof!—it'll all be over. Five years after legalizing same-sex marriage the divisive debate has ended in Massachusetts and people can barely remember what the fuss was about.
Although Massachusetts has a reputation for liberalism, the path to gay marriage was a tough one, which ended in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. In November 2003, when the court ruled to allow gay marriage, only 50 members of the state's 200-strong legislature supported the move, and barely a majority of voters were in favor. But today, a poll sponsored by Hattaway Communications and grassroots advocacy group Marriage Equality Works shows that a decent majority Massachusetts residents now support it.Lake Research Partners, who conducted the survey, asked 600 Massachusetts residents whether they would vote for or against a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Fully 62% of respondents said they would oppose such an amendment, up from 52% in a similar 2005 survey. Interestingly, the poll found that many residents supported marriage equality because it promoted traditional values like commitment and responsibility. This finding will surely come as a suprise to anti-gay marriage advocates who argue that it undermines the foundations of the family.
1
The real problem is California's constitution, which can apparently be amended by a simple majority vote. No minority's rights are safe under those conditions.
CA may have the worst state government in the country, although Alabama probably edges it out.
CA may have the worst state government in the country, although Alabama probably edges it out.
2
The only way to "end" this "highly divisive matter" is to let the people decide.
Judges imposed a "solution" on abortion 40 years ago and the issue remains more divisive than ever.
Only a spoiled self-centered whiny prick would conclude that the only way to "end" this "highly divisive matter" is to GIVE ME MY WAY.
Judges imposed a "solution" on abortion 40 years ago and the issue remains more divisive than ever.
Only a spoiled self-centered whiny prick would conclude that the only way to "end" this "highly divisive matter" is to GIVE ME MY WAY.
4
Actually @2, it's anyone that understands constitutional law, or taken a high school civics class.
5
@2, how does letting people decide change anything? Attitudes change over time. In 20 years, the majority could decide a different way.
And besides, if it was up to the "people", slavery would still exist, only white males would be able to vote, and women would still be considered chattel.
And besides, if it was up to the "people", slavery would still exist, only white males would be able to vote, and women would still be considered chattel.
6
@3: I was thinking mainly of Alabama's constitution, which was designed to prevent local governments from having any power so that uppity blacks wouldn't tax white folks' property. From what I hear you can't even enact a county junk ordinance in Alabama without a constitutional amendment.
7
Wrong.
it is never about the Dan Savage...
Its all about ME.
give ME my equal rights.
It takes a long time to piss off the queers. but when you do, the consequences change the world, baby.
it is never about the Dan Savage...
Its all about ME.
give ME my equal rights.
It takes a long time to piss off the queers. but when you do, the consequences change the world, baby.
9
When are we going to step this up? If all we're going to do is whine, cry, and pine for our rights, we don't deserve them. This is pathetic. We've been around just as long as anyone else, and we've stayed in the closet all this time, only to finally come out fighting...with faggotry of the highest order in the streets, and more (and more) threats of "marches." Oh, oh no. Please don't march. Not again. We might have to close the blinds. Again.
What's really sad is nobody seems to give a fuck about how this is playing out. By the time we receive our "equality," it will be because it was handed to us. We didn't take it. And it will be handed to us out of annoyance, a "shut the fuck up" and nothing else. Great victory, guize.
Depending on the outcome, I'm ready to burn churches to the ground. This liturgical cloud that covers our nation could use some smoke.
What's really sad is nobody seems to give a fuck about how this is playing out. By the time we receive our "equality," it will be because it was handed to us. We didn't take it. And it will be handed to us out of annoyance, a "shut the fuck up" and nothing else. Great victory, guize.
Depending on the outcome, I'm ready to burn churches to the ground. This liturgical cloud that covers our nation could use some smoke.
10
@ 2 - Fuck you pal. You're damn right it's about "me", when the government won't give "me" the same rights it gives everyone else. You know that good & god-damn well, but your sickening bigotry allows you to rationalize the bullshit you posted above. Run along home, junior.
On a different note, the more I think about it, the more I believe that the gay community is going about this wrong way. Yes, we (obviously) deserve the same rights as everyone else, but why do we have to re-inforce a fundamentally corrupt system to do that? The US government needs to be out of the marriage business, period. We, as a community, could make all kinds of common-cause with straight, unmarried couples if we could just focus on that goal, instead of inserting ourselves onto the roster of groups the government deigns to recognize as "legitimate". My two cents...
On a different note, the more I think about it, the more I believe that the gay community is going about this wrong way. Yes, we (obviously) deserve the same rights as everyone else, but why do we have to re-inforce a fundamentally corrupt system to do that? The US government needs to be out of the marriage business, period. We, as a community, could make all kinds of common-cause with straight, unmarried couples if we could just focus on that goal, instead of inserting ourselves onto the roster of groups the government deigns to recognize as "legitimate". My two cents...
11
Interestingly, the poll found that many residents supported marriage equality because it promoted traditional values like commitment and responsibility.
Well, duh. Like we've been saying, we want marriage for the reasons that straights want marriage.
This finding will surely come as a suprise to anti-gay marriage advocates who argue that it undermines the foundations of the family.
The reason marriage equality freaks the rightists so much is that it causes things like this - people realize that gay couples just want to be treated the same way they are. Once they get beyond the concepts they have in their heads of the dirty gays and see us in real life, with the same struggles they have raising our families, that creates a huge barriage to anti-equality folks to overcome.
Well, duh. Like we've been saying, we want marriage for the reasons that straights want marriage.
This finding will surely come as a suprise to anti-gay marriage advocates who argue that it undermines the foundations of the family.
The reason marriage equality freaks the rightists so much is that it causes things like this - people realize that gay couples just want to be treated the same way they are. Once they get beyond the concepts they have in their heads of the dirty gays and see us in real life, with the same struggles they have raising our families, that creates a huge barriage to anti-equality folks to overcome.
14
Yeah, the news is packed full every day of stories of all the straight marriages that have been destroyed in MA by the gay marriages.
15
Honestly, the polls and the "whats the fuss about?" factor is why I personally wish California would have let it alone a while. As a new state legalizes gay marriage (Iowa!) the national polls seem to show increased support on the pro-gay marriage side. People see the sky isn't falling and becoming either neutral or positive toward gay marriage. An unelected court overturning the perceived will of the people could cause a backlash. Strategically, I would have rather CA would have left it alone another couple of years while some other states legalize gay marriage.
16
Them's fightin' words, Mr. Poe. Good luck getting gays to follow you there. Stonewall was the only run they had in them. Everything else is peaceful with a finger point to Stonewall.
You try to get gays to release their emotions on the city, they'd all stop dead in their tracks once Barney's windows go down. Free purses!
You try to get gays to release their emotions on the city, they'd all stop dead in their tracks once Barney's windows go down. Free purses!
19
@5
"And besides, if it was up to the "people", slavery would still exist, only white males would be able to vote, and women would still be considered chattel"
I would be interested in seeing some poll numbers to back that up...
"And besides, if it was up to the "people", slavery would still exist, only white males would be able to vote, and women would still be considered chattel"
I would be interested in seeing some poll numbers to back that up...
21
There is no future without gay marriage. They are only delaying the inevitable. That sounds kind of dark, but I think it's neat!
22
Dan, you are wrong. Even if you were given full equality, the fight would never, ever stop.
Roe V. Wade was 30 goddamn years ago, and it is barely holding on by a thread. And Women make up 50% of this country, versus the 3% of gays. This won't go away, at least in the bigoted states (ie California).
I will fight, as a straigh ally against this total BS denial of rights, but you have to know that we will need to fight every day, for at least 50 years after the ruling. Then, maybe enough people who were against will have died and a couple generations will have been born with it as normal.
Also, I am so sorry about this ruling. So Sorry Dan. :(
Roe V. Wade was 30 goddamn years ago, and it is barely holding on by a thread. And Women make up 50% of this country, versus the 3% of gays. This won't go away, at least in the bigoted states (ie California).
I will fight, as a straigh ally against this total BS denial of rights, but you have to know that we will need to fight every day, for at least 50 years after the ruling. Then, maybe enough people who were against will have died and a couple generations will have been born with it as normal.
Also, I am so sorry about this ruling. So Sorry Dan. :(
23
@22: Unfortunately even though women make up 50% of the population, not all women support women's rights let alone the right for reproductive freedom. And it can be argued that abortion is a more volatile issue that that of equal rights.
Marriage equality is a more straightforward issue, and once it has been gained at the federal level should be no more controversial than women having the right to vote (and, yes I know that there are some who would strip us of that right too, if they could).
Marriage equality is a more straightforward issue, and once it has been gained at the federal level should be no more controversial than women having the right to vote (and, yes I know that there are some who would strip us of that right too, if they could).
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