I'm hugely proud of my home state today as California officially allows same sex couples to legally marry. Though I am a flaming heterosexual (much to my great frustration), I feel strongly that gay rights are my generation's civil rights movement. In the near-future, we will look back on this time period with a resounding, "Well, duh!" much like I did when I first heard about separate drinking fountains for blacks or laws that disallowed women to vote. These legal obstructions of basic American rights seem so ignorant and antiquated in today's Obama-Hillary world, do they not?
I know a few folks that disagree with this entire movement - those that don't quite get that homosexual humans are, in fact, humans. I once had a heated discussion on this topic with a dear friend over lunch who said, "But homosexuality is wrong, it says so in the Bible!"
First, I reminded her that the Bible and the Constitution were actually two separate documents and that Ben Franklin was an atheist. Then, I pointed out that the Bible also states that wearing mixed fibers and eating shellfish are also a big no-no.
Then I asked her about her new fancy coat (50% rayon, 25% cotton, 25% acrylic) and if she was enjoying her shrimp salad.
Also, I am still waiting for a decent answer from anyone about how two mature adults who want to make a lifelong commitment to one another somehow 'threaten' the sanctity of someone else's hetero-marriage. With a 50% divorce rate, I think there might be other elements at work here.
So, I guess I'm kind of an ass about this topic as I don't understand how anyone has the balls to judge someone else and determine that what they feel is not - COULD NOT - be real.
To all those happy couples today, a big fat congratulations! May you live long and prosper.
7 comments:
I too don't quite understand how gay marriage threatens my marriage. My husband isn't gay, I'm not gay - we are both to use your hysterical term, Flaming Heterosexuals, so how could gay people harm our marriage?
I suspect that the argument is that it hurts the sanctity of marriage - in other words, gay marriage will do to marriage what however many decades of easy divorce laws, relaxed societal attitudes toward out-of-wedlock births and general hedonistic living have failed to do, cheapen marriage.
Needless to say, I don't think that we need to say that gay people getting married will hurt the institution of marriage.
It's times like these that I am so glad I'm an Atheist. I don't have to give a crap what other people do with their lives. Frankly, I don't have the time to care, either.
Go Sulu!
I'm so relieved to hear that you and Mr. X's marriage SURVIVED today's ceremonies. I'd like to raise a toast, "Live and let live!"
Mixed fibers? NOOOOOOOO!
Boiled down, people don't want to hear the truth if it puts them outside their comfort zone. Oy.
Agreed, Howard. Also, I'd like you to experience the same annoying questions that the rest of us do: "Sooooo, when are you getting married?"
Yes! This is right on the money, Heather. Very well put. I, too, have occasional problems with friends and family members on this issue, and it's incredibly frustrating. I almost feel embarrassed at times. People are just so different. Hopefully the greater mindshare surrounding this issue will continue to work itself out in the political/social arenas.
I like Chris Rock's answer about gay marriage. Something to the effect of, "Why shouldn't they be as miserable as the rest of us?" - ha!
Um, I mean, "It's wonderful, come on board!".
Either way, I say there isn't enough love in the world, and if you find love, you should hang on to it with everything you have.
Mundane: Wow, you are already getting those questions? Until you find your special gal, they will only get more insistent. What's even more upsetting is when they STOP asking.
HDW: Chris Rock is endlessly quotable. And yes on LOVE. More, please.
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