I recently read an op-ed piece in the New York Times, “Why I Now Support Gay Marriage” (June 12, 2009). The writer, a Long Island Catholic Democrat (go figure), tells us why he switched his stance in the gay marriage debate from “yeah, civil unions” to the enlightened view that all couples (gay and yes, even straight) should have the right to be married by the State of New York. Many “gay-friendly” Democratic-voting (aka Liberal) folks are all for civil unions for their gay friends. Yet when it comes to gay couples getting the right to marry, the freedom-loving-rights-for-all Democrats wonder why gay marriage is necessary – given the historical and religious connection around The Word marriage – you know, respecting the faithful and heterosexual shit involved. A few years back my very wonderful, very liberal uncle gave me a similar reaction when I seemed just a little too adamant about the whole issue: the “I mean really, is this necessary” type of response. And I had a hard time not walking across the room and giving the guy a swift kick on his freewheelin’ ass.
I get this exasperated feeling when I fear that we’ve forgotten some basic good ‘ole American rights (i.e. the Constitution of the United States of America, the Bill o’ Rights, the civil liberties of every American citizen). Hmm, lets’ see if I can come up with a couple of important tags for ya’ll.
First, we’ve got the heavy weight contender, the 1st Amendment, that much lauded Separation of Church and State. Why should the laws of the United States & the rights of its citizens be converted into Christian doctrine? Hey, I don’t want to get married to my (female) partner in your church, man.
Second: hey Dems remember separate but equal? Take a real close look at the rights within a civil union and then take a look at those found within a marriage (or just go talk to a good estate lawyer). ‘Cause my friend as the saying goes, shit floats and those rights you all feel so righteous about “giving” me? Well, they float. And while it may irk my personal being that I can have equal rights just as long as they aren’t the same as yours, the most important and damaging issue facing you civil union junkies is the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. There’s this little Equal Protection Clause that requires states to provide Equal Protection Under the Law for ALL of its citizens. I mean who gets to decide which rights are shared and which rights belong to a Chosen Few?
So, please, go study your legal bible and don’t be telling me about the nice little civil union package you’ve dealt up as a gift or loving letter of acceptance to all of us gay folks. The main issue is not your acceptance or the sanctity of your church or even your historical affiliation and tie to The Word marriage. The main issue involved in the civil union vs. marriage debate is the Law of the Land. It’s time for us to throw the book at ya’ll: you can’t fight justice, no matter how hard you try. In the end the civil rights of the homosexual community will far out way the Sentimental needs of the heterosexual majority.