Same-sex Marriage
It's really depressing when you find out the ugly truth about your fellow americans. You see, here in these "excited states of 'mericuh", we pride ourselves on championing democracy and civil rights. The reality of it is, we are very far behind most other rich nations when it comes to treating each other equally. Blacks are still treated like crap in this country, women are continously marginalized, and old rich white men continue to dominate everything. It's still the status quo here, or business as usual, they say. Sometimes it's easy to forget. Sometimes you think that people see beyond the obvious and look for the sublime. Sometimes you think that mutual respect still has a place in our society. Sometimes, you just forget that everyone here is insane.
It takes an issue like gay marriage to snap me and my fellow dreamers out there back to reality. You would think, on an issue as inconsequential as this, most people would either support it, or not care at all. Surprise, suprise! In a gallup poll, conducted by Time magazine, 68% of Americans think that same-sex marriage is wrong. An astonishing 54% see homosexuality as immoral.
So, it's okay if they're on your TV telling you how to dress, but the minute they want to confirm that their emotional investment in a very real relationship is just as serious as yours, you start freaking out? Are you afraid that equal marriage rights for all will somehow diminish the value of your own marriage? Or are you afraid that they will just do better than you? Same-sex relationships involve the same level of emotional commitment as hetero relationships. Same-sex couples are just as devoted to each other as anybody else when it comes to love. In fact, I know a couple in Seattle who have been together for longer than I've been alive. That's better than I can say for most hetero couples. In fact, over half of heterosexual marriages fail. One third of those occur within the first year. If we think that same-sex couples are not up to the challenge of monogamy, perhaps we should hold ALL couples to the same standards.
So what is the real drive behind this anti-gay crusade?
Discrimination. America's favorite past-time.
There are currently between 170 to 350 state laws and over 1000 federal laws that are triggered by legal marriage. Some of these laws are very antiquated (Such as Title 25, USC 183 - Marriage of white men to Indian women; evidence) but most are beneficial. For example, here are just a few of the approximately 1300 benefits awarded to married couples:
State Granted Rights:
Assumption of Spouse's Pension
Automatic Inheritance
Automatic Housing Lease Transfer
Bereavement Leave
Burial Determination
Child Custody
Crime Victim's Recovery Benefits
Divorce Protections
Domestic Violence Protections
Exemption from Property Tax on Partner's Death
Immunity from Testifying Against Spouse
Insurance Breaks
Joint Adoption and Foster Care
Joint Bankruptcy
Joint Parenting (Insurance Coverage, School Records)
Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
Certain Property Rights
Reduced Rate Memberships
Sick Leave to Care for Partner
Visitation of Partner's Children
Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
Wrongful Death (Loss of Consort) Benefits
Federally Granted Benefits:
Access to Military Stores
Assumption of Spouse's Pension
Bereavement Leave
Immigration
Insurance Breaks
Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
Sick Leave to Care for Partner
Social Security Benefits
Tax Breaks
Veteran's Discounts
Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
All things that I think most married couples take for granted. A constitutional ammendment only serves to enshrine discrimination in the constitution. The constitution is supposed to protect and ensure equal treatment for ALL people - it should not be used to single out a group of people for different treatment. An anti-gay marriage ammendment is a direct form of discrimination. Regardless of how you, personally, feel about homosexuality, as an american you have no choice but to acknowledge the rights of others to lead their lives as they wish.
Trust me, if John and Billy get married, the world will not end.
-slacker
It's really depressing when you find out the ugly truth about your fellow americans. You see, here in these "excited states of 'mericuh", we pride ourselves on championing democracy and civil rights. The reality of it is, we are very far behind most other rich nations when it comes to treating each other equally. Blacks are still treated like crap in this country, women are continously marginalized, and old rich white men continue to dominate everything. It's still the status quo here, or business as usual, they say. Sometimes it's easy to forget. Sometimes you think that people see beyond the obvious and look for the sublime. Sometimes you think that mutual respect still has a place in our society. Sometimes, you just forget that everyone here is insane.
It takes an issue like gay marriage to snap me and my fellow dreamers out there back to reality. You would think, on an issue as inconsequential as this, most people would either support it, or not care at all. Surprise, suprise! In a gallup poll, conducted by Time magazine, 68% of Americans think that same-sex marriage is wrong. An astonishing 54% see homosexuality as immoral.
So, it's okay if they're on your TV telling you how to dress, but the minute they want to confirm that their emotional investment in a very real relationship is just as serious as yours, you start freaking out? Are you afraid that equal marriage rights for all will somehow diminish the value of your own marriage? Or are you afraid that they will just do better than you? Same-sex relationships involve the same level of emotional commitment as hetero relationships. Same-sex couples are just as devoted to each other as anybody else when it comes to love. In fact, I know a couple in Seattle who have been together for longer than I've been alive. That's better than I can say for most hetero couples. In fact, over half of heterosexual marriages fail. One third of those occur within the first year. If we think that same-sex couples are not up to the challenge of monogamy, perhaps we should hold ALL couples to the same standards.
So what is the real drive behind this anti-gay crusade?
Discrimination. America's favorite past-time.
There are currently between 170 to 350 state laws and over 1000 federal laws that are triggered by legal marriage. Some of these laws are very antiquated (Such as Title 25, USC 183 - Marriage of white men to Indian women; evidence) but most are beneficial. For example, here are just a few of the approximately 1300 benefits awarded to married couples:
State Granted Rights:
Assumption of Spouse's Pension
Automatic Inheritance
Automatic Housing Lease Transfer
Bereavement Leave
Burial Determination
Child Custody
Crime Victim's Recovery Benefits
Divorce Protections
Domestic Violence Protections
Exemption from Property Tax on Partner's Death
Immunity from Testifying Against Spouse
Insurance Breaks
Joint Adoption and Foster Care
Joint Bankruptcy
Joint Parenting (Insurance Coverage, School Records)
Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
Certain Property Rights
Reduced Rate Memberships
Sick Leave to Care for Partner
Visitation of Partner's Children
Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
Wrongful Death (Loss of Consort) Benefits
Federally Granted Benefits:
Access to Military Stores
Assumption of Spouse's Pension
Bereavement Leave
Immigration
Insurance Breaks
Medical Decisions on Behalf of Partner
Sick Leave to Care for Partner
Social Security Benefits
Tax Breaks
Veteran's Discounts
Visitation of Partner in Hospital or Prison
All things that I think most married couples take for granted. A constitutional ammendment only serves to enshrine discrimination in the constitution. The constitution is supposed to protect and ensure equal treatment for ALL people - it should not be used to single out a group of people for different treatment. An anti-gay marriage ammendment is a direct form of discrimination. Regardless of how you, personally, feel about homosexuality, as an american you have no choice but to acknowledge the rights of others to lead their lives as they wish.
Trust me, if John and Billy get married, the world will not end.
-slacker
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