Thursday, October 30, 2008

Better Late Than Never - Write to Marry Day

I was in the city for a conference yesterday. It started at 8 a.m. Yes, 8 a.m. In the morning. I usually meander (hence my blog name) in to work at more like 10:15. To get into the heart of New York City by 8 a.m., I left my house at 6:45 a.m. Without breakfast or coffee. I drove halfway to New York in the early morning darkness without my car lights on, wondering why on earth the car behind me kept flashing its lights at me, and getting annoyed about it. That's how out of it I am that early in the morning without coffee.

I did recover enough (after 3 cups of coffee) to participate properly in this conference. But it was a long day. The afternoon didn't end until 5 p.m. and then I walked all the way back to the bus station, a total of 19 short blocks and 3 long ones. Then we had dinner at my aunt's and didn't get home until almost 11 p.m.

At that point I looked at some blogs and realized I'd missed the Write to Marry Day Blogswarm. I was too tired to write last night but can't let this opportunity pass without a post in support of the movement against Proposition 8 in California.

I have always felt very strongly about the issue of same-sex marriage. It is absurd to me that two people who love each other shouldn't be allowed to marry. Love is love, it doesn't matter whether it's a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.

I predict one day people will look back on these days and marvel at how ignorant and bigoted our country was, when so many states still forbade same-sex marriage -- much the way we do now when thinking back to the old laws against marriage between different races.

I could go into a whole bunch of great reasons that same-sex marriage is good for society, good for marriage in general, and best of all, good for those who choose to marry. But that's not the point. The point is that marriage should be for everyone who wants it. Period. We're talking about justice and equality, and those are the only reasons that matter.

So, those of you in California - Vote "No" on Proposition 8, which would change the state constitution to eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry and define marriage as only between a man and a woman. We cannot allow a step backward in the march for equal rights.


Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I'm so glad people are still keeping this going.

And next time you have an early morning drive, drink some coffee! Your faithful readers want you safe.

Randal Graves said...

Let 'em all get hitched
shut up, it ain't your business
you wingnut bastards

Christopher said...

Thanks for the support, Mauigirl!

You're the best.

Jim and I have been together 16 years now and we've had to go to extraordinary and expensive legal steps to make sure our relationship reaches parity with straight couples.

But all told, even if we marry in Massachusetts or California, we don't have access to the 1,300 Federal rights straight people immediately receive. It's blatant discrimination.

In my homestate of California, it's the fucking Mormons who are bankrolling the repeal effort of gay marriage. These hideous Christians just can't leave us alone and I tired of them.

I want all tax exemption for churches repealed and this includes their exemption on property taxes. Organized religion is so destructive and hateful.

Mauigirl said...

Ruth, LOL, thanks, I've learned my lesson!

Randal, great haiku in support of marriage equality!

Christopher, I know - there are so many rights that civil marriage affords - that is why it is such an important equal rights issue, for sure. I agree a lot of organized religions do not deserve their tax exempt status. Some may truly qualify, if they avoid being at all involved in political issues, but there are probably a lot more that don't because of their political positions.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like one of those days!

You did a good thing, Mauigirl by posting this.

Fran said...

Equal rights are not special rights.

Freida Bee said...

MauiGirl- Well spoken!

You know, it's not just marriage, but heterosexual partnerships which enjoy the privileges not afforded to homosexuals. I was married in the past (briefly) and then divorced and have now been living with someone for 10 years.

In that time, we have... filed taxes together, been insured through each other's employers' insurance, received Medicaid for our children. I've signed him as my decider-guy-whatever-you call-it when I had surgery, used each other's credit cards, had a joint bank account, had access to a phone record never had his fatherhood of his "adopted" son questioned once, including when I amended a birth certificate to put him on it. and, all along the way, his parents have been inordinately supportive. These are not things to brag about, but they have occurred.

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