May 17
Super News, America!
A couple of weeks ago I had a disheartening conversation with a friend of mine. Somehow we happened upon the subject of choice and gay marriage. My friend, being a conservative Christian, said that she not only supports the ban on gay marriage, but could never, ever vote to allow gays the right to marriage, even if the marriage was simply legal, making it more along the lines of a civil union. Her reasoning was that because she was morally opposed to gay marriage, she could not support a bill overturning the current ban. She willingly admits that she is fine with gays loving each other and would never discriminate against them, but what she doesn’t realize is that she already has.
My friend, by supporting the ban on gay marriage, is not defending her morals. She has decided that her moral conviction is more “right” than the gay population’s, and thus her will must be imposed on these people. Forget the fact that gay marriage has no bearing on her life whatsoever, and that taking away the ability for people to choose to make decisions, even if they may be the “wrong” decision, is closer to a Communist regime than a loving Christian society.
Well, my friend, I have some disappointing news for you. California, by far the most socially advanced state in the United States (see: smoking bans, highway cleanup, medical marijuana, recycling, etc) and the state which the rest of the country inevitably follows socially, has just pronounced gay marriage as legal. Not only is gay marriage legal, but, according to Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George,
…discrimination against gays, on the basis of their sexual orientation, [is] equivalent under the California state constitution to discrimination against racial minorities.
Overturning the ban on gay marriage is pretty big, but this quote is huge. The gay community now has legal authority to go to court over discrimination based on sexual orientation.
I hope this is a signal to the rest of the United States that times are changing. You will no longer be allowed to impose your impractical religious views on other just because you are morally opposed to the choices people make. The great thing about this, conservative Christian right, is that you won’t even notice the difference! The gay community will be happier (gayer, some might say). They may also be allowed the tax breaks that straight couples get for being married. But guess what. Your life will not change. All that changes is that the will of God will not be imposed on Americans any longer.
I have been ecstatic since I heard this news. Not because I know anyone this will directly effect, but because I am a champion of choice, and California is a source of hope for everything I believe in. I can only hope that choice is allowed to the rest of Americans as our country matures and becomes more loving, understanding, and accepting.
Slate (via Clusterflock)
May 17th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I’m so proud to be a Californian!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Holy Crap Kyle….you can really write! And by the way, I agree. And, I hope your friend doesn’t read Automaticable.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:34 am
This is also a good win for any Military family in California because Fred Phelps can no longer come to the state of California and protest and use his anti-military/anti-gay signs. After witnessing his repulsive protests first hand on more than one account, I was ecstatic when I heard they were sued and were found guilty and had to pay a military family $11,000,000, and now to hear that anyone can be sued for any racial slur or anything is a big hit against Fred Phelps and his brain washed family at the WBC. California’s on the right track and I can’t wait to see the nation take stride and follow along.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:27 am
From the quote, it sounds like this is also an all-encompassing gay-discrimination revamp. That’s good news, because discrimination based on sexual orientation isn’t protected by any federal law. That means that in most other states, people can be fired for just being gay, and they have no recourse.
Now let’s get the rest of the country on board.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I’m fairly certain my friend doesn’t read automaticable, but even if she did, I don’t think I’ve said anything here that I didn’t bring up in our conversation. Her and I have the unique capability of disagreeing wholeheartedly on a subject, but are able to talk about it calmly and intellectually at the same time. We both learn from our differences, and neither of us are trying to sway the other’s opinion.
Brian, unfortunately Phelps will still be able to protest in any way he sees fit, as long as it is peaceful protest. Any of us could march up and down public roads holding anti-semitic, racist, or sexist signs. This is part of our rights as provided by the First Amendment. What will happen, however, is as the American people become more tolerant, they will become more intolerant towards people like Phelps. He will be ostracized much like the KKK is today, though I have no doubt in my mind that they will exist just as prominently in society as the KKK does. This is still very much a step in the right direction.