Constitutional Amendment
"I'm just a mess today," said Ms. Loche, a volunteer for the No on Constitutional Amendment 36 movement.
"It's the weirdest thing to have politics be so incredibly personal," she said. "This is about the possibility that half of the state of Oregon thinks that I don't deserve to be treated equally as the majority of the people in the state. And I just can't fathom that, because I don't see myself as a monster."
NY Times, November 3rd
10 states voted to ban gay marriage last night. Why? In 2000, when Bush "won" the last election, I consoled myself knowing that most people didn't vote for him. He didn't win the popular vote, and whether he won the electoral vote was up for debate. I consoled myself by thinking he's just a cheat and didn't represent the country. The majority is still good people who believe in equal rights for everyone.
But what happened this year? What have these people voted for? One day, when I'm old and on my deathbed at a hospital, will I be able to spend my last hours holding hands with the person I love most in the world? Or will we be denied this because she's not my family? America, this is what you voted for.
You voted me out of the delivery room if I have children. You voted that the person I love most in the world, doesn't inherit any of my belongings (without potential legal battles and tax penalties). You voted that the rest of my family will never see me legally married. You voted that love can be defined and is conditional.
America-- you can enjoy your marriages, and I'll live without any of the benefits you enjoy. You've just voted that marriage isn't about love. You've voted against freedom of religion and separation of church and state. United States-- you suck.
And worst of all, this site is probably banned from public libraries' public Internet computers-- Thanks CIPA!
Comments
You're so right, the US does suck, this is HORRIBLE. Why are we all here, putting up with this? Won't it just get worse and worse? If it becomes steadily more and more impossible for us to get married, what happens next -- when is it too dangerous for us all to live here?
Posted by: Ari Moore | November 3, 2004 5:19 PM
kate, you are absolutely right. the gay marriage ban strips love from all marriages. it's appalling.
Posted by: adriana | November 3, 2004 6:18 PM
My guess is that it's getting better. Just eight years ago Ellen came out and they aired the first lesbian kiss on network TV-- that was a huge, big deal, but now there are so many more gay characters in movies and TV.
I'm not even sure it matters that the trend is towards better, though. We have to live in the world now.
Posted by: Kate | November 3, 2004 8:08 PM