Right now I'm trying like hell not to cry. I just learned that the Pride flag that hangs in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco is flying at half mast after Prop 8 passed. A black flag has been added above it.
I haven't been able to really revel in the victory of Barack Obama, because the night was marred by the passing of Prop 8. Maybe it is because I was there the first day of same sex marriage at City Hall after the CA Supreme Court decision. Maybe it's because my step-sister is a lesbian. It's likely both those things, but more than that I think I'm crying because it's just so goddamn sad.
Sure, it's not over. Lawsuits will be filed, fights will be fought. But I've seen the elation on the faces of those who were finally, finally allowed to marry the loves of their lives, and the idea that anyone could snatch that from them is heartbreaking.*
I'll never understand the hate. I cannot fathom the fear. As apophenia says, "we will look back with horror at the time when Americans thought it was right to treat people differently based on who they loved."
*Yes, I know marriages until Tuesday are still valid. But that's not the larger point.
Religion scares me at times like this. Sad, because I have met many a great Christian that didn't harbor any sort of hate. I don't know Ellen, nor Portia, nor the Star Trek guy, but they all just seem like they'd be so cool in person. It hurts to see human beings that have invested themselves in bringing us enbtertainment be made so sad, as I am for them.
The assistant coach of my local NCAA women's gymnastics team is gay, and a very well-liked guy from what I see when I attend the meets. I need to start attending them in the cool cafepress tees I see that have a big "8" with a red circle-slash over it.
Long live the surprisingly feeble attempt at equality.
Posted by: Cory | November 07, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Why are you so happy Obama won then? He said he didn't support gay marriage, based on his religious beliefs, and that "While he does not favor laws that ban same-sex marriage, and has said he is “open to the possibility” that his views may be “misguided,” he does not support it and is not inclined to fight for it..."
Prop 8 went down because the majority of Obama's supporters in the Hispanic and black community don't support gay marriage either, based on their religious beliefs.
I saw the ad the No on Prop 8 folks put out showing the LDS guys tearing apart a lesbian couple's home like Nazi's looking for their marriage certificate. How would that ad have played if it was a gang of black ministers or a crowd of Mexican catholics?
When John McCain was on the Ellen Degeneress show she asked him about gay marriage, and he told her he didn't support it. But did she ask Obama his stance? According to her website you can "Watch as Ellen grills our possible next president on hot topics such as dancing, Halloween costumes and George Clooney!"
I personally think there's nothing wrong with same-sex marriage or civil unions, and any discussion on the differences of one or the other is splitting hairs; but you've got to realize that the democratic party is no great defender of same-sex marriage rights.
Posted by: Doug | November 07, 2008 at 12:00 AM
*Why are you so happy Obama won then?*
Because I am not a single issue voter. And while I am disappointed Obama is not "for" same sex marriage, he was against Prop 8.
Posted by: brittney | November 07, 2008 at 12:00 AM