Well now... It's been a pretty exciting couple days.
The two recent United States Supreme Court rulings on the issue of Marriage Equality have prompted intense reaction from all parts of the political and social spectrum. For proponents of equal rights, Wednesday's court victories marked a historic turning point in the LGBT civil rights struggle. The two rulings which stuck down Section 3 of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), and upheld a lower court ruling in California , striking down CA Proposition 8 were greeted with joy and celebration in many quarters. The reaction in my old stomping grounds of San Francisco was jubilant.
Over on the far right wing of American social-politics, there was considerably less joy.... The favorite talking point over the past 24 hours has been how granting equal rights to Gay and Lesbian Americans is going somehow cause Straight "Christians" to be "bashed" or taken to court for their beliefs. Our favorite American Taliban spokesnut, and dementia patient, Pat Robertson drives the Waaaambulance full speed to crazy town...
We will set aside for a moment, the ridiculous notion at any straight person has ever been bashed by gay people for their sexual orientation or beliefs. The death toll of LGBT Americans who have been killed in the name of Robertson's twisted and sick abuse of religion could fill hundreds of blog entries. Rather it is the idea that people who opposed marriage equality are now somehow victims of some sort of "judicial attack" that I find interesting,
In response to this, a popular graphic/meme has sprung up on the internet making the point that opponents of equality were never able to prove how ending discrimination against Gays and Lesbians hurts them.
One side aspect of this whole recent Supreme Court saga has been how various sides have expressed themselves through social media platforms, most notably on Facebook and Twitter. The Human Rights Campaign started an online trend where their familiar Blue and Yellow equal sign logo was turned red and white (red for valentines/love and white for marriage) and urged people to adopt the modified logo as their social media profile picture. Hundreds of thousands of people, including Eric and I, did.
While scrolling through facebook today I happened upon the profile of an old friend of mine. He is the younger brother of an old of friend of mine, with whom I am no longer in touch. The elder of the two, lives and works in a fairly conservative world and promptly ended our more than twenty-five year friendship when he found out I was Gay. As many others who have gone through the coming out process can attest, there are friends who you lose as a result of being honest, I don't fault them, it's just part of life.
His younger brother, however while fairly conservative on some issues, like the 2nd Amendment and Gun Rights, had always seemed more progressive on other social issues. So I was somewhat surprised to see this graphic on his Facebook Profile, with the caption; "I'll see your red equality sign & raise you a blue one. :) "
The argument being that where showing support for LGBT rights is okay, to express the same sentiment about heterosexuals is considered to be bigotry. Sigh... Every June, during LGBT Pride Month, at some point this ridiculous argument always pops up, and I always amazed to see it put forward by otherwise rational people.
It is the idea that an overwhelming majority point of view is somehow under attack if any other point of view is given any credence. It is the insane notion that somehow my marriage is an attack on his. That by my having equal rights, his rights are diminished. I have news for my friend. EVERY month is "Straight Pride Month". My friend has never been discriminated against because of his sexuality, he has never been denied any of the rights and privileges of being an American because he is Straight, His Marriage ( not his first I would add..) has never been subjected to public vote. He has never faced having to leave the United States simply to be with person he is married to. No one has ever said he should be ashamed of being straight, or that God hates him for loving who he loves.
Yet my friend, and others who have posted the aforementioned graphic, somehow can't see, how given the reality of their lives, how the idea of "Straight Pride" seems as redundant, as ridiculous and as offensive as "White Pride" does to many people of color.
I have blinding flash of the obvious for my friend; When the entire world is geared to affirm who and what you are, when most every movie, book, TV Show, song on the radio and cultural "norm" supports your sexual orientation; saying that others who are different from you are okay too, is NOT a viscous attack on you. You are not being discriminated against, you are not being attacked you are not a victim of "reverse bigotry".
To claim that you are, just makes you look remarkably stupid.
So we will go to London's LGBT Pride celebration this weekend. Because in a world where a straight kid growing up doesn't need to be told that it's okay to like yourself for who you are, a logo, or rainbow flag carried in a parade celebrating these historic court rulings, can send the simple message to LGBT people of all ages, that you are just fine the way you are.
Happy Pride Everyone...
The two recent United States Supreme Court rulings on the issue of Marriage Equality have prompted intense reaction from all parts of the political and social spectrum. For proponents of equal rights, Wednesday's court victories marked a historic turning point in the LGBT civil rights struggle. The two rulings which stuck down Section 3 of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), and upheld a lower court ruling in California , striking down CA Proposition 8 were greeted with joy and celebration in many quarters. The reaction in my old stomping grounds of San Francisco was jubilant.
Over on the far right wing of American social-politics, there was considerably less joy.... The favorite talking point over the past 24 hours has been how granting equal rights to Gay and Lesbian Americans is going somehow cause Straight "Christians" to be "bashed" or taken to court for their beliefs. Our favorite American Taliban spokesnut, and dementia patient, Pat Robertson drives the Waaaambulance full speed to crazy town...
In response to this, a popular graphic/meme has sprung up on the internet making the point that opponents of equality were never able to prove how ending discrimination against Gays and Lesbians hurts them.
While scrolling through facebook today I happened upon the profile of an old friend of mine. He is the younger brother of an old of friend of mine, with whom I am no longer in touch. The elder of the two, lives and works in a fairly conservative world and promptly ended our more than twenty-five year friendship when he found out I was Gay. As many others who have gone through the coming out process can attest, there are friends who you lose as a result of being honest, I don't fault them, it's just part of life.
The argument being that where showing support for LGBT rights is okay, to express the same sentiment about heterosexuals is considered to be bigotry. Sigh... Every June, during LGBT Pride Month, at some point this ridiculous argument always pops up, and I always amazed to see it put forward by otherwise rational people.
It is the idea that an overwhelming majority point of view is somehow under attack if any other point of view is given any credence. It is the insane notion that somehow my marriage is an attack on his. That by my having equal rights, his rights are diminished. I have news for my friend. EVERY month is "Straight Pride Month". My friend has never been discriminated against because of his sexuality, he has never been denied any of the rights and privileges of being an American because he is Straight, His Marriage ( not his first I would add..) has never been subjected to public vote. He has never faced having to leave the United States simply to be with person he is married to. No one has ever said he should be ashamed of being straight, or that God hates him for loving who he loves.
Yet my friend, and others who have posted the aforementioned graphic, somehow can't see, how given the reality of their lives, how the idea of "Straight Pride" seems as redundant, as ridiculous and as offensive as "White Pride" does to many people of color.
I have blinding flash of the obvious for my friend; When the entire world is geared to affirm who and what you are, when most every movie, book, TV Show, song on the radio and cultural "norm" supports your sexual orientation; saying that others who are different from you are okay too, is NOT a viscous attack on you. You are not being discriminated against, you are not being attacked you are not a victim of "reverse bigotry".
To claim that you are, just makes you look remarkably stupid.
So we will go to London's LGBT Pride celebration this weekend. Because in a world where a straight kid growing up doesn't need to be told that it's okay to like yourself for who you are, a logo, or rainbow flag carried in a parade celebrating these historic court rulings, can send the simple message to LGBT people of all ages, that you are just fine the way you are.
Happy Pride Everyone...
2 comments:
My Sons, You are more than "just fine" the way you are, your are a true gift that brings love and joy to all who know you. <3
Indeed you are just fine! ( more than fine, Wonderful! I would say.)
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