Hooray for Gay

I wrote a great piece on the new gay marriage law and my damn computer didn’t save it as I was blogging….so I’m pissed off…because my thoughts come to the page and then are gone.  Damn technology.

So instead of trying to re-create, I will be brief.

I’m happy for this piece of history making legislation.  And that’s what it is – legislation.  It doesn’t mean the whole religious right is going to suddenly embrace the notion of gay marriage…or that Catholic churches will fling open their doors welcoming such unions in their halls of worship.  That will not happen.  And that’s ok.  Because that’s not what this law is about.  It is not about morality it is about legality.  Whether you are for or against, it is about providing the people of this country the same rights under the law.  We are a nation of equals – that is our very foundation.  That no one will be prejudiced against because of race, religion or creed.  And within that, should also be included sexual orientation. 

Marriage is a legal construct…a contract.  It is the marriage of property.  Yes, it is about love and commitment of course, but it is about legal rights, equal protection under the law.  Why should not 2 committed people in a relationship, regardless of their gender, not be allowed to protect themselves and their partners in the eyes of the law?  If we want to talk about morality, that’s what we should be discussing.  Being morally kind and respectful of each others personal belief systems even if they don’t mesh with our own.

Most of the resistance to this legislation is ultimately based in fear and misunderstanding.  When we don’t understand something, we tend to turn our nose’s down at it…to ridicule and hide.  But gay marriage is not a curse that will wash over the straight community – that will in any way threaten the strength of heterosexual marriage.  Marriage is a bond between two people – straight or gay – it makes no distinction.

I am pleased.  That politics, for one small moment, got out of the way and allowed the voices of everyday citizens to be heard and recognized.  That is what true freedom is.