Highlights:
Bond puts into words the type of inspirational sentiment and coming-togetherness between gays, blacks, and humanity that we all feel. Says Bond, a gay marriage supporter: "Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality, and that is what gay marriage is. ... At the NAACP, we pledge to do our part." And that's just the beginning of this eloquent indictment of homophobia.
• "God seems to have made room in his plan for interracial marriage, and he or she will no doubt do the same for same-sex marriage."
•
"When someone asks me, 'Are gay rights civil rights?' My answer is always, 'Of course they are.' Civil rights are positive legal prerogatives. The right to equal treatment before the law. These are the rights shared by everyone. There is no one in the United States who does not or should not enjoy or share in enjoying these rights. Gay and lesbian rights are not special rights in any way. It isn't special to be free from discrimination. It is an ordinary universal entitlement of citizenship."
"The fact that many had to struggle to gain these rights makes them precious; it does not make them special and it does not reserve them only for me or restrict them from others. Because when others gain these rights, my rights are not diminished in any way. My rights are not diluted when my neighbor enjoys protection from discrimination. He or she becomes my ally in defending the rights we all share. For some people, comparisons between the African-American civil rights movement, the movement for gay and lesbians rights seems to diminish the long black historical struggle with its suffering, sacrifices, and endless toil. However people of color ought to be flattered that our movement has provided so much inspiration for others. That our movement has been so widely imitated. That our tactics, our methods, our heroes, our heroines, and even our songs have been appropriated or served as models for others."
And in a special message geared towardcertain individuals: "Many gays and lesbians worked side-by-side with me in the 1960s civil rights movement. Am I now to tell them, Thanks for risking life and limb helping me win my rights, but they're excluded because of a condition of their birth, that they can't share now in the victories they helped me to win, that having accepted and embraced them as partners in a common struggle I can now turn my back on them, deny them the rights they helped me win, the rights I enjoy because of them? Not a chance. No."
"You know President Bush, you remember him? He said marriage is the most fundamental institution of our civilization. Is that precisely why we should support, not oppose gay marriage? We've amended the U.S. Constitution only 17 times since the adoption of the Bill of Rights. Aside from prohibition, which was quickly acknowledged to be a mistake and repealed, we've amended the Constitution only to expand and protect people's rights, never to restrict them, never to take them away."
"Rampant homophobia's not just wrong. It's dangerous to our national security."
"We're all okay. And someday, marriage for all of us, will be okay too."
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God intended for same-sex marrage, let it be that way
I am still not convinced that gay civil rights and gay marriage are the same thing. Gays can be given equal civil rights without legally recognized marriage. What gays want is a shortcut to civil rights through legal marriage. As a married heterosexual, I will gladly give up any special rights I enjoy due to my legally recognized marriage in order to achieve equality.
T,
I am glad you aren't shouting or screaming or frothing at the mouth. It is a pleasant change of pace around here, let me tell you.
Actually, and I speak as a man happily married to another man (we live in a country where gay marriage confers the same responsibilities and rights as heterosexual marriage), we don't want marriage as a short cut to civil rights.
We want marriage for the exact same reasons as do heterosexuals. To have the same protections which enable us to fulfill our responsibilities to each other. Here, in my country, were I to have an accident, my husband could handle all my affairs. Were this to happen in the US - despite our having spent several tens of thousands of dollars on drafting legal documents - it would merely require the intervention of one of my nieces to have us separated, prevented from seeing each other for perhaps the very last time.
My American fundamentalist Christian family did exactly that to me in 2005 when my parents were both grievously injured and not expected to live. The Catholic hospital obeyed my brother's wish to keep me away from them, I had to go to court. His reasoning? As an openly gay man, I was indulging in sin!
When two kidneys were needed (one for each parent) and the only two possible candidates were my brother and myself he actually committed false witness and called the laboratory to tell them that I was a homosexual and thus had Aids! Now, I am HIV- so this was a lie, but because of his words, had my father not rallied, he would have died!
T., I fear you have no idea with what gays in loving, committed relationships are confronted in the US. We have no protection and the legal documents the conservative Christians are always insisting would help us are of no value when even a blood relative of the third degree disagrees with them.
I won't even discuss the attempts to strip gay couples of their children, but if you really want a heart-breaking look at just what we confront, I can refer you to the Florida situation for two young boys...
T,
I would love to believe you but ...
"Gays can be given equal civil rights without legally recognized marriage."
If that were true, gays should already have "civil rights", namely, equal treatment before the law. They don't. Aside from the 1,176 benefits that are denied to gay citizens, there are still 37 States in which one can still be fired merely for being gay. Nevermind inheritance rights, pension rights, health care rights, hospital and funeral rights and end-of-life decision making rights. You are simply wrong.
"What gays want is a shortcut to civil rights through legal marriage."
Gay citizens should already have equal civil rights. They don't. Legal, equal marriage is simply one right (liberty, actually) that gay American citizens simply do not have. One of a very, very long list.
"As a married heterosexual, I will gladly give up any special rights I enjoy due to my legally recognized marriage in order to achieve equality."
Nice of you to say, but sorry, I sincerely doubt you would. Please let us know which of those civil rights, privileges, iberties, etc. enumerated above you would be willing to forego. We're very curious.
And you could start by telling us that you would be happy to have your marriage downgraded to a "civil" union so that you, too, could be denied those benefits. This should be interesting.
Husband,
Good response to T, however, this is a tired lie from the Christian Extremest.
It's interesting, until recent events showing the real hatred toward gays, not once has the issue of equal rights been pushed by these same "Christians".
In fact, quite the opposite has been true. Year after year, state after state (and nationally) the Christian Extremists have lied and prostituted God to beat down any fair treatment of gays.
You can not believe these Christian Extremest, no one should ever believe they have any intent of helping to secure Civil Rights for gays.
Recent articles have started to reveal the talking points from the Christian Extremest with the backdrop of current events; "anti gay marriage is not anti gay rights". It's absolutely laughable. They lie with no hesitation.
If there is anything you can count on from the these folks it is deception and lies. In summary, don't take the bait. It is nothing more than a distraction.
Today, arrogance is the deity of the Christian Extremest, not God.
Donna
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