Gay Marriage
Now this really says it all ....
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/12/gay.marriage.california.ap/index.html
California is yet another state having an internal conflict over the rights of gays to marry. "Longtime lesbian activists Phyllis Lyon, 79, and Del Martin, 83, were hurriedly issued a license and were married just before noon by City Assessor Mabel Teng in a closed-door civil ceremony at City Hall, mayor's spokesman Peter Ragone said. The two have been a couple for 51 years. " Yes, you read correctly, 51 years! That's over FIVE DECADES for those of you playing the home game.
I would venture to say that most heterosexual marriages don't make it that long, nor even HALF that long. In fact, if the conservative right wing is trying to protect the sanctity of marriage then they really should have a sit down with Britney Spears, not Rosie O'Donnell. Britney's quickie marriage (and even quicker annullment) in Las Vegas was a "joke gone too far". Yea, sounds like she is taking those vows very seriously. Then you have this lesbian couple in CA together over 50 years and don't have the right to marry in most states; in fact, they are specifically forbidden from doing so. Am I missing something? Where is the logic in that?!
I'm not gay and I have no plans to try to marry someone of the same sex but the ridiculousness and unfairness of this entire situation boggles the mind. Why does anyone care who someone ELSE is marrying? I have seen some sketchy matches and some marriages that should have NEVER taken place, but it had nothing to do with whether or not the gender of the people involved was the same or different. I almost consider it a privacy issue like abortion or sodomy (the legal definition folks, let's keep it PG-13 in here). It is none of my damn business who someone else marries, gay or straight, nor is it the government's. Why would you refuse to allow two people who love each other and want to spend their lives together the joy of being legally and publically recognized? Why would you deny them shared health benefits? A joint tax return?
Publicly it's bigotry and close mindedness, but behind closed doors I suspect fear. Fear is usually the fuel of loud-mouthed blowhards pushing an agenda. I almost wonder if those bureacrats [sp?] are afraid of being shown up. Since they seem to think it's fine and dandy to regulate other people's private lives I think we should make a public issue out of theirs. ATTENTION state legislators, how many of you are in a happy, long lasting marriage raise your hands? OK, now how many have had major marital discord? Divorces? Infidelity? What?! No takers?? No one wants to stand up and admit they have been cheating on their spouses? No one is jumping to the microphone to explain their multiple divorces?! Didn't think so. If you cannot survive the scrutiny you put others under then sit down and shut up!
There are a mixture of people in any subgroup. There are commitment-phobes who are both gay and straight, and I am sure bad marriages exist on both sides as well. It all boils down to the fact that everyone deserves to make the choice themselves and it shouldn't matter whether or not the parties involved have matching anatomy.
That couple in San Francisco has been together for 51 years. I am amazed. I am thrilled for them. I am sorry for "traditional" couples have not been together that long. I am sorry that in most jurisidictions that couple's accomplishment would not be recognized. I am ticked off that as usual there is a large contingent of hot aired buffoons trying to force their beliefs and issues on the rest of the population. Hooray for Phyllis and Del! You could teach a thing or two to the rest of us about marriage, including (no ESPECIALLY) the blowhards.
