As far as political issues are concerned, I am of the belief that the fight for gay marriage is, if not the most important battle going on in the country, certainly in the top two or three. This contradiction may surprise people who know that I am 1) Straight and that I 2) Feel that marriage is, at best, a somewhat silly abstraction based on a promise no sane person can honestly make and, at worst, a relationship destroying arrangement. So, why so serious about gay marriage, Tim? I have a variety of reasons, ranging from the noble to the completely selfish. But let’s just focus on one of the most important reasons today.
This is a video shot recently during Gay Pride in Minneapolis by a friend of a friend (I am assuming I have permission to use it, since it was posted on YouTube). A man was approached by a group of mostly youngish looking residents, asked if he was gay, and when he responded yes, the following occurred:
Now to be fair here, this could be looked at as relatively tame. Nobody got hurt, thankfully. But I don’t know about anyone else, but can you imagine the fear of having this many people following you for two full minutes, screaming at you about how the hate you and your lifestyle. Frankly, I’m amazed that this gentleman was walking so calmly. You better believe my skinny white ass would have been going full Forrest Gump out of there.
I think the very telling aspect of this video, though, is the age of the harrassers. They all look to be under 16, and some of them look like they are in the 11 to 12 range. Now there are a couple of different ways to interpret that. One school of thought says, “Ah, kids will be kids, and they will grow out of it.” Maybe. However, another way of looking at this is that these kids are being taught (and yes, have no doubt about it, it something that is taught) to hate gays very, very early. How is this happening?
Here is a clip from Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly show aired during the last presidential election:
(On a quick unrelated side note: Anyone else notice how Bill O’Reilly interviews this woman? Respectfully, never interrupting her, making sure he chooses his words carefully when paraphrasing her beliefs? And you just know if this was someone arguing for gay marriage he’d be screaming his head off and not letting them get two words in? Yeah, fuck you “Fox News” and your Fair and Balanced bullshit…)
If you don’t want to sit and watch the whole thing (I don’t blame you), here are the cliff notes: O’Reilly is interviewing a woman who represents a “Marriage Group” first lobbying to have marriage defined as solely between a man and a woman. The basic summary of her argument: Well, golly gee, Bill, you know I love the gays just as much as the next person, and that’s why we have laws about civil unions and such and such, and shouldn’t the gays just be happy with that and leave the whole marriage thing to us breeders? If you have gays marrying each other and being all married and openly happy and whatnot, then I gotta go home and explain to my kids about gay people.!
Exactly. And that’s why this issue is so important. By keeping homosexual relationships relegated to “civil unions” or other pseudo-marriage offshoots, we make a statement as a society, whether we intend to or not. And that statement is: Homosexual relationships aren’t the same as heterosexual relationships. They are [weird/evil/different/not as important/unhealthy]. And the fact of that matter is, they’re not different. Make friends with a gay couple, and watch them go through the same cycle of puppy love, happiness, bullshit fighting, annoyance, lust, complacency, and trust issues as any other couple, and then tell me what the difference is. And as long as we keep marriage as some sort of “sacred” unattainable club that gays aren’t allowed to be a part of, we send a message as a society to all our children that there is something wrong with being gay. And then, well…see above video.
Now, since I am completely unable to write anything sincere and meaningful without immediately following it up with some lame attempt at humor (a fact which the cast and crew currently working on the Fringe show are well aware), here is a video clip from an old after school special about steroids starring a young Ben Affleck, set to Benny Hill music. Enjoy. (Note: This video was stolen from Film Drunk, who probably stole it from someone else. So, credit where credit is almost due.)
Somehow, plenty (who knows the percentage, all polls on gay marriage vary, proving that I do not trust polls) of the American public says “I don’t care if you have your party, but just don’t do it legally” Which is dumb. While much of those voicing a clear opposition regarding this issue do so based on religious beliefs. However, there is nothing religious about getting married in the US, unless you so choose. Our president said this:
“I’m a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”
So, separation of church and state is a great thing, unless you have to separate YOUR religion Mr. Obama?
From a Republican:
“Like me, the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians.”
Politicians depress me.
What stands out and is so very sad to me is: these same young dark skin folks should know what it feels like to be treated like a piece of crap! How stupid can people be? Don’t you dare call me the n-word, but you are a fag? eh?
Yes! things are taught at a very young age, no matter what you are! gay, black, Jew, etc. Children learn what they live and see how grown-ups treat each other!!! Even if you never say a word against someone, how they are treated in your presence stands out!
The least of our worries as a country should be who can and can’t get married. . . .we need jobs and health care! And to clean up all those old fogies in all branches of gov’t office!!!
I did watch the whole Bill O’Reilly clip (the longest stretch I’ve ever been able to watch him for). That woman tried to qualify every single statement she made with how she is obviously just completely surrounded with wonderful gay people who are wonderful colleagues, friends, and parents. So, lady, what seems to be the problem? Oh, that’s right, you are protecting “the children” who come from stable, opposite-gender parent families. All three of them.
She failed to cite a single specific study to prove her point; must have been difficult to choose which one, since this has clearly been studied since the dawn of time and there must be thousands.
If the “anti-gay” movement was really “pro-family” I think they would spend their time and resources more effectively to improve the lives of children who really need help, instead of “protecting” them from NOTHING. Then again, I always wonder why there aren’t more pro-lifers with foster children too…
Thanks for getting me all fired up.