Getting Marriage Back To Being About Love

When it comes to gay rights and the gay 'agenda', straight people think that we're seeking some sort of extra benefits or protections or laws when we are just looking for what everyone else has.  Some 1,100+ benefits, laws, protections and rights and not afforded us simply because of who we love.  Straight people take for granted the things that come naturally to them via laws, the Constitution and the influence of the Church.  We only want what everyone else already has.  Nothing more, but certainly not anything less.

Since it is the 'fight' for equality, logic would suggest that any change would come from the side fighting for the thing in question.  It's fairly confusing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by it's very title, wasn't put forth by gays as a way to petition for their rights to marry but, rather, by conservative, religious zealots in an effort to 'protect' the sanctity of (straight) marriage.  Considering that divorce is actually a sin in the Bible punishable by the stoning of the wife and that the current divorce rates are around 50%... and that people get married several times... and with all the adultery going on... I'd say that the only protection they need is from themselves.  How my getting married to a man is going to affect their marriage is beyond me.  In fact, and I've said this before but rarely hear it being brought up (oddly not by conservative Republicans who you'd think would be leading the charge), the only thing that my marriage would have that would affect them is that we would be able to file our taxes jointly just as any other married couple, therefore lowering the tax base.  Actually, they may have had better luck calling it the Defense of Tax Revenue Act.  Then there would be some actual logic brought into the conversation, not just hate and prejudice.  For the life of me, I don't understand how black's rights are voted on by whites... how women's rights are voted on by men... and how gay's rights are voted on by straights.  Is it me, or is there something wrong with this process.

Today, in a historical vote, the Supreme Court ruled DOMA unconstitutional and shot down Prop8 in California as well, which means it is federally legal for gays to marry and in California as well.  As an older gay male, while we've strived for this sort of thing for so long, I never thought I would see it in my life span.  I couldn't help welling up with tears as I read response after response on Facebook... stunned and afraid to believe it.  And while many are currently in committed relationships that this will have an immediate effect, for me, I have to take this as a win for humanity.  With the public's opinion changing so much over the last couple of years, it's a good feeling that I have today about my country.  And while we're still behind the 8-ball in comparison to many other countries and we still have a long way to go, we are moving ahead.  Rights in estates, survivorship, taxes, Social Security, medical coverage and power of attorney, government spousal benefits... just to name a few of the 1,100+... will now be recognized.  These decisions will be the basis for arguments in the future towards a more equal America.

It's difficult for people to equate our journey with that of other equal rights groups such as the Jews, blacks, women, etc... but there's been as much hardship and hatred and bloodshed and loss of life fueled by the same sort of prejudice and, not so oddly, from the same group, passed on from generation to generation.  Hopefully, that way of thinking is on it's way out replaced with tolerance and acceptance and love.  Much thanks is due our straight allies for their support in making this cause their own. It's time that we minorities rise up as a majority and get what is rightfully ours under the Constitution... which doesn't just pertain to white, straight, religious males... but to everyone.  Life, Liberty, The Pursuit of Happiness.... and Justice For ALL.