Hello and welcome everybody to Pride weekend 2009. I can’t imagine the reader of my blog who doesn’t already know the term Pride, the schedule of events, or the many ways in which they will intoxicate themselves this weekend, but sadly I predict that many readers have no clue why.
This year, be different. Have just as good a time, but also know how it came to be.
Forty years ago a little riot broke out in Greenwich Village in New York. In those days, police raids on gay bars were frequent. They weren’t there to break up fights or to check for drugs. They were there to bust people dancing with members of the same sex and cross-dressers (though somehow men wearing makeup were seemingly not an issue). Normally, patrons would go along with it, a few would be arrested, and the bar would reopen later that evening. On the night of June 28, 1969 things went a little differently, however.
It’s that riot that is now commemorated each year. Although “Stonewall” doesn’t necessarily mark the first time a gay man or drag queen stood up for themselves and it certainly wasn’t the largest or most impressive protest in the history of the gay rights movement, it does hold a special significance in how it inspired people not just in NY but all across the globe to begin standing up for their right to be who they are openly, and to be proud of it.
It’s the tireless work of gays, lesbians, transgender people, straights, and many others that has created the environment we have today. Where gay bars have windows. Where men can not only dress in drag but there are television shows about it. Where women are not required to have on at least three pieces of feminine clothing (Although ladies, I do encourage you to. I’ve been fooled one too many times for pointing out cute boys that turned out, in fact, to be lesbians with better hair and clothing than myself.) Living a queer life today is a far cry from the the way things were forty years ago. But our world is not yet perfect.
Tomorrow, when we all gussy up in our finest summer gear to march among our fellow celebrators of queer culture, don’t forget all the work that has gone into making it possible. And on Monday, when normal life resumes, do something a little different:
Stop discrimination dead in it’s tracks each and every time you see it.
Call your representatives and demand marriage equality; an inclusive, nationwide Employment Non-Discrimination Act; the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act.
Come out. To everyone.
And for god sakes, people, this one is really important:
Come together as a group. I really don’t understand why but we have an environment right now where all the different colors
of the rainbow are in separate corners of the room, backs to each other, with their arms crossed. The next person I see judging another person for dressing differently, talking differently, loving differently, or having a different color skin – I’m going to smack them from here to Perez Hilton (too soon?). We all have one common goal – to be ourselves unashamedly. We all know what it’s like to fail to live up to that dream. We should all be together because then we become the majority.
Now get off the internet you dork and go have a vodka soda (low cal, helps you keep your figure), do your hair, listen to some Lady GaGa, and get the heck out because it’s time to live it up for the weekend!
Further reading:
Wikipedia article on the Stonewall riots
A friend of mine (hi Jamie!) forwarded this wonderful note to me on Facebook. It has apparently been making the rounds and to be completely honest I can not recall reading any better written argument for why marriage rights are so important to homosexuals. In fact I was so impressed that I contacted Terry (the author) to get his permission to publish his note on my blog. Comments are of course encouraged!
Open Letter to My Friend Who Opposes Gay Marriage
By Terry Allen-Rouman
May 27, 2009
Thank you for your message, which I’m keeping private at your request, and for your honesty. But I disagree with you. People say that just because they are against gay marriage doesn’t mean they are homophobic. I agree that they do not necessarily “fear” gays, as “phobic” implies, but they are absolutely demonstrating that they feel gays are somehow inferior. My being gay is defined by my being in love with a man rather than a woman. If someone does not see my relationship as equal to a non-gay relationship, I can only conclude they somehow feel, even if subconsciously, that I am inferior.
Marriage in the United States is actually two different institutions, civil marriage and religious marriage. Many couples enjoy both, while others have only one or the other.
Civil marriage legally confers over 1,400 legal rights on a couple, things such as the right to file joint taxes, the right to visit each other in the hospital, the right to inherit each other’s property without lengthy and expensive additional processes in place. In addition to state rights, the federal government confers over 1,100 rights to married couples and up until recently recognized each state’s civil marriages to confer these rights – now they single out same-gender marriages for exclusion of these rights. Some states, including California, grant many, if not all, of the same state rights as civil marriage under a separate umbrella, such as domestic partnership. But as with other civil rights struggles, separate has proven not to be equal. First and foremost, not all rights are granted to these other types of relationships (especially federal rights in this case). And perhaps as important, at least to me, many people in society simply don’t understand the other types of relationships – everyone understands marriage. With one word, husband, I am able to convey and receive respect for my lifelong commitment to my husband, a “right” that you enjoy, probably without a second thought.
Religious marriage is an institution defined separately by each religion, church, or synagogue. Many religions do not recognize each other’s marriages. I absolutely honor your decision to belong to a religion that does not sanction same-gender marriages. But other religions do sanction same-gender marriages. And at least in the United States, our laws are not supposed to be driven by one religion over another, and certainly are not supposed to suppress any religion. Your church defines “marriage” one way – and I am not trying to change how your church defines it. But I deeply resent Californians voting for, and even being allowed to vote for, changing how my religion defines “marriage.”
Not long ago, interracial marriage was outlawed in many states, using remarkably similar arguments as those used today by those opposing same-gender marriage. Interracial marriage was against many people’s religions at the time, and it was argued that allowing interracial marriage would undermine the entire institution of marriage. Luckily, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws against interracial marriage, ruling in 1967 that “marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man.”
Jason and I had our religious wedding in 1993, well before we were allowed to have our civil marriage in 2008. Now, although our marriages remain valid, the voters of California have decided not to allow other same-gender couples to enjoy this same right, and the California Supreme Court has agreed. For the first time in history, the majority of voters have rewritten a state’s constitution to discriminate against a minority. This is a dangerous precedent. I find it interesting that although 52.3% of voters voted for Prop. 8 in November, this represents only 30.2% of eligible California voters, and only 19.0% of all Californians. So less than one in five Californians is all it takes to eliminate a group of people’s rights.
Luckily, our country continues to define equality more and more broadly. And history has never looked back kindly at those who have stood in the way of equality. More and more Californians and more and more Americans support same-gender marriage each year, realizing that equality needs to include everyone. I look forward to the day that it does.
Here is a compilation of video shots and photos from Chicago’s Day of Decision rally. Originally I had the video set to Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” but YouTube wasn’t having any of it so here is the video with Say It’s Possible by Terra Naomi.
Every time I head out to a protest this is the song that I have playing in my head. Gay rights is probably not exactly what Mraz was thinking when he wrote the song but I can’t help but be moved by the lyrics in that context.
“No I won’t hesitate no more, no more / It can not wait / I’m sure.”
It was wonderful seeing familiar faces and new faces alike last night. The crowd was an angry group of people happy to cherish their diversity, queer or otherwise. There was one thing we all shared in common though – we were all human, and we were all equal.
The California Supreme Court just upheld Proposition 8 but also ruled that the existing 18,000 marriages that were performed while gay marriage was legal will remain valid.
I’m still waiting for the PDF to load so I can read the full opinion but I’ll offer more of my opinions after that happens. If you would like to view the full opinion find it here: California Prop 8 ruling (re-hosted as official link is nearly impossible to load)
It seems that at least some of the judges realize the stupidity of Prop 8 and the horrible discrimination that it codifies-
“our task in the present proceeding is not to determine whether the provision at issue is wise or sound as a matter of policy or whether we, as individuals, believe it should be a part of the California Constitution”
The ruling is essentially making the argument that because civil unions are still valid the only change that Prop 8 presented was a change in the “designation of the term ‘marriage’” and that Prop 8 does not, in fact, deny “the constitutional right of same-sex couples to ‘choose one’s life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially recognized, and protected family relationship that enjoys all of the constitutionally based incidents of marriage.’” Clearly this court has never explored the hell that was racial segregation during our country’s “separate but equal” period.
PS -- I don’t hate Jesus or Christians. I chose this photo as a representation of what the religious wrong have done -- used a religion that is supposed to preach harmony and love for your family and neighbors to impose completely unrelated ideals on others. Each and every person who uses religion as a tool for their own personal gain and to discriminate against others should be horribly ashamed of themselves.
It looks like Illinois may be the next state to legalize civil unions for gay (as well as straight) couples. While it isn’t full marriage rights, it is moving in the right direction. Read the full story at Joe. My. God.
The California Supreme Court will issue it’s ruling on Prop 8 on Tuesday, May 26. Keep your fingers crossed for good news, whatever you think that is. And by whatever you think that is I of course mean if you agree Prop 8 needs to be overturned. If you don’t agree with me go back to reading Ann Coulter’s blog or something.
I couldn’t find any new pics of cute couples on short notice, so here is a completely unrelated photo but fully acceptable photograph of one incredibly hot man.
I love this man. At least someone in the news industry has their head on straight. I’ll leave all the talking points to the video but suffice it to say Miss California got told! Oh snap!
