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Member since 04/2004

« No Surrender II | Main | CIA »

November 15, 2004

Comments

Yamara

Hi Tom,
Happy Thanksgiving! I should first say that I find your website very interesting. It's extremely refreshing to see a right-leaning political view expressed in such an articulate way that I am compelled to consider it.

Often when the "under-dog," fights for certain rights much time is spent debating the value of terminology. I've heard the argument more times than I can count that the issue should be about rights and not what those rights are called. Civil Unions or marriage, who cares as long as equal rights are granted? On a personal level and a political one, I care. We have seen that historically separate rights, no matter how similar, are not equal rights. There is no better example of this than the Jim Crow laws that were ruled discrimintory 50 years ago. I see the concept of giving gay people the rights of marriage while protecting the sanctity of the word marriage the same as making sure that blacks don't put their lips on a "white-only" water fountain.

In the gay rights movement, like so many other minority movements, there is difficulty presenting a united front. We all want essentially the same thing, but some of us are willing to concede here and there to get our rights faster. I think there is a generational difference in this respect. Most of the gay people that I know who don't care about terminology are middle aged or older. They have been waiting their whole lives to have any recognition of their unions and so they will take what they can get. I see things differently. I was born into a different world and I have time make sure that world lives up to its potential. There will always be those within the gay community that will stifle the movement. The existence of Log cabin republicans has been used for years to quiet us. I don't argue that there were gays who voted for Bush. I would venture to guess that those gays were most likely middle-aged or older, and I don't doubt they were wealthy. I can't speak for all gay people or explain why some gay people voted in a way that limits their rights. No matter how others voted, the rest of us, the majority in fact, have a right to be heard.

My understanding is that you support equal rights for gay unions but think that time and energy is being wasted debating terminology. I understand your point and I hope you understand mine. My knickers are in a bunch over this one. I want to ride the bus but I don't want to have to sit in the back.

Thanks for hearing me out. I'm glad I found your website and I'll be sure to check back from time to time.
Enjoy the holiday,
Yamara

P.S. I found an article written by a young republican that you might find interesting:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articlefunctions/Printerfriendly.asp?AID=25633

Erik

Yamara please read this article by John Corvino Ph D.

"Those who dismiss civil-union advocates as “Uncle Toms” — sellouts in the cause to win marriage rights and full equality for gay Americans — aren't rejecting the case for civil unions. They're not even bothering to understand it."

http://www.indegayforum.org/authors/corvino/corvino13.html

Erik

Gay rights group changes mind, supports civil unions

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--same-sexmarriage0301feb28,0,6360529.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

Change will happen, it will just take time.

Erik

CT votes for Civil Unions providing equal rights to all couples!


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