Marriage Equality

Gay marriage (same-sex marriage) has been and continues to be a very hot topic. So hot, in fact, that G.W. Bush himself has stood in front of the nation and pushed his view that marriage is a holy union between only one man and one woman. Many opposed to marriage equality posit that marriage is a foundation of our society and that it always has been. They continue to claim that if they allowed marriage equality that it would be the start of a slippery slope- that it would be followed by polygamy, incest, pedophilia,  and bestiality. It’s frightening that those four ideas are where the conservatives’ minds immediately go to. Apparently they have never considered following Denmark’s example. In Denmark marriage equality has been around for a while now. Their definition of marriage is as between two consenting adults. That definition clarifies that polygamy is not an option (although opposing a Christian view against polygamy isn’t any more favorable than using that view against marriage equality), that definition clarifies that pedophilia is not an option, that definition clarifies that bestiality is not an option. And as for incest, we already have laws about how close in relation two people can be to still be eligible to marry each other.

Let’s consider for a moment where the institution of marriage gets it’s power from. Certainly a marriage receives blessings from the church/synagogue/mosque/coven/etc. Thankfully in America we have the freedom of religion so that our unions can be blessed by whatever religion or creed we follow. We don’t have to appeal to any one religion for that. And no one religion (and no group of religions) can cause those blessings to be withheld from someone else’s belief system. The real place that marriage gets it’s power from is the government. The government is providing the tax breaks, the inheritance rights, the visitation rights, insurance rights, custody rights, etc. Marriage truly is a secular institution. And yet our government is currently hiding behind religion for why they don’t allow marriage equality.

Marriage equality has been achieved in some places. Massachusetts has legalized gay marriage for 5 years now. California recently approved gay marriage (again... maybe it’ll stick this time). And Hawaii too. Oh, wait. Hawaii rescinded their laws for marriage equality back in the ’90’s. And of course, there’s Vermont. Vermont has amazing laws about legal unions. But, oh yeah, domestic partnerships and civil unions are not marriage and they don’t provide the same rights and privileges thereof.

So yes! Marriage equality is the thing to fight for! Marriage equality is the top issue that we should be focused on achieving! Well, that is if you are a staunch follower of the Human Rights Coalition. Sadly, the HRC does not speak for everyone it should be. See, marriage is not the grand end-all and be-all it so often is purported to be. I heard someone say it quite well recently when they expressed that gay marriage will not solve all the problems. It won’t even solve the problem of health insurance. Since most people tend to marry within their same social standing/social class, allowing two people who already have health insurance to get married doesn’t help anyone with health coverage. And allowing two people who have no health coverage to get married doesn’t help either of them with health coverage. Similarly, the other benefits of marriage are little help to those already without much to begin with and the benefits are of little consequence to those who already have enough.

All of that to say what? Let’s get marriage equality but let’s also push just as strongly for individual safety. For national employment and public accommodation non-discrimination of both sexual orientation and gender identity. For improved transgender health access and resources. For everyone in the queer/gay/trans community.