A little more OOC-ness, but inspired IC
Banning Gay Marriage makes Andrew Cry
A brief political rant by yours truly
As one of the many players out there that characterize Andrew as straight-up homosexual rather than bi or, heaven forbid, straight, I would like to comment briefly on a disturbing turn of events that occurred during the voting yesterday.
Sure, everyone's waiting with baited breath to see the results of this oh-so-close election, and personally I still have my fingers crossed for Kerry so that maybe he can try and fix the mess that Bush has left him (that is another rant entirely to be posted in my OOC journal later, mary_sue_murder, but other issues were voted on along with the presidential election last night. In some states it was as small as approving road construction or issues with taking money from schools. However, eleven states were given a very important choice to make:
Would it be put in their constitution that marriage would be officially made only for one man and one woman?
Now up until this point, the constitution was meant to state the rights of the people, not restrict any rights or include discrimination of any kind. I had always hoped that despite where an individual stood on Gay Marriage and Gay Rights, they would recognize that something like the constitution should be kept free of discrimination or restrictions on people's rights. However, apparently I was very, very wrong.
All eleven states voted for the ban on Gay Marriages. Several of these states also voted for banning Civil Unions as well.
The conservatives have a very "we told you so" attitude in these states, apparently convinced that should the issue arise in all the other states in the US, that the result would be the same. I'd like to see them try something like that in New England.
I say that because most of these eleven states were located in the south. Now I'm not one for making generalizations, but most of the southern states are more prominently conservative and more "hardcore" religious, which does lead to them being against Gay Marriages on several levels. Most of the voters in these states commented on how they were protecting their children's future. It's frustrating, but I understand a lot of their hate is fueled by their religion, and despite my personal beliefs I shall not say anything about their religion. Some of this, however, is based on miseducation. Many people believe that all homosexuals are also pedophiles and rapists who have promiscuous sex and spread disease. I feel that if every one of these people could get to know just one gay or lesbian individual, then these ideas would change. However, that is not about to happen, especially not in these states where Gay Rights have been taken away.
For those interested, the states that now ban Gay Marriages and, in some cases, Civil Unions are:
Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah.
I never expected the fight for Gay Rights to be an easy one, but on the other hand I never expected such a backwards step in progress. Personally, I fight for simple equal rights in straight marriages and civil unions. There are still a couple hundred rights that are denied to gay couples in a civil union, and the 40-something rights they do get have to be documented in papers that they bring wherever they travel.
Example: if your partner was seriously injured in another state, the only way you would be able to see him would be if you had all that paperwork with you. If you didn't, or if it was lost in whatever accident occurred, then you're out of luck. Your partner could die overnight without you knowing.
When facing basic rights, the title of Marriage seems almost insignificant in comparison. The rights should be the main priority here, and titles can be debated later. I recognize that marriage has a religious meaning to several people, which should be respected, but it also grants legal rights that make it as much a government related thing as a religious one. The rights are what are most important.
You can call Gay Marriages flying monkeys and funnel cakes for all I care, so long as equal rights are included!
You have no idea how depressed I am at seeing this result in the polls this morning. My heart goes out to any gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender etc persons living in those eleven states. I am deeply sorry for your losses and invite you to come live here in Massachusetts with myself and Steph (warren_is_gone.
Ok then, rant over. I hope, however, that I at least brought the issue to light for some people. I know not everyone I rp with is entirely comfortable with Andrew and his gayness, but I hope that you'll consider that despite your personal feelings about the issue that you recognize that you shouldn't deny other people rights because of them. Gays are not criminals or pedophiles or rapists, they are normal people just like everyone else and we deserve equal rights.
Every time you vote against Gay Rights, Andrew cries. Please, think of the Andrew.
A brief political rant by yours truly
As one of the many players out there that characterize Andrew as straight-up homosexual rather than bi or, heaven forbid, straight, I would like to comment briefly on a disturbing turn of events that occurred during the voting yesterday.
Sure, everyone's waiting with baited breath to see the results of this oh-so-close election, and personally I still have my fingers crossed for Kerry so that maybe he can try and fix the mess that Bush has left him (that is another rant entirely to be posted in my OOC journal later, mary_sue_murder, but other issues were voted on along with the presidential election last night. In some states it was as small as approving road construction or issues with taking money from schools. However, eleven states were given a very important choice to make:
Would it be put in their constitution that marriage would be officially made only for one man and one woman?
Now up until this point, the constitution was meant to state the rights of the people, not restrict any rights or include discrimination of any kind. I had always hoped that despite where an individual stood on Gay Marriage and Gay Rights, they would recognize that something like the constitution should be kept free of discrimination or restrictions on people's rights. However, apparently I was very, very wrong.
All eleven states voted for the ban on Gay Marriages. Several of these states also voted for banning Civil Unions as well.
The conservatives have a very "we told you so" attitude in these states, apparently convinced that should the issue arise in all the other states in the US, that the result would be the same. I'd like to see them try something like that in New England.
I say that because most of these eleven states were located in the south. Now I'm not one for making generalizations, but most of the southern states are more prominently conservative and more "hardcore" religious, which does lead to them being against Gay Marriages on several levels. Most of the voters in these states commented on how they were protecting their children's future. It's frustrating, but I understand a lot of their hate is fueled by their religion, and despite my personal beliefs I shall not say anything about their religion. Some of this, however, is based on miseducation. Many people believe that all homosexuals are also pedophiles and rapists who have promiscuous sex and spread disease. I feel that if every one of these people could get to know just one gay or lesbian individual, then these ideas would change. However, that is not about to happen, especially not in these states where Gay Rights have been taken away.
For those interested, the states that now ban Gay Marriages and, in some cases, Civil Unions are:
Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah.
I never expected the fight for Gay Rights to be an easy one, but on the other hand I never expected such a backwards step in progress. Personally, I fight for simple equal rights in straight marriages and civil unions. There are still a couple hundred rights that are denied to gay couples in a civil union, and the 40-something rights they do get have to be documented in papers that they bring wherever they travel.
Example: if your partner was seriously injured in another state, the only way you would be able to see him would be if you had all that paperwork with you. If you didn't, or if it was lost in whatever accident occurred, then you're out of luck. Your partner could die overnight without you knowing.
When facing basic rights, the title of Marriage seems almost insignificant in comparison. The rights should be the main priority here, and titles can be debated later. I recognize that marriage has a religious meaning to several people, which should be respected, but it also grants legal rights that make it as much a government related thing as a religious one. The rights are what are most important.
You can call Gay Marriages flying monkeys and funnel cakes for all I care, so long as equal rights are included!
You have no idea how depressed I am at seeing this result in the polls this morning. My heart goes out to any gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender etc persons living in those eleven states. I am deeply sorry for your losses and invite you to come live here in Massachusetts with myself and Steph (warren_is_gone.
Ok then, rant over. I hope, however, that I at least brought the issue to light for some people. I know not everyone I rp with is entirely comfortable with Andrew and his gayness, but I hope that you'll consider that despite your personal feelings about the issue that you recognize that you shouldn't deny other people rights because of them. Gays are not criminals or pedophiles or rapists, they are normal people just like everyone else and we deserve equal rights.
Every time you vote against Gay Rights, Andrew cries. Please, think of the Andrew.