An Amazing Must Read Article

[nudewoody]

Bob Ostertag Historian, Journalist, and Professor of Technocultural Studies and Music at UC Davis
Posted December 21, 2008 | 06:04 PM (EST)

Why Gay Marriage is the Wrong IssueIt's just plain sad what the gay and lesbian movement has come to. November 4 was so extraordinary, so magical. The whole world seemed to come together. Except for gays and

Comments

[bunnykitteh]

What are you people talking about? This is ridiculous.

I support full equal rights for everybody in America. I don't believe we should have unequal rights depending on particular lifestyles so I fully support equal rights.

So he supports gay marriage? What?

Marriage--the M word and all--is a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT in this country and in this state. If you have a problem with that, address it. But in the meantime, it needs to not be denied on the basis of some arbitrary gender discrimination.

I'm tired enough of having to explain that to fundies. Plz to be telling me why I should have to explain it to queers.

[nudewoody]

Honey, marriage sets up a distinct group recognized and defined by the state which are given "special benefits and rights" by the state which unmarried people are denied. Why not work for equal rights for everyone, whether they are married or not, whether their relationships fit with in the boundaries of those which the state would wish to define? I am partnered with two men at the moment. One of us has health care from work which offers spousal care, so how do we decide who gets left out?
Marriage IS NOT about equal rights.

[bunnykitteh]

You're talking about two different issues and your inability to separate them is harmful.

Marriage my not be about equal rights, as you said, but marriage rights are not actually about marriage!

Marriage rights ARE about equal rights, and so much more.

[nudewoody]

Now I'm confused!!?? Marriage rights are not about marriage? Then what are they about? Marriage is about an institution which at its very core is structurally discriminatory; marriage rights are about gaining access to the list of state defined groups which are permitted legally to participate in that institution. What part am I missing, what part are you missing?

[bunnykitteh]

I'll address this at some point, I have an appointment to get to. To help facilitate my response, would you please tell me what groups (other than gay man) you are a part of which are not permitted to legally participate in the institution of marriage? And/or such groups that you not a part of as well. I know you listed some other examples previously, and I would like different ones if you have any.

[nudewoody]

there are many people who either cannot or do not want to participate in the institution of marriage. Marriage affords rights, privileges, and protections which are not available to them. It is very simple to understand. Those rights, privileges, and protections should be universal. If we as a community were striving for that, we would find common cause across many identity boundaries.