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[tikarass]

southpawgrammar and I are getting married, we've decided. Crate and Barrel gift registry and Paul Smith formalwear, here we come! Hehe,...

...so yeah, marriage is now legal in Massachusetts. I still don't know what that means or what I think of that... crazy, isn't it?

Comments

[telephasic]

Techinically, it's not legal quite yet I think, as they footballed it back to the legislature to deal with within the next 180 days. Some people are claiming that Massachussets will just enact a ban on gay marriage, much as Hawaii and Alaska did, but given the political situation in MA, and the fact a similar resolution was defeated last year, I find this unlikely. Though I find it as unlikely Romney will actually pass a bill alloying gays to marrry.

If allowed by the court ruling, I'm sure that the result will be some sort of civil union thing like in Vermont.

[tikarass]

...yeah, the 180 days are probably for them to find an alternative to 'marriage,' as with something like Vermont. Or 180 days to find a secure way for it to be challenged or vetoed.

Either way, I still don't know what think about marriage,... I've never been an advocate 'for' the marriage movement...

[5500]

yeah but i'm a catch and that best convert you!

[tikarass]

well that's the whole point :) you are. hehe.

(still, it frustrates me that the marriage movement fights for partner healthcare and stuff like that which are things that could be part of a larger platform, such as healthcare as a basic right, not just a 'partner benifit' ... etc...)

[5500]

yes! i am!

i agree in principle that a larger platform of social change is desirable, but i think that the concept of "marriage" means more than just these rights and responsibilities like health care or tax reform or whatever. it involves changing minds about the value and meaning of relationships - in that way, it's much broader in scope than physical trappings...it extends into the philosophical.

[tikarass]

looks like the postcard made it?

also, i hope that this will be 'marriage,' not some alternative... 'separate but equal' isn't convincing... i guess we'll see in 180 days...

[5500]

no. i haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about.

yes. you are totally right. no "second class" business, please. don't waste my time.

[tikarass]

huh? oh, strike that first comment. your pic reminds me of a postcard that i thought i sent, maybe i sent another amtrak one, heh.

[telephasic]

I'm going to post soonish in my journal regarding this. Essentially I find allowing one group to have civil unions but another group to marry is silly. The argument politicians make is that marraige has religious signifigance for people. Thus, states shouldn't even recognize marraige, only civil unions.

Eh, I'll put a bit more effort into it if I get the time before Broadcast tonight.

[tikarass]

...if you get a chance, read Michael Warner's essay "Beyond Gay Marriage," which seems to be everywhere, from his book The Trouble with Normal to collections like Left Legalism/Left Critique and What's Left of Theory?... I bet it's even online somewhere....