As I sit here with Biden and Palin "wha-wha-wha" in my ear. A consuming feeling of hopelessness on the part of my country enters my heart. I started the evening with a hope of "guffaws" or "flubs" on either of the candidates part, and ended up with my buttons being pushed 45 minutes into the debate. I must confess. I have kept my opinions to myself. (other than to you Uncle Edward and Rick!) I, currently, have NO SAY in the democratic process because of my "incarceration". My heart is breaking.
I, personally, have been offended and attacked by the vice-presidential nominees by their "narrow" opinion of my GOD given rights. Granted. Deep breath.
I entered this world in a great time of change for America. I missed the Civil Rights era. I was not affected by segregation. I was not subjected to images of the KKK burning crosses. African Americans being told they cannot drink from water fountains or swim in pools that "white" people frequent.
I am not making light of the Civil Rights movement.
I am just wondering when these "civil rights" will be included and embraced for everyone.
I did grow up knowing I was different.
I fought that difference for 24 years.
I used humor to avert the "gay" jokes.
I played up my so called "gayness" in high school.....just to have them think I might not be.
I cried when I was taunted.
That was, phew, 25 years ago.
In 25 years time I have been allowed to bring my "true" self to the forefront.
In 25 years time I can walk down the street and not have the "stigma" of being a fairy.
In 25 years time I have watched "gayness" become "cool" and the "in" thing.
My problem with the last 25 years, among many others, is that I have NO legal rights as a Gay American. (this is even WITHOUT a prison/felony conviction!!)
I can go to court and get an order to give me permission to visit and make judgements for my partner. Only to have it overturned in court by an upset family member.
I can be left an estate by a dead partner. Only to have it overturned by ANY family member.
I can grow old with a man of my choice.
I can care for this man.
I can bury this man.
I just can't be LEGALLY recognized as his partner/spouse/husband.
Will it be another 25 years for that?
No.
No.
YES.
TONIGHT, OCTOBER 2, 2008.
THE 21ST FUCKING CENTURY.........
Joe Biden and Sarah Palin agreed that they both
DO NOT SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE!!!
On whether they support gay marriage:
BIDEN: ''No. Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that. That is basically the decision to be able to be left to faiths and people who practice their faiths, the determination, what you call it.''
PALIN: ''Your question to him was whether he supported gay marriage and my answer is the same as his and it is that I do not.''
http://cbs5.com/politicswire/22.0.html?type=national&serviceLevel=a&category=p&filename=VicePresidentialDebat.xml
Below is a timeline I found, very small, in the quest of equal rights for gay Americans. I have the book at the top of this blog on order from Amazon. I will let you know what it says once I read it.
The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html
1924
The Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the country's earliest known gay rights organization.
1948
Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, revealing to the public that homosexuality is far more widespread than was commonly believed.
1951
The Mattachine Society, the first national gay rights organization, is formed by Harry Hay, considered by many to be the founder of the gay rights movement.
1956
The Daughters of Bilitis, a pioneering national lesbian organization, is founded.
1962
Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.
1969
The Stonewall riots transform the gay rights movement from one limited to a small number of activists into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance. Patrons of a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn, fight back during a police raid on June 27, sparking three days of riots.
1973
The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders.
1982
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
1993
The “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity. President Clinton's original intention to revoke the prohibition against gays in the military was met with stiff opposition; this compromise, which has led to the discharge of thousands of men and women in the armed forces, was the result.
1996
In Romer v. Evans, the Supreme Court strikes down Colorado's Amendment 2, which denied gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, calling them “special rights.” According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, “We find nothing special in the protections Amendment 2 withholds. These protections . . . constitute ordinary civil life in a free society.”
2000
Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples would be entitled to the same benefits, privileges, and responsibilities as spouses.” It stops short of referring to same-sex unions as marriage, which the state defines as heterosexual.1
2003
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Lawrence v. Texas that sodomy laws in the U.S. are unconstitutional. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.”
In November, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that barring gays and lesbians from marrying violates the state constitution. The Massachusetts Chief Justice concluded that to “deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage” to gay couples was unconstitutional because it denied “the dignity and equality of all individuals” and made them “second-class citizens.” Strong opposition followed the ruling.
2004
On May 17, same-sex marriages become legal in Massachusetts.
2005
Civil unions become legal in Connecticut in Oct. 2005.
2006
Civil unions become legal in New Jersey in December.
2007
In November, the House of Representatives approves a bill ensuring equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals.
2008
In February, a New York State appeals court unanimously votes that valid same-sex marriages performed in other states must be recognized by employers in New York, granting same-sex couples the same rights as other couples.
In February, the state of Oregon passes a law that allows same-sex couples to register as domestic partners allowing them some spousal rights of married couples.
On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. When the ruling goes into effect in June 2008, California will be the second state, after Massachusettes, to legalize same-sex marriages.
1. Internationally, Denmark became the first country to legalize same-sex partnerships in 1989. Within two years, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and France followed suit. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country legalizing same-sex marriages; Belgium followed in 2003, and Spain in 2005. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage in 2003, numerous other provinces followed suit in 2004, and on June 29, 2005, the Canadian parliament passed a bill legalizing gay marriage throughout the country. Countries that offer a legal status, sometimes known as registered partnership, that confers most or all spousal rights to same-sex couples: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden. Countries that offer a legal status, sometimes known as unregistered cohabitation, that confers certain spousal rights to same-sex couples (and, in some of these countries, unmarried opposite-sex couples): Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland.
1924
The Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the country's earliest known gay rights organization.
1948
Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, revealing to the public that homosexuality is far more widespread than was commonly believed.
1951
The Mattachine Society, the first national gay rights organization, is formed by Harry Hay, considered by many to be the founder of the gay rights movement.
1956
The Daughters of Bilitis, a pioneering national lesbian organization, is founded.
1962
Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.
1969
The Stonewall riots transform the gay rights movement from one limited to a small number of activists into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance. Patrons of a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn, fight back during a police raid on June 27, sparking three days of riots.
1973
The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders.
1982
Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
1993
The “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity. President Clinton's original intention to revoke the prohibition against gays in the military was met with stiff opposition; this compromise, which has led to the discharge of thousands of men and women in the armed forces, was the result.
1996
In Romer v. Evans, the Supreme Court strikes down Colorado's Amendment 2, which denied gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, calling them “special rights.” According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, “We find nothing special in the protections Amendment 2 withholds. These protections . . . constitute ordinary civil life in a free society.”
2000
Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples would be entitled to the same benefits, privileges, and responsibilities as spouses.” It stops short of referring to same-sex unions as marriage, which the state defines as heterosexual.1
2003
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Lawrence v. Texas that sodomy laws in the U.S. are unconstitutional. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.”
In November, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that barring gays and lesbians from marrying violates the state constitution. The Massachusetts Chief Justice concluded that to “deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage” to gay couples was unconstitutional because it denied “the dignity and equality of all individuals” and made them “second-class citizens.” Strong opposition followed the ruling.
2004
On May 17, same-sex marriages become legal in Massachusetts.
2005
Civil unions become legal in Connecticut in Oct. 2005.
2006
Civil unions become legal in New Jersey in December.
2007
In November, the House of Representatives approves a bill ensuring equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals.
2008
In February, a New York State appeals court unanimously votes that valid same-sex marriages performed in other states must be recognized by employers in New York, granting same-sex couples the same rights as other couples.
In February, the state of Oregon passes a law that allows same-sex couples to register as domestic partners allowing them some spousal rights of married couples.
On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. When the ruling goes into effect in June 2008, California will be the second state, after Massachusettes, to legalize same-sex marriages.
1. Internationally, Denmark became the first country to legalize same-sex partnerships in 1989. Within two years, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and France followed suit. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country legalizing same-sex marriages; Belgium followed in 2003, and Spain in 2005. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage in 2003, numerous other provinces followed suit in 2004, and on June 29, 2005, the Canadian parliament passed a bill legalizing gay marriage throughout the country. Countries that offer a legal status, sometimes known as registered partnership, that confers most or all spousal rights to same-sex couples: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden. Countries that offer a legal status, sometimes known as unregistered cohabitation, that confers certain spousal rights to same-sex couples (and, in some of these countries, unmarried opposite-sex couples): Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland.
2 comments:
Did you add the constitutional amendment that states that marriage is between a man and a women that George W pushed for before is latest election.
According to your records, we, the gay americans have made great strides with this issue. Not issue, I mean our rights. If both presidental candidates do not see it as our rights, what are we going to do? I am already PISSED off about bailing out Wall Street. They, the politicians, that we put in office are going to go by their agenda, not ours.
If you really look at all the represenatives and senators, you can't tell me that no of them are gay!!!! That would be unheard of. But how many of them hide it to protect their status.
That is what this all comes down to, who is protecting what? I am tired of playing the game but at the same time I have to because of the line of work I am in. If I am out and everyone knows it, will I still be a teacher? I will still be a teacher but will I be employed? That is the final question.
I want my rights but I can't stand on the Arch and yell for it because I need to live. It is the damm double edge sword.
Got to run and get lunch, it is Friday and that is my treat to myself. Watch out Taco Bell, here I come!!!!!!!
Post a Comment