Hopeful on the Long Road Ahead...

[xakara]

I look at my country and both smile and shake my head in confusion. We have surged forth in record numbers to make history and choose hope, while at the same time a segment of the population seeks to remove the rights of people in love because their love is different. We are nothing if not a nation of contradictions in this moment.

 

Hope is winning in my heart at this point fortunately. Although an Independent, I do feel the Democratic sweep of House, Senate and the White House is "a win" and will ensure that such wrongs like Prop 8 will be righted in short order. Obama does not personally believe in same-sex marriage, but he does believe the constitution is about expanding the rights of American citizens not withholding them. He and Biden agree that the states should decide how they recognize same-sex unions, but both feel they must be recognized and legal rights must be protected. I, and everyone fighting for LGBTQ rights will be holding them to that belief.

I've been discussing all of this with my mom the last few days. She's doing much better and is in high spirits. She appreciates all of your thoughts and prayers and wants you to know that she celebrated Tuesday night with all of you. 

One more thing before I go. I agree that each state should get to decide h-o-w they acknowledge a marriage, same-sex and otherwise. In states that still acknowledge common law (het) marriage, I've been a married woman for a decade, and if I move to one of those states and then leave again, I'm still considered married and must be recognized as such in states without common law marriage. That works and I can get behind that.

But states should not get to vote on IF they are going to recognize same-sex marriage. It is a constitutional right for a couple of the same gender to enter into a legal contract. Marriage, regardless of whatever additional baggage you add to it, is a legal contract, and therefore constitutionally protected. We cannot, as individuals, vote on the Constitutional Rights of other citizens. If the states got to vote on the constitutional rights of everyone as the final decision without federal intervention...I'd still be picking cotton, we had a civil war to prove it. I'm just sayin'.

Long Road Ramble Done

~X

 

Comments

[i-amsherlocked.livejournal.com]

AMEN!

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Very well said!