War of Words: Minnesota for Marriage’s Aversion to Truth

In addition to the religious right’s fight to get an anti-gay amendment passed in Minnesota, there is a second battle, this one over the official title of said amendment.  Two weeks ago Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie renamed the amendment “Limiting the Status of Marriage to Opposite Sex Couples,” much to the chagrin of those that would like to see the amendment passed.

The question I have posed to various groups like the National Organization for Marriage (who is pumping some serious out of state money into Minnesota for Marriage) is this: “what is the specific problem with Secretary Ritchie’s title?”  Unsurprisingly I haven’t received a direct answer, but the organizations involved are trying to direct their ire at what they perceive to be an abuse of power by Secretary Ritchie.  An abuse of power in changing no other language in the amendment other than the title.  Right.

The more likely theory is that the previous title, “Recognition of marriage solely between one man and one woman,” is more positive sounding than the new title.  This is a pretty common tactic of anti-gay groups, to make their cause sound less damning than it actually is.  They’re not stripping rights and status from LGBT couples, they’re protecting marriage.  They’re not archaic and outdated, they’re traditional.  They don’t hate LGBT individuals, they just work as hard as possible to make sure LGBT individuals cannot receive domestic partnership benefits, aren’t protected by anti-discrimination laws, and that their children are taught from a young age that their parents’ relationship is invalid in some way.  (Not italics there, it's just true.)

The fact that Minnesota for Marriage is so uncomfortable calling this amendment what it is shows that on some level they know what they’re doing is wrong.  Otherwise there is no need to “look better.”  And with the rash of LGBT suicides at Anoka still fresh on everyone’s mind, groups like Minnesota for Marriage aren’t looking very good these days.

Amendment 1 Passes in North Carolina

First of all, let me outline briefly what Amendment 1 entails, because most of the voters in-state didn't have a clue.  Amendment 1 defined in the state constitution that the only valid union in North Carolina is marriage between a man and a woman.  Not only does that mean no gay marriage, it means no domestic partnerships or civil unions for straight couples as well.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner Signs on to Mayors for the Freedom to Marry

Dear Alexander,

 

We are currently in the process of signing onto the Mayor’s pledge, and are awaiting confirmation from the Freedom to Marry staff. Thank you for the information on this organization and for making our office aware of this initiative. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

Lindsay Speicher

 

Lindsay Speicher

Director of Constituent Services

Office of the Mayor, City of Syracuse

203 City Hall

The Religious Right is Screwed

Yesterday on the great internets I posed a question to a bunch of "high" profile anti-LGBT individuals, namely Tony Perkins and Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, Peter Labarbera of NAFTA, and Thomas Peters, better known as @americanpapist.  The question: "With growing support for same sex marriage among voters and huge support among young voters, what is the conservative plan to combat same sex marriage?"

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is an Asshole

In case you haven't been paying attention these past few weeks, a bill has been making its way through the New Jersey government that would legalize same sex marriage.  It passed 24-16 in the state senate and 42-33 in the house, but the Republican Governor Chris Christie has promised to veto the bill even though a Rutgers poll  found that 54% of New Jersey voters approve of it (with 39% opposed).

Chris Christie thinks that the matter should be put to the voters of New Jersey (and to be fair, 53% of Jerseyans support bringing the measure to a vote), which would be fine if it weren't a case of civil rights.  Civil Rights issues should not be voted on by the people.  These are civil rights, not flavor of the month pieces of legislation.  They should be inherent and protected by the government, not subjected to the whims of an often under-educated populace (even if that populace supports them as New Jersey clearly does).  If civil rights for African-Americans had been left to the voters in the 60s, they would not have passed.

Retro Post: My First Anti-LGBT Post Ever

Bear with me here, I'm posting on stupidity more so than any aspect of the LGBT movement.  Evidently due to the deluge of couples that wanted to marry last July 24th (the first day same sex marriages could be performed in New York), gay and straight, New York City has instituted a lottery system to fairly decide which will get the opportunity to wed that day and which will have to wait.  Because of this, some LGBT organizations are urging straight people to not get married on "their day."

Retro Post: The Best Editorial Regarding Gay Marriage Ever

From the Syracuse Post-Standard:

Jesus's Message Relevant in Marriage Law Debate


To the Editor:
I understand the fear that many christians have about gay marriage.  To some, this is about obeying god's law.  But I would challenge them to ask themselves whether they really know god's will in this case.


My understanding of the christian message is that Jesus was a revolutionary figure who came to challenge others to accept those considered "outcast" in his day and age by religious and political authorities.  His message of radical love and inclusion is just as relevant today as it was when he was alive.


I am reminded of the moving passage in "Huckleberry Finn" where Huck decides that he would rather go to hell than abandon his friendship with the fugitive slave Jim.  Mark Twain, the author, in my opinion, expressed a much more christian message than that of his contemporaries, though he himself may have been an atheist.  Many of his christian contemporaries used the bible to justify slavery.


If our fear of hell is greater than our fear of lack of charity, then we are missing the spirit of the christian message.  As a straight black man, I am honored to stand with my gay friends as an ally, as I see them to be just as beautiful reflections of god as anyone else.  New York State did the right thing.


-Aly Wane
Syracuse

Retro Post: Gay Marriage, You're Either For It, Or An Asshole

I largely subscribe to the Socrates quote "all I know is that I know nothing."  I try to continually understand that I am young, and am only an infinitesimal percentage of the world and universe and that my knowledge does not extend very far on a grand scale.  Therefore there are very few things I will assume that I am right about without question.